Fake warning: ARAL 25c

[Tinman]

Axle-ends far too bright and shiny, both rivets have been tampered with, especially the forward one, it looks like a section has broken away. I would only buy this at a toy fair for no more than a British Pound.

Ghosty.

Note just the tips of the axle ends are rusted and not the edges which were filed down.

[GHOSTHUNTER]

...and it looks like the middle of the axle-shafts have been held with pliars or something similar!!

Ghosty.

[Tinman]

I've just had a look and can not find any definite signs of faking on it. Let's not just pick because it's Christine as that is a form of Bullying. The box is defiantly original and in my opinion worth more than the model itself. I had plenty of deals with Christine and can honestly say that in all my dealing with her I never once had a problem and we had many dealings. If there is definite signs of tampering then let's show it as I'm all for outing the fakers but I will be no part in a witch hunt against her. Just my own honest opinion guys.

That's all well and good. However, she's been caught in outright lies too many times to count, others have not been so lucky with her shady dealings and not to mention her auction tampering on a grand scale. It's not a case of a witch hunt, the 25c shows far too many signs of tampering and I firmly believe it a fake (as do six other members). The auction isn't for a box with a model thrown in for goodwill, it's for a model, a rare model with a box (I make no claims about the box and it looks OK).

The auction description states the model is genuine and authentic despite so many clear signs of fakery. The warning is genuine and the model is not. This isn't the first fake she's passed along and I doubt it will be the last. The sad part is that she can't spot a fake (not now and not in the past). She always had to show her prized purchases on forums to get confirmation if they were real or not. Remember the cream Cougar she thought was real? That one cost her a pretty penny and when she found out it was fake, she blasted ebay as being a domain of the devil. Nope this person never could spot a fake, even in hand.

It's her arrogance and ignorance that always costs her money and her reputation. She will continue on selling this model and one of two things will happen: Someone who doesn't know any better will be ripped-off and pay silly money for a fake and add it into their collection. At some point it will go back on the market and cause more harm. Or, the buyer will send it back for a refund because it is a fake. It could net her negative feedback and she will then go through all sorts of hoops to get the feedback removed and then change her user ID (yet again).

I'm not commenting on the 32c auction, just the fake 25c ARAL tanker. I'm also disturbed by the amount of hate mail that one arrogant and ignorant person can generate. Truly this seller is not right in the head. Among many other things, she has made threats based on her assumption that informing others of her latest user ID is an invasion of privacy and that it's nobody's business but her own. I thought long and hard before making this post because I knew it would generate nonsensical hate mail from her and I also figured TJ would attempt to defend her (I dislike conflict with good people like TJ). There is no defense for her past actions, disruptions, lies, shady deals and her destruction of that reverse color wrecker auction ... or this fake model.

[tjlglass]

Like I said JP I have had many dealings with Christine and never once had a problem so can only speak from my point of view. If she has been hassling you and being spitfull then I fully understand your gripe with her but while she is being slagged on here with no right to reply then that I personnaly find wrong. I will always defend someone who is being censored as I believe she has the right to reply. Also the pictures are not great and I wouldn't make a judgement on them either way that's why I said if there is definite evidence of tampering then let's see it as I can't see it on my Tablet. Having said that I am having an eye test on Monday and will Defo need glasses as my eye site has deteriorated somewhat in the last 12 months and most things are slightly blurry. To be honest I couldn't give a toss either way but just want to see some balance as opposed to the one sided view which I'm reading on this site.

[hydra427]

I've just had a look and can not find any definite signs of faking on it. Let's not just pick because it's Christine as that is a form of Bullying. The box is defiantly original and in my opinion worth more than the model itself. I had plenty of deals with Christine and can honestly say that in all my dealing with her I never once had a problem and we had many dealings. If there is definite signs of tampering then let's show it as I'm all for outing the fakers but I will be no part in a witch hunt against her. Just my own honest opinion guys.

I've also bought from Christine and was very pleased with the model I received. I am actually in need of an "ARAL" box for both my #25 & #32. I sold a #25 box not to long ago and thinking I would be lucky to find one again. So far it has not been my luck.

