Fusuno 700 class BELL 407

Having flown the Bell 407 during my career I have always wanted to build a scale model 407. Not wanting to build the Roban 407 due to lack of 407 details I chose to wait until one came available. WELL, Fusuno started manufacturing a 700 class 407 and it can be purchased through HeliDirect. They offer it in pre-painted versions and primer as I have chosen. The kit is very nice with a lot of 407 details that make it reallt stand out, includes woodwork and basic vacuum formed cockpit and landing gear which will work fine for a Fun-Scale model. I chose to replace or modify these items because I wanted a little more realistic result. I chose the primered version as I wanted a certain paint scheme with custom graphics. I also ordered the MarvelCraft 407 Cockpit kit which included the floor, panel and T/R pedals. The pedals were not acceptable and were replaced with much more realistic pedals from SCALE-PRINT. I also added the SCALE-PRINT cockpit station which included, seat structure, seats, cyclic and collective.

This fuselage kit will accept most 700 size mechanics. It will be up to the builder to modify the mechanics if needed for installing a cockpit. I had an old set of Vario Skyfox mechanics that I had converted to electric and retained the clutch for a slow spool-up of the main rotor. I had to also modified them to allow a cockpit. Once satisfied with the mechanics it was a simple installation. I chose the Vario “two bolt” four blade rotor head and matching blades that I had been flying on a 1/6 scale BO-105. They worked perfectly with this fuselage and fly great.

I added a lot of exterior details from SCALE PRINT. Their product is highly detailed and very accurate in scale. You can see what a difference adding the Wire Strike kit has made to the scale realisim of this model. I chose a paint scheme that has been with Bell Helicopters for many years. My wife made the Bell 407 graphics on the Cricut. I added a lot of weathering to this model imcluding exhaust soot. I want my models to look like a real helicopter and not just a big pretty model ( just my preference ).

I changed the landing gear for a more scale and realistic look. You can see how this is done on the “Building A Scale Helicopter” page on this site. Scale landing gear is one of the most important things that can be done when building a nice scale helicopter. I decided I wanted the “High” skid gear on this model and you can see the difference.