Official Freewing Twin 80mm F-14D Tomcat Thread

[Elbee]

Here's a digital maiden flight with my new walksnail gear.

RM, amazing footage. The camera clarity of the countryside is unbelievable.

You should ask the 'lineboys' over at MotionRC to get you a less frosty canopy glass.

I am going to do some experimenting with vacuforming on the Tomcat build.

I'll let you know if I can do anything clearer.

I have had zero luck trying to polish the Freewing/Flightline canopy parts. Ya get what ya get, it seems.

Love your videos, lovin' the FPV setup.

Best, LB

[rifleman_btx]

Yeah I hope the vacuum forming works. I need a good f16 canopy too. But for the 80mm f16

[rifleman_btx]

Finally setup my tomcat to do airspeed activated sweep (set for 85mph). It works on the bench, next step is flight tests. I set it all up on its own flight modes and switches. Basically mirroring all the original modes so all the trims are still the same, as well as having emergency manual mode select when needed.

[Elbee]

rifleman_btx. Wow! Looking forward to more briefs on this mod. Best, LB

[Having Fun]

Is it possible to replace the control box in the 80mm F-14 with the control box in the 64mm F-14? Some of the functions such as the wings won't retract if the flaps are down, the built in gyro and a few other niceties.

[Evan D]

Can’t see why not…

[kallend]

Is it possible to replace the control box in the 80mm F-14 with the control box in the 64mm F-14? Some of the functions such as the wings won't retract if the flaps are down, the built in gyro and a few other niceties.

The built-in gyro won't be tuned for the bigger airframe, so you'd need to be careful about that. Other functions should be OK..

[rifleman_btx]

So finally got my test flight done today, the auto sweep worked flawlessly I turned it's activation down to 75mph airspeed, so mission was successful. What is even better is I also still have my manual modes if I have a sensor issue while flying. So stoked!

[Elbee]

rifleman_btx Is this a channel function TX/RX? Or is this a Telemetry function? Or are these considered the same in a higher end multi-multi-channel radio? Best, LB

[kallend]

So finally got my test flight done today, the auto sweep worked flawlessly I turned it's activation down to 75mph airspeed, so mission was successful. What is even better is I also still have my manual modes if I have a sensor issue while flying. So stoked!

Is it two position, or variable amount of sweep?

What sensor are you using?

[rifleman_btx]

So basically I am using a 3 position switch for mode select (up manual exteded, middle auto, and down manual sweep), and added a secondary switch to activate a logical switch on my radio, this then sets a trigger on a second logical switch that reads the telemetry airspeed, under said airspeed of 75mph the wings stay extended, as soon as it reaches 75+ the wings will sweep back. This is on an Frsky x10s express radio running the ethos os. I have the auto system able to run the same flight modes as when I manually select the sweep angle. I never understood how powerful these radios were until I really started to dig deep into all the bells and whistles.

[Elbee]

Thank you. Very impressive. Best, LB

[kallend]

So basically I am using a 3 position switch for mode select (up manual exteded, middle auto, and down manual sweep), and added a secondary switch to activate a logical switch on my radio, this then sets a trigger on a second logical switch that reads the telemetry airspeed, under said airspeed of 75mph the wings stay extended, as soon as it reaches 75+ the wings will sweep back. This is on an Frsky x10s express radio running the ethos os. I have the auto system able to run the same flight modes as when I manually select the sweep angle. I never understood how powerful these radios were until I really started to dig deep into all the bells and whistles.

Where is the airspeed sensor (pitot, I guess) located on the model?

[rifleman_btx]

I cut the false piot off the nose then drilled i
The nose out. If I remember correctly I think this was my original nose that I had snapped the piot off anyway so just drilled the nose to install the sensor piot.

[rifleman_btx]

Anyone hear if they plan on a v2 of this model? Maybe developing the wing box to carbon fiber, inlay cf tubes down the length of the engine ducts, similar landing gear setup as the 64 with the twist action. Just make it lighter with the higher power fan systems, even incorporate a possible 8s option, even though that would be pretty crazy with the wiring. It wouldn't be impossible to do with today's innovation advancements.

[Evan D]

I'd buy another if they just put in the current fans and ESCs.

[Elbee]

Anyone hear if they plan on a v2 of this model? Maybe developing the wing box to carbon fiber, inlay cf tubes down the length of the engine ducts, similar landing gear setup as the 64 with the twist action. Just make it lighter with the higher power fan systems, even incorporate a possible 8s option, even though that would be pretty crazy with the wiring. It wouldn't be impossible to do with today's innovation advancements.

RM, have you been reading my mind again?

I have had similar thoughts, but I figure I'll have to do those mods myself and that has been the plan since I bought the ARF+.

So many guys that have tried so many mods that I think one could incorporate all of those and more into a great build.

A completely upgraded Version 2.0 would be awesome with the mods you suggested, but pricey indeed.

I've often thought how great it be if Motion just offered the EPO and plastic parts as a kit and let us go forward from there on our own.

Best, LB

[Evan D]

The PNP versions are a much better deal, even if they have a fan, ESC and BEC you don't want you can sell them for much more than the difference in the kit price. Other than having the new 2150 fans and 100A rev ESCs the only mod I think is 100% needed is the extended battery tray floor. But that's me and I land lightly and fly off pavement. For grass the nose gear and main gear area reinforcement would be good too.

[DCORSAIR]

The PNP versions are a much better deal, even if they have a fan, ESC and BEC you don't want you can sell them for much more than the difference in the kit price. Other than having the new 2150 fans and 100A rev ESCs the only mod I think is 100% needed is the extended battery tray floor. But that's me and I land lightly and fly off pavement. For grass the nose gear and main gear area reinforcement would be good too.

Yep, no mods needed if flying off pavement and landing this jet lightly, I'm actually trying something different on mine, I added some stiffer springs on my gear to stop it from bottoming out while sitting on the ground like it does stock, I felt like it needed some more travel but I have flown it a bunch of times without the extra springs with no issues, I feel like my landings are smoother with the extra springs, don't know the results as for cracks or damage in that area so I will keep flying it and I did do the extended battery tray mod using the stock rear upper tray, takes about 15 minutes and works great. I actually think I would replace this one if I was to crash it, I don't know why I never tried a knife edge so I was out early yesterday flying mine and I was flying it with rudder only just playing around, those rudders work great and very little throw needed but anyway I got it into a knife edge and flew the length of my runway to my surprise and mine has the stock fans, it does nice slow rolls as well and inverted it flies very well, I never kept my other four F-14's long enough to try these maneuvers but you know its not a bad jet really once you get it set up properly on flight modes.........Oh it flies great in swept wing as well which I fly the whole flight in mostly, now I need to try those maneuvers in swept wing mode......

[rifleman_btx]

I really like how mine flys, when I got the wing sweep in auto mode, I fly in fpv, I had to ask the other guys if they noticed the wings swept or not, while flying I can't tell any difference in how it flys at all.

[kallend]

I really like how mine flys, when I got the wing sweep in auto mode, I fly in fpv, I had to ask the other guys if they noticed the wings swept or not, while flying I can't tell any difference in how it flys at all.

That's interesting. Do your rates change automatically (or at all) when the wings sweep?