Convoy:s 1/76 Jeffrey Quad Lorry

The Jeffrey Quad was one of the most used trucks in World War One. It was designed by the Thomas B Jeffrey Company in Kenosha, Wisconsin in the USA. (The Jeffery was actually developed as a result of a visit by the US Army Quartermaster Corps to the Thomas B. Jeffery factory at Kenosha, Wisconsin in 1913.) It was 2-ton four-wheel drive vehicle, with drop-side tray and a 2-seat cab. The truck was fitted fitted with a 4-cylinder Buda side-valve motor of 4.87 litres. The gearbox had four forward ratios plus reverse. It had steering on all four wheels, which gave it a very small turning radius of just 8.5 meters. All wheels were braked, and it was said that the truck could be brought to a standstill from its top speed (about 20 mph) in its own length. Production of the truck started in 1913, with a peak of 11.490 Quads delivered in 1918.

The four wheel drive and general "excellence" of the truck on the rough, unpaved roads and in muddy conditions, soon made it very popular by several armies. The first to use it was of course the US Army and the US Marine Corps, but it was soon adapted by the armed forces of France and Britain, who used it both as a general transporter, tow vehicle and ambulance.

The French Army also used it as so called Portee Vehicle: instead of towing the famous 75mm gun, the gun was loaded onto the rear platform using special ramps. The reason for this solution, was that the gun, with its spoked tree wheels, was not suitable for high speed towing, and also, that the four-wheel drive truck could traverse terrain where the gun itself often got stuck. It soon proved a very useful improvisation, giving the artillery a mobility never seen before. By the end of the war 33 portée Regiments had been formed by the French Army.

Because of its popularity, the Jeffrey Quad was manufactured in large numbers, including license production by Hudson, National, and Paige-Detroit. (It was also sold to the Nash Company in 1916, which produced it under the name of Nash Quad.) Over 11.000 Quads were produced in 1918 alone.

For more info on the Jeffrey Quad, click here!

For some superb photos of a restored Quad, click here!

Contents of the kit:

Click on the pictures for an enlarged version! 

The kit comes packed in that elongated white cardboard box typical of Convoy. The kit itself contains some 22 parts, all in a hard, rather brittle resin. (This Jeffrey Quad kit, the Portee, also contains a white metal 75mm mle1897 made by SHQ: this is reviewed in another place.) The moulding is quite acceptable. There is some flash on the smaller parts, but it's nothing you can't clean off pretty easily.

The kit is, as far as I can see accurate. It is a bit bereft of detail, though. Some are not here that should be here, like the two long ramps used to haul the gun up to the platform, but these are easily made with plastic strip. Both the cab and the lower chassis are also a bit simplified. And there is no roof for the cab: this is not a fault per se, as it was often used in this open manner. Also, there is no grille to protect the radioator, but as this was not a standard fittin either, it's no big problem. 

The assembly is pretty straight-forward, and you are aided by a pretty simple but adequate set of plans. The plan also comes with a short history and some tips if you want to read more on the vehicle.

You can get this kit directly from Convoys own site!  

This is a fairly basic kit, and it will perhaps look a bit bare assembled as is, but it does provide you with an accurate basis for further detail work. And it captures the Great War-look of the original. And with the 75mm mle1897 loaded up it will sure look exotic!