"Whereabouts of Paul Darnell of Touching History?" Topic

Hello in the UK from over here in the USA.

I post from time to time on the 19th Century and Medieval Battle Reports boards with reports of NWF/Afghan and Hundred Years War, WAR and Burgundian-Swiss battles. I've been a historical miniature wargamer for more than 30 years and I now find myself, for the first time really, asking for a flat-out favor of my brother (and the odd sister!) hobbyists located in your part of the world.

This past summer I commissioned some work from a very talented fellow named Paul Darnell, late of "TouchingHistory.co.uk" fame. Before he shut that site down it displayed what IMHO were some of the nicest miniature terrain pieces on earth. The problem is, he and I still have a good deal of unfinished business between us and I've been unable, for a number of months now, to get in touch with him in any way.

The favor I'm asking is this: if anyone has seen or heard from or done any business with Paul recently, could you please pass on to me his current CONTACT INFO -- a working email address is what I'm really looking for. Also, if you feel comfortable doing so, would you please let him know that Ethan Reiff in Los Angeles, California, USA, would really, REALLY like to hear from him.

Thanks in advance for taking the time to read this -- and a special thanks to anyone able to help put me back in touch with Paul.

Yours very truly,

Ethan Reiff

Hi Ethan

He is a bit of a slippery character but does turn out some nice pieces now and then.

Last mail I had from him was on TouchingHistory@aol.com

I think David Gomez owed him some money for the last article so we might see him pop up.

Wish you luck!

John

Thanks very much, WSS.

Yeah, I've been trying to reach him via that "TouchingHistory" email address for months… and months. He owes me a lot of money, at least in my book it's a lot. I know he went thru a really rough time with the death of his mother, which is the main reason I let things drag on for so long without being more aggressive about it. Your description of him as "a bit of a slippery character" certainly fits in with my experience for the past half year.

Next up is to talk to Paypal about a refund, which I don't have much hope of, but worth a shot.

Thanks again for replying to my post!

Ethan,

I remember seeing a post on TMP from him several months ago indicating that he was moving to take care of his ailing mother and would be dropping out of the terrain business for awhile. He did mention he might be at some shows now and then but I got the distinct impression he was essentially closing up shop.

He might have had contact info in that post but after some quick searching I was unable to find antyhing.

Best of luck.

Jeff

I heard a rumour at Salute that he is currently hospitalised.

Sorry, but I would have thought a word to the police rather than paypal.

What is it with terrain makers running off with money. Come on guys, shape up!

Well, I guess that might shed a different light on the situation.

Thanks for the info, 10th Foot.

Well, Marc at home, you're right. Just went thru the Paypal "Dispute resolution" process and -- after painstakingly detailing my experience of the past 8 months and filing my dispute -- was told that my transaction was not eligible for resolution by Paypal. So now it's on to the Metro Police…

It makes you wonder what is the point of having a Paypal service when they can't handle such disputes.

As I recall PP has a 60 day timeframe to file disputes.

Wouldn't count your breath with the Metro Police mate unless it is sheds loads of money or you know someone!

I've put some feelers out for you with people who have had contact with him … will get back to you.

Paypal dispute is only applicable to eBay transactions and has a 60 day expiry period.

If you paid via a credit/ debit card you might have redress from the provider but 8 months is probably too long.

I thought paypal had switched to a 45 day period????? Either way it is really short for a transaction that will take longer to finish.

Many thanks, THWjunky! Hope to hear more from you.

I don't have much hope on the police front myself, though you never know.

Tinned Fruit, yes I'll head down the credit card path as well, though it has been a while since the financial transaction was done.

The good news is my family's not starving or being evicted from home because of this money, but the truth is it's less about the money -- despite it being a very serious sum -- and more about being treated with complete and total disrespect.

Good luck.

I wonder if any one at Warlord Games would have contact with him they had a piece in the last WI where he did some scenery for the Antonine Wall for them i know it was a little while ago but you never know they may have his details

"he did some scenery for the Antonine Wall "

He had Roman terrain pieces on his subscription web-site a few years ago, so the stuff in WI may not be new. From the way he ran his website, and later, the Touching History magazine, I got the impression he was either totally disorganised, or held his customers in total contempt.

I wonder how he got hospitalised? Maybe another irate customer caught up with him?

Yes, joke about an unwell man.

Cut charla some slack, 10th Foot. Paul Darnell was not sick for the past 8 months. Besides, everyone gets sick -- no doubt Mother Teresa occasionally got sick and no doubt so did Jack the Ripper.

