Page models / virtual page issue

Is it possible for a page model of a top level page to interfere with the the model of a child page?

I am trying to turn images into virtual pages, which i know works because i have it running fine elsewhere in the site. As soon as i move it into the model for the page i actually want it on, the virtual pages dissapear.

Basically im generating virtual pages from an API and then mixing local content with that. I want to turn the images uploaded to those virtual pages into virtual pages them selves. im wondering if thats where issue is.

Any clues at all?