M18 interior references

[halaci]

I would be very glad if somebody could help me with some references about the interior of the M18 Hellcat. I would need details of the left side and the back of the turret, where the traversing mechanism and the radio(s) are and the sponson ammo racks. I have the Academy kit, maybe in the AFV Club one there are some details? Strange, that even though AFAK there are some working examples of this gun there are so few pics available.

[navy95]

Hi,

There are some interesting pics at SVSM
http://svsm.org/gallery/m18family

You can also take a look to the Academy Hellcat that I slighty improved ;)
( sorry, that's a french speaking language forum, but pictures do not have any nationality :D )
http://www.colleurs-de-plastique.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15006

[halaci]

Thank you very much! I knew the pictures on the svsm link, but your build blog is invaluable! Beautiful job what you did with this old kit.

Questions: 1. What are those tiny chains on the front headlight frame for? 2. I see that you put 4-4 ammo on to the sponsons. Any idea about the possible configuration for the 18-18 pieces? 3. Did you have any info that the "I don't want a" had the M1A2 barrel? The Brest picture which is in both the Osprey and the Concorde book shows it the M1A1 barrel w/o the muzzle break. (For 1 and 3 you have maybe discussed on the original forum, but unfortunately I can not speak French.)

[navy95]

Thanks :cool:

1- the chain is there to secure the cap of the small tube behind the headlight where supposingly is stored the spare light bulb

2- the standard configuration is 6-6 ( but I realized that too late :mad: ) with an additional ammo round above the 2 others on each side

3- the marking is probably the only thing which is 100% inaccurate :eek:
indeed I searched for some info, but having found nothing that matches what I wanted ( the dio in progress is somewhere in the NE of France in Oct-Nov 1944 ),
I decided to use an artistical licence for choosing the decals :p
For sure, the Brest picture cannnot show it with the M1A2 barrel because it was not introduced in combat unit yet ( not before fall 1944 )

Any questions, let me know, even if my english is not that good, I think I learnt a lot about the M18 Hellcat that might help :thumb: