 | | JCB branded box. |  |  | | The 'Centremount' version has fold down outriggers. |  | | There are fold over forks for lifting pallets. |  | | View underneath. |  | | Digging with the outriggers down. The bucket is removeable. |  | | The telescopic dipper reaches out. |
| The JCB Company is world famous for its backhoe loaders and it has made more of these machines than anyone else.
This model version is the 3CX and has a centremounted backhoe with fold down outriggers. The real machine has an operating weight of around eight tonnes.
Packaging
The model comes in a large JCB branded box and it is held within an expanded polystyrene tray. There were no defects or missing parts on the review model.
There is no information about the real machine, and strangely the box has a photo of a 214 Backhoe rather than a 3CX. The model is complete out of the box with no assembly or parts to fit.
Detail
As the model is 1:25 scale it is relatively large and as it is mainly metal it has a heavy and robust feel. There is no detail underneath to speak of but the rubber tyres are good with a heavy realistic tread and they are mounted on metal hubs.
The cab has good looking window frames with door hinges being detailed although grab rails and mirrors have not been modelled presumably to maintain robustness. Inside, the seat has JCB imprinted on the back although it seems to sit rather high compared to the steering wheel. Other controls are replicated and the console has detailed dials. Windscreen wipers and spotlights are represented by graphics, but there is a nice orange beacon light on the roof.
At the rear the backhoe is modelled well with some detail formed within the castings, and the graphics are crisp. The hydraulic cylinder jackets are plastic and there are no hydraulic lines modelled. The centremount connection is also plastic but the colour match is slightly off so can be noticed. The bucket is a nice metal casting, and the outriggers are metal, including the pads.
The engine cover looks good and there is a plastic exhaust pipe. The loader arm linkages are well formed and the metal shovel is fine too with only the rivets being a little obtrusive as they stand out from the black paint.
Features
The front axle steers well and it has a degree of float to allow travel over rough ground. Both rear wheels share a common axle.
The outriggers fold down and are stiff enough to support the model off its rear wheels.
The backhoe rotates side to side with almost 180° of movement. The range of movement on the boom and dipper is very good and the extending dipper works well. The bucket movement is also good, and it is removable, albeit it takes some prising to get it off.
The loader mechanism lifts to a good height, the shovel tips well and it has a functioning clam mechanism.
The shovel can be unclipped (although it is stiff) and this allows a pair of forks to be folded forward to lift pallets.
Quality
This is a good quality model and most of it is metal. It is painted well and the graphics are sharp.
Price
In 1:25 scale this is a big model so there is plenty of metal provided for the money.
Overall
Joal do not have a reputation for highly detailed models and this is no exception. However it is large and strong and it would look very good on an office desk as well as in a collector's cabinet. It is easy to recommend.
Footnotes
There is another version of the model which is Joal 199, the 'Contractor' version with sliding backhoe mount and vertical outriggers.
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|  | | Travelling with the shovel up. The rivets on the shovel are a little obtrusive. |  | | Dashboard dials are clearly represented inside the cab although the seat sits high. |  | | The shovel has an opening clam. |  | | Chunky tyres. |  | | The shovel lifting height is very good. |  | | Outriggers are metal but the centremount fixing is plastic. |  | | The JCB next to a 1:50 scale Corgi model so the size in 1:25 scale can be appreciated. |
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