[Geek44]

Well I've had my financial manager (Ms. Geek) rubber-stamp some expenditure lately so it' looks okay on that score. My unbuilt stash is very small, maybe five kits that stand a chance of ever being built, but this Pz. IV has kinda whetted my armour appetite. I went to the local hobby shop three days ago and came home empty handed. There was Hasegawa's 1/48 Henschel 129 for $50 and ICM's 1/48 Heinkel 177 Greif for...sitting down? $135.00! I also saw a 1/48 Hasegawa P-38. It's the kit my Verlinden set is designed to fit, but I stayed strong. Yesterday, I went to the local toy shop. They have a great selection that tends to survive on the shelves a lot longer. They had several good Dragon armour kits and some recet Tamiya releases too. Dragon's Stug III had me interested but I don't know if the kit includes the armour skirts...Tamiya's does but they're way too thick...I can't buy a kit and brass for it. There was a weird vehicle I'd never seen too. Best described as a Tiger 1 turret on a modified Elefant chassis. But I'm after specific stuff. A Dragon 'Permium Edition' Elefant or a Tiger 1 late model. I'm happy to do my own zimmerit (well, not happy but I'll cope). I also saw two copies of Tamiya's nice little Jpz. IV L70 which is a favourite vehicle of mine. Built it twice now but next time, it will have the 'works'. Tamiya persist in supplying the howitzer barrel and the 75 long barrel too. What they've neglected is the inclusion of two sets of steel wheels for the front bogies when using the long barrel. Ms. Geek has advised me that the big comp. is on in two weeks. Sadly, I'll have nothing (again) to enter this year, but I'll have some cash to splash...I'm holding off until then. So it's Panzer IV finishing time (going well incidentally) with pics to come in the next couple of days.
Peace.