Official Freewing 80mm EDF L-39 Albatros Thread

[Ron1950]

rc jet werx has some high c ratted batteries at a decent price https://rcjetwerx.com/

[Evan D]

As I've said many times just because a certain cell in one brand works well (or doesn't) doesn't mean they all will or won't. By "certain cell" I mean you may buy a Zippy Compact 3700 25C and it works awesome, like others 50C, but get a ZC 4000 and they puff in a month.

Point being try a battery. If it works well for you buy the same exact cell (mAh and C rating) is the configurations you use (3S, 4S, 5S, 6S, etc). Never assume that because you had good luck with a certain cell that every battery that brand puts out is as good. Also never assume that if you had a bad experience with a certain brand that every battery they make is crap.

That said my current preference for the L-39 (and a lot of other planes) is the Hobby Star 5200, awesome performance and low weight. I wish they were cheaper though.

https://www.rcjuice.com/lipo-batteries/6s-22-2v/hobbystar-5200mah-22-2v-6s-45c-lipo-battery.html

Many people have good luck with Zippy Compacts, while some don't. They are great for prop planes with low to medium draw and some are even good for high draw like EDFs. However, don't be necessarily led into thinking you can get that extra flight time because they are rated 1200mah more than a standard 5000. Set your timer conservatively till you see for yourself just how much the plane takes out of the battery. I believe that batteries give you what they put into them (lb for lb). For example my HobbyKing 3000mah Graphenes perform the same (flight time and punch) as a standard 4000mah battery of the same # of cells and of similar "C" rating. Same goes for the HobbyKing Heavy Duty line of Turnigy batteries. A 5000mah HD performs very much like if it were a 6000 standard Turnigy. I use Zippies in one of my hovering jets (very high draw) and both of them have started to puff. The Graphenes can fly that jet the whole flight without even a hiccup. Luckily, the L-39 can be flown at lower draw throttle settings and still look exceptional in the air.
I presume you buy from HobbyKing because they are the easiest to get in Australia. Next time you buy batteries, take a look at the Graphene or HD line but get them in the 5000mah size. They'll perform like they were 6000+.

[Topshot19]

I like these. Cheap and just as good as others.

[xviper]

Hi Stuart,

Ended up up with a ZIPPY COMPACT 6200MAH 6S 40-50C @ 835gr weight.

I didn’t Have a huge amount of choice but this is similar weight to the Admiral packs so hopefully will be okay and the extra capacity has its benefits

Cheers

Jeremy

Many people have good luck with Zippy Compacts, while some don't. They are great for prop planes with low to medium draw and some are even good for high draw like EDFs. However, don't be necessarily led into thinking you can get that extra flight time because they are rated 1200mah more than a standard 5000. Set your timer conservatively till you see for yourself just how much the plane takes out of the battery. I believe that batteries give you what they put into them (lb for lb). For example my HobbyKing 3000mah Graphenes perform the same (flight time and punch) as a standard 4000mah battery of the same # of cells and of similar "C" rating. Same goes for the HobbyKing Heavy Duty line of Turnigy batteries. A 5000mah HD performs very much like if it were a 6000 standard Turnigy. I use Zippies in one of my hovering jets (very high draw) and both of them have started to puff. The Graphenes can fly that jet the whole flight without even a hiccup. Luckily, the L-39 can be flown at lower draw throttle settings and still look exceptional in the air.
I presume you buy from HobbyKing because they are the easiest to get in Australia. Next time you buy batteries, take a look at the Graphene or HD line but get them in the 5000mah size. They'll perform like they were 6000+.

[Jez_AU]

Hi Stuart,

Ended up up with a ZIPPY COMPACT 6200MAH 6S 40-50C @ 835gr weight.

I didn’t Have a huge amount of choice but this is similar weight to the Admiral packs so hopefully will be okay and the extra capacity has its benefits

Cheers

Jeremy

[Spitfire4life]

Thanks Jerry.

I’ve set up everything for now as I had a spare jeti bec I could set to 5v output to replicate the esc bec. Everything working great, all lights and rudder and steering working. Throws all set and dual rates for the first few flights until I get my preferred rates dialled in.

Just need my flight battery to arrive and I’m all set!

What battery did you go with Jez? The 5000mah is THE perfect pack for this IMO, but this model is so versatile, it will take a range of packs from all suppliers in this size.

S.

[Jez_AU]

Thanks Jerry.

I’ve set up everything for now as I had a spare jeti bec I could set to 5v output to replicate the esc bec. Everything working great, all lights and rudder and steering working. Throws all set and dual rates for the first few flights until I get my preferred rates dialled in.

Just need my flight battery to arrive and I’m all set!

[Hardway]

Well it arrived! Quality blew me away. This is my first freewing model and wow! Have made a start this evening on the assembly which I finished in half an hour and so am waiting on my battery pack to arrive hopefully tomorrow so I can start setting up the throws and finalising balance.

Put it next to my 7 year old 70mm Tomahawk Viper for size comparison for a mate, the viper has the same wing size as the L39 but the fuse is incredibly shorter!

