Freewing F-16 70mm to F-16XL Conversion

[csanders2775]

So I bought the Freewing F-16 70mm V2 a while back, and as most seem to do, I fell in love with it. It was my first EDF in years and I had an absolute blast flying it. However, every time I looked at it I could see the potential for an XL...

I saw the RC Geek Mirage 2000/Kfir kit bash on youtube and thought "it can be done...so I must..." And with that, I bought my second FW 70mm F-16. Entire build took right at a month, and I couldn't be more pleased with the results. The fuselage has been lengthened (just like the real deal) and all additions are with pink foam: weighs in only 0.5lb heavier with the exact same components as my standard F-16. She's powered with the FW 12 blade 2210kv inrunner and uses a 6s 5200mah pack. The XL flies absolutely wonderfully, stalls straight ahead, is every bit as fast as the stock F-16, slows nicely for landing, and looks just amazing with the cranked arrow planform.

Short video of sunset flight: https://youtu.be/uVZOz-MO24w

Enjoy!

[EA-6B Geek]

That's sharp!

[mongo]

did you happen to save the insert "former" outlines?
and how did ya do the wing s. hot wire or sand to airfoil?

[Alpha]

Conversion of The Month! I've been hoping someone would execute an F-16XL this well for a while ever since here at the factory we decided it wasn't cost-effective for us to mass produce a conversion kit. Yours shows just how good it looks, and I'm glad to hear it flies well, too!

TheRCGeek would be proud!

[crxmanpat]

Chad,

Your conversion looks stunning and flies so nice! I've always been a big fan of the XL and wish someone would do a nice scale version in 80 or 90mm.

[csanders2775]

mongo-- I'm sorry, but I didn't save the former outlines. What I did was make the cut in the fuse, then align the pieces using a shape without a taper. For example, the front plug had the battery compartment to line up, so I traced and cut the compartment into the new foam and aligned with the fuselage and nose section with the edges of the compartment. Then the outside was simply sand to shape. The aft fuse has a Z plug, so I basically just had to slide the pieces apart and insert the foam. I wanted to hot wire the wing but didn't want to fuss with matching the fuselage shape and having a break at the outer cranked section. Basically just spent a couple evenings with the orbital sander trying my best to sand evenly between both sides. The airplane took a tiny amount of roll trim and stalls straight ahead so I'd say I got away with it!

Alpha and Pat, thanks so much! I could see a conversion kit not being cost effective...so better make the XL it's own line! :)

[crxmanpat]

I may have to get an ARF + of the 90mm version and try this myself!

[JLambCWU]

Incredible! Congratulations!

[mongo]

that is just what i am contemplating, myself, pat.

[JLambCWU]

So I bought the Freewing F-16 70mm V2 a while back, and as most seem to do, I fell in love with it. It was my first EDF in years and I had an absolute blast flying it. However, every time I looked at it I could see the potential for an XL...

I saw the RC Geek Mirage 2000/Kfir kit bash on youtube and thought "it can be done...so I must..." And with that, I bought my second FW 70mm F-16. Entire build took right at a month, and I couldn't be more pleased with the results. The fuselage has been lengthened (just like the real deal) and all additions are with pink foam: weighs in only 0.5lb heavier with the exact same components as my standard F-16. She's powered with the FW 12 blade 2210kv inrunner and uses a 6s 5200mah pack. The XL flies absolutely wonderfully, stalls straight ahead, is every bit as fast as the stock F-16, slows nicely for landing, and looks just amazing with the cranked arrow planform.

Short video of sunset flight: https://youtu.be/uVZOz-MO24w

Enjoy!

Any chance you could add a few more pics and show where it CG’d?

Thanks!

Justin