 | | JCB branded box. |  |  | | Wheel arches are soft plastic. |  | | Detailed cab. |  | | Moderate steering angles. |  | | Small graphics on the second section. |  | | At work. |  | | Profile view. |  | | Unloading bricks |
|  Comment on this model.
The JCB 540-200 has a 5-piece boom with a 20m reach. It weighs 13 tonnes and can lift a maximum of 4 tonnes.
Packaging
The model comes in a JCB-branded box and the model is held between two clear plastic formers.
There were no missing parts on the review model, but there was a broken mirror and exhaust pipe which were re-glued. It seems the packaging has not been designed to allow space for the exhaust pipe meaning it inevitably breaks when boxing the model.
One of the front wheels was seized, probably as a result of bad gluing.
There is no information about the real machine or model included.
Detail
Underneath, there is very little detail, with just functional modelling of the steering. The metal wheels are detailed and have good quality rubber tyres, although the integral wheel arches are very soft plastic and are not robust.
The cab is detailed with good access steps and the door frame is looks good too. Inside the highlighted pedals are a nice touch.
At the rear the light clusters look like they should be able to fold horizontal but they were stuck on the review model.
At the front the stabilsers are metal with the beams formed of thin folded plate. The connection pins are discrete. The mirror and light assemblies are plastic and need to be handled with care as they see delicate, and the mirror assembly was not accurate on the review model.
The telescopic boom has metal sections although there is a slight colour difference on the yellow of the inner sections. At full extension the end sections in particular see a little short compared to the real machine.
The forks are metal.
Features
The wheels roll but one was seized on the review model. There is a limited amount of steering movement on each axle.
The stabilisers can be lowered but there was no stiffness in the rams so they cannot support the model at all.
On the side there is a plastic engine cover which opens, and it can remain in the open position. The engine is modelled of different coloured plastic parts and looks good.
The boom elevates although the ram would not hold all angles without slipping. Telescoping is smooth with only the top section being too loose. The model is only just stable at full extension, in part because the stablisers offer on support.
The fork carriage tilts, and the fork positions are adjustable.
Quality
This is a somewhat delicately made model with a number of plastic parts.
The graphics and paint are good.
Price
The model is fully priced having regard to the quality.
Overall
Motorart has produced a detailed model with so-so features and the build quality and robustness are less convincing. However it looks good when posed which makes it just good enough to recommend.
Footnotes
This model was released in 2015.
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|  | | Parked up. |  | | No meaningful detail underneath. |  | | Engine is good. | |
|  | | Stabilisers cannot hold any load. |  | | Top sections seem a little short. |  | | Maximum extension. |  | | Busy, busy, busy. |
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