Now the L39 is here I might give the poor viper some tlc with a new paint job. It’s been one of my most reliable Jets ever, 5 min flight times on a 4s 4000mah pack and just keeps taking whatever I throw at it. Good fun!

Anyway, should be hopefully getting out next weekend weather permitting for the maiden. Will keep you all updated although I don’t think I’ll have any surprises after reading through this thread :)

Cheers

Jeremy

Awesome!!! I was not a L-39 fan at all. Did not like the colors.... So very glad to have her in my hangar! You will love it! I use max throws but a lot of expo. 45 ail, 60 elev, 20 rudder. After the maiden and two other flights, it was a keeper!.. Welcome to Hobby Squawk and many blessings to you Bro!!! Jerry:Cool::Cool::Cool:

[Jez_AU]

Well it arrived! Quality blew me away. This is my first freewing model and wow! Have made a start this evening on the assembly which I finished in half an hour and so am waiting on my battery pack to arrive hopefully tomorrow so I can start setting up the throws and finalising balance.

Put it next to my 7 year old 70mm Tomahawk Viper for size comparison for a mate, the viper has the same wing size as the L39 but the fuse is incredibly shorter!

Now the L39 is here I might give the poor viper some tlc with a new paint job. It’s been one of my most reliable Jets ever, 5 min flight times on a 4s 4000mah pack and just keeps taking whatever I throw at it. Good fun!

Anyway, should be hopefully getting out next weekend weather permitting for the maiden. Will keep you all updated although I don’t think I’ll have any surprises after reading through this thread :)

Cheers

Jeremy

[Jez_AU]

Thanks for all the info! Just got my shipping notification so should get it next week. Just need to order some batteries and I’ll be good to go

[Topshot19]

Hi guys,

Just ordered the L39 tonight. Looking forward to receiving it! Still making my way through this thread but what I have read so far was enough to convince me this is the edf I was after :) One quick question as I may not have reached this in the thread, what kind of LED are you using for the top and bottom fuse strobes?

Cheers

Jeremy

I used the light set off the f-4. Any newer jet would work also. And I got the light covers for the leds from the l-39 plastic parts set. You use the teardrop ones and cut the tear drop section off with a knife.

[Evan D]

The ones I am using came from the tip tanks of the F-104. They have perfect flat plastic lenses that look like they were stock on the L-39. They used to sell them separate but I don't see them listed now.

https://www.motionrc.com/products/freewing-90mm-f-104-oil-tanks-yellow

Hi guys,

Just ordered the L39 tonight. Looking forward to receiving it! Still making my way through this thread but what I have read so far was enough to convince me this is the edf I was after :) One quick question as I may not have reached this in the thread, what kind of LED are you using for the top and bottom fuse strobes?

Cheers

Jeremy

[DCORSAIR]

Hi guys,

Just ordered the L39 tonight. Looking forward to receiving it! Still making my way through this thread but what I have read so far was enough to convince me this is the edf I was after :) One quick question as I may not have reached this in the thread, what kind of LED are you using for the top and bottom fuse strobes?

Cheers

Jeremy

You will like the L-39, I want to paint mine one day but find myself just flying it the way it is, it flies very well and looks good in the air, its fast and has great flight times, the only thing I am going to do it is bypass the landing gear from the blue box, I hate this new delay on the gear, I like my gear to retract right at take off, not later after the climb out, real scale jets don't retract the gear after they are 1/2 mile up in the air..............:Confused:

[Alpha]

Hi Jeremy, welcome to Hobby Squawk! We're proud of our L-39, it really surprised the market and I think made more people happier than initially thought possible.

As for the LEDs, the L-39 uses the same MFCB as our other recent jets, so you'll have no problem plugging in LEDs from the other Freewing jets' LED sets on our website. The green, red, or white 1W (non-star) are standard and plug right into your L-39's MFCB. You've got a couple spare slots.

[Jez_AU]

Hi guys,

Just ordered the L39 tonight. Looking forward to receiving it! Still making my way through this thread but what I have read so far was enough to convince me this is the edf I was after :) One quick question as I may not have reached this in the thread, what kind of LED are you using for the top and bottom fuse strobes?

Cheers

Jeremy

[Spitfire4life]

Yes, I have tried the 6000mah in the L-39, works well, but I still have a preference for the 5000mah. But the 6000mah works great and of course you get that extra flight time. I got on average 1min extra flight time on the 6000mah 6S.

S.

[p51mustangman]

Thanks! watched the motion RC video to perfect my techique, lots of wet shop towels cut to make the camouflage contours and metallic leading edge inlets, after watching how he did it, it was very easy with spray paints!

[DCORSAIR]

Looks awesome, can you do mine next:):)

I haven't got the nerve to try repainting my yet.:Silly:

[p51mustangman]

finished my L-39 tonight. Spraying on a few coats of gloss varathane in the morning and its maiden time!

[flyinhigh042]

Thanks for the input regarding the 6000mah pack.