Throughout my life I have busted my ass to complete whatever work it was my responsibility to get done, sometimes while suffering varying amounts of physical, mental and/or emotional pain -- and I bet you have done the same. That's what adults (and even responsible, well-behaved children) are supposed to do.

I didn't go to the "authorities" for months and months -- mostly because he had suffered through the death of his mother, which is a terrible thing to endure. But the thing that really drives me nuts is the complete and total lack of communication. If he would just have written to say "sorry but it's going to take a while longer…" it would've been different. And to be honest, if I was in the UK, I doubt this would be happening, simply because I'd be able to physically meet him -- not so I could put him in the hospital, just so I could confront him in person with the simple fact that he'd taken a thick wad of my money and given me nothing in return. I'll keep trying to find out where he is.

Meanwhile I certainly hope he's not seriously ill, for his sake and for mine.

And the fact that no one who reads TMP is able to contact him suggests either he is SERIOUSLY ill, or in hiding. I had heard that he was running history tours, but I assume their are no contact details.

I am feeling harsh here, as our hobby should be a friendly one, and it is not helped by toe rags running off with people's money.

So Mr Darnell – if you are out there – announce yourselves. Do not let this drag on in such an unpleasant manner.

Maybe he helped out 'Mr Last Valley' on his bank job?……

Any sign of him at Triples?

Couldn't agree more Marc

He is in hospital. How serious does it need to be?

If you are in hospital in the UK, there is something pretty badly wrong. Cut him some slack and wait to see what happens.

10th Foot
You are quite right. If Paul Darnell is in hospital or has recently been hospitalised for a prolonged period, then some understanding should be shown.

On the other hand, Mad Guru, has paid good money for a product that has not arrived and after waiting patiently ( and attempting contact through e mail which have not been returned) has no idea what has happened and is understandably concerned.

The problem is that we do not know for sure that Paul Darnell is in hospital. It is only a rumour that somebody heard and I think that it is quite understandable that Mad Guru try to make contact and find out for sure what is happening and discover if the product has been made or if not get money refunded.

Sorry 10th – do you know for fact that he is in hospital? Or is this rumour?

Some dated info here;

TMP link

TMP link

Thanks, FuzzyWuzzy, but sorry to say, I'm familiar with both topics. To the best of my knowledge, Paul's no longer at the Cumbria address.

Marc,

I have just had it confirmed, it is in fact not a rumour. I suspect, unfortunately for him, that situation is not likely to change any time soon.

It is certainly not a case of a deliberate attempt to defraud. It is a shame that his last orders were not fufilled as the result of some pretty tragic circumstances that could not have been foreseen. Sometimes these things happen in life.

Azantihighlightening

Thank you for your information. I do not think that we need to know the full details here but may I suggest that if mad guru can supply a contact address to you, then he might appreciate a private email with a fuller update

Hi, Azantihighlightening.

I think Robbie's idea is a good one. I'd appreciate it if you could send me a message. Since we're both "supporting members" you can send me a private message here on TMP.

And please note: I never accused Paul Darnell of having set out with an intention to defraud me. I'm certain when he took my money back in June, he had every intention of building and shipping what I paid him for. What I believe happened is that my order simply slipped through the cracks of his life. Still, the result is identical.

As you say, sometimes these things happen in life. But my situation can't be neatly filed under the heading of: the gentleman in question became ill and therefore incapable of fulfilling his side of the transaction. Things had already gone off the rails before this recent, unfortunate, news, which you delivered.

Anyhow, I don't want to go over all the details, I just want to thank you for posting the news and second Robbie's suggestion and say I'd appreciate more info from you in private, if that's possible.

Thanks again,

Ethan
(AKA: Mad Guru)

Paul Darnell has reappeared recently (October 2009) on this thread. He has posted his email and contact phone numbers on the thread for anyone who wishes to get in touch with him.

TMP link

Thanks, Joe.

I heard from Paul a little more than a month ago. He got in touch and settled his debt to me. I actually put up a post here at TMP on the British Wargaming and Consumer Affairs boards about Touching History clearing up a debt. Since I'd posted about the problem he'd left me it seemed only fair to post about the solution he provided.

It took some time but I have to give Paul credit for doing the right thing.

Yes, there are very few people in this business who would do that. Excellent news.

Let us hope that a brighter future is in store for everyone in 2010, I certainly won't be sad to see the back of 2009.

