THEFT of "Crowkillers" and "AndreaGrazi" designs:

On his Flickr photostream, Crowkillers/ rolorun (Paul Boratko, e-mail PB3@CROWKILLERS.COM ) has posted a series of pictures of his OTHER Lego Technic MOCs -- ones that are not shown on his Crowkillers website. I'm not talking about his Lamborghini Gallardo or Lamborghini Murcielago MOCs. He has building instructions for several other MOCs.

Starting on this Flickr webpage, there is a series of 14 photos where he wrote which say:

Lego Technic Racers Custom MOC Monster Truck III

Lego Technic 4x4 Monster Truck III - MOC inspired by an idea by andrea grazi.

In black and red as pictured. Built mainly from brand new lego parts. This set is not in shops. Fully revised version III of the Truck.

Fully active suspension

4 Wheel Steering.

Working V6 Engine.

With two - 3v Red LED Lights with Fibre Optic Leads.

Full independant 4WD using 3 differentials including the new diff from set 8297.

approx 1400 parts. 2.2 kg

Shipped unbuilt.

Will ship international.

With fully revised detailed build instructions on PDF file

Starting on this Flickr webpage, there is a series of 5 pictures where he wrote which say,

Lego Technic Racer Ferrari Enzo 8653 MOC Custom Black

LEGO MOC Technic Enzo Ferrari in Custom Black - 8653

Custom Black Enzo Racer as pictured

Similar to set 8653 with custom chrome wheels

approx 1352 parts

2.2 kg

With build 8653 instructions on CDrom

99% Identical to 8653 with colour change to main parts.

Will post fully built

Starting on this Flickr page, there is a series of 9 pictures where he wrote which say,

Lego Technic Monster Truck MOC - 8466 off roader

8466 4x4 off-roader MOC Monster Truck - As Pictured

Weight 2.5kg over 1300 parts.

Mainly new lego parts, rest used parts in excellent condition.

Fully working suspension 8 x shock absorbers

Working V6 Engine.

Can be configured for 2 or 4 wheel drive and 2 or 4 wheel steering.

Will ship airmail worldwide fully insured.

Will be shipped unconstructed.

Full build instructions in PDF format (on a cd)- 15 sections - 58 pages of colour step by step photos with full part inventory.

2 technic figures included red and blue from set 8300.

set includes all the parts and instructions needed to make set 8466 4x4 off-roader.

Starting on this Flickr webpage, there is a series of 7 pictures where he wrote which say,

Lego Technic Monster Truck - Model Team Mindstorm Dacta

Lego Technic Monster Truck MOC - As pictured, Modified from an idea by Andre Grazi. last one of these!

2.1kg . Approx 1320 parts.

Fully active suspension - Springs from 8466 / 8475.

Working V6 engine with red pistons.

Shipped unconstructed

90% Brand New lego parts, Full instructions included to rebuild on cd 58 page 15 sections pdf. - Full lego parts list / inventory.

Full steering, Huge 8466/8475 Tyres.

From this Flickr webpage, there is a series of 9 pictures where he wrote which say,

Lego Kenworth K100 Aerodyne

This may interest Model Team fans. This is a Lego MOC Kenworth Truck based on sets model team 5563 and 5571. Refined from a model by Andrea Grazi. The Truck is a fantastic build! This is the only one avaliable in the world.

All brand new lego apart from the 5563 window screen - excellent used condition

With full build instructions 50 pages, 200 pictures on PDF file.

With full part inventory.

Detailed V12 Engine.

Lifting Cabin.

Posted worldwide fully insured.

Truck includes10 Metallic wheels from set 8285 technic tow truck, the truck will fit model team wheels from 5571 or 5563.

450mm long, 170mm wide, 250mm tall. over 1200 parts. 2.5kg weight.

Will post fully assembled, with delicated parts wrapped seperately carefully - item is as pictured.

Even if Crowkillers has already sold his MOCs and/or parts to build them, if you write to him at PB3@CROWKILLERS.COM , he may offer you the Building Instructions....

Edited October 14, 201014 yr by DLuders

Those ARE NOT crowkiller's models. I don't know who that person is that is putting up those pictures. Those are various MOC's built by other builders. Some of those models are rather old and if you check brickshelf, you will see who the original builders are.

Here is the original builder of that Bigfoot Truck

Edited October 13, 201014 yr by TechnicJuan

DLuders, are you sure that rolarun is Crowkiller's nickname on Flickr?

