Hobby Master Archive

Hobby Master 1/72 Ground Power Series HG3809 US M8 Light Armored Car 82nd Armored Recon. Battalion, 2nd Armored Div., 1944

True 1/72 scale.

Professionally painted.

Great attention to detail.

All markings are Tampoed (pad applied).

Extremely heavy metal with a minimum of plastic.

Highly collectable.

The American M8 was equipped with a 37mm gun and 6X6 wheel drive and was the main recon vehicle used by the US military during WWII. The only positive thing the crews had to say about the vehicle was it was reliable and fast on roads. It performed poorly off road, was very lightly armored with only sheet metal for a floor. It had an open top with no periscopes and exposed the crew to weather and enemy fire. Over 8,500 were manufactured in 1942 - 1943.

On July 15, 1940 the 82nd Armored Reconnaissance Battalion was formed as part of the 2nd Armored Division “Hell on Wheels”. In September 1944 some 82nd recon patrols entered Belgium 12 hours before other American troops. On January 16, 1945 near Houffalize parts of the 82nd closed the Ardennes gap and linked the 9th U.S. Army with the 3rd U.S. Army. The Allies engaged in numerous actions as they pursued the retreating Germans that escaped the Ardennes. The 82nd was considered the “eyes and ears” of the 2nd Armored Division.

Specifications for the Ford M8 light armored car Crew - 4 Performance Engine - Hercules JXD 6-cylinder gasoline 110 hp (82Kw) Speed - 56mph (90km/h) Range - 349.8 miles (563km) Turn radius - 28ft (8.5m) Maximum grade - 60% Suspension - 6X6 wheel with leaf springs Dimensions Length - 16.4ft (5m) Width - 8.33ft (2.54m) Height - 7.38ft (2.25m)

Armor - maximum 0.75in (19mm)

Armament Primary - 37mm M6 gun Secondary - 1 X 0.30 caliber M1919A4 machine gun 1 X 0.50 caliber M2 machine gun