CMP Ford F-AT Quad...help?

[DaveW]

Just for fun, another photo update...

I test fitted the Axles again, along with the newly added Power Take Off.
In this case, its an adapted Axle/Differential used to drive the power winch/tow cable.

I need only to complete the Drive Transfer unit and then I can sort out all the driveshafts.

Engine and Transmission are still on hold until I decide what to do about Body, floor pan, and interior components.

[DaveW]

Can anyone explain some of this to me?
or give me more photos.

There appears to be a flat plate between the frame rails at the very rear?
Does it span rail to rail?
is it mounted below the rails (to the bottom of the frame rails?
Just how much area does it cover and what is it for?

Also...there are two cable reels...
what are these for?
And are they mounted below that plate I mentioned above?
is that the purpose of the flat plate? (a mounting surface?)

I'm guessing the two reels, create a guide for the tow cable...but I am guessing.
I assume these reels are not driven.
But are they brakes of some sort?

What about the diameter of these reels?

These are the only photos I have, and things aren't clear to me.

[DaveW]

Bruce...you mean the Wheels?!
The center hubs of the wheels are wrong?

You are telling me that the front is on the back, and the back is on the front!?!

lol
yes, the wheels are not attached.
I just pushed them onto the axles so I could take a photo.
I wasn't paying any attention to their position.
Even the Axles/Diffs are not glued in place yet...the springs are just resting on them
(again, for the purpose of a photo).

Thanks...good eye...!

[Richard Coutts-Smith]

Dave, assuming that the winch fairleads are same across the range of CMP's:
The two wire rope sheaves or pulleys are un-braked and measure in at 8 3/4inch diameter, 1 1/2inch thick, mounted on a vertical pin that passes through a boss top and bottom of both sheaves. This gives an overall height of 3 3/4 inches between the two mounting plates. The top mounting plate is as you have marked, going full width under the chassis rail. There is a lower plate that retains the mounting pins, it is the width of the two sheaves combined, and is basically a wide "U" section welded to the underside of the top plate.
The bottom roller I have goes full side to side, but guessing the diameter would be the same, 3 1/2 inch.
You know there is a set of fairleads on the front bumper as well?
Rich.

[DaveW]

Originally Posted by Richard Coutts-Smith

Dave, assuming that the winch fairleads are same across the range of CMP's:
The two wire rope sheaves or pulleys are un-braked and measure in at 8 3/4inch diameter, 1 1/2inch thick, mounted on a vertical pin that passes through a boss top and bottom of both sheaves. This gives an overall height of 3 3/4 inches between the two mounting plates. The top mounting plate is as you have marked, going full width under the chassis rail. There is a lower plate that retains the mounting pins, it is the width of the two sheaves combined, and is basically a wide "U" section welded to the underside of the top plate.
The bottom roller I have goes full side to side, but guessing the diameter would be the same, 3 1/2 inch.
You know there is a set of fairleads on the front bumper as well?
Rich.

My "pulleys" are 12" x 2" scale size...so not too far off.
Not bad for a guess.
Sometimes, a bit bigger is better for scale assembly.

I am still unclear about the second mounting plate.
The "wide U section" you refer to.
I can see part of it in my reference photos, but its still not clear to me
how it mounts, or its actual shape and size.
Its not a big concern, since I am not including every accurate detail, but...



...
"fairleads"...whats that?
You wouldn't be talking about that roller cable guide thingy?
Is that what you refer to "up front"?



...
Where is the cable guide in the rear?
Does it go here(photo)?
Something is missing (on my model) to guide the tow cable under the frame.

[Richard Coutts-Smith]

Better described as a Wide "L" shaped plate...this also holds the guide roller behind the sheaves.
Fairleads = Roller Cable Thingy, or any roller guiding the winch cable.
The fairleads on the front, as shown in your pic, are nice and simple, they can be heavier and more complex than that: swing out rollers to pass the cable hook/eye through.
Just in case.... the wire rope is fed around the outer sheave and forward to the fairlead on the front bumper for when winching is required at the front of the truck.
Rich.

[DaveW]

o-tay!
I have a much clearer understanding of this...thank you.

I may have to reduce the diameter of my pulleys...I don't know.
But I definitely have to add that lower plate.

The fairlead is going to be a small problem, because even at 1/16 scale
those rollers are less than 1 or 2mm diameter...and its hard to roll paper cylinders that small!

I try to produce a "kit" that is self contained
...in other words, doesn't require you to introduce any other materials other than the printed paper parts I supply.
Obviously some builders like to add other materials and alter parts using other materials to be more realistic or detailed.
Its totally up to the builder...but I try not to expect that in my kits.
My kits will produce a basic model, that is complete using only whats supplied.

I may have to come up with a boxy stylized contraption instead.

...
anyway, thanks again for your assistance.
The help here has been great so far!
Thanks again Ian!!

...
I managed to finally sort out a basic design for the Drive Transfer Unit.
Is that what we're calling it?
lol
The unit that connects directly behind the Transmission,
and feeds the front and rear prop shafts/drive axles.
And in this case, also supplies the Power takeoff for the Tow Winch.

Being well hidden under the frame, I didn't want to get carried away with details
or make the assembly too complicated,
but I also had difficulty understanding its overall shape and how it sat within the frame.
Now I understand.




After that, I need to check the alignment of all the drive elements.
No point in continuing if things didn't line up!

I did build the basics of the power takeoff drive shaft, so I could test the closest component.
And I wanted to get the Transfer Unit glued into place, so I needed that connection.

But I also managed to confirm that the lower driveshafts(propshafts) and axles/diffs all line up.
At least close enough to sort out the angles and the propshafts.