You know how it goes - they look alright on Fleabay and you take a punt - then realise the horrible mistake you've made. I bought 30 Indian cavalry and when they finally arrived all nicely packaged up, they were shocking. In fact the nicest thing about the parcel was the box and the bubble wrap which I enjoyed twisting around until it popped. Some nice toilet paper in there too (unused I'm pleased to say). Any way, heaven knows what figures they are, but painted by someone who clearly had access only to a beginners collection of cheap acrylic paints. The weapons, where they still existed were glued ONTO the hands - not even bothered to put the weapons into small slit in the casting called a palm. The glue, if it was that, was rubbery and probably bat excreta mixed with tarmac. I needed to completely repaint the damn things. One of the units (which are probably Hinchcliffe) have the lovely Hinchliffe piece of wire instead of spears, which is nice as I wanted the unit to be armed with punting equipment as there were several battles with mutinuous Indian troops for possession of our great university towns. These weapons have got to stay however as the only other alternative is amputation at the wrist. Joy of joys, I won't make that mistake again (I will actually). Don't ask me what I got when I paid good money for an Ancient Persian tomb......

Jon What did you get when you paid good money for an Ancient Persian tomb?

Tease - wait for it..... A piece of plastic packaging glued to a square of card (with the wavy insides visible) from a cardboard box and then spray painted bronze and highlighted in gold. Again it was the picture, very cunning shot. I could not believe how sh@t it was, it even had squiggles on it to look like writing (done by a chimp I suspect - which incidently is what I felt like when I'd paid a tenner for it and a fiver postage). What a cretin, bet I'm not the only one.

No your not. I bought an ECW barn from fleabay once. Looked great in pictures. Arrived and was just colour printouts glued (badly) to foamcore. I swear the image had been improved in photoshop. I only paid a £5 but was so angry with myself I stamped on said barn and vowed never to buy anything on fleabay again. Of course I have; but with more luck.

I've only ever bought decent figures a handful of times - AGTFOS is that right, bought a load of his WW2 once, very nice. Got some FIW once, but most of the painted stuff is shockingly bad. So too are most of terrain things, I reckon people do enhance the shots.

I'm sure they do. A chap I worked with sold a car (crate) on ebay – he enhanced the lack of rust. I thought that was a bit much…

I have to admit I've been fairly lucky buying figures on the 'bay. I usually email seller and ask for more detailed closeup pics as some of the shots in the auctions could be any scale/period from what you can actually see! Last lot I looked at were some Ancient Spanish, which from the pic looked passable. The seller sent me a few closeups and boy am I glad I didn't bid! Ya just gotta be careful! Andy

In the early hours of today I completed my Sudan project. Three cheers. I am a free man, no longer a Perry slave. Hurrah, hurrah, hurrah! Going to take a break from painting now for a bit.

Pics! Pics!

I am a free man, no longer a Perry slave. I am sure that the Twins will find something to tempt you with. Admit it, you are hooked to Perry-caine. :devil:

I've just painted a golden retriever to go with 17th Foot command stand... :pw:

Following the completion of the Spanish artillery figures I am now working on Prussian Cuirassier Regt CR1. These will hopefully be ready by early next week and then it is on to those Ottomans...I expect this new design/sculpt/planning project will take at least 6 months. John

After several days out of town for business, I spent a lot of the weekend trying to catch up on lost sleep. Managed to paint up a 1/300 Sopwith Pup, a German Albatross, almost complete a Sopwith 1 1/2 strutter and assemble a German Heavy Bomber.