Buyer beware

[trout]

Just for $hits and giggles, I searched for RC submarines to see if any new web sites came up. This led to a ad that came up: https://www.aliexpress.us/item/32568...yAdapt=glo2usa
an ad for a RC submarines that listens for $2,500 there is no description of the internals and hint it needs to be assembled. Another add with similar images shows a Typhoon for $350-ish non-diving model. It is 3D printed and needs to have the “panels” assembled. I guess my point is, this hobby is seeing an uptick in interest and participants. Stuff like this is snake oil and can hurt someone interested in this fun hobby.

[Kawasaki Monota]

This guy has a very bad reputation in China, a Chinese friend of mine told me that this guy buys 3D files from Bob Martin's website and then prints them out and sells them, such as the Typhoon and Sturgeon class subs he sells. The quality of the stuff he sells is extremely poor, especially the WTC which is made like a beginner, but he disguises himself as an expert and says that everything he sells is for universities to use for scientific research purposes, but in reality it's all fraudulent bull****. He gives everyone the impression that he needs the money so bad that he can fool himself, the stuff he sellls is probably worth $50(RTR) at most, I don't know why he is so confident that he can fool people with such low end tactics, maybe primary school kids can be fooled by him, but everyone is an adult and won't believe the crap he does, it's just for a laugh.

[neitosub]

Sadly all too common, especially with 3D files being bought and easily distributed. I see it happening in the RC tank world as well, with people selling 3D printed hulls as their own, without giving credit to the original creator.