Matt N.;
Hi! I have this very kit well under way... about 95% of the hull and turret done (still have the MG to do, plus some bits on the turret, the fuel drums, and wheels to complete working-up and detailing for final assembly). I'm curious as to why you find it a "pig" - I thought it mostly went together very well (if a little fiddly in some details) and most bits seemed to fit (though some stuff, like some of the turret ERA, needed some careful thinking and fitting before committing to cement...

). And there were some turret bits that frankly needed much better location guides...
But all-up, I thought it a pretty fun build... The most challenging part, for me, was to get those road wheels cleaned and fit so that they have the correct "step" on the inside of the rims and have no seams or gaps therein. That took some time and fiddling around...
Maybe I've somehow missed some of the "fun" that you seem to have had!
Recluses I seem to have none of at present. B' widows, on the other hand, seem to love my garage, and my closets, too! So I empathize with you on the concern. Each time I explore my stash, I pause and check for the spiders before I pull boxes... It adds an element of adventure!
Bob