Neil Ward alias “venky” on gbfans and COW

[Sarednab]

Today I am reaching out to with an important message about Neil Ward.

I am afraid that Neil has stolen goods with a value of approximately $4000 from me, and I think this message may be the only way Neil will be pressured to repair this horrific loss.

Neil is well known in the replica movie prop community by his alias, “venky.”

I wanted to inform you about my experience with Neil.

Many years ago, I bought from him a prop casting of the Gozer door from Ghostbusters. He shipped this item, so I considered him a seller in good standing. I also found him to be a nice guy - because he was always happy to talk about props etc...

For this reason, I decided to make a trade with him about 11 years ago - some of my valuable props for a completed Proton Pack (fully FINISHED, with lights and sound). He accepted.

This was a big value item; but I trusted him.

Since I trusted him, I upheld my side of the agreement and sent him MY props that were included in the trade (a top of the line metal replica Hook cast from an original, metal False Grail replica from Indiana Jones, and many other props for a total value of almost $4,000.

Then, the nightmare began.

I was in constant contact with him via facebook as I waited for him to ship the proton pack he OWED me.

But every time I asked him, he would come out with a new story about how "busy" he was and that he needed time etc., but he would ship it when he could.

This has gone on for over 10 YEARS.

Now after a decade, I have sadly lost hope.

I abandoned any chance he would send me a fully built pack and I even BEGGED him just to send SOMETHING - just all the loose parts in kit form, so I could build one myself.

This October, he relented and promised that in one week, he would ship it...

Now we are in May.

He then claimed a second time he shipped it. (Three weeks ago) but has never sent a tracking number and has constant excuses why he can’t access it. (He’s not at home, etc.).

Meanwhile, while I have been WAITING, he SOLD the prop Hook I gave him for $800!! He even had the audacity to say he was DISAPPOINTED to make only 800$ for it!!!!!

This is free money, free props but he is disappointed??? That's funny!

Unless tracking is proved, I will have no choice but to pursue legal remedy. This amount is enough for me to begin that avenue. I hope this serves as a warning for anyone who wants to deal or associate with him in the future.

I could include pics of conversation too

 

[matt1]

Wow, so sorry to hear this for you my friend. Especially knowing how honorable you are in every way. Hope you can get this resolved in some way. This is awful.

 

[tripoli]

Sorry to hear about this, sucks to get ripped off, been there myself.
Right now, there is no complete licensed packs for sale on the market. Anovos was the first licensed pack and while they were shipping, it was the best kit you could get, although qc was rough for parts. And just getting what you paid for. They lost their license. Darn cheap and great for those who purchased them when they started at $ 600 each kit. If you find someone selling the kit, I would still recommend jumping on it. A few have come up in the Junkyard here.
Sony has given that license to another producer, Mack's factory, which can be found here. HOME | Macks Factory
They do not have all the parts available at this time, but they are ramping up production and they are producing parts to make an entire proton pack out of metal parts. Kind of awesome!
Super to make a full metal proton pack, but wearing one that is all metal is going to be heavier. Going out with it will be a pain in the back for an hour or more, heavy packs can be rough on the back. Still, darn cool. I know, my first good pack weighed close to 50 pounds and after a bit of trooping, I needed to rest.

*** Just saw Mack's is using a fiberglass shell pack, awesome, save major weight. I will say, having a licensed pack does give the pack a bit of provenance, so I would highly recommend them for building a pack! Really awesome to see them doing this.

A well built fiberglass pack with fiberglass parts will weigh between 22 and 25 pounds. Easier to get out with them.
Your other option is to join the GBFan site. Index page - GBFans.com
You will find sources for great fiberglass proton pack frames and parts. Reading the forums will give you an idea of who is good to go with and who is not. There are a few full kit makers there but I find their quality and accuracy to be a bit lacking. Still, some swear by them.
Your better to source all the parts. To do so will cost you about $ 700 to $ 900 for everything depending on who you purchase from. The site itself does have a parts selection that is super for the prices and quality of parts.
You can also sometimes get lucky and purchase a full built pack on the for sale pages, but well built packs with electronics start usually around 2 grand. Building a pack is not only fun, but allows you to know the quality of all the parts, construction and how to repair a pack as you go trooping and something get damaged. Enough times out trooping and it happens.

Electronic kits are a bit of a crap shoot. You really need to know what you are getting and a decent experience in electronics with many kits out there. There are a few simple kits you can find, many on Ebay. Some expensive and sometimes confusing kits from the GBfan groups. You really need to know another person who has wired them to use most of those kits.

If you can get one together before November when Ghostbusters Afterlife comes out, it will make it all the more super fun time of an experience. I have found this cosplay BY FAR always gets appreciated by people, EVERYONE, around you. It's a super time and experience to go out trooping as a Ghostbuster.

To be honest, if I was to start all over again, Mack's factory looks like the best option. You get to build it, can start off on a budget getting parts and the license givces it a super value for collectibles. That would be my pick now. I believe they are also working on electronics, should be a win win with that on the way.

 

[AntiVenky]

I saw your post re VENKY, aka

Neil Ward
6218 west Laredo Street
Chandler Az 85226

now working as a photographer, modeling agency photographer and more...
ONWARD photography
he is associated with Lets Do This Fashion Show
and has recently been published in Bold Journey 1-2024

his new phone number is 623-280-3180

I can verify he has alien queen mold, darth vadar helmet, ET head,
PLEASE reach out to your local authorities to place the appropriate legal action against Neil Ward

 

[joberg]

Thanks for the FYI Sarednab The gal of some people is unbelievable I hope this affair will resolve itself sooner rather than later.
Maybe with the police involved.

 

[AntiVenky]

Thanks for the FYI Sarednab The gal of some people is unbelievable I hope this affair will resolve itself sooner rather than later.
Maybe with the police involved.

He is aware I am on here, and is quickly liquidating items. IF you are a victim you need to act NOW!!!! I didnt realize how many people this effects. But I cant help if there are no police reports or "victims" you guys need to act now!!! He still has a lot of these items.

 

[Sarednab]

I have be patient for over a decade with him, all he sent ne is a shell made by him (I don’t know what I can do with that!) and a hat made by Christy and reblocked by S. Delk.
But I prefer to not hear him anymore in my life.
He take me for a fool for years and years and all he gave me is these 2 items.
So I aware everyone about what kind of person he is, but I want it out my life. For this reason I’ll not start a war again