Bulk "uploads" via tables

I'm trying to populate a node with a gallery via the tables rather than the node itself.

I create the node
Add my files to the correct directories, original and thumbs
Add file info to the files table
Add image info to the imagefield table
Update the sequences table

But I seem to be missing something.

I view the node and there are no images
I edit the node and there are no images
I click upload in the imagfiled and voila, all the thumbs appear with the titles I have entered.
I submit the node and no images appear, in addition the records are gone from the imagefield table.

I would love to get this to work as I have massive numbers of photos to import.

Any ideas?

Thank you.