RCA / Roban Super Scale 700 Bell 407

[ckankel]

Anyone know if RCA will be at the Dalton scale fly in this month? I'm planning on buying an 800 size MD-500E next year and I'd like to see one up close and find out if they have SM 2.0 mechanics.

[heli143]

Hi ckankel
I was told Cliff would be there.
but if for some reason he's not, Donnie (an RCA rep) will be there.

I saw the new 800 500E in person at RCA and was wow-ed at how good it looked. I have two pics of it, one with my ugly mug next to it and another fairly close (of the heli not my mug).

for some reason I can't upload pics here lately...

I was so impressed with it I almost bought it, but since I had already made a deal on the 407 I could only get in more trouble from that point on so no 500 LOL.

[ckankel]

Great Roy!

Good to see a scale guy in my neck of the woods. I've got plenty of pod and boom build experience but this will be my first scale heli. I understand the purchase limitations - I'm allowed one big project a year and the MD-500 will be my 2016 project.

I'm planning on getting the unpainted version and sending the fuselage to one of the local motorcycle custom shops for painting. I don't have the equipment, experience, or patience to paint it myself. I have my doubts RCA's MD-500s have the SM 2.0 mechanics. If so, I'll see about getting an upgrade kit.

Chip

[heli143]

sweet... the unpainted version is a great way to go. Two reasons; you get to pick the paint scheme you really like and you can add any scale details you want.

there are a couple of things you can change (IF you want) to add to the scale fidelity such as the door hinges. the Vario door hinges are much more scale and look much nicer to the eye in my opinion.
My plan is normally to look at a pic of the full scale I want to copy and then pick out the scale details I want to add.

[heli143]

well, I can finally upload pics. here are two pics of the way the batteries are loaded into the doghouse of the Roban 407.

[chrisl]

Roy, would really like to see more pics when you get time.

[StripedGear]

Originally Posted by heli143

well, I can finally upload pics. here are two pics of the way the batteries are loaded into the doghouse of the Roban 407.

Cool... I needed to see that.. Throw pics up anytime you can..

[heli143]

I finally figured out what my problem was with uploading pics. Even tho this website will resize pics (or try to) on uploading, mine were just too large so I had to manually resize them first.
that said, here are a mess of pics of the Roban 407...

[heli143]

For size comparison, here are a few pics of the Marvelcraft 407, the Roban 407 in the middle, and a Vario 700 Long Ranger fuse without the tail fin.

[chrisl]

Great, now I really want one! Lol

[heli143]

Chris,
I would only recommend you buy it in white so you can fix the scale errors as best possible then paint your own paint scheme on it.
If you just want to build and fly, the painted ones do hide some of the errors in scale fidelity. My favorite painted one is the black and gold.
Mine came with all the servos, lighted dash and nav lights in the kit.

I just love the scale interior and the scale dash. You have to see the dash in person to really appreciate it. it comes pre-wired and lights up.
check out Jestrr's Youtube video of the dash it really looks awesome!

I need to finish building mine for test flights, and once that it's good to go, I will start all the detailing. I really enjoy that part of scale

[flyawayed]

I really didn't like the 407 at Dalton this month just because of all the scale details that didn't look rite. for me the MC 407 had more true details and that if u really want the fuselage to really stand out u can add more details to it plus I at lease have the original OCSO CHASE 2 407 that Roban copyed but did it half ass. few to the fact that the OCSO CHASE 2 tail number has important meaning to the Sheriff's office.N407LM the LM is registered with the FAA as law enforcement memorial and that the name of all fallen OCSO deputies that died in the line of duty! and they just leave that out I think it's a slap in the face to OCSO even tho they made CHASE 2. but my is true to scale including the tail.Plus with the rest of the true scale detail that I simulate it more unique then other 407s

RC Orange County Florida Sheriff Bell 407 Scale Helicopter with Hanger Dolly (4 min 27 sec)

[Keyrigger]

Ed, yours certainly is one great looking model and it is a fitting tribute to the original and its intended purpose. Your trolley is also a very cool item and I loved the opportunity to have a flight off of it. Maybe Lily and I might see you at one of the Florida events we are planning to attend. Take care and see you next year, if you don't make it down south.

Don

[heli143]

Hi Don,
I agree, Edward builds some gorgeous scalers and that dolly is to die for.

Was this the first time you used a dolly? if so, how hard did you find it?
I have never done it and am just curious

[Keyrigger]

Hi Roy:

No, it wasn't the first time I had used a dolly but it was the first time I had used one where I didn't need to land it within a two inch window. Mike Spinner had made up a dolly for his fleet of 700+ size helicopters that had two boards spaced on a much larger frame. I managed two landings on it, one was spot on, the second was a little hairy as I got the skid end caught under the rear framework. At least this one had lots of room (in comparison) to land on and get the position just right. I have too many bits that I cart up and down to the car now but if I had a garage to store them in, I would be all over getting one made up. See you soon.

Don

[flyawayed]

Here a few more of my MC407. I was reading the other day on another site ,that Mike spinner was building his Roban 407 the channel 9 news Heli and he word it "big pig" that the Heli was 22lbs flying weight, I have to say is wow that heavy. yeah I might not have a cabin area in my but I still have a bulkhead and full cockpit with pilot and my MC407 is only 15lbs flying weight and running on 8s instead of 12s and still have the same head speed and same flight time. HS1495@ 100% throttle, and 7 min flight times. but my next 407 I'm going to build a doghouse goblin mechanics and make the Heli super scale and I bet I still can keep it rite around 16 lbs flying weight.

[heli143]

Ed,
partly built my Roban 407 does feel pretty heavy. I guess we will see what it comes out to once done.

I am putting it all together for test flying before I start on any detailing.

As for your next 407, I am looking forward to that build for two reasons; one - you build beautiful scalers so it should be awesome, and two - I am contemplating doing the same with mounting the mechs in the doghouse of my Vario 700 size Long Ranger and could learn a thing or two . It is a big fuse so I think it would work out well.

[copterdoctor]

Hey Ed, are u going to build one of Roban's 407?

[flyawayed]

no I have a second V1 MC 407 I'm thinking of building a set of goblin mechanics and making it a dog house setup so it will have a full cockpit and cabin area running on 8s like my current 407. but my goal is to make it full scale but keep it at 16 lbs or lighter. after looking at the roban one it didn't appeal to me. I know I could build a super scale that will have more details and fly sweet cause it not a heavy bird Or as Mike calls it a "big pig"

[copterdoctor]

ok I can understand that, but I am thnking if its heavy, but still have the power to fly fine, a scale heli a bit on the heavy side should be a pleasure to fly as the extra weight makes it a bit more stable especially in the wind. my 407 came out what I felt was heavy with two 5500mah packs, but it is soooo stable and a pleasure to fly. my opinion is that the weight thing is taken a little too critically when it comes to scale helis. I think the only drawback to a heavy heli other than if its underpowered is the autorotation ability. mine did fairly well considering I used up a lot of rotor inertia stretching the glide back to the field in order to avoid putting it in the lake and clearing the trees.
Darrell's big jetranger (1/4 scale ) was 40lbs but was rock steady and smooth as glass.