Regular visitors will remember that I often explain that all our models are copyrighted, and that we do not give permission to any other commercial company to make use of them (After all, they are in competition with us!). Despite this, copying is widespread. Have a look at the pictures here and draw your own conclusions about the quality likely to be offered by the people claiming these reproductions as their own work. These examples are particularly blatant- usually copyists restrict themselves to popping Hornet heads and hands on their figures. Manufacturers guilty of copying usually say that they bought the models in good faith from a third party. I think this is hogwash. The difference between a hand made original and a resin or metal casting is obvious. Also, the three new March 2007 releases from Wolf were handed over to us some time ago after our complaints to a French manufacturer that they were adapted from copied Wolf products! It seemed a pity to waste them.

Thank you to all those correspondents who have contacted me about these rip-offs.
Pictures are particularly useful.

One picture shows our own WAW 25 with the copy marked Scale-Line to the right.
The other pictures show a copy of WAW 15 and the address label that came with it.

Scumbag Corner Additions 10/08

Chinese companies are particularly prolific copiers. Below is only a sample of their efforts. I suspect that some of the shots are of the originally purchased Hornet models rather than the inferior pirated copies actually on offer. I have not troubled to label all the heads with their original Hornet references – anyone familiar with the series will recognise them. The figurines have been captioned with their original Hornet or Wolf numbers so you can compare them with the source figures shown elsewhere on this website. After much thought I have decided not to name the pirates – it just tells the unscrupulous and undiscerning where to buy!

Hornet HBH02, 01, 05	Wolf WSH33
Various Hornet heads	Wolf WSH26

These pictures from a copy make a point for me, albeit in an unwelcome way!

Some modellers avoid metal figurines because they think metal does not reproduce detail so well as resin. This pirated copy of Hornet GH21 can only show detail that was present on the metal original that was used to make the mould! Remember that detail, definition and proportion can only be lost on a copy, never gained.

Thanks to the folk who drew my attention to some of these rip-offs. eBay are sometimes good at taking action if informed in time, so if you spot anything dubious on eBay please let me know asap!