Leg update, mail call and dugs bollocks

My friends, thank you for all your nice comments over the past few days! Things have been a little tight and stressful with the upcoming x-ray so I wasn't able to catch up with everyone as much as I'd wanted, but after today's visit things should get better! So I'm finally able to stand on both legs as is documented in vivid detail in the last photo 😆 The leg is 98% healed, but there are still a few tiny fragments missing that need to be "filled and sanded". The doctor says I can put almost the entire weight on the leg and I switched from those large crutches to French crutches (although I can easily walk with just one crutch). But psst, don't tell the doc, I can also walk without them! Not gonna try luck too much though, I'll still take the crutch on walks outside or when going down the stairs, but being able to stand up from the workbench without crutches to get something is gonna be a huge relief. Also, more riding! To be fair I was a bit disappointed at first, I was hoping for no crutches, but on the other hand, it's much better than it was, and it's almost full recovery! Also, when I'm walking on my own I don't have a limp, which is most likely the result of my almost religious physical rehab, haha. Also, the next x-ray is on December 29th, so hey, hopefully, this time it'll be all good at last? Also an excuse for a super rad New Years' celebration? We'll see 😁 

In other news, the Mark IV has finally arrived. It's strange, but these kits seem to have disappeared from the market. All the Tamiyas, Takoms and Mengs, just gone. One of the Patrons (cheers In Sidious!) started a conversation about the Tamiya kit and its inflated price, so I wanted to check for myself. Seeing the kit in stock in my favorite store (super-hobby, no ad!) I went to look through my reference folder for the tank and found that sunken photo I posted earlier. And that settled things! But the current price for the Tamiya kit is ridiculous. 95 euros is just way too much. I built the kit back when it came out and I got it for 40 back then. Speaking of building it already, I'm very glad because this might be one of the, if not the best armor kit I've ever built, thanks to the excellent fit and absolutely mind-blowing working tracks that can be assembled in 15 minutes. I've bought two sets of Friuls, one for the tracks and the other for grouser pads many years ago, back when only Emhar kits were available, and needless to say, the track set will remain unused in my drawer. I'll add the grousers though, they fit the plastic tracks perfectly. Also, the included electric motor is just plain silly in my opinion, and it just inflates the price even more.

Also also, the Black Dog figure is a mixed bag. It has a great pose for the diorama, it has a club on his shoulder (how cool is that!) but he's a small giant compared to Panzer Art figures! Also, the casting is not the best, and some of the sculpting is rather simplified. 

I also received one more set of figures for the Jagdpanther diorama, and this is prime material for dog's bollocks jokes! 😆 Interestingly, the casting quality in this set is questionable. Lots of large bubbles, some of them destroying very important details like the hair or face of the figure, etc. To their credit, they give you extra parts in the box. I imagine their policy is instead of throwing a faulty casting away, they'll add it as a small bonus to a properly cast part, so you can get one extra if you're willing to invest some time into it. Now I've got 3 dogs, 6 balls, and several spare heads! 😁 

Anyway, I'll try to do some painting today, although I'm really exhausted. Not sure how the medical care is in other countries, but here, if you're going for a check-up with your leg or arm, it's at least half a day spent in the waiting room! Although to the doc's credit, today I had to wait only 3 hours, haha.