diff --git a/libraries/model-networking/src/model-networking/KTXCache.cpp b/libraries/model-networking/src/model-networking/KTXCache.cpp
index 74926d12a1..3e288c6b27 100644
--- a/libraries/model-networking/src/model-networking/KTXCache.cpp
+++ b/libraries/model-networking/src/model-networking/KTXCache.cpp
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 
 #include "KTXCache.h"
 
-#include <memory>
+#include <ktx/KTX.h>
 
 KTXFilePointer KTXCache::writeFile(Data data) {
     return std::static_pointer_cast<KTXFile>(FileCache::writeFile(data.key, data.data, data.length, (void*)&data));
@@ -48,3 +48,8 @@ void KTXCache::evictedFile(const FilePointer& file) {
     Lock lock(_urlMutex);
     _urlMap.erase(url);
 }
+
+std::unique_ptr<ktx::KTX> KTXFile::getKTX() const {
+    ktx::StoragePointer storage = std::make_shared<storage::FileStorage>(getFilepath().c_str());
+    return ktx::KTX::create(storage);
+}
diff --git a/libraries/model-networking/src/model-networking/KTXCache.h b/libraries/model-networking/src/model-networking/KTXCache.h
index 5b9cb04061..835c28e6db 100644
--- a/libraries/model-networking/src/model-networking/KTXCache.h
+++ b/libraries/model-networking/src/model-networking/KTXCache.h
@@ -16,6 +16,10 @@
 
 #include <FileCache.h>
 
+namespace ktx {
+    class KTX;
+}
+
 class KTXFile;
 using KTXFilePointer = std::shared_ptr<KTXFile>;
 
@@ -55,6 +59,7 @@ class KTXFile : public File {
 
 public:
     QUrl getUrl() const { return _url; }
+    std::unique_ptr<ktx::KTX> getKTX() const;
 
 protected:
     KTXFile(const Key& key, const std::string& filepath, size_t length, const QUrl& url) :
diff --git a/libraries/model-networking/src/model-networking/TextureCache.cpp b/libraries/model-networking/src/model-networking/TextureCache.cpp
index 4224cf076c..aef0a6d56f 100644
--- a/libraries/model-networking/src/model-networking/TextureCache.cpp
+++ b/libraries/model-networking/src/model-networking/TextureCache.cpp
@@ -451,12 +451,32 @@ void ImageReader::listSupportedImageFormats() {
 }
 
 void FileReader::read() {
-    PROFILE_RANGE_EX(resource_parse_ktx, __FUNCTION__, 0xffff0000, 0);
+    gpu::TexturePointer texture;
+    {
+        auto resource = _resource.lock(); // to ensure the resource is still needed
+        if (!resource) {
+            qCDebug(modelnetworking) << _url << "loading stopped; resource out of scope";
+            return;
+        }
+
+        PROFILE_RANGE_EX(resource_parse_ktx, __FUNCTION__, 0xffff0000, 0);
+        auto ktx = resource.staticCast<NetworkTexture>()->_file->getKTX();
+        gpu::Texture::Usage usage;
+        gpu::TextureUsageType usageType(gpu::TextureUsageType::RESOURCE);
+        gpu::Sampler sampler(gpu::Sampler::FILTER_MIN_MAG_MIP_LINEAR);
+        texture.reset(gpu::Texture::unserialize(usage, usageType, ktx, sampler));
+        texture->setKtxBacking(ktx);
+    }
+
+    auto resource = _resource.lock(); // to ensure the resource is still needed
+    if (resource) {
+        QMetaObject::invokeMethod(resource.data(), "setImage",
+            Q_ARG(gpu::TexturePointer, texture),
+            Q_ARG(int, texture->getWidth()), Q_ARG(int, texture->getHeight()));
+    } else {
+        qCDebug(modelnetworking) << _url << "loading stopped; resource out of scope";
+    }
 
-    // TODO:
-    // auto ktx = ktx::KTX::create();
-    // auto texture = gpu::Texture::unserialize(getUsage(), getUsageType(), ktx, getSampler());
-    // FIXME: do I need to set the file as a backing file here?
 }
 
 void ImageReader::read() {
@@ -503,7 +523,7 @@ void ImageReader::read() {
         auto url = _url.toString().toStdString();
 
         PROFILE_RANGE_EX(resource_parse_image, __FUNCTION__, 0xffff0000, 0);
-        texture.reset(resource.dynamicCast<NetworkTexture>()->getTextureLoader()(image, url));
+        texture.reset(resource.staticCast<NetworkTexture>()->getTextureLoader()(image, url));
         texture->setSource(url);
     }
 
@@ -531,12 +551,13 @@ void ImageReader::read() {
         if (!ktx || !(file = ktxCache.writeFile({ _url, hash, data, length }))) {
             qCWarning(modelnetworking) << _url << "file cache failed";
         } else {
-            resource.dynamicCast<NetworkTexture>()->_file = file;
-            // FIXME: do I need to set the file as a backing file here?
+            resource.staticCast<NetworkTexture>()->_file = file;
+            auto ktx = file->getKTX();
+            texture->setKtxBacking(ktx);
         }
     }
 
-    auto resource = _resource.toStrongRef(); // to ensure the resource is still needed
+    auto resource = _resource.lock(); // to ensure the resource is still needed
     if (resource) {
         QMetaObject::invokeMethod(resource.data(), "setImage",
             Q_ARG(gpu::TexturePointer, texture),
diff --git a/libraries/model-networking/src/model-networking/TextureCache.h b/libraries/model-networking/src/model-networking/TextureCache.h
index f05ab6b220..bc3baa6423 100644
--- a/libraries/model-networking/src/model-networking/TextureCache.h
+++ b/libraries/model-networking/src/model-networking/TextureCache.h
@@ -92,6 +92,7 @@ protected:
     Q_INVOKABLE void setImage(gpu::TexturePointer texture, int originalWidth, int originalHeight);
 
 private:
+    friend class FileReader;
     friend class ImageReader;
 
     Type _type;