Retrokits 1/72 Knox 35 4 x 2 7ton Tractor

This is a vehicle that I myself know very little about. But this I have gleaned from Retrokits own info sheet: Knox Martin is universally regarded as the world's pioneer of the articulated truck. As the Knox Automotive Co it produced, for the American market, a variety of light and medium trucks from its formation in 1901 through to 1908. The earliest of them was a three-wheeler van version based on the Knox car.

It was in 1909 that Charles Henry Martin, a former Knox employee, rejoined the company and patented his Martin Rocking Fifth Wheel. This was a device for coupling semi-trailers to tractor units. The weight of the semi-trailer front end was taken by the tractor rear axle as opposed to the tractor chassis. The first Knox Martin tractors were three-wheelers with a steerable single front wheel capable of an almost 90-degree lock angle. This made the outfit extremely manoeuvrable, but also prone to accidents at high speeds.

In 1914 Knox began building 4-wheel tractors. The Model 35 was built from 1915 and several were used by the French army to move large artillery pieces and later coupled with French La Buire trailers, as tank transporters. 6 Knox 35 were in service with the British army in 1918. With a towing capacity of 15 to 20 tons the outfit could move the Schneider Ca.1 tanks.

The Knox-Martin principle formed the basis of the highly successful Scammell articulated six-wheeler in the UK in 1922.

The kit comes packed in that white cardboard box that is part of the brand of Retrokits, with the parts protected by zip-locked bags or bubble plastic. The kit is done in their usual pretty hard, grey resin, and consists of some 40+ parts. The moulding of Retrokits usual class, that is first rate, with no moulding flash, and minimal pour stubs.

The detailing is sharp, crisp and well done. Some of the part bear resemblance with parts from a well-known plastic truck kit. 

As mentioned above: I know very little of this vehicle, but when I compare it to the photos it looks fully realistic and accurate both in overall shape and in small details.

The kit comes with a basic but quite sufficient plan - see to the left here - and a sheet with historical notes. There are no painting instructions of the model and no decals, but this is the standard when it comes to resin kits of this type so I I can't say it aggravates me.

I understand that Retrokits plan to issue a kit of the semi-trailer that was used by this tractor, when it was employed as a mover for tanks like the Schneider CA.1 - which can also can be found in the Retrokits range. The three will surely make a nice combo! 

This kit can be bought from Tracks & Troops in the Czech Republic or directly from Retrokits themselves.

Well, this is another almost flawless WW1 kit from Retrokits, a company which now must be rated among the top resin military model producers in Europe, with an ever expanding range. Well done Domi!