I engaged Paul to make me a Romanian / Dacian battlefield.

I am suppose to get it around now. I have his email, but his mobile / home numbers has been changed.

If anyone has any information, please send me an email: spepa@pop-pepa.com.

Steven Pepa

Steve- I just saw a link to his website in the Conventions board onTMP the article is Big Spanish town. There is a link in the posts to the sale site..
I hope this helps,clif

Steve, replied on the other post; TMP link

Steve, Goose666 gave you the link to Paul's new blog.
Here it is again
link

I hope this helps.
Paul does great stuff but his rep of delivery is taking a hit.
Let us all know if you work this out.
Thanks,Clif

Clif – Thank you very much. I really appreciate it. I cannot get a hold of him, and I have been planning this model for years. It's taken me 8 years to prepare the Dacians / Romans, and Paul said he could do this model and pointed me to his work.

He is suppose to build a very large battlefield of a Dacian fort with the Romans attacking. Anway, it will be fantastic.

If anyone knows where he is right now, it would be greatly appreciated.

Steve

I can't remember where I saw it but I think Paul is making a clean break from the hobby. I am also pretty certain he is not taking on any more commissions. Either way I have a connection via a friend and will ask him to respond here.

Paul does epic work keeping the flame of Peter
Gilders grand style alive. He has been copied
by many , look at the recent W.I. 293 Empire
Cracks set up.
Paul as a true artist does tend to wander between
projects but always comes back. Something we have
to except if we use him, but in return you get a
great product and amazing value.

All,

I do not question Paul's capacity or ability, or his honour.

I have to arrange pick-up and the shipping guys are giving me a lot of grief. I cannot get a hold of him. Maybe something happened, or I need to reschedule next week.

If anyone knows how to get to him right now, just let me know.

Steve

Looks like he might have been busy writing a book.

TMP link

Don't bother with the police. It's not a police matter. There is nothing in your posts to suggest he has intended to not fill your order. In fact you have said you believe he intended to complete the order. Therefore, like you said not fraud, so it's a civil debt and if you aren't able to make contact and sort then you will have to take out a civil action through the courts.
It's very difficult when communications break down. When people go through difficult times in their life it's easy for people to let things slide and not deal with stuff they would normally deal with. Even decent hardworking people. I hope you are able to contact him and get your issue resolved.

More elusive than Osama Bin Laden – still they got him in the end!

No excuses for a lack of communication…period.

Posts
Hello,

Over the next month or so I'm finishing off models and terrain for all my outstanding clients and if I have time I may post some last pictures of them.

Apart from that, that's it for all things wargaming, no more models for sale etc, as I need to push on with more creative stuff as I'm getting on a bit, that and the fact that I'm rather slow at making models, which means people wait far too long for them, which is jolly unfair.

The picture gallery will stay up for a while longer and I'll try and add the pics to it from all the deleted posts, so everyone gets a chance to look through them before its deleted.

Many thanks for all those who bought models and terrain from me over the years and for those who waited longer than they should have and to those few who will get their models over the next couple of weeks.

I wish you all well in life and wargaming.

Cheers Paul.

Bottom post;

link

Hello,

If anyone wants to get in touch more easily regarding outstanding models etc, please could you use my art email – Artblagg@aol.com, as I'll shortly be deleting the Touchinghistory@aol.com email.

The majority of outstanding models will be posted out next week and I'll be more in touch with everyone from then, as I can now see the wood and the trees.

So next week should see a lot of posts with pictures from a good variety of terrain layouts and models.

If anyone wants to take a look at my art blog, please use this link. There is not much to see at the moment as I'm busy making models, but it will take off in May/June when I have more time to devote to it.

Naturally I'll be using my model making skills for some art projects, with a few of them having some model based art features which may interest some of you.

Not really focused on any specific art medium as yet, but more abstract stuff is in the running as I like the story which lies behind this type of art.

Many thanks

Paul

link

Well he just updated his blog yesterday with a load of models he has been making. Still claiming he is giving up making models but says he will continue making them for a few weeks. Been doing this for years but never explains his definition of a few weeks so who knows when he will be packing in.

Anyway he gives this email as a contact-

artblagg@aol.com.

Good luck.

If you get no responce have alook at; HM Courts and Tribunal Service – Money claim process.. very good for getting money back and quite simple to follow. link

From the sounds of it, its a very long running issue, and I have a suspicion only legal action will either get you the terrain or the money if he has taken this long and now in hiding.