Official Freewing 64mm F-8 Crusader Thread

[chopper]

554dug ..I have had good success with mine so far. I have flown the f8 on 1800"s first then 2200's. My 2200s make for a very sketchy launch on a calm day. Try the 1800s with a light wind for your next maiden,throw less angle (closer to 20 degrees). It takes 10-20 yards for it to build up enough speed to fly right. I cant recommend a stabilized rx enough. I launch mine with high gain then toggle it off for flight (high gain makes it fly like a dart at launch but induces a high speed wobble).

I just purchased one of the Admiral 6 channel receivers with the stabilizer. I can't seem to figure out how to hook it up so it works though - when I have it in stabilized mode only the control surfaces on one side move. How do you hook these things up?

[554dug]

Chopper I can’t help you but I would love some one to answer this also as I use eflite 130031 rx.
Hoping for a quick response also
regards Doug

[ryramZ]

After you configure the dip switches properly for delta wing. You should be good to go. Might have to switch servo leads. One will go in aileron port the other in elevator port. If the direction is wrong after that , just switch the two. We've made videos and on this. Explore the product page and you'll see.

[554dug]

Ryan did you leave the throws as per the manual?
also to change elevator settings and not the ailerons, would I change the throws in the channel marked elev and called AIEL(right) in the dx9 under the elevon wing type?
thanks Doug

[ryramZ]

Ryan did you leave the throws as per the manual?
also to change elevator settings and not the ailerons, would I change the throws in the channel marked elev and called AIEL(right) in the dx9 under the elevon wing type?
thanks Doug

You do NOT configure the radio for elevon. It's done at the rx.

[554dug]

Ok Guys
thanks for the tips,
got the maiden in and a couple more.

Launch at 15* up and into all wind
I had,full power on a stabilized f8 an with a slow dip it picks up steam and goes, as soon as the f8 leaft hand I went full up elev, waiting for descent to stop and head up,
after reaching decent height, turning seemed too slow and possible overfly of restricted area l switched to mid rates and nongyo to keep it closer and in the air park,

Landing was easy flare and maybe 30 feet slide on grass. I had however pretaped and foam tacked the air intake so no damage.
Went great with 1800 pack and reg electronics, timer set for 3 min pack reading 40 % remaining post flight.

Just to mention, I use the eflite 130031 rx from an Apperentice.


Lots of thumb shaking as it is the first EDFs.
Thanks Doug

[CFIT rob]

Congratulations on the maiden. It gets easier from here. Now the addiction begins.

[554dug]

You do NOT configure the radio for elevon. It's done at the rx.

Ryan

Took a bit to understand your reply but after reading the manual on the admiral rx it makes sense working only on rx end.

I was using the flight safe and for it I needed the elevon setting in the dx9, ultimately I got it going. Properly as I maide
iand.

yes EDFs are a blast to fly and get the heart racing again.
thanks Doug

[NCSKY]

I have been staring at this plane for a while now. Finally looks like a weekend maiden.

Plane is stock aetup and I'm using the Admiral 1300 from Motion.

Where is everyone using this setup placing their battery?

[TiredIronGRB]

I have been staring at this plane for a while now. Finally looks like a weekend maiden.

Plane is stock aetup and I'm using the Admiral 1300 from Motion.

Where is everyone using this setup placing their battery?

You'll love the F-8, just setup the aileron throws very conservatively until you get used to it. I'm not sure about the 1300, I'm using the 1800s in mine.

Where is NC are you located?

[Dmurray]

I'll be putting mine together tomorrow.

Plan on using Admiral RX600 and I have 2200 batteries so thats what i plan on using.

TiredIronGRB will probably be helping me set it up at some point, not tomorrow though.

[Hardway]

I'll be putting mine together tomorrow.

Plan on using Admiral RX600 and I have 2200 batteries so thats what i plan on using.

TiredIronGRB will probably be helping me set it up at some point, not tomorrow though.

Welcome! Good times!

[NCSKY]

You'll love the F-8, just setup the aileron throws very conservatively until you get used to it. I'm not sure about the 1300, I'm using the 1800s in mine.

Where is NC are you located?

Thank you. I'm just outside of Raleigh

[DougCLind]

I think I have the preferred way to fly Freewing's 64mm F8 Crusader. The stock ESC is a 30 Amp speed control. Get their 35 Amp ESC instead and fly with 4S, not 3S. At full throttle, the system will draw about 40 Amps using a 25C battery so don't fly full throttle except for takeoffs and short bursts. Keep it at about 2/3 throttle or less and you'll have plenty of power. I've got 2 flights now using a Roaring Top 2200 maH, 4S, 25C battery. Had a 4 1/2 minute flight and landed with 23% battery. It's the way to go for that plane, IMO.
Don't by the 4S motor/fan. It's too heavy. Just fly with the 3S, 5 blade fan. This is my second Crusader. I experimented with the 4S power plant and it just added too much weight. On this second one, I also added 2 elevator servos in addition to substituting the 35 Amp ESC. It flies really well now.

[EA-6B Geek]

Got in a flight with the F-8 today. What a hot rod.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=azUPYwea4y0

[Blaze0021]

I have the FW F-8 Crusader and was thinking about doing 4S handlaunch / belly landings but wasn't sure if the stock internals could handle it. I can always upgrade the ESC to a 40-amp (which I have a few of those laying around) if needed but wasn't sure about the stock motor. Can anyone provide any insight or feedback?

