1/18 Airwolf Kickstarter | Did he run off with the money or just a failure at production?
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- Опубліковано 15 жов 2024
- Today we look at a recently completed kickstarter project for a 1/18 scale airwolf helipcopter and it is not good. Any part. The toy and the guy making it. This is terribad people. Folks were actually shipped a toy that bleeds resin.
Videos looking at building the kit:
• Mars Industries 1:18 A...
• Mars Industries 1:18 A...
There's a lot more to this story than you realize or covered. On one forum, Conrad (Mars owner) was bragging about his manufacturing "experience" and was picking fights with forum members. When the Kessel Run video was released, his obvious incompetence could no longer be hidden and he ran off. Many of us watched the follow-on interview he did with Retroblasting and anyone with 3 brain cells could tell he was lying through his teeth (except RB, obviously) - my favorite was when he knew the kits were "bad" but an "advisor" told him to ship them anyway and "fix them later." It is important to note that many people (including Kessel Run) NEVER received the fixed parts they were promised. At any rate, many folks cancelled, he promised refunds, and when the refunds never posted, he blocked people for following up on the status. So if you every see Conrad Murphy attached to a project, don't walk - RUN away.
I started to check into the guy himself after making my initial video. Thanks for the comment btw. Watching him insult YT in that Retroblasting video was brutal knowing what we know now. What a lemon this Conrad character has turned out to be. And be wary of anyone whos crowdfund is shipping you a 3D printed part. Don't need a kickstarter to one-off a single item for someone.
@@ActionFigureAtorium He reminds me of someone I used to work with many years ago - a ego-driven pathological liar who didn't have the abilities to cash the checks his mouth wrote. And while I applaud Retroblasting for having that follow on video with him, it shocked me how they allowed him to insult and threaten customers and even apparently blocked comments from one of those customers (YT).
I actually saw this product promoted at a toy show, and the product looked very promising. I think this is the case of the creator very much getting overwhelmed and biting more than he could chew.
I think he wanted to do this correctly but when he couldn't make the kit work (shitshow), he pivoted to scam because he doesn't want to return ppl's money.
We had this situation a couple times in ComicsGate. One was a book called Death Sworn by Carl O'Rowe. He got behind and everybody wrote it off but he finally delivered it after like 4 years. Another one was Detective Dead by a guy that went by 'Cridious.' He either took the money and ran or just spent it all before actually making the book. These things are actually very rare. They just get a lot of press because drama attracts attention.
Your comment about selling the Airwolfs on eBay made me realize how wrong this project was for Kickstarter. There are production processes that would have meant creating 300 Airwolfs at once would have been easier or cheaper than making them one at a time. But since he was 3D printing and hand painting each one, I don't see how the Kickstarter approach gave him anything but lots and lots of stress.
And on top of all that, he was simultaneously trying to design/manufacture two additional helicopters and seven action figures as part of his stretch goals! The whole thing seems utterly impossible, and that's before you consider he tried to do all of this for $70,000 (minus Kickstarter fees, payment processing fees, taxes, and the cost of other Kickstarter rewards like crew patches, t-shirts, hoodies, stainless steel tumblers, custom deluxe packaging, and miscellaneous 3D-printed accessories). I don't see how this thing ever stood a chance of succeeding.
We always got the impression that he downloaded someones model and modified it. Then we assume he got a company to 3D print it for him. Realised the true costs & risks of someone else having the models so opened the kickstarter to take pre orders and used that money to buy his own 3D printer and other equipment with that money. And likely damaged that equipment due to not using & cleaning it properly.
One of thee biggest downfalls of the Airwolf community is Most people who make stuff insist on working alone or working anonymously so no one will help them.
At the time I made my video, I didn't watch the MARS Industries appearance on Retroblasting. I have since watched it and man, what a jerk that guy is. I'm not surprised he split with the loot and hasn't made good on refunds or product.
