Kenworth C550 Tandem Tandem Bed Truck

[SeanP]

I work at a Kenworth dealership here in Edmonton and last week I was told to rebuild our website.
I thought it would be cool to make one of our trucks in 3D to make some unique graphics for the website instead of the Kenworth canned images everyone else uses.
So I started building one of the trucks that we sell quite a few of - a C550 tandem tandem bed truck.

http://www.telusplanet.net/public/sposey/KW_C550.jpg

When finished it will have 4 axles - 2 in front and 2 in back.
It will also have a 30 ton winch and a large flat deck on the back.

These trucks come in many configurations and sizes so I should be able to make several different trucks using the same body pieces.
Here are some pics of two different sized C550s.
The first is one we have on our lot right now.
We order it from the factory bare like this and then have it rigged up for whatever job the customer will use it for.

http://www.telusplanet.net/public/sposey/0137.jpg

The second is a monster version I found on another Kenworth website.

http://www.telusplanet.net/public/sposey/BIG_C550.jpg

[Chris B]

this is very nice looking so far...
yummee

[Thomas P]

Great idea and work so far!

[Hito]

I love the monster version
What kind of trailers do these haul normaly?

[Bernardo Ratto]

Your truck dooesn't look like either. Are you taking liberties or are there pictures of trucks like yours?

[EBOLII]

Don't forget to model Bear as well..........You know BJ and his best friend Bear..........sheesh youngins!

[JasonA]

Looks good so far sean!

BJ and the bear.... wow ebolii you must be older than I thought

[EBOLII]

No I was a kid and I remember it beouse my first 4 models ever was a bj truck/smoky n bandit car/tie fighter/F4 phantom..............this is how I remember

I look forward to seeing more

[SeanP]

Xmess + ThomasP - Thanks guys, I am really happy with how it is turning out so far.

Hito - Some of these trucks have air operated 5th wheels that flip over and hide in the deck when not in use.
When the do have trailers hooked on they are just flatbeds - usually carrying a pump shack or another piece of heavy equipment.

Bernardo - I am building a fully outfitted truck using pictures of one that we had in our shop as reference..
The cab and hood of all three are the same, so just by changing the fenders , wheels, tires ...etc. you can have a different truck.

EBOLII - I remember BJ and the Bear very well - especially the blonde named "Stacks".

JasonA - Thanks dude.
I betcha I'm older than EBOLII - anyone remember a trucking show way before BJ and the Bear called Movin' On?

EBOLII - I had the trucks from Movin' On, BJ, the 77 Trans Am Blackbird from Smokey & the Bandit, I had 3 of the original first edition Enterprise models, a Klingon ship, the shuttlecraft, and 2 of the landing party sets.
I still collect the models, as well as collecting the large die cast muscle cars.

[Hito]

I bet no one can tell me the 2 shows that spun off from BJ and the Bear :D

[General Phoenix]

Damn, Hito - 2 of 'em?

I even looked it up on the internet and could only find one!

[Hito]

oops
i realized after i logged off last nght that i couldnt remember but one either.
okee then

Bet no one can tell me what that one show was that spun off from BJ & the bear

[SeanP]

Sherriff Lobo.

[Hito]

Quiet you!

[SeanP]

What??????
You said, and I quote, "Bet no one can tell me what that one show was that spun off from BJ & the bear"
You didn't say I couldn't play.

[Hito]

::chains Sean to the PC::
Fine u guessed it
now finish the truck
:D

[Hito]

BTW
once it is done it will need an autobot logo to go in the hood...

[SeanP]

Slave driver!
I hope to have it finished in a week or two for the next website meeting.
I have a whole mess of new PCs to roll out and a bunch of swaps as a result.
So we'll see if I can have it done in time.

[Hito]

well i whiped this up for when it gets far enough along :D
http://www.darkervisions.com/betaz/autobots1.jpg

[SeanP]

Update!
- I added the second set of front fenders
- tossed the sleeper because the sales manager told me this model never has a sleeper
- added the three rear windows in the cab
- added the frame pieces
- added 80% of the bed

http://www.telusplanet.net/public/sposey/KW_C550_2.jpg

http://www.telusplanet.net/public/sposey/KW_C550_3.jpg

Still lots to do yet.
I hope to get a lot more done tomorrow.
My web page meeting is on Friday.

[Hito]

Finish the sleeper even if u dont use it on the company site.
It looks really cool behind the cab.

[SeanP]

Don't worry Hito, I will.

Update!
- finished off the bed
- added the rear wheels and tires
- removed the 2 corner cab windows (I found out they don't do those on this model either.)

http://www.telusplanet.net/public/sposey/KW_C550_4.jpg

http://www.telusplanet.net/public/sposey/KW_C550_5.jpg

[BJ_O]

Originally posted by EBOLII
Don't forget to model Bear as well..........You know BJ and his best friend Bear..........sheesh youngins!

why, Why, WHY did you have to dredge up THOSE memories! For several years sometime around when I was in Kindergarten, that was the first thing people mentioned when they met me! ACK!

