Renting M18 Hellcats and cannons and such
NC-Mike: Yep, have rented out varous pieces of the kit to movie houses and production companies. You may see my M8 armored car in the movie "Men Staring at Goats" (really weird title;- shot partially at the NM Military Institute in Roswell, NM). They used it as a prop - didn't need to run or anything - just delivdered it to the set, loaded back on the trailer two days later and drove it back to Albuquerque! My friend drove it down there and was fed really well and paid by the day (Union Extra Scale) while he babysat the M8!
Rates for rentals very greatly...appearance fees for armored vehciles can run to $1000-2000 a day plus expenses and insurance against damage. I don't have much experience with that subject but people in the know tell me that movie productions are notorious for doing dmage and then not paying to R&R.
Hellcat was paid an appearance fee for the Lock & Load episode but it was essentially all used up for the transportation, hotel, gas, wear & tear, food, etc. Transporting Hellcats via tractor trailer runs about $4 a mile OR MORE! They are not overweight but they are overwidth (108") and require permits to go through weigh stations. I have my gear listed with several equipment rental companies that search out owners with equipment the movie houses want for productions....NM has a good start on a movie industry - good locations, great weather, and big tax breaks! New sound stages just south of the airport and lots of wide-open locations!
Supposedly there will be a movie shot (full length) in SW next spring using Hellcat(s) PLURAL! and some German armor. Saints ande Soldiers was thier first movie - well done on a tright budgtet. New film is supposed to cover a tank destroyer battalion fighting in late winter in N. Europe against German tanks.....shooting is supposed to take about 6 weeks. I want to retire and just hang out in the woods shooting blanks at German tanks and driving the Hellcat around in the woods.....for money!
I have lots of blank ammo I can load up. Should be a hoot! Several guys from Phoenix will accompany me to assist with driving shores, shooting and loading blanks. Will have to buy several new 55 gallon drums and have them filled with Aviation Gas for the Hellcat...at 2/3 mile per gallon fuel cost and pumping fuel into the two tanks wil be a chore. 175 gallon capacity....150 mile range or so. Engine holds 17 gallon of motor oil in dry sump configuration....495 HP, 975 cu in. radial with 9 cylinders. Produces 1100 ft-lb torque at 2400 RPM. Trans is a 3 speed hydramatic by GM.