Official Freewing Twin 80mm F-14D Tomcat Thread

[rlcamden]

I'm in the same position as you. I've searched and found a few possibilities but I'm hoping someone will come along who has actually installed some on the plane. I will wait till I break the stock retracts (again) that are on the plane before I start to look into it more. So far, there are Eflite retracts, RC Lander retracts and Electron retracts. All are full metal and all are "expensive". Just need to confirm hole spacing and overall size.

So far, the closest thing I have come up with is the optional trailing link A-10 nose gear strut. But, I will have to trim alot of foam in order to get it to work. Just seeing if anyone else has come up with any ideas.

[T-CAT]

I was wondering if anyone has found a good alternate trailing link replacement for the mains on the Tomcat. Or possibly metal servo housings. I have installed the RC Informer mod to beef up the airframe, but am looking at installing trailing link due to the condition of the field I fly at. Cracking servo housings are becoming annoying.

This gentleman who made this video appeared to have made modifications to his landing gear.

https://youtu.be/H033bvFp3PA

[xviper]

I was wondering if anyone has found a good alternate trailing link replacement for the mains on the Tomcat. Or possibly metal servo housings. I have installed the RC Informer mod to beef up the airframe, but am looking at installing trailing link due to the condition of the field I fly at. Cracking servo housings are becoming annoying.

I'm in the same position as you. I've searched and found a few possibilities but I'm hoping someone will come along who has actually installed some on the plane. I will wait till I break the stock retracts (again) that are on the plane before I start to look into it more. So far, there are Eflite retracts, RC Lander retracts and Electron retracts. All are full metal and all are "expensive". Just need to confirm hole spacing and overall size.

[rlcamden]

I was wondering if anyone has found a good alternate trailing link replacement for the mains on the Tomcat. Or possibly metal servo housings. I have installed the RC Informer mod to beef up the airframe, but am looking at installing trailing link due to the condition of the field I fly at. Cracking servo housings are becoming annoying.

[Evan D]

Great to hear!

[frnresq]

Thank You again Evan, you are correct, they needed to be calibrated. Just went and did that, and they are working perfect without any trim adjustments. Thank You so much

[Elbee]

FR, I fly Futaba 8J TX/RX. For EDFs I would sometimes like to to own the T10J, but then where do you stop wanting bigger, faster, and just more? LOL. Happy to read you got it all noodled out. Best, LB

[Evan D]

That tells me you have not calibrated your ESCs. There are instructions with most ESCs and on line with many aircraft manuals or instructional videos.

[xviper]

Could be a few things. You don't say how it's beeping which could help. Depending on the radio you are using you may need to reverse the throttle channel (caution). Another simple thing is having a throttle cut on. Last would be that the ESCs need calibrating, which every electric airplane should have done initially and if there are any changes in ESCs, receivers, or TX set up.

I know he's figured it out now but I wanted to key in on the words in red.
Was at a fun fly yesterday with my AL37 (WestJet livery - WestJet is based in Calgary). Everyone wanted a picture of it and everyone one was waiting to see it fly. Didn't happen. Both ESCs/motors did this fast, constant beeping as soon as the battery was plugged. Everything else worked. I tried most of the stuff I would normally do in such a situation but nothing worked at the field. I gave up and when I got it home, later in the evening, I went and started the "process". Decided to do a throttle calibration. AND IT WORKED! Somehow, in the time it was hanging in storage (a couple of months), it lost its throttle calibration. I have no idea why. I was going to trace all the wiring, then try a new RX next, then try a known good ESC, etc. If only I had started with T.C. first at the field.

[frnresq]

Thank you Elbee, and thank you Evan. I just went out and found out that digital trim was too high, lowered it and the beeping stopped and i had my motors. I have a Futaba T8J Rec, guess i have to figure out how to adjust that in the menu. It worked just fine at 0 for my A10.

[Elbee]

Hello, I'm new to the forum...

FR, Welcome to Hobby Squawk, glad to have you onboard, Sir.

What Evan D suggested is a great place to start. Always good advice here and some of the friendliest folks as well.

Also. please post pictures of your builds, we love pictures. Best, LB

[Evan D]

Could be a few things. You don't say how it's beeping which could help. Depending on the radio you are using you may need to reverse the throttle channel (caution). Another simple thing is having a throttle cut on. Last would be that the ESCs need calibrating, which every electric airplane should have done initially and if there are any changes in ESCs, receivers, or TX set up.

[frnresq]

Hello,
Im new to the forum and new to the Tomcat. Just got mine this week and got it put together. The issue im having is that i cant get the motors to work, it just beeps. I was wondering if the esc's need to be programmed or not. I get everything else to work but those. Any help would be appreciated.

[kallend]

I'm considering getting one of these when they come back in stock. I have a spare pair of FMS PRO inrunner units looking for a plane. Has anyone experience with these in the F-14?

[Aros]

Beautiful!

[4qr1hu9n7]

Unbelievable quality.

[Elbee]

RIP Snort. Couldn't agree more. Truly a legend.

If only the Navy had chosen the F-14 over the F-18 for its long-term ops, maybe we would have seen this aggressor scheme in the full-scale counterpart.

Painting tutorial video below shows the masking process for this digital camo scheme.

Maiden this weekend weather permitting.

https://youtu.be/xBpVsm0f_jc

KR, WOW, gorgeous repaint and what a great idea to do an Aggressor livery on a Tomcat. Bravo Zulu, Sir. Best, LB

[krakenreleaser]

RIP Snort. Couldn't agree more. Truly a legend.

If only the Navy had chosen the F-14 over the F-18 for its long-term ops, maybe we would have seen this aggressor scheme in the full-scale counterpart.

Painting tutorial video below shows the masking process for this digital camo scheme.

Maiden this weekend weather permitting.

https://youtu.be/xBpVsm0f_jc

[nuts-n-volts]

One of the best... actually, the best f-14 driver! His airshows, especially with the F-14 and also paired up with an F7F were unforgettable.

[Elbee]

Ward Carroll: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ofVWfxtR8k
Tomcat Tales: https://tubitv.com/movies/594876/tomcat-tales

Tomcatters, Sadly, over the weekend the F-14 community and aviation in general lost one of their most prolific pilots, Dale "Snort" Snodgrass. He died in a crash of his Marchetti SM.1019 on takeoff from an Idaho airfield. I hope that you all take some time and watch both Ward Carroll's tribute and the Documentary, Tomcat Tales. These put a perspective on his contributions to aviation: truly, a fighter pilots' 'fighter pilot'. Many of you have probably seen the iconic photo of his 'authorized flyby of the sail' photo. Best, LB