Changes to Bedford QLs

[chippyrail]

Hi, Can anyone help please? When did the radiator mesh change from internal to external & when did it change from one vertical bar to two? I have an Airfix/Peerless Max kit of the portee & this has different seats as well. I take this to mean that a number of changes took place; I know the earlier QLs didn't have the fillet supporting the mudguard (fender?) for instance. Any help would be appreciated.
Regards Howard

[John A. Rippingham]

Hello,

The QL's are a lovely truck.My dad has a 1941 QLD so i spent some time looking into the early versions, the differences i know of are,

The early trucks had internal hinges on the windscreens.

The grill was on the inside of the radiator cowl, they had a round badge and a strip of tin down the middle of the grill. I don't think they ever had two strips on the grill. Inside the grill of a earll QL the side panels are tin, but this changed to canvass on later QL's. the later QL's have the small rectangular badge and the grill on the outside on the panel and no strip in the middle of the grill.

The early cabs had a vent on the front of the cab. It is an hinged opening type controled by a screw with turning handle in the passenger side glove tray.

The cab supports on the front of the cab are different. Below the radiator there are holes in the panels the earlier cabs have less holes than the later ones.

The small brackets supporting the front wings are a post war addition, i've not yet seen a picture of a QL in wartime service with these brackets.

The very early QL's have big headlamps and sidelights.

Hopefully that gives you a start, maybe someone can add some more?

John

[Richard Farrant]

To add a bit more to John's post;
From about 1943 (do not have chassis number to hand) the cupola and hub sling plates were added.
Mention has been made of two vertical strips on later grilles, there are two thicker rods in the grille but some models have exaggerated this detail, it would be hardly evident on a model.

My own Bedford QL was the one used by Airfix for the cab and chassis details and I pointed out all the later changes to them and suggested they made two versions of cab roof.
regards, Richard

[John A. Rippingham]

Hello Richard,

Nice to see you mate.

To add to the list, the later cabs had extra removable panels below the windscreen to make them airportable?

John