Official Freewing 90mm F-4 Phantom II Thread

[lomcevac]

I have the 8S version pre-ordered. Looks like these are going to be a blast. trying to talk a few more locals into getting one so we will have enough for a good formation flight.Planning to do some weathering also.
Anyone planning to have one at Joe Nall?

[RCjetdude]

Great pics, I hope Mike is doing well!

RCJetDude, I'll post more pics tonight of the interior to help you plan your drag chute mech. It's tight in there...

That would be awesome Alpha. Please post whatever you can. I have looked back at Ryan's build video and the furthest aft plastic mounts for securing the cover will have to be moved and it is difficult to tell how large the chute hatch would be. It does look tight.

[crxmanpat]

I saw that some folks on here like Robin Olds' F-4. I drove over to the Wright Pat AF Museum and took some detailed pics of Scat XXVII, the plane Olds and his WSO Stephen Coker got 2 kills on 20 May 1967. I will post them over the next few days.

Please do! Especially looking for the wording and location of all the stencils.

[Tom]

I have the 8S version pre-ordered. Looks like these are going to be a blast. trying to talk a few more locals into getting one so we will have enough for a good formation flight.Planning to do some weathering also.
Anyone planning to have one at Joe Nall?

Plans are not 100% finalized but Motion RC will likely be at Joe Nall with this and other planes.

[RCjetdude]

Plans are not 100% finalized but Motion RC will likely be at Joe Nall with this and other planes.

Tom, that would be fantastic!!

[barron06]

I went flying yesterday. We are a small club, only 5 regulars. Immediately, the shop talk went into the F-4. Low and behold, every one of us pre-ordered. All but one are going with the 8s. We're already talking up operation Bolo! There are already 2 migs in the club (I have one)... we'll just have to take one (or 2) for the team... it's for the greater good, hehe!

Question for the mrc team or anyone who knows about exit dia vs blade count. Would a modest removal of the tail end, say 25mm, effect the 8s performance much? I ask because I'm looking into how I could fit a larger ab ring. (please don't mention air-jons great device, I want to stay on point with this). If the ducting is optimized for the stock fan, wouldn't a widening of the exhaust, increase static thrust, lower amps at the expense of top end? I'm thinking this would allow the 8s system to "breathe" easier (less blade stall?). I have heard top end is ~135 with 8s but I assume this is at higher elevations. I'm basically at sea-level, so I'm thinking my speed would be lower. If anyone wants to chime, please proceed.

BTW - Based on stated exhaust dimensions, I have only found one ring that might fit. 50mm 3-color at rc castle. Some id grinding would be required.

[xplaneguy]

Great pics, I hope Mike is doing well!]

As you may know, Mike is 80 years old and having a very hard time walking. Each time I see him at the field....I'm so thankful! He'll slowly walk up and say, "Tony, did you bring something new?" I respond, "Yes sir, it's right there!" The smile on his face is priceless. He goes from an 80 year old man to an 8 year old boy. When I taxi a plane to the runway now, I'll wait for him to walk out to the center of the field with his camera, which takes him roughly 2 minutes. Once he's in his spot and ready, I'll take off. Since he's getting slower shooting pics with his large camera, I usually tell him what I will be doing with the model on each pass. For the images I shared last night, I specifically flew that sortie slow, just for him. When I received his email with these photos, he wrote, "I had a bad day" ...meaning he didn't get many shots. I told him, "Mike, these photos are outstanding and I'm so appreciative to you for sharing your amazing work."

Here's a photo he shot after a successful maiden of Ric's FLRC B-24 on Saturday at Apollo. Mike is a great friend and outstanding photographer. I'm forever grateful to him for capturing special moments like this.

[RCjetdude]

It is wonderful to have guys like that in your club. We have a few guys who just enjoy coming out to sit and tell stories. I always try to take some time to sit with them and listen.

[BIG JETS JOE]

either you are on drugs or you need some. It does not get any better than MRC product or service.

[sam51401]

Sad day for me fellas. Wife made me cancel my preorder says 3 new jets in two months is out of line Whoever gets my preorder do me a favor and enjoy it !

Man im with ya, i was in the same boat and had to cancel in the first batch even.

[Aros]

As may know, Mike is 80 years old and having a very hard time walking. Each time I see him at the field....I'm so thankful! He'll slowly walk up and say, "Tony, did you bring something new?" I respond, "Yes sir, it's right there!" The smile on his face is priceless. He goes from an 80 year old man to an 8 year old boy. When I taxi a plane to the runway now, I'll wait for him to walk out to the center of the field with his camera, which takes him roughly 2 minutes. Once he's in his spot and ready, I'll take off. Since he's getting slower shooting pics with his large camera, I usually tell him what I will be doing with the model on each pass. For the images I shared last night, I specifically flew that sortie slow, just for him. When I received his email with these photos, he wrote, "I had a bad day" ...meaning he didn't get many shots. I told him, "Mike, these photos are outstanding and I'm so appreciative to you for sharing your amazing work."

Here's a photo he shot after a successful maiden of Ric's FLRC B-24 on Saturday at Apollo. Mike is a great friend and outstanding photographer. I'm forever grateful to him for capturing special moments like this.

Warms my heart...I love stories like this. It's one of the many things that makes this hobby so special to me. Mike, may you live many more years to continue enjoying this hobby!

I still recall the time I was just finishing up flying. I was parked outside of a school where I was flying. I was loading up my models. A 1400mm P-51 among other models. This older gentleman pulls up behind me. He gets out and starts asking questions with the genuine eagerness and excitement of a little kid. I gladly answered all of his questions. Towards the end of the conversation I asked him, "So do you have any experience flying?"