I backed at the “build it yourself” tier and never received a thing. Any email or message I sent to Mars Industries was never responded to.
Good to see you again Mark
I'm still going!
90k is not sufficient to make a mold this size, at least from my sources.
This is why I need you guys to comment and keep me up to date (and honest) with details. I don't think MARS Industries would have made it through all the hoops of pre-production to get a prototype made with an overseas factory. But he should have done at least a year of making these vehicles and selling them at Convention parking lots before going into semi-mass production.
Yep. Nowhere near enough.
Very nice video thank you I always watch your video I am subscribed to your youtube channel I can learn a lot by watching your video
I know who runs Mars industries, Destro. No wonder everyone got ripped off!
The G.I.Joe helicopter is the Tomahawk.
He is legally responsible for shipping all orders that were made from his website (after the Kickstarter closed) in 60 days. Consumer rights. Unless both agree ahead of time. Not fulfilling orders. Not refunding money. This man is looking at serious jail time. Because the amount that he collected, it could be considered grand larceny in the first degree. Oops!! That's no less than one year in federal prison and up to 20 years. maximum sentence.
No one has pressed charges because they hope for a product someday. But it won't be much longer. Local authorities will step in and prosecute. It only takes one call to start the investigation. I am one who is still hoping. He has $1000 plus of my money. He needs to get these built to save his butt.
Build them, ship them, and stop talking to everyone..... focus, dude. Focus!
At the time I made the video, I scratched the surface on the details of the kickstarter. the more I hear about the guy behind it, the worse he starts to sound. Perhaps scam was the goal all along.
I bought mine on a sale before Kickstarter. After the fiasco Retroblasting video, he agreed to cancel my order and issue a refund. When the refund never posted and I followed up, he blocked me. I'd love to see someone go after him but at the end of the day, I'll believe it when I see it - I've heard a lot of rumbling about it but no one has yet taken action. There are documented cases where states went after failed Kickstarters and got money back for their citizens. Florida small claims court is for amounts less than $8000 but I believe you have to travel to Florida if it goes to hearing and that makes it not worth it for many. Oh, btw - I think most know they'll never see a product. Read the comments below and the guy who tried to take the project over (Conrad's last update) - Conrad blew that too.
I was scammed as well .He has my money too I only found out about the so called collapse by Googling it.I am in Australia and can't believe I was scammed out of a $1000 .It's a disgrace.I hope he is taken to court.
@@samparsons7523 Folks who did the kickstarter are probably not going to see money as its viewed as risk investment rather than buying something off a store. people who bought one direct may be able to lead this somewhere. I went in totally blind when I made my video but the more I learn, the scummier this guy sounds. Sorry you got burned amigo. Thank you for sharing.
Kickstarter needs to have Backer Protection Insurance like eBay has Buyer Protection. There needs to be Creator Accountability and transparency of funding to hold Creators accountable. Kickstarter has turned into a haven for scammers because they can get away with ripping people off and Kickstarter has no liability whatsoever.
I still don't believe CONrad actually fulfilled Kickstarter's term for a failed project. Why aren't they coming down on him? I hope they are in the background.
@@bradlanghorst6269 Kickstarter will do nothing. It’s in the fine print they have no liability whatsoever. I reported this project to them and they won’t do anything. Was told I would have to pursue legal action of my own accord it’s between the Creator and the Backer. They won’t arbitrate any disputes and have no legal providence.
There has been an update since you posted this video-
"A manufacture has stepped up and offered to keep the project alive and fulfill all orders...
I am in negotiations right now and will update with the plan.
Doing my best to save the Lady and turn this around, stick with me guys!"
Having a quick look at this KS especially when it was originally meant to be shipped two years ago, I'm not holding my breath or take the newest update with a grain of salt.
You think Mars Industries is kicking the can down the road to get some heat off his back? What manufacturer would step in? There's no money. The design is crap. Is there even a license with the show's property AND the helicopter's manufacturer (Bell)? Is the license transferable? The only thing needed for this are 3D printers. I think this guy is laying a smokescreen and kicking the can down the road.
