Gilbert Ives - I agree with your point, as the seller is not specifically saying it is a prototype. They are are saying it may be a prototype and up to the buyer to decide, nothing wrong with that.
For what its worth, I have purchased an item or two from this seller before and it was
100 percent legitimate. With a feedback rating of 100 percent and almost 1000 transactions to their name, the seller must be doing something right.
Indeed. Pretty easy to check on TCA membership and one can always ask. Seems quite foolish to lie about, and if not, buyer has PayPal/Ebay support. And TCA members always have complaint system to use against another member, Ebay or not.
As to the item, well, MPC did their prototypes fast and on the cheap as one can see in the McComas book. Even on the proposed Flyer Hudson that appeared in the catalog, the "prototypes" were merely relettered Gilbert Hudsons -- and this was post MPC. Didn't even bother to polish the rods & valve gear.
