Academy M-18 Hellcat U.S. Army Gun Motor Carriage 1/35th scale, missing part

[FrontierCybrarian]

Gents, one and all!

I found 4 awesome models at a thrift store for a couple bucks each. They were placed with the boxed jig-saw puzzles so weren't readily noticed by other shoppers.

All seemed to be complete when viewed at the store but upon further inspection at home I noticed the Academy M-18 Hellcat was missing instructions and the top hull. Google led me to a site with instructions so I downloaded the 16pp PDF manual.

BUT now, where am I going to find the missing hull? It's the only part missing. Will I need to purchase a new $30+ kit just to get the hull and use my thrift store model for spare parts?

Do any of you know if there are model "salvage yards (junk yards)" that may have my missing part?

Also while I have your attention, I have a question for y'all. I apologize in advance if it's stupid or elementary:

What are the differences between tanks, self-propelled guns, and gun motor carriages? They all look basically the same to me and I classify them all as "TANKS."
Surely they must have different purposes and are classified separately for a reason. Enlighten me please. I want to know.

Thanks for viewing my thread.

[bayonetbrant]

Tanks = direct-fire weapons on a heavily protected chassis, expected to stand and fight toe-to-toe with the enemy

Self-propelled artillery = indirect-fire weapons on a somewhat-protected chassis, expected to run like hell when taking fire so armor is lighter

[Jack Nastyface]

And to get your third definition in ...a "gun carriage" fires a direct fire weapon (aka a tank gun) from a somewhat protected chassis.

IIRC, US army doctrine upon entering WWII was to use "tanks" to support infantry assaults, and towed guns (like the 57mm and 75mm guns) for anti-tank work.  Like most plans, this doctrine fell apart once it made contact with the enemy, so the US Army started to upgrade (and up-gun) their tanks, and started to deploy more anti-tank gun carriages (also know as tank hunters).  Gun carriages are lighter than tanks, so theoretically they were to use rapid response and "shoot and scoot" tactics. 

You might be able find some joy re: missing parts, here:  http://www.modelrectifier.com/

[FrontierCybrarian]

Bayonet, and JackNasty thanks for the great explanations. It's now starting to make sense. A few years ago I was unknowledgeable enough to think self-propelled armored vehicle meant it was mobile without crew and was operated like an RC car with radio control. Perhaps I was thinking it was a mobile "land drone." How stupid of me. I know there are small "land drones" but a giant multi-ton beast...who knows, maybe some day even...TRANSFORMING.

So now, why did Academy Hobby Model Kits subtitle the M-18 Hellcat as a "U.S. Army Gun Motor Carriage"? Wiki leads me to believe it is a fast (up to 60mph)
self-propelled tank destroyer. Used to flank German tanks for a side or rear shot. It was lightly armored in order to achieve the fast mobility.

I'm beginning to see the picture about armored vehicle classifications. I will bring the M-18 Hellcat to life if I can find the dang hull part.

JackNasty, I also appreciate your referral to the missing part site. Groghead members have always been helpful to me. You answered the "gun motor carriage" question while I was posting and your entry came through a few seconds before mine.

[GDS_Starfury]

try here for some parts:

http://www.network54.com/Forum/47214/

[Staggerwing]

FWIW, I think the pre- and intra- WW2 US Army called anything with an engine, 1 or more guns of 50 cal or above, and an open hull or open turret a 'Gun Motor Carriage' (GMC) including self propelled howitzers, tank destroyers, and even half-tracks with quad-fifty AA guns.

[GDS_Starfury]

Im reading that Kasserine freebie right now and how they go on about the halftracks being 'tank destroyers' makes me cringe inside.

[FrontierCybrarian]

GDS_Starfury thanks for pointing me in the direction to locate missing model parts. I'll make my request known there. What? Half-tracks as "tank destroyers." For Pete's sake...their usual guns aren't big enough...are they!

Staggerwing, your explanation of gun motor carriage seems to be the case after studying this a bit more. There doesn't appear to be strict and hard fast
criteria when classifying WW2 armored vehicles. There are commonalities in each group.

Thanks guys, you are great.

[FrontierCybrarian]

I found the missing hull for the M-18 Hellcat at this site:

http://www.modelrectifier.com/index.asp

Peggy, the customer service rep., telephoned me twice from New Jersey informing me of the find. She sold the parts at a reasonable price. I applaud such wonderful service.

[GDS_Starfury]

great to hear.  thats the parent company for quite a few manufacturers.

[FrontierCybrarian]

GDS_Starfury, appreciate your knowledge regarding this. Now I plan to purchase 1/35 U.S. tank crew figures at reasonable prices. It seems the figures alone are priced alright but the postage cost in sending them is quite high. I guess with plastic models and kits companies have to pack and pad them more carefully so there is no breakage during shipment.

There are several model shops in my area that will have the figures I need.

Thanks for participating in this thread.

[Jack Nastyface]

We will be looking forward to pictures of your "works in progress"... :)

[FrontierCybrarian]

Jack Nastyface, I'm not much of a photographer and I basically will slowly build the models during the viewing of major league baseball games on my computer. It will be a new experience painting such tiny parts, too.

Also, I might give the models to a brother who loves modeling perhaps more than I do. Still a bit undecided.

I have so many pc games that need installed and played. But, it's great to have such options.