To me it seems to be someone who has built some excellent MOCs from Crowkillers, grazi and maybe even others

and now claims them to be his own creation just because he has changed colors.

Well, I might be wrong but why should Crowkillers claim grazi's MOCs as his own work in his FLickr channel?(Doesn't make any sense to me)

Edited October 13, 201014 yr by grindinggears

Crowkillers has his own website, so I am not sure why he would post pictures on Flickr. I am 99% sure that this is someone else who is using various pics from other builders. I could be wrong, but like grindinggears said, it doesn't make sense.

Yeah... I don't think that the crowman will have any instructions for any of those models. 1.) Because he has personally told me (through E-mail) that the Gallardo was the only model that he had instructions for and 2.) Those model are without a doubt not his. I actually think that I have seen instructions for the Big Foot Truck on brickshelf. It looks like the word for the week here at the forum is STEAL. I can't believe that crowkillers would claim someone else's work That is not cool at all especially since he is claiming that someone is stealing from him.

No, I am not sure that "rolorun" is Crowkillers. From the Flickr photostream http://www.flickr.com/photos/39946546@N04/ , one can see the Crowkillers Lamborghini Gallardo auction description. I ASSUMED that it was him. I have sent Paul an e-mail to alert him about my post; maybe he can reply to it definitely. I didn't mean to stir up a hornet's nest, but if Paul didn't know about "rolorun", he does now.

Someone from brick busters actually alerted this thief that his creation had been entered in some type of contest by another theif. It is in the comments section on the first picture of the Gallardo on Flickr. Now I can see why crowkillers is so suspicious all of the time. People are stealing from him left and right.

Hi, Brick~Busters group found your MOC has been swiped and is being used on LEGO Universe Creation Lab pages to gain prizes. This Screenshot below contains a LINK to the swiper's page where you can submit a Request for Removal comment -- be sure to include a link to your original photo.

[http://www.flickr.com/photos/legomymamma/439 9250282/]

Thanks!

Edited October 13, 201014 yr by Meatman

I've seen these models before. There is a seller on eBay who either sells others' models directly or modifies them slightly and then sells them. I have seen the black "monster truck" for sale by him many times. It is actually a Grazi design with the colors changed. Here is the original model, and here is the version I've built myself.

This person took the MLCAD and photos from Brickshelf and decided to sell the design. I also used the Brickshelf files to create the model, but I wouldn't sell it without including Grazi. I also made instructions for Grazi's tow truck using Brickshelf files.

This person has nothing to do with Crowkillers. He/she is just using Paul's (and others') designs.

Paul Boratko ("Crowkillers") e-mailed me and said, "I did not build those MOCs. It looks to me like that Fickr account was set up by someone who compiled pictures of MOCs that they liked. You may want to axe that thread so someone doesn't think that I am stealing other people's designs. I have been having enough of those issues with my own models being swiped. :) -Paul"

I have modified my original post's title and opening lines. I believe that EXPOSING plagiarism, fraud, etc. is better than just deleting (or hiding) the problem.

Holy cow, I'm not a huge Technic fan but dang, I like me some Monster Trucks.

I'm shockjed those huge tires are actually LEGO products.

I'd buy that last greenish/yellow one for my office, it's awesome.

No surprises there. People have been stealing designs and ideas from Paul for quite some time now. This makes me believe his suspicions about the parts being bought up even more now.

This is really too bad,more even since legally he can't do anything against it.

I hope it doesn't stop him from doing the awesome work in sharing instructions he has done until now.

This guy in the Flicker page, i don't see him claim anywhere that he invented the models. He does seem to be selling the models but i don't see him stealing credit, in fact i see him crediting the original builders at several places. However i guess it is wrong to sell the models he has copied off others.

This guy in the Flicker page, i don't see him claim anywhere that he invented the models. He does seem to be selling the models but i don't see him stealing credit, in fact i see him crediting the original builders at several places. However i guess it is wrong to sell the models he has copied off others.

Yeah, I am still on the fence over this whole using designs for profit situation. So if you sell someone's design without their permission, but credit them, then it makes it alright? No matter how you look at it, you are using someone else's idea to try and turn a profit for yourself. The comical thing about this is that most of the creations that I have seen people trying to sell on Ebay look to me like the seller ends up going in the hole because the models don't fetch enough to even make a profit. Which makes you wonder why they even keep trying.

