Why do companies start issuing these bizarre collect all 500 magazines, build something naff in 7 years, and skint yourself- at this time of year?
Is anyone collecting any of the current batch (must be about a dozen on the go)?

"First part £1.99...small print: usual price £7.99"

I like the model ship that's floating around at the moment. Fiver a week with a few hundred parts...far cheaper to buy a model and a book on the history of the ship, surely?

I know someone who works for a company that publishes such "part works", and the decision process as to what they produce sems to be somewhat akin to tossing cards into a hat.