Official Freewing 90mm F-4 Phantom II Thread

[jetpltrich]

" I’m a 62 year old kid having fun."

Richard your still youngster , I've got 20 years on you and I'm still at it..Two weeks rain is just a wee shower in Scotland . F4s are grounded at the moment, Grass is either frozen hard and bumpy or wet and soggy when the frost thaws. Flying an FMS Pitts to relieve the tension, it doesn't seem to mind what it takes off or lands on!

You are my hero!!!

[locharrow]

" I’m a 62 year old kid having fun."

Richard your still youngster , I've got 20 years on you and I'm still at it..Two weeks rain is just a wee shower in Scotland . F4s are grounded at the moment, Grass is either frozen hard and bumpy or wet and soggy when the frost thaws. Flying an FMS Pitts to relieve the tension, it doesn't seem to mind what it takes off or lands on!

[jetpltrich]

F-4 rocket shoot update:

Two weeks of almost non-stop rain has delayed the program, however, today was absolutely perfect and so with that I got some much needed flying in, it’s such a blast flying these EDF’s. 6 flights today, 2 A-6, 3 T-7A, and 1 F-4.

I test flew the F-4 with the rocket hung on the belly with a motor in it. Hung on the one inboard wing station was a camera, then two drop tanks. The test was to see if I had a hung fire could I get it back safely. What I didn’t think was gonna be a problem was the power needed to get that plane up and around the sky. It was only a 2:30 minute flight and final approach had me carrying 60% power when normally it just takes 25% power. It was a successful test but an eye opener. The battery after touchdown only had 20% left. I think I should put the A-10 on this shoot. It’s proven it can do it with no issues.

Yes Xviper, I hear you loud and clear. I don’t think weight is the issue rather drag was the culprit. It was cool as s….. watching it flyby though. All kinds of junk hung on the bottom of that dude, oh so cool!

I’m a 62 year old kid having fun.

Richard

[Eddie P]

Awesome paint, Cape! Congrats 🤠

[Cape Jets]

absolutely beautiful Phantom! Hope you wiill not get the gator effect. Did you seal or protected the surface?

Yes, I coat all my planes with MinWax Gloss Poly. This bird has 4 coats black gloss and 4 coats of the minwax. My first attempt at doing a full repaint. After hours of watching all the videos I took the plunge. Real happy with the results. Thx for all the response.....

[Dougcarr73]

Probably obvious, but I only put my airplanes in the sun when they are turned on and ready to go. Otherwise, it's pure shade for them.

Two tips: I throw lightweight blankets (airline blankets) over them when they are in the van. And, I generally don't leave them in the van and make stops. Just straight to and from the field. If it's really hot out, I spray a fine mist of water over the plane before putting out there on the runway. Helps to keep a dark plane cool while at a standstill. That water is gone after you rotate.

It's really the heat at the surface that kills the foam. Even clear coating will not stop all of the damage that you can incur.

Great tips, Nuts! I always keep my planes in the shade even when it's cold out. But I've never heard of the spritz before takeoff. I'm adding that to my checklist. The longer flights with my 7000 size packs in my B2 bomber would benefit from cooling before takeoff, because it's already alligatored after the summer. This tip will enable me to save my B1 Bomber during the hot GA summer heat.

[Elbee]

NnV, great tips and methodology. Very concerned about the "Sea Blue" of the Tri-color scheme on my new build Corsair. Will give these a shot. Best, LB

[nuts-n-volts]

Probably obvious, but I only put my airplanes in the sun when they are turned on and ready to go. Otherwise, it's pure shade for them.

Two tips: I throw lightweight blankets (airline blankets) over them when they are in the van. And, I generally don't leave them in the van and make stops. Just straight to and from the field. If it's really hot out, I spray a fine mist of water over the plane before putting out there on the runway. Helps to keep a dark plane cool while at a standstill. That water is gone after you rotate.

It's really the heat at the surface that kills the foam. Even clear coating will not stop all of the damage that you can incur.

[spook]

absolutely beautiful Phantom! Hope you wiill not get the gator effect. Did you seal or protected the surface?

[nuts-n-volts]

That is one Baaad Bunny! Good on ya!

[Elbee]

Just completed my build of the Freewing F-4 Phatom. Went with the Black Bunnies livery with graphics from Callie. I left the bottom of her the ghost gray so it would easier for my old eyes to tell is she is up or down in flight.So for right now she will just look pretty on the rack waiting to get into the air.

CJ, Absolutely Stunning. Bravo Zulu, Sir. Best, LB

[Cape Jets]

Just completed my build of the Freewing F-4 Phatom. Went with the Black Bunnies livery with graphics from Callie. I left the bottom of her the ghost gray so it would easier for my old eyes to tell is she is up or down in flight.



Equipped her with a FMS 90mm 3670-1950kv Inrunner 12 blade, Freewing 150amp ESC, Hitec HS-5245 servo for the Elevator. Also included an afterburner for the real jet effect. I've read through most of the posts here and adjusted throws and elevator to what most of you guys are setting yours. Setting CG to 190 to start and will see how that works when I maiden her in the spring. Alittle too cold here now on Cape Cod for flights. So for right now she will just look pretty on the rack waiting to get into the air.

[locharrow]

As far as actuator for the front part of the door goes, if it is function over looks the simplest way is with a wee elastic band...hook on one side, round the back of the strut and hook on the other side.......got peed off fiddling with the tiny springs loooong ago !

[russ t]

Was given a beat up Phantom, and am restoring it to fly. Bought new nose gear doors, to replace missing ones. But didn't receive a way to attach front door to nose gear strut. Perhaps spring, pushrod, elastic, or link? Please could someone post a good picture of the forward door actuator mechanism?
Thanks so much, R.

[jetpltrich]

Here is a test launch which was successful. I can't speak for the cameraman who had several cameras to take video with and failed to operate the cameras properly only getting one video.



Test launch - YouTube

I painted the rocket Kabuta Orange in order to see it. I had my doubts about recovery but the chute opened and I was able to locate it in the field next door.

[jetpltrich]

JPR, is like a small mag to generate the spark? Quite clever it seems. Good luck, Sir. Best, LB

LB, it is a push button switch - OFF/ON. The servo when activated will push the button to on. That will complete the circuit and off it goes.

I made a stand to rest the F-4 on and will test launch the rocket today. If all goes well I will start test flights with the plane, the first being a flight with just the launch pylon followed by test with the rocket on but no firing. I need to know that should I have a miss fire she will land okay. I should have video of the test firing of the rocket this evening.

Rich

[Elbee]

JPR, is like a small mag to generate the spark? Quite clever it seems. Good luck, Sir. Best, LB

[jetpltrich]

With the proof of concept complete with the successful A-10 launch of an Estes rocket I wanted to do another launch with the A-4. The more I studied the A-4 space was becoming the issue, there is not enough space in the A-4 for the triggering mechanism etc.. I then switched to the F-4 and studied the feasibility and concluded this could work and not be out of bounds for the authenticity of the real one. I remember loading target drones on the F-4 back in the early 80's, AQM something or other and I think they were made by Beechcraft, can't remember.

Trying to decide whether to launch slightly nose up or to ground attack in a shallow dive. I hope to have better videos of this shot than of the A-10 shot.

[nuts-n-volts]

I agree with Kallend and recommend to upgrade the elevator servo. I would not even trust the stock one. I've had too many... and 2 is too many... go out on me. A servo on an aileron or rudder is one thing, you can still probably steer her home. Even one side of a flap is doable. But on the elevator, no. It's the only thing holding you up.

[Coconut]

Thanks for the info, GG.