1:50th Scale JCB HMEE (US)

The HMEE has been built specially for the US military to replace the small emplacement excavator and after three years of design,development and testing, the contract to produce the HMEE was awarded in 2005. A number of technologies from the range of JCB products have found their way into the HMEE including the engine, transmission and suspension technology from the Fastrac with the steering system and backhoe excavator from the 4CX backhoe.

Presented here is the 1:50th scale JCB HMEE (High Mobility Engineer Excavator) in US army decoration. The model is highly detailed and heavy with a quality build feel to it which reflects the nature of the full sized machine.

The cab interior has been replicated with both driver and commander seating, joystick controls for both front and back digging equipment and printed dials and gauges visible on the front and side console. The version of the HMEE that Motorart have chosen to base the model on is the lighter armoured machine which still has large window areas allowing the interior detail to be seen.

The roof mounted air conditioning system has a plastic moulded guard with fan blade detailing cast into the main housing. Rear view mirror assemblies have been added to both sides of the cab and have reflective surfaces. Simulated rubber window seals have been painted in the glass edges which add to the level of realism and tiny printed safety and warning markings are visible all round the model.

The large curved bonnet opens to reveal the replicated 6.7 litre Cummins 6-cylinder QSB02 diesel engine which can generate up to 200hp allowing the HMEE to travel at an impressive 55mph (88kph). The large fan blades are fully visible and the exhaust manifold has been highlighted in silver with the piping exiting the engine bay to the exhaust stack rising up the side of the cab. The opposite side houses the air intake allowing the machine to wade through water over 3 foot deep.

The cab has integrated front and rear light clusters with silver painted lenses whilst small brake, reverse and indicator lights have been painted on with silver highlighting adding to the authentic look. The rear excavator boom is a centremount design with fold down stabilisers providing the stability. The cylinders are quite stiff which allows the backhoe to be positioned as required and the castings of the boom and stick have been nicely done. The bucket linkage does look a little oversized and the range of movement of the bucket is a little out in comparison to the real machine but this is only minor. It is a pity that the silver rivets have not been painted over as they do distract a little.

The model features fully functional 4 wheel steering allowing tight and crab steer modes to be demonstrated and the rubber tyres, based on Bridgestone 445/80 R25 have a detailed tread pattern moulded into the surface. The simulated auxiliary hydraulic system has been modeled with the drum mounted to the side of the chassis, complete with hose detailing which, on the full sized machine allows various hydraulic hand tools to be used.

The rugged appearance of the model reflects the design constraints that allow the HMEE to be transported in the hold of the Hercules C-130 cargo plane. The front loader arms have a quick coupler fitted which allows quick change of attachments on the full sized machine. Interestingly, the US version of the model is only supplied with the 4-in-1 bucket whilst the EU version of the machine also comes with pallet forks.

The bucket is a single piece casting which is a pity considering that most of the other model manufacturers are producing backhoe loaders which have opening clam buckets. (I wonder if this is a JCB decision or a Motorart decision as Motorart have proven they can do this on the Volvo BL71 model. The back of the bucket has cast hydraulic detailing with an angled tip cylinder protection plate and slotted coupler design.

Further details on the JCB HMEE along with video footage, images and spec sheets can be found on the
JCB HMEE website.