Rumors of a plastic 700?

[Jmann841]

I can't say much but I know a little about those blades. There is nothing else like them in the rc heli market.

[dahld]

There have been some comments on the molded tail. Well, in the quest for a lightweight molded 700 class heli that is as tough and as large (able to swing 715+ size blades) as the 700 XXtreme, I'm told that the FIRST thing Mikado designed and molded was the tail case.

It's got the same internal gears and external parts as the current 700, it just lost all the heavy metal. All the internal and external parts needed was a new supporting structure, less all the heavy metal.

I guess there are a variety of designs and "looks" to achieve a molded case, and I won't second guess what they came up with. But Mikado has been molding parts for a long time, and when it comes to making a molded part lightweight, strong and functional, they usually get it right.

But why the tail first? Because you can't design a lightweight molded frame and get the CG right from the start, unless you know exactly how heavy is the weight hanging way back there on the end of a very long boom. A little weight difference back there changes things quickly up front.

Also, the front tail drive system is essentially the same as the current 700, minus all the heavy metal support structure bolted between the current carbon frames. All that's now molded into the frames.

Considering the machine will still be "large" by 700 standards and still able to swing large discs, it's going to be really light and the disc loading is going to be ridiculously low (-:

(-: Dave

[matt blaisdell]

I have been waiting for this

I WILL have one of those .

Very Excited. WELL DONE MIKADO

[mkovalcson]

Originally Posted by dahld

Considering the machine will still be "large" by 700 standards and still able to swing large discs, it's going to be really light and the disc loading is going to be ridiculously low (-:

(-: Dave

Bingo!

Any hints on what the weight of this will be?
Will it possibly be lighter than the 690SX?

I know that would be a tall request for a larger heli, but Mikado did get to start from scratch with this one.

[DominicD]

I like it.

[mc20piece]

Are we going to see a flight by Kyle today or tomorrow? Any videos up?

[acidla]

Thanks for posting the pics. Looking at them i can say that i like the Plastic 700.
Added to wishlist

[3Dmuse]

Originally Posted by DominicD

I like it.

Me too. If only there was a Mikado dealer in Canada...

[galensk]

Nice work Mikado !!!!

[OnTheSnap]

Really really impressive. The 4 piece molded frame looks incredible. And it sounds like existing models can be easily converted.

Is it flying at Rotor Live?

[DominicD]

Originally Posted by 3Dmuse

Me too. If only there was a Mikado dealer in Canada...

No kidding, Mikada USA is nice but having a Canadian store would allow mikado to really take off here. RQ has tried several times but I don't think it will ever happen.

[Freeskiken]

Originally Posted by DominicD

No kidding, Mikada USA is nice but having a Canadian store would allow mikado to really take off here. RQ has tried several times but I don't think it will ever happen.

RC Flight Store are Mikado Canadian dealers.

[Freeskiken]

Look like they listened to what the customer wanted. A light plastic molded 700 machine. Looks great ! I am sure it will fly great as well.

[DominicD]

Originally Posted by Freeskiken

RC Flight Store are Mikado Canadian dealers.

Just took a look at his site, been awhile since I shopped there. It seems he is starting to stock Mikado stuff again, for awhile he just didnt have anything, was really only Mikado in name.

[mkovalcson]

The design work on this is just starting to sink in.

It is brilliant in a way I've come to expect from Mikado.

If this is still a hybrid tail with a belt off the main shaft driving a TT to the tail, than it looks like the tail gears are basically sealed like on a Kasma without all the heft.

The hybrid design helps isolate the vibrations off the main gear from the TT with the belt while giving the gears some extra "give" in a crash without static issues.

The removable nose / battery section looks like it will take the brunt of most crashes and only require removing your ESC before bolting up a new battery section.

I need to have one in my hands before I will truly appreciate everything that went into this, but I really like it the more I look at it.

AND while I know the canopy isn't a huge departure in design, I appreciate the artwork. It looks modern and sleek.

On that note the new 550SX canopy looks MUCH more visible than the last one. If my 550SX had come with that canopy I wouldn't have bothered to have a custom canopy made.

[DominicD]

Luckily my buddy Santino will buy one, and when he sells it a week later Ill buy it off him

[OnTheSnap]

Originally Posted by DominicD

Luckily my buddy Santino will buy one, and when he sells it a week later Ill buy it off him

He's now officially a Team SAB Factory Pilot. So good luck living vicariously through him now. (-: http://www.goblin-helicopter.com/sho...on=show&id=142

[dahld]

Yea, the modular frame design is pretty cool.

I mean, how many crashes have you seen where the lower frames are damaged, and you just HATE having to dismount all the upper electronics to do frame repair...when NOTHING in the upper frame is damaged.

A large part of why I hate repairing damaged frames (which is messing with dismounting and remounting all the electronics and wiring), is going to go away.

(-: Dave

[Laughingstill]

More pics:

[Laughingstill]

Originally Posted by mkovalcson

Bingo!

Any hints on what the weight of this will be?
Will it possibly be lighter than the 690SX?

I know that would be a tall request for a larger heli, but Mikado did get to start from scratch with this one.

11.5lbs RTF