Nick - I totally agree with you on the Royal Armories collection which I have visited several times. And to think that all that had been in storage at the Tower of London for all those years! Hopefully you will also get a chance to travel to Paris - the collection at the Musee de l'Armee at Les Invalides is worth seeing as well.

And as a father of a PhD student who graduated a few years ago, I know how much time and personal sacrifice goes into studying at that level. Best wishes to you. Let us know when you publish anything and hopefully we can get a link to read the work. I am sure I am not the only one interested in your field of study.

Brian