Official Freewing Twin 80mm F-14D Tomcat Thread

[mshagg]

Grass takes its toll on most EDFs and the tomcat is no exception. Of primary concern is the foam above the mains which can bend and interfere with the swing mechanism. In extreme cases it can break.

There are various mods you'll find people discussing to address this, from metal to plywood to 3D printed.

And yeah some spare struts are an idea while you get the hang of the plane.

It's a bit of effort but you can make it work if youre commited to having a tomcat.

[xviper]

Do any of you gents run the F14 off of grass? Preferably with the new 80mm inrunner setup? I’m teetering right on the edge of ordering one today but our field doesn’t have ‘golf course green’ grass and this is my only concern.

Many Thanks
Dan

The retract struts on this plane are quite long and skinny. If the grass is very rough and bumpy, the higher resistance when rolling can bend the struts. Landings that aren’t just “perfect” on grass can also tend to bend the struts. I’ve landed on the grass when I didn’t quite hit the runway right on, has caused the struts to bend and if you hit hard enough on grass the retract plastic body can crack and break. It’s a heavy plane that can land quite fast.

[Dancad]

Do any of you gents run the F14 off of grass? Preferably with the new 80mm inrunner setup? I’m teetering right on the edge of ordering one today but our field doesn’t have ‘golf course green’ grass and this is my only concern.

Many Thanks
Dan

[Wobisch]

Last weekend I did some first flights with my F-14 VF-1 Wolfpack. It went pretty well. This is one nice flyer. Have to upgrade the Cockpit now.

[davjamhan]

Oh side note I'm only using 8 channel wing in no aileron. wing out normal. using a DX 9

[davjamhan]

I have had my F-14 for over a year. (Truck Driver) I have done all the mods that out there. My Question is a 12 blade or a 9 blade the FMS 2100kv or the MiG 29 or the 12 blade inrunner 3658-1857

[Aros]

I'd love to get my hands on another F-14 but my wishlist is a New Gen version that's lighter with all the relevant fixes/mods implemented out of the box. Just like with any new EDF release my main wants are a bit of a paradox: Bigger but Lighter! Get to work Alpha!

[RRHandy]

After flying my Tomcat at a show with Rich from RC informer, I’ve decided it’s time to upgrade the power system as my stock motors was so much slower than his stock motors. Mine are about 4 yrs old, and flying side by side with a newer model showed the age in speed. So I’m thinking of staying with the outrunners as I want to keep my light burner system, so the A10 system is better or what? Do I need to upgrade ESC’s also?

Could be your batterys and not the power system, how is SEFF?

[Brinka]

I got the ARF and put this into it:
https://www.rc-castle.com/index.php?...roduct_id=8801
Since you need the ESCs, too, you might save some money by getting this "package". I much prefer the inrunners anyway. Static thrust is about 6 kgs.

Thanks for the link, that’s the type deal I’m looking for, and the burners are at a good price also, but I have burners already, and wanted to use the original burners I have bc they plug into my 6s power perfectly and no extra battery needed like all the other burner types sold.

[mshagg]

I got the ARF and put this into it:
https://www.rc-castle.com/index.php?...roduct_id=8801
Since you need the ESCs, too, you might save some money by getting this "package". I much prefer the inrunners anyway. Static thrust is about 6 kgs.

That's the smart money, cap packs and all. Their cyclone afterburners are nice too so chuck a pair in the cart while you're at it.

[xviper]

So mine came with 80 amp ESCs, so this means I will need to upgrade to 100 amp ESC, it's all good, worth it for extra thrust. Rich's stock motors left me in the dust, I could barely keep up. Happy to hear you now have one!

I got the ARF and put this into it:
https://www.rc-castle.com/index.php?...roduct_id=8801
Since you need the ESCs, too, you might save some money by getting this "package". I much prefer the inrunners anyway. Static thrust is about 6 kgs.

[Brinka]

Brinka, As long as the original ESC is 100 amp each, you should have no issues.The RC Geek and others have installed the A-10 twin 80 EDF, ESC and 9-blades. Geek will have a series of vids out soon or so he has said. I will build mine later this summer, so I am looking forward to watching your progress. Best, LB


The OEM Freewing A-10 Twin 80mm EDF setup is as follows:

Power System	2x 3530-1900KV Brushless Outrunner Motors
Electronic Speed Control	2x 100 Amp ESCs with EC5 Connectors
Propeller / EDF	2x 80mm EDFs with 9 Blade Fans

So mine came with 80 amp ESCs, so this means I will need to upgrade to 100 amp ESC, it's all good, worth it for extra thrust. Rich's stock motors left me in the dust, I could barely keep up. Happy to hear you now have one!

[mshagg]

Interesting, one would think it would have gone up especially after tariffs. Thanks for the info.

That said, this plane is intimidating me. I have several jets, FMS F-18F, FW F-35, E-flite A-10 64mm, E-flite F-15 64mm but for some reason I feel that this plane is too complex for me given all the mixing and swing wing etc. Am I just being too chicken, or is this truly a different beast?

It's intimidating for sure, but I don't think it needs to be. It's heavy and has the sink rate on final approach to prove it.

Other than that with the wings out it flies like any other jet, just with less run time and a bigger financial hit when it goes in.

F-14s are just inherently cool. Can't wait to get to work on my second one. Bringing in the A-10 power system and will do one of the NASA paint schemes on her.

[Elbee]

After flying my Tomcat at a show with Rich from RC informer, I’ve decided it’s time to upgrade the power system as my stock motors was so much slower than his stock motors. Mine are about 4 yrs old, and flying side by side with a newer model showed the age in speed. So I’m thinking of staying with the outrunners as I want to keep my light burner system, so the A10 system is better or what? Do I need to upgrade ESC’s also?

Brinka, As long as the original ESC is 100 amp each, you should have no issues.The RC Geek and others have installed the A-10 twin 80 EDF, ESC and 9-blades. Geek will have a series of vids out soon or so he has said. I will build mine later this summer, so I am looking forward to watching your progress. Best, LB


The OEM Freewing A-10 Twin 80mm EDF setup is as follows:

Power System	2x 3530-1900KV Brushless Outrunner Motors
Electronic Speed Control	2x 100 Amp ESCs with EC5 Connectors
Propeller / EDF	2x 80mm EDFs with 9 Blade Fans

[Evan D]

It is different, two 80, sweeping wings... very different than your smaller twins or 70mm single.

[DM3MD157]

I bought mine early on, $579 so it's actually gone down $20.

Interesting, one would think it would have gone up especially after tariffs. Thanks for the info.

That said, this plane is intimidating me. I have several jets, FMS F-18F, FW F-35, E-flite A-10 64mm, E-flite F-15 64mm but for some reason I feel that this plane is too complex for me given all the mixing and swing wing etc. Am I just being too chicken, or is this truly a different beast?

[Evan D]

I bought mine early on, $579 so it's actually gone down $20.

Just curious, has the price of this plane gone up since the release?

[Brinka]

After flying my Tomcat at a show with Rich from RC informer, I’ve decided it’s time to upgrade the power system as my stock motors was so much slower than his stock motors. Mine are about 4 yrs old, and flying side by side with a newer model showed the age in speed. So I’m thinking of staying with the outrunners as I want to keep my light burner system, so the A10 system is better or what? Do I need to upgrade ESC’s also?

[DM3MD157]

Just curious, has the price of this plane gone up since the release?

[xviper]

Here's a picture. You just keep messing with the holes and the length till both doors close the way you want. It's all trial and error.