Yet another person stealing Paul's designs to make profit.

LINK

LINK

LINK

I found THIS humorous. The seller actually bought one of these from Paul and then decides to sell them.

Edited October 30, 201113 yr by TechnicJuan

TJ, I got your e-mail about this yesterday, thanks for the heads up...

I contacted the guy selling this (because he did in fact recently buy one of the transmissions from me) and his response was basically that he didn't feel that the design was really mine because he had been working with the same gearbox for years and his shifter plate was more complex than mine(even though it is 100% the same)... Now if that is the case, then I must ask myself this, if you've been working with the same gearbox for years, then why did you spend $40 buying it from me...? Yeah the gear layout is the same as the 8448 and 8466 gearboxes, but take those gears away and what you are left with is something that I did and that is what the whole appeal is with this gearbox, it isn't just how it works, but also how it was designed and how it looks...

He also said that there are other builders in the world and more than one person in the world probably came up with the same idea at the same time...

I've had detailed pictures of this design posted at Brickshelf for well over a year and anyone with any basic technic skill could have easily replicated this design for minimal money, so why would someone who cliams to be so advanced in technic building and has parts at their disposal pay someone else $40...?

All I asked the guy to do is give me some credit in his description.... he's already using my other information from my completed auctions in it...

Edited October 30, 201113 yr by Paul Boratko

If his gearbox is better (more complex shifter) then why doesn't he sell that one instead for more money?

If his gearbox is better (more complex shifter) then why doesn't he sell that one instead for more money?

I think he means his "This is a Limited Edition Custom Red Model."

different color = more $$ lol

at least he could give some credit and mention that he changed the colors of the original creation ...

Edited October 30, 201113 yr by 3nslav3

can smb link fotos of original gearbox? or how save images from ebay?

Edited October 30, 201113 yr by Jack-Jedi

I think he means his "This is a Limited Edition Custom Red Model."

different color = more $$ lol

at least he could give some credit and mention that he changed the colors of the original creation ...

LOL. I seen that as well. People must actually be buying into the whole hard to find red parts statement, even though none of those parts are hard to find at all. The majority of this unit is red included extremely hard to find red bushings Since when are red bushings extremely hard to find? They are as plentiful and cheap as the Lt grey ones now.

can smb link fotos of original gearbox? or how save images from ebay?

Here is the original from Paul

and Here is the copy

if you've been working with the same gearbox for years, then why did you spend $40 buying it from me...?

That is the million dollar question my friend.

Edited October 30, 201113 yr by TechnicJuan

so this technic_titan buys a gearbox that Paul most definitely designed and even leaves this feedback for it "Great Design wonderful seller. Thank you for offering your product!!" then turns around and starts building and selling the exact same gearbox and when questioned about it he says that the design isn't Paul's? really?!? wow, just wow.

Edited October 30, 201113 yr by Meatman

I guess some people just aren't honest .

tim

Paul, you should tell this thief to join up here and explain why he thinks that what he is doing is alright. One thing is for sure, I'll never buy anything from that guy and I'll be sure to let everyone that i know to avoid him on Ebay. Does he even build his own models at all, or does he just copy and sell?

so this technic_titan buys a gearbox that Paul most definitely designed and even leaves this feedback for it "Great Design wonderful seller. Thank you for offering your product!!" then turns around and starts building and selling the exact same gearbox and when questioned about it he says that the design isn't Paul's? really?!? wow, just wow.

YES, that is the EXACT scenario here....

The seller recently sent me youtube video links of real life transmissions and said that this design has been around for over 30 years... I have no clue exactly what that has to do with the fact that he NEVER sold this transmission prior to buying it from me...

He also claims that he only started selling it due to a demand for it... Funny, I have been selling it for a year without knowing that there was a demand for it... This guy obviously seen that when I listed them, they sold with a small profit and he figured it was an easy opportunity to make a buck and just went for it and he doesn't care if he is using someone else's ideas or not...

Whatever... I guess this is the world that we live in... People are willing to take advantage of someone else's success no matter what it may be...

Edited October 30, 201113 yr by Paul Boratko

LOL, an attempt to make profit. Thats funny as i recall purchasing 3 models from you not 1. I don't see all 3 items listed. Your pictures are detailed enough to duplicate from if that was the intent. If the intent was profit I would just make a video on how to build it. however i will rebuild my 12 speed just for you so you understand.