@@ActionFigureAtorium Most likely. There was a comment in the last update mention he is friend with a debt collector and made threat if he didn't owned up. Granted I don't think calling debt collector would of done anything since there is that T&C that you must tick when pledging that say you aknowledged the rick and is awared if the KS doesn't meet its goal or expectation? Otherwise past KS scams related stories would had resolved something like being chased by debt collector or lawyers!
@@RenkencenThe terms and conditions for Kickstarter are to protect Kickstarter. They're the ones that don't issue refunds. To the best of my knowledge there is nothing that prevents anyone from going after the creator directly for not fulfilling their part of the Kickstarter campaign.
@@chipwallaceart Yes but then give me an example were threaten the KD creator with legal suit or something similar for not fulfilling the said KS and suceed in the end?
@Renkencen I've tried posting a link about a dozen times, but UA-cam keeps removing it automatically. If you Google "people sue kickstarter campaign" You'll see a few links to Quora where multiple cases are talked about.
Also, if memory serves me correctly I believe it's stated in kickstarters TOS that backers can legally pursue people that do not fulfill their campaign. They actually encourage creators to follow through on their campaign for this very reason.
That stinks, I am kind of glad now I heard it after the fact. From what I have seen, this guy got too ambitious and got in over his head, I do hope people get refunded. I also think we are going to see more and more of this kind of stuff too,
To quote Spinal Tap on the Simpsons, "There will be no encore."
the very least this guy could do is release all the 3d print files so everyone can print their own. I hope someone or a group of people take this guy to court.
A poster on the Hisstank forums mentioned the files were not created by MARS industries are in fact ones he found publicly. the original creator of the files has since removed them from Cults 3D site. So I think that's why he's not kicking this can further down the road by releasing the files.
@@ActionFigureAtorium interesting, my friend showed me a snapshot of a message from mars industries, he just posted that someone else is in the process taking over the project to fulfill orders
@@impossiblepie Mars industries posted that update to kickstarter on may 14th.Its a ruse. I doubt MARS is going to give the $70k, the list of backers and the stl files to some rando to have them 3D print , assemble, paint and fulfill. It might, however, inspire someone else to make a 1/18 airwolf and sell them one at a time off eBay, knowing that there was $70k worth of interest in the product.
@@ActionFigureAtorium Ramen toys hasn't said anything official but Ace has hinted about thinking about doing something.
Errr. It's just a 3D-printed model. You don't need a Kickstarter for a 3D-printed model. So incompetent and i'll-prepared that it may as well be a scam. I bet when he started he didn't even have a printer or know how to use one. Looks like he still doesn't. He thought he'd just get rich quick using the most profitable way possible (Kickstarter) and this printing thing is easy.
And surely "Airwolf" the show is trademarked. I doubt he has the rights to use the name or image/logo.
The price of the unassembled kit at $225 seems overpriced by about $100. Whole thing feels icky.
You have a great point there.
Why do you need a Kickstarter for 3D printing?
And I am trying to figure out why or what's stopping him to just release the 3D files for backers to at least print it themselves?
@@RAMENTOY Yeah I thought that too. His physical production has gone kaput, why can he not just give his files at least. People can get them professionally printed at any number of places, then.
Maybe he's just not that smart to think about it. Maybe it's not his model. Maybe he wants to go dark for a while and try again later. Who knows.
@@ActionFigureAtorium He definitely over-valued himself.
@@RAMENTOY He purchased the files from someone on Cults3D and used it for his project without their consent. So the files are not really his to distribute.
This is the reason you should never crowdfund ANYTHING from ANYONE
And never pre order anything...
@@gidad7213 i wouldn't even crowd fund anything from hasbro as they don't need it despite the bs excuses they put out as to why they need to do it.