Official Freewing 90mm F-4 Phantom II Thread

[jetfool]

Glider Guy,
I will upgrade the elev. pushrod and ball link to 4-40. The servo feels tight and snug in model. Specs show this servo to be 13g metal gear. Would this be ok for scale flying? Not a hot Dog flyer.
I am reading all the posts to get as much info as I can. Hope to install RC Geeks afterburners, planning to add 3d parts to scale out as much as possible.

Elbee,
Send all the photo's you want. Great Inspiration. Assembled plane last night and really impressed with the stock detail already installed, nomenclature stickers all over. Still planning Sundowner scheme but the stock paint is really nice on this. I already see some mods to do, pylons for navy f4B, ordinance under fus., center drop tank. navy nose gear/light cover. May work on this during flying season as this really looks great.

Best Regards, Rex

[Elbee]

jetfool

Some inspiring pix.

Best, LB

[GliderGuy]

F4uausie,
My next project arrived. A beautiful F4 Phantom. 6s Grey Ghost.
Best Regards, Rex

Hi Rex! Great fun. As noted in prior posts, consider upgrading to a robust and high quality elevator servo AND install heavy duty push rods and links for all the elevator hardware. My plastic link hardware broke on one F-4, and I had an elevator servo fail on another.

Also, I lost an F-4 likely due to RF noise from the ESC. So, install RF chokes as close to the ESC as possible. The benefits of RF chokes have been discussed in other EDF forums. See photo…
place RF chokes around all the wires where indicated. I’ve not lost a single EDF with high current ESCs since I started using chokes.



-GG

https://a.co/d/hlr3c4f

[jetfool]

F4uausie,
My next project arrived. A beautiful F4 Phantom. 6s Grey Ghost.
Best Regards, Rex

[f4u ausie]

Sorry did not see that Evan suggested a flat on the rod

[f4u ausie]

My pushrod fix was less glamorous than above.. I used the original rod.. cut 2 more rods and the smallest carbon rod that would go over the then 3 rods.. and filled internally the carbon rod with epoxy... I like simple tricks,, (cause I'm simple) lol.. here's one from RC informer... While moving the control surface,, a little super glue in the servo and horn holes ,with control rods in place, will take out that last slop...... Even with my new hi teck servo I could move by the elevator 1 or 2 mm (slop by hand).now none,, and U can do that as ref maintenance,, JUST B SURE TO. MOVE. Control surface until Supa glue is dry... For obvious reasons..
As regards the set screw,, I filed a tiny flat on the rod.. it took a bit to get the elevator half's to match,, but well worth it.. have fun,, it flys great,,, especially on 8s.. keep up speed in turns ,, lastly epoxy or support some how the elevator servo.. mine was loose after 2 flights

[Evan D]

Take a dremel and grind a flat on the shaft.

[dawhale]

I bought a used Freewing F4. One elevator was loose. I removed the bottom of the fuselage and found a bent servo push rod. I understand the need to upgrade the servo linkage. Is there a mod to stop the set screw from slipping on the elevator connecting rod?

[jetfool]

Can someone point me in the right direction to add opening canopies to the F-4. Researching for future project. Thanks in advance.

Best Regards, Rex

[Elbee]

I am not sure what I am doing wrong. Using the serch function to try to locate info on the elevator rod repair/mod. Can someone provide some direction for this old guy?

Thank you

DW,

Welcome to Hobby Squawk.

Glad to have you onboard.

What Evan D wrote is good information.

Replacing the OEM Rod(s) with 4-40 all thread or linkage is the way to go.

Some, like myself, also added a carbon fiber tube over the 4-40 all thread and I glued it with CA after I liked the positioning.

The ball links are also the way to go even if need to drill out your servo arm or even replace it with something stiffer.
I added a Futaba (or equivalent) higher torque servo.

You get the general idea, it is a matter of stiffening the linkage rods and attachment hardware to remove the play in the OEM setup.

Best, LB

[Evan D]

More pictures and info on RCG... I used 4-40 rod and a stronger/ larger ball link.

[dawhale]

I am not sure what I am doing wrong. Using the serch function to try to locate info on the elevator rod repair/mod. Can someone provide some direction for this old guy?

Thank you

[jetfool]

Dangerous,

Looks like I will be needing your services for Toledo 26. I beat the tariff increase yesterday from Motion. You guys are killing me! LOL.
Hopefully Dave can get involved also. Later
Best Regards, Rex

[Grossman56]

Ew, that's scary especially the third and fourth pic...



I think I got a good likeness, man, I didn't know he had a gold helmet, something just said, "paint it gold" so I did.

Grossman56
(Dangerous Dan)

[Hugh Wiedman]

Takeoff and Landings with the F-4

https://youtu.be/b7Fg6tSbCKw

SWEEEET!

[Elbee]

Yes, Sir, he was "the Man". Another true American Hero.

[Evan D]

Long ago and far away. He was the man.

[Elbee]

Grossman56

Pics for your pilot painting library.

[jetpltrich]

Takeoff and Landings with the F-4

https://youtu.be/b7Fg6tSbCKw

[jetpltrich]

Hi everyone. I want to ask you all a question. I have done 4 flights with my new F4, and I have noticed that when turning right or left, it is quite abrupt and tends to keep turning, giving a strange and unpleasant sensation. Maybe you see it as normal, but for me, it is not. I have been in this hobby for 30 years, and this is my third EDF, and I have never noticed this behavior before. I have tried with less aileron travel, but I can't improve that response. Is this how it behaves? Is it an initial tendency to stall? The flights have been relatively calm to check the battery life, and I don't want to give it much speed for now...

I have not experienced this behavior with my F-4 and I've been flying it for a couple of years. That said I do have a gyro in this plane and every plane I have. The plane is fast, and slow, no issues.