Well, I finally got back from vacation and things pretty much ready for the coming winter so it's time to get back to modelling. Really cool to see all the new modelers on here, and a lot a really great work from them.

I haven't done any actual model building on the FT-17 or anything, but I have been plugging away on this Knox truck project. Since my last post I drew up the transmission, front end and most of the body parts. The one piece I'm not really sure of is the correct front end. What I modeled here is a Vulcan 5 Ton front end from the time. The front end is the only part I'm not really sure what was used. After a lot of study the Vulcan is the only one I could find plans for that fit the proper configuration for the type of steering box and tie rod setup this truck used, so I went with it.

Here is a rendering of the front end from my drawing. After modeling the lower portion of the engine, I did have to put a bend to lower the tie rod to clear the oil pan.  The engine had to sit fairly low so the starter crank could go out under the radiator.

I drew up the combination transmission and differential, running boards, fuel tank and toolbox. By this time, I decided to go ahead and draw the wheels and tires as well. My original plan to use the tires and wheels from the Liberty truck would work fine, but that is about all the parts that would work from the liberty truck so I decided I might as well print the wheels for this and keep the liberty truck kit intact. Below is how the chassis looks now.

I drew up the hood and main body parts and then filled in the lower engine. The engine is not highly detailed because it doesn't really show much. I spent quite a bit of time looking at the photos trying to figure out what the corrugated box looking thing between the front wheels was. I finally came across a design drawing of a muffler with a note saying it was used on the Knox tractors. So indeed, that is the muffler in front of the front axle.

Here is the current point the 3d Model is at.

I have done a little more than what is in these pictures. What I still have to do, is controls like pedals and gear shifts, the canopy or roof whatever you want to call it, the lights and some detail items like bolts on the front bumper. Then I need to go back through and add or change some of the pins etc to connect the parts together. My friend that printed the parts about gave me some measurements to get the pins and some of the clearances between the parts better. I'm guessing I'll have the files for him to print some more prototype stuff in the next two weeks.

In the meantime, I'm hoping to get back to my FT-17 in the next few days.