Dan,
I see what you mean.  In fact, I think I'd tend more toward the
"non-authentic" ruling -- and here are my reasons why:

1. I can only recall ONE episode where Bandit was seen pulling on something like
this with his mouth -- in the Mystery of the Lizard Men, he did this to a lizard
man's wet suit.  BUT, in the scene where this happens, Bandit jumps from the
right and bites the lizard man on the butt, then turns and pulls *in mid-air*
back toward the right before letting it go with a snap.  None of the frames show
the pose in this cel, with Bandit *facing* to the right - he's always facing to
the left.  (Unless I'm forgetting some scenes in other episodes...)  All other
cels I've seen that claim to be from a classic JQ episode, I've been able to
find the scene (and in most cases the exact frame) where the image comes from --
I can't with this item.

2. A nearly exact duplicate of the pose in the cel can be found on one of the
Bandit model sheets on our site.  The pose actually is a mirror-image of the
cel, but (except for the eyes, which on the model sheet are closed) it otherwise
appears to be an exact copy.  Too perfect, as you mentioned.  I'd think it would
be "easy" (for someone with artistic talent) to produce this given accessability
to the model sheet.

3. And, yes, Bandit's collar was always blue, in every episode.  This may be the
most telling argument against authenticity of all. (Of course, to be absolutely
honest, I've not verified that every episode had a blue collar in every
scene...I probably should before making such authoritative pronouncements.  But,
as I recall, the "blue collar rule" is true.)

The above reasons, plus the others you mentioned (globby paint, no holes or
acetate markings, etc.) make me suspicious.  Of course, I'm by NO MEANS any kind
of expert -- but the above points, which as a JQ fan I can point to, raise some
doubts.

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And here's Dan's reply:

Now that you mention it, you are right about the model sheet Bandit!
The seller even told me that he bough it at a show, and that the guy he
bought it from had more. It was my fault for being taken, I shoulda known
better. I really have my doubts about some of the others on Ebay
too....you'd be surprised at how defensive people act when you email them
to ask a few questions about their cels.
As far as acetate thickness, the difference is like a really thick piece
of typewriter paper, vs. that really thin writing paper. I'm no expert on
these cels either, but all I can do is compare the old cels with the new
ones. I have a Herculoids cel too, and it is similar to the JQ ones. I
notice there have been a real run lately of Herc cels, and this one guy
keeps selling the same ones over and over again! I am really
wondering....of course, these cels are framed and matted (like the Bandit
one was), but this guy offers a Certicicate of Authenticity, which really
means nothing. I bet he is banking on the fact that no one is going to tear
apart a frame and matte to see if the holes and scene numbers are really on
the cels.