He looked at me with total humility and said "I've been a captain flying a 747 for 35 years."

I about fell over.

I have similar stories about military jet fighter pilots. Ooooh'ing and Aaaah'ing over a tiny F-16 model, yet they are used to flying the real thing!

There's no other hobby like this. And that's not even talking about the WWII vets. Wow. Just. Wow.

[Hardway]

Amen
Just wonderful people!
:Cool:

[Sky Wolf]

As may know, Mike is 80 years old and having a very hard time walking. Each time I see him at the field....I'm so thankful! He'll slowly walk up and say, "Tony, did you bring something new?" I respond, "Yes sir, it's right there!" The smile on his face is priceless. He goes from an 80 year old man to an 8 year old boy. When I taxi a plane to the runway now, I'll wait for him to walk out to the center of the field with his camera, which takes him roughly 2 minutes. Once he's in his spot and ready, I'll take off. Since he's getting slower shooting pics with his large camera, I usually tell him what I will be doing with the model on each pass. For the images I shared last night, I specifically flew that sortie slow, just for him. When I received his email with these photos, he wrote, "I had a bad day" ...meaning he didn't get many shots. I told him, "Mike, these photos are outstanding and I'm so appreciative to you for sharing your amazing work."

Here's a photo he shot after a successful maiden of Ric's FLRC B-24 on Saturday at Apollo. Mike is a great friend and outstanding photographer. I'm forever grateful to him for capturing special moments like this.

What an AWESOME moment/photo!

Priceless!! It's what makes this hobby so worthwhile...spending time with those who mean more to us than just flying, while being together because we all love flight. The memory of the togetherness is worth more than the 3-5 minutes in the air!

Thanks for sharing!

[seaviper]

:Cool:

[brk6188]

Off topic but one more story. I live in a retirement community with many ex aviators (including U-2 , SR-71, F-4, A-4 and "Marine 1" pilots). Anyway was flying an old Lander Panther and a lady came up and said -- my father flew those may I bring him out to see it sometime? So we arranged a time and he came, in wheelchair and told many stories and was so thrilled to see his old plane in the air. He retired from the Navy after setting up an LSO school in Jacksonville. Was shot down in his Wildcat. The thing is this man was so thrilled to see something that surely bought back many memories. He had written a book "Their Life In My Hands" (LSO's) and gave me a signed copy after the flights -- I offered him some Buddy box time but he said that he had wiped out to many airplanes already !

Couldn't we all just listen for hours to these very old vets while they tell their stories as though it was just a walk in the park .

[Aros]

Great story brk6188! And yes, yes we could!

[F106DeltaDart]

Awesome stories guys! As you guys said, meeting some of these veterans is one of the best parts of this hobby. It's happened quite a number of times at the field now, and it blows me away every time. One day, wen I was a volunteer up at the MN CAF Wing, we had an older gentleman in his 90s come through to see our birds. He was slow and quiet until seeing some photos of the B-17 in our museum. He was a ball turret gunner in the Fortress, and was a POW for over 2 years. At the end of the war, him and his fellow prisoners were part of a forced march, following the German retreat. Hundreds of miles covered on foot, in freezing cold, with minimal food or shelter. I was speachless. Not only this, but he actually went back and met the German pilot who shot him down after the war. After severely damaging the airplane, this pilot waited for the crew to bail out before finishing off the aircraft. All these years later, they are good friends now and still correspond. Look up Lester Schrenk and you can find his story. I painted up my HK B-17 in his paint scheme, and fly it with honor. Absolutely an incredible hero of the greatest generation! I've got a bunch more stories like it, but this one has had the most impact on me. Almost 6 years later, we still correspond once in a while.

[xplaneguy]

Fantastic stories, Gents! Thank you all for sharing.

[Aros]

Awesome stories guys! As you guys said, meeting some of these veterans is one of the best parts of this hobby. It's happened quite a number of times at the field now, and it blows me away every time. One day, wen I was a volunteer up at the MN CAF Wing, we had an older gentleman in his 90s come through to see our birds. He was slow and quiet until seeing some photos of the B-17 in our museum. He was a ball turret gunner in the Fortress, and was a POW for over 2 years. At the end of the war, him and his fellow prisoners were part of a forced march, following the German retreat. Hundreds of miles covered on foot, in freezing cold, with minimal food or shelter. I was speachless. Not only this, but he actually went back and met the German pilot who shot him down after the war. After severely damaging the airplane, this pilot waited for the crew to bail out before finishing off the aircraft. All these years later, they are good friends now and still correspond. Look up Lester Schrenk and you can find his story. I painted up my HK B-17 in his paint scheme, and fly it with honor. Absolutely an incredible hero of the greatest generation! I've got a bunch more stories like it, but this one has had the most impact on me. Almost 6 years later, we still correspond once in a while.

Wow that is incredible. Reminds me of the the book "Higher Call" I read based on The Charlie Brown and Franz Stigler incident in December 1943. BF-109 pilot Franz Stigler had the opportunity to shoot down the crippled B-17 Brown was piloting, but risked his own life and escorted the B-17 and crew to safety. Brown spent years searching for Stigler where he finally found him. They met up 40 years later in an emotional reunion and developed a friendship that lasted until Stigler's death in March 2008. There really was a code of honor for many WWII pilots. Some, like Stigler, really went above and beyond. What an honor to know men like these.

[EA-6B Geek]

Callie comes through again! Now I need an F-4 to put them on. Patience! But, I can't wait........!