Of course now, even if I liked the show that much, I couldn't have any animal named Bear. My wife is an Auburn alumni!

SeanP: Looks very good! Must be nice to be able to look out the window and get all the reference material you need. :)

B.J.

[SeanP]

Thanks BJ_O!
It is handy to have the trucks right outside.
I just wander down into the shop or out onto the lot with the digital camera and grab some good closeup shots of the trucks.
We don't have any trucks on the lot right now that are all rigged up so I am working off some pics from the company's website that does the rigging for us.

I managed to get a bit more done yesterday before my boss came in and told me the website meeting was postponed until next week and he wanted me to do a couple things for him.

http://www.telusplanet.net/public/sposey/KW_C550_6.jpg

I am hoping to get some more done today.

[Titon]

Holy crap man! A truck!

Oh Canada, our home and native land! Did i say that right?

Runs from those hockey pucs!

Most impressive sir. Can't wait to see it textured.

;)

[SeanP]

Hey Don!
You are still alive eh?
Yeah, people at work were bugging me about building too many space ships. :D
Canadian and proud of it, but ashamed of our Prime Minister, the right honourable and idiotic Jean Chretien.
All you have to do is look at this guy to know he's a dolt! http://www.pm.gc.ca/
Don't worry, I'm all out of hockey pucks. :p
Thanks Don, it should be finished in about 2 weeks.

[SeanP]

Blocked in some more stuff.
A few more pieces to block in, add the winch and the headache rack, then start adding detail.

http://www.telusplanet.net/public/sposey/KW_C550_7.jpg

[Bernardo Ratto]

Lokking good, man. Can't wait to see the promotional photos you'll make with it.

[SeanP]

Thanks BR!
I will most likely post them here long before the new website is done.

[Hito]

Ahem...
::looks for updates::

[SeanP]

Here ya go Hito!
I got back to work on this thing this morning.
I started adding all the small details.
I think the darker blue is going to be the finished color as well.

http://www.telusplanet.net/public/sposey/KW_C550_8.jpg

[Hito]

S'about time. :D
When are you going to add the weapons?

[SeanP]

Yeah - yeah, I've been busy. :p
Funny you should mention that.
We have an army reservist that works here and the first thing he said was I should cut a hatch in the top and mount a .50 Cal.
Anyways, a little more progress.
Doors, door jams, windows and all the trim is done.
Still lots more to do though.

http://www.telusplanet.net/public/sposey/KW_C550_9.jpg

[Hito]

i was thinking more along the lines of a balistic missle launcher on the back

[SeanP]

That's great Hito - always thinking with your trigger finger!

[Hito]

yeah
my missle is always on my mind :D

[SeanP]

Another update - still adding the small details - lots more to do yet!

http://www.telusplanet.net/public/sposey/KW_C550_10.jpg

http://www.telusplanet.net/public/sposey/KW_C550_11.jpg

The service manager at the dealership I work at has been watching the development of this truck on our site, so here ya go Dale.
You wanted an update?
Well here's an update!
:bang: :bang: :bang: :bang: :bang:

[SeanP]

Update : more details done on the cab.

http://www.telusplanet.net/public/sposey/KW_C550_12.jpg

[Hito]

Originally posted by SeanP
Update : more details done on the cab.

If it is a cab shouldnt it be yellow?
And where are the checkers?

[SeanP]

[Archie Bunker]
Shut Up You!
[/Archie Bunker]


:bang: :bang: :bang: :bang: :bang:
:phaser: :phaser: :phaser: :phaser: :phaser:
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

[SeanP]

Thought I would give you guys a bigger picture to look at this time.

http://www.telusplanet.net/public/sposey/KW_C550_13.jpg

[SeanP]

Update:

Almost all the cab details are done.
I hope to have the rest of the model done for Wednesday.
Then the fun part starts - texturing - making it look real.

http://www.telusplanet.net/public/sposey/KW_C550_14.jpg

[Chris B]

you might want to sell this thing when done
it surely is good enough

[SeanP]

Thanks X!
I never thought about that.
Some of the small details aren't perfect as I knew I would only be doing distance shots with this model, but I guess if the buyer wanted to do close-ups with it I could redo some of the small details.
I will keep that in mind.:)

[SeanP]

Cab details complete.
Tomorrow I start the bed details, the headache rack and the winches.

http://www.telusplanet.net/public/sposey/KW_C550_15.jpg

[SeanP]

Getting closer.

http://www.telusplanet.net/public/sposey/KW_C550_16.jpg

[Hito]

Lookin really good.
A few textures ant it will be too hot.

are these kinds of trucks permitable on the open highway or are they strictly for backroads?

Gonna have this monster haul your Viper? :D

[SeanP]

Thanks Dude!
Still a bunch of small details to add before moving on to the texturing.
Yup, these trucks are street legal.
The ones with the big floatation tires are usually hauled in on a low boy trailer, but the one I've modeled can drive in the city, on the highway and out in the boonies.
Haul the Viper eh?
That makes for an interesting mental picture.