[Tinman]

I've just had a look and can not find any definite signs of faking on it. Let's not just pick because it's Christine as that is a form of Bullying. The box is defiantly original and in my opinion worth more than the model itself. I had plenty of deals with Christine and can honestly say that in all my dealing with her I never once had a problem and we had many dealings. If there is definite signs of tampering then let's show it as I'm all for outing the fakers but I will be no part in a witch hunt against her. Just my own honest opinion guys.

I've also bought from Christine and was very pleased with the model I received. I am actually in need of an "ARAL" box for both my #25 & #32. I sold a #25 box not to long ago and thinking I would be lucky to find one again. So far it has not been my luck.

I'm glad she never cost you money. I had several much different experiences with her. It became so bad, I had to block her from bidding on my auctions. She would change her name and get around my block and it always cost me money and models in the end. She is very good at using ebay to steal models from people using the not as described complaint. She repeatedly manipulates auctions to her advantage. And that's just a few of her crimes.

As for giving her a say here; I shudder at the thought of a return to the days of such a disruptive force on the forums. The lying, the denial, the attack posts, the insane attempts at some sort of defense for her sorted actions ... it drove away members and truly stifled the forums. There is a reason she's gone and I doubt anyone seriously wants to go back to that horror. There is a very good reason she's not welcome here and it's of her own doing.

Besides, giving her a say here is useless. As mentioned, she is completely unable to spot fakes even in her own hands. She is paranoid and always thinks someone is out to get her (regardless of the issue). Year's ago, I tried to deal with her with an open mind, reason and compassion. It too was useless as there are truly some mental problems going on with her. All my efforts gained me was more hate mail with threats and insane ramblings.

As for the auction photos, yes they are not good and substandard quality for expensive items. But they are good enough to see the tampered axle ends, wheels and more. As previously noted, six other members weighed in on this model and also decided it was a fake. I only posted the warning after others confirmed the tampering. Anyone who wants to bid on her auctions is welcome. In no way is this thread preventing anyone from buying from her. An opinion was offered and confirmed by others, by all means, make your own decisions. She is not an innocent female being bullied, she is someone offering herself up as an expert seller and has been preying on all manner of collectors for years now. There is simply no defense for her past crimes, lies and dirty dealings ... matters not what OK deals a few have had with her. Good grief, even Touch-Up Tim and S-Beach have sold some original and authentic models; why not defend them as being bullied? Or call the warnings about their sales a witch hunt?

Once dirty, always suspect and better off avoided all together, that's the rule applied to Fakers/Fraudsters and she is without a doubt guilty of the crime. Christine, If you do not stop with your harrassment and hate mail, I will publish all of your hate mail, uncensored including your email addresses for all the web to see. Fair warning you psycho bitch! I've never let such actions stop the flow of information regarding fakes and the people behind them and I've dealt with much worse individuals.

[tjlglass]

JP we have known each other on an Internet bases for nearly 10 years now and in that time I have learnt to trust your judgement so that'll be all from me on the subject.

[Tinman]

JP we have known each other on an Internet bases for nearly 10 years now and in that time I have learnt to trust your judgement so that'll be all from me on the subject.

I very much respect you comments, even the ones I disagree with. I've had my say on the subject and my opinion is on the record. I too have little else to say on the subject.

I'm still getting nut-jobs threatening emails. If she continues, a new thread will be coming in the lounge.

[motorman]

Joe i would welcome the publication of those offensive emails in order that the members who are not fimiliar with "she who shall not be named" see how viscious she is!!

[Tinman]

Joe i would welcome the publication of those offensive emails in order that the members who are not fimiliar with "she who shall not be named" see how viscious she is!!

She flooded me with attack and threatening emails both to my regular email address and via ebay's message system. I deleted all but one of her emails. This short message (email) I found particularly insensitive, insulting and ignorant. Not only is it an insult to me, but to thousands of servicemen and women, from several different countries who valiantly served in this conflict.

This is the one I saved:

"The true Vietnam warrior, launching attack after attack on women and children."
Signed: Christine Macaluso

Christine Macaluso, you are indeed a vile, disgusting and repugnant person!