Back to the madness . . . .
I am new to this forum, but not to modelling. After being out of the hobby for over 25 years, I decided to dive back in after all my kids (finally!) moved out. As evidence of my masochistic streak, I decided to rebuild something I've been carrying around for 30 years, just to get my groove back: A 1977 Monogram 1/32 release of an early-prod. M4 Sherman Hedgehog. If you're old enough, you remember the Monogram kits from the 70's, with the incredible diorama-building brochures, courtesy of the legendary Shepperd Paine. After building 1/48 fighter planes since I was 5 years old, this was my first AFV, and I was hooked, set on fire by the pics of Shep's dioramas.
Long story short, there ain't jack **** available for upgrades or mods of 1/32 AFVs, 1/35 having become the benchmark long ago, so it's been a challenge, especially since my skills had all but atrophied over the years and my 50 year-old eyes are, well, 50 years old. No PE sets, no custom resin kits, nada (BTW-anybody know where to find an old CalScale brass M2 .50 cal in 1/32?). But I'm enjoying it to death. The wife scowled slightly when I bought a new airbrush and compressor, but I had prepared my business case by making an Excel spreadsheet comparing the expenditures for my hobby gear (mostly reusable) and her makeup and pantyhose and haircare crap (all consumables). She didn't like it, but there was little complaint to be made in the face of my figures, which suprised even me. I will pay for that, somhow, someway, but for now, I have a new Paasche and a new Dragon release- the Marder II- waiting for me to finish the Sherman. And after busting open the Marder and marvelling at the individually molded and packaged tread links and aluminum PaK-40 barrel, I gotta tell you, the crappy detail and shoddy fit of the old Monogram M4 seems all the more primitive. But such is the nature of this fever, that I endeavor to persevere. I even dug out a bunch of old
Military Modeller mags from the 70's (she didn't know I still had 'em) and, man, this internet stuff would've been most welcom back in '77. I anticipate a great retirement. If my eyes hold out.