[SeanP]

And closer.

http://www.telusplanet.net/public/sposey/KW_C550_17.jpg

[SeanP]

Very close to finishing the modeling now.

http://www.telusplanet.net/public/sposey/KW_C550_18.jpg

[SeanP]

Other than a few nuts and bolts this thing is done.
I did not build the suspension and drive train so I will need to build a few filler pieces for rendering, but those will be done at the time of the rendering.
I will start texturing this thing on Monday.

http://www.telusplanet.net/public/sposey/KW_C550_19.jpg

[General Phoenix]

Lookin' sweet! You should get together with tgg7979 and make an image of this thing rolling over his Camaro... :D

[Hito]

Time for an update i think...
:phaser: :phaser:

[SeanP]

Thanks GP!
I should put the monster truck tires on it before crunching anything. :D

Hito - Shut up and go look at the progress on my viper. :bang: :bang: :bang: :bang: :bang:

[Hito]

Originally posted by SeanP
Hito - Shut up and go look at the progress on my viper. :bang: :bang: :bang: :bang: :bang:
Good
now update the truck too!
:phaser:
:phaser:
:phaser:
:phaser:
:phaser:
:phaser:

[SeanP]

No! :bang:

[SeanP]

I am finally back working on the truck.
At this point in time I am about half done the textures for the front portion of the truck.

http://www.telusplanet.net/public/sposey/kenworth_c500_text_01.jpg

[Trek]

This is bloody amazing!!

[SeanP]

Thanks Trek!
I can't wait until this thing's finished.
This is a first for me - making something that will look real when finished.

[Hito]

I'll take 2 in green please...

[Proximo]

I'll take one with a two-story home on the back.

[General Phoenix]

You've made some amazing progress! When I quick-scanned down the second page of this thread, that last pic looked like a photo to me. :)

I can't wait to see the finished version. The challenge will be getting the rest of the scene to look as real as the truck itself!

[SeanP]

Okay then, Hito that will be $1,000,000 CDN for the two trucks (no extra charge for green). :D

And now Proximo that will be $500,000 CDN for the truck, another $200,000 CDN for the two story house, and shipping and handling to England will be another $50,000 CDN. :D

How would you guys like to pay for that... VISA, Mastercard, AMEX? :D

Seriously though these trucks sell for $500,000 CDN each when they are all decked out like this.

Thanks GP!
I can't wait either.
It should be finished by about Wednesday.
Actually the truck will probably only appear with a white background and a drop shadow.
This is only the first truck for the new website, I have at least two more to build yet.

[Lucas]

sweet high holy hell! this is some serious work. WOW. Truly Sean, Great Work!!

[SeanP]

Thanks Lucas, I appreciate that dude!

[Proximo]

Yes, I forgot to mention how impressed I am. The only niggle I might have is that the truck is a *little* too reflective. Even brand ne the paint can't be that glossy, can it? Then again I've never seen one brand new... or old for that matter...

[General Phoenix]

Oh yeah, they are that shiny when they're new. I see plenty of 'em around here that look that good. :)

[Proximo]

Heh... perhaps they should use that paint for reflecting sunlight away and reduce global warming.

[SeanP]

Getting closer to being completed.
I still have to:

- texture the headache rack
- texture the tires
- add the no skid surfacing to the four front fenders
- play around with the diamond plate metal texture settings on the front fenders, tool boxes and front bumper
- get the environment reflections working

http://www.telusplanet.net/public/sposey/kenworth_c500_text_03.jpg

[EBOLII]

Instead of stroking your feathers in the "traditional" way.....you know


ooooh wow! your great! or Man that is fantastic! or even speachless or even breathless......Nope I will try a new approach







there is no indentation on the air horn on top of the truck.....No tread or lettering on the tires [wich is visible on tires this size]....there should be a dozen or so different licenses from different states in the form of decals or something...I see no rust no dirt......yeah yeah yeah nice paint job.......NO interrior shots or modeling































Nope.....................IF and note the use of capitalization to emphasize the point..."IF" you wish to impress us.....you must do better

































































:bang: :bang: :bang:

[SeanP]

EBOLII = :nuts: :nuts: :nuts: :nuts: :nuts:

BTW - air horns these days have covers on them to keep the bugs out! :lol:

[Hito]

I think ebolii is sayin it looks too new.
But it is supposdsed to be showroom clean for the website :)


I hadnt noticed the tires didnt have treads till he pointed it out tho.

[SeanP]

I have a few minor tweaks that I am going to try, but I am going to call this thing finished.

http://www.telusplanet.net/public/sposey/finished_kenworth_c500.jpg

http://www.telusplanet.net/public/sposey/finished_kenworth_c500_02.jpg

Thanks for all the kind words and support. :D

[Hito]

CONGRADULATIONS! :phaser: :phaser: :phaser:

[SeanP]

Thank you!
This thing took a lot of work.

[EBOLII]

Perfectly oustanding I must admit!