Not only is it taking place during the second week of being on my new job, but now it looks like I will be in the middle of a house hunt during all of April. It is highly unlikely I'll be able to sneak away for a day or two.

I'm bummed. I hope it's at the same location next year, because it's really not that far from my new home.

This is the second book on the Firefly IC from Wojciech Gawrych, the first being from the Rossgraph series History&Model (http://www.172shermans.com/references_page2.htm#Sherman%20IC%20Firefly). This new book in the Progres Publishing series Armor PhotoGallery is typical of this series, and it differs from the earlier book by not having all of the modeling information. It begins with several pages of full color walk-around photos of a Firefly preserved in a South African tank museum, followed by scale plans in 1/48th and 1/35th scales (I guess 1/72nd isn't a "real" modeling scale), several pages of design drawings from the tank's operator's manual, and finally a section on the history and development of the Firefly IC, thoroughly illustrated with numerous black & white wartime photos. Another excellent book from Progres.

Recently picked up a couple of these new sets (item #MTX7204). Modelltrans was following Extratech's lead with the release of a very small, tight, detail set, providing only a couple of must-have items for any and all Sherman tanks. The main items of note in this set are the brush guards for the head and tail lights, and for the periscopes. Enough pieces are included to outfit a single tank. Also included are a vane sight, British-style antenna, and a storage rack for the front hull (also seen on British tanks). This is a very inexpensive set, and it's well worth getting several for all of your non-Dragon Sherman kits.

Not sure how many people read this blog, but I just want to put it out there that I am in the process of moving, so I won't have access to my desktop PC for a couple of months. Since all my website files are on the PC, I won't be able to update 172Shermans.com for at least the next two months, maybe longer. In the meantime, I hope to post more interesting articles on this blog instead. Wish me luck.

Recently accepted a new job in Milwaukee, and am now in Wisconsin looking for a new place to live. So far, after Day 1, no luck. Feeling a bit discouraged by the lack of available house rentals...