[radfordc]

Should work according to this guy: https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/show...&postcount=569

"Well I tried it.. I swapped out the stock 30-Amp ESC (46 grams) to a Predator 40-Amp ESC (66 grams). I shortened all the wires to bare essential length. Then I used a Roaring Top 4S 1800mAh 70C Lipo (202 grams) pushed all the way back...

Holy crap. On 4S the Crusader is seriously bitchin!!!

50% throttle on 4S was my 100% on 3S.

It has no issues climbing out now.. And never before did flying an RC “guided missile” ever sounded truer.

3 additional flights thereafter, spending time trimming out the surfaces with the extra power and adjusting the gains on my Lemon RX Diversity Stabilizer/Receiver has yielded one hell of a plane."

Never going back to 3S.

[Blaze0021]

Should work according to this guy: https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/show...&postcount=569

"Well I tried it.. I swapped out the stock 30-Amp ESC (46 grams) to a Predator 40-Amp ESC (66 grams). I shortened all the wires to bare essential length. Then I used a Roaring Top 4S 1800mAh 70C Lipo (202 grams) pushed all the way back...

Holy crap. On 4S the Crusader is seriously bitchin!!!

50% throttle on 4S was my 100% on 3S.

It has no issues climbing out now.. And never before did flying an RC “guided missile” ever sounded truer.

3 additional flights thereafter, spending time trimming out the surfaces with the extra power and adjusting the gains on my Lemon RX Diversity Stabilizer/Receiver has yielded one hell of a plane."

Never going back to 3S.

Hahahahahahahaha, problem solved. By the same guy. :P

[Blaze0021]

Finally got some time to take some photos of my CFW F-8 Crusader 4S Setup:

Pic #1 is the stock 30-Amp ESC removed, weighing in at 46 grams.

Pic #2 is the replacement Predator 40-Amp ESC with 3-Amp SBEC (58 grams) positioned within the Crusader. I did have to shorten the wires leading to the EDF and lengthened the wire leading to the battery. I did this to minimize any excess weight from excess wiring and to also maximize the rearmost weight moment - aft of the CG, in order to counter the extra weight of the 4S 1800mAh 70C Lipo that would be used.

(I took this 40-Amp Predator ESC off of my FMS 1100mm Typhoon when I upgraded the FMS Typhoon's ESC to a 60-Amp ESC and set it up for 4S) ;)

Pic #3 shows the FW F8 Crusader dry weight (no battery inserted) with the new Predator 40-Amp ESC / 3-Amp SBEC installed - Weight 426 grams.

Pic #4 shows the type of battery used for flights - Roaring Top 4S 1800mAh 70C - Weight - 204 grams.

(Flying weight of the FW F-8 Crusdader on 4S - 630 grams)

Pic #5 shows the internal setup and battery placement. The Roaring Top 4S 1800mAh 70C lipo is placed rearmost within the compartment, butted up against the back foam wall. The battery is held with a small strip of Low Profile Industrial Velcro. I also removed the stock heavy velcro strap and replaced it with lightweight hook and loop velcro strap, using that as a secondary securing method. As a third and final method of keeping the battery in place, I wedge the XT60 battery connector between the battery and interior roof of the fuselage, prior to closing the canopy. I noticed that when I did this, I also significantly reduced the amount of the "Crusader Wobble" phenomenon in-flight, as I suspected that the small battery wobbling movements during flight caused the sensitive Lemon RX 7-Channel Diversity Stabilizer / Receiver to detect these movements and respond accordingly (if you look closely, you can also see my stabilizer gain setup).

Pic #6 shows the CG balance right at the front of the servo pockets. Just slightly nose down. Nailed it.

Eflite Power Meter numbers with the FW F-8 Crusader on 4S: 41.2 Max Static Amps / 655 Watts.

(While the Max Static Amp number is high, the Predator 40-Amp ESC has a burst rating of 50-Amps and still remains cool to the touch post-flight (thanks to the excellent ventilation). The high Static Amp number also unloads to a lesser number in-flight)

At full throttle, the Crusader is a missile. Most of my flight on 4S is now spent at the 50-100% throttle range.. which is an improvement over the 80-100% throttle range that I used when I flew the Crusader on 3S. With mixed throttle, I end each flight at around 3.78 / cell with the Timer set to 3:10 mins.

24 flights later with the FW F-8 Crusader on 4S with no issues and a lot of fun! "Talk about waking it up" is absolutely right. I even reduced the amount of "Up" elevator (to a more neutral setting) that I initially had set up when it flew on 3S.

Yesterday I even took the Crusader up in 15-18 mph winds at the park for a windy day test. With the Lemon RX 7-Ch Diversity Stabilizer / Receiver, I had 0 unexpected turbulent surprises and no issues with wind penetration using this setup as the Crusader flew on rails.

And I also have no issues with power on tap as the Crusader will now power climb without any struggle to do so and will also perform any maneuver I want it to (within EDF jet reason). :D

The work was well worth it. :)

I do have one question though.. Is the "Crusader Wing Wobble" an inherent aerodynamic design characteristic? I'm trying to eliminate it altogether.

[CFIT rob]

Mine wobbles as does my F 104. F8 has admiral stabilized rx, F104 has lemon stabilized. I have my rx's set up so i can turn stabil on and off. They both wobble with stabil off if there is the slightest wind. With stabil on they still wobble. Have the same lemon rx on a 50mm blitzworks deltawing edf that flies like on rails with stabilizer on. On launch the stabilizers work like a charm. Could it be the servos are not fast enough react to stabilizer?