Official Freewing Twin 80mm F-14D Tomcat Thread

[Elbee]

Hey All,

Does anyone own/know of a derelict or crashed Tomcat they'd be willing to part with for a reasonable amount?

I ask as I'd like to do some reverse engineering and use it as a workhorse for measurements, etc for my ARF+ project.

I'd pay shipping, of course.

Please, keep me in mind if you hear of one that's seen better days and is ready for the bin.

Best, LB

[Elbee]

So it was a successful maiden flight on the 80mm Tomcat yesterday albeit in challenging conditions at the end. I felt personally attacked.. Brought her in with no flaps and a bit of slip and ended with a small bounce before settling. She just wanted to keep flying..Cheers,
HT

Great debrief, beautiful model. Congrats, Sir.

Best, LB

[HairyTacco]

So it was a successful maiden flight on the 80mm Tomcat yesterday albeit in challenging conditions at the end! Looks so amazing in the air. I added centre burners and changed the ESC & EDF unit to the latest Freewing 80mm units. Had her setup with the RC Geeks setup (Tailerons, full span flaps and 'spoilers')..

When I lined up on the clubs runways the windsock was totally limp. By the time landing rolled around it was horizontal, kicking and a cross wind.. I felt personally attacked.. Brough her in with no flaps and a bit of slip and ended with a small bounce before settling. She just wanted to keep flying..

Looking forward to flying her in more amenable weather conditions so I can nail some nice landings..

Cheers,
HT

[Elbee]

Interesting to say the least.

Faulty logic (FL) was almost my knick, but LB was closer to the truth. LMAO

[xviper]

X,

I would think no more or no less than aluminum plate.

Aluminum is more conductive, but don't know for certain about more or less RF interference issues.

It seems reasonable to presume no differences.

Best, lB

That, I can't say. A friend got a sailplane that was high in CF content this season and he was stressing about the need for a RX specifically meant for CF planes. He eventually went with a "normal" RX and didn't seem to have any issue.
As an example:

https://www.horizonhobby.com/product/dsmx-carbon-fiber-remote-receiver/SPM9746.html

[Elbee]

I mentioned in the RCInformer F-14 thread that I used CF square rods to beef up the area around the main retracts and for years now, it has held up well.
Another aspect of CF is that, at what point is there too much CF (ie, as in making those plates out of CF) that would interfere with radio function and a receiver meant for CF must be used? It's in that area of those metal plates that I have my main RX and satellite. Just curious.

X,

I would think no more or no less than aluminum plate.

Aluminum is more conductive, but don't know for certain about more or less RF interference issues.

It seems reasonable to presume no differences.

Best, lB

[xviper]

Just acquired the freewing F-14 Tomcat 80mm and wondered if anyone has considered using carbon fiber sheet for making the main landing gear strengthening plate as apposed to aluminum. It was just a thought i had and not heard anyone doing it and wondered if it would work obviously there would be a weight saving and the plate could be glued down to increase the strength and reduce any flex.
I will probably get some don't be stupid comments but if you don't ask 🤷

I mentioned in the RCInformer F-14 thread that I used CF square rods to beef up the area around the main retracts and for years now, it has held up well.
Another aspect of CF is that, at what point is there too much CF (ie, as in making those plates out of CF) that would interfere with radio function and a receiver meant for CF must be used? It's in that area of those metal plates that I have my main RX and satellite. Just curious.

[Evan D]

The person making them is this person on RC Groups.

Thisguy65's blog - RC Groups

Do you have a website address where you hot the alloy ones from please just incase the carbon fiber is a none starter lol

[inchi41]

I considered it but my machining skills are not up to the task, so I bought the aluminum one.

Do you have a website address where you hot the alloy ones from please just incase the carbon fiber is a none starter lol

[inchi41]

Just acquired the freewing F-14 Tomcat 80mm and wondered if anyone has considered using carbon fiber sheet for making the main landing gear strengthening plate as apposed to aluminum. It was just a thought i had and not heard anyone doing it and wondered if it would work obviously there would be a weight saving and the plate could be glued down to increase the strength and reduce any flex.
I will probably get some don't be stupid comments but if you don't ask 🤷

[Evan D]

RC Castle out of Hong Kong is the other big retailer.

[way2far]

Thanks for the welcome!

I'm looking to buy a spare nose cone or two as I know there will be some hangar rash in my future. Unfortunately, it appears Motion is out of stock. Is eBay the only other spot I could potentially find them?

[Elbee]

way2far

Your Tomcat looks great!

Congrats and Welcome to Hobby Squawk.

Glad to have you onboard.

Best, LB

[way2far]

[Evan D]

It may be plugged in backwards or in the wrong slot. Also the board tells it turn on when the gear deploy.

[way2far]

Hi all, any ideas on why the nose gear LED would not be working? All other LED lights work fine.

[Elbee]

Bumping this thread, as I'm a first time poster and now officially an owner of a beautiful Tomcat. Never thought I'd have a chance to own one, but here we are. I feel so late to the game given the age of this platform, but hey, it's new to me!

Think I'll maiden it as it comes with no initial mods. It's the PNP version so we will see what my thoughts are after a couple flights. This was a fun thread to read.

W2,

Welcome to Hobby Squawk, glad to have you onboard.

You're not too late at all.

As matter of fact, I have one NIB that is at least 2 years old in the queue.

Please post pictures and share any modifications.

Best, LB

[way2far]

Bumping this thread, as I'm a first time poster and now officially an owner of a beautiful Tomcat. Never thought I'd have a chance to own one, but here we are. I feel so late to the game given the age of this platform, but hey, it's new to me!

Think I'll maiden it as it comes with no initial mods. It's the PNP version so we will see what my thoughts are after a couple flights. This was a fun thread to read.

[dannyiron69]

Does anyone have an STL file or print GE engines in this scale ?

[DCORSAIR]

I use a 1inch. 25mm or about. Wide. Elastic. And just go under the fuse Wider is better. Does not mark the foam.. it's easy peasy.. to get it down. For upcoming sorties

Elastic sounds like a good idea, don't use string with a plastic hose, I bought my F-14 from a guy who did just that and it left marks in the foam from hanging and took the paint off in places, I still bought it anyway thinking I would fix it up but never have, I figured its going to get dings anyway eventually.