Official Freewing Twin 80mm F-14D Tomcat Thread

[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.

[f4u ausie]

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

[nuts-n-volts]

I hang all of my planes from the ceiling. I keep a 3-step ladder in the garage just to put them up or down. It's easier than you may think. As far as how to hang them so the string doesn't bite into the foam and leave a string track... don't do that!

Always look for hard points outside of the plane and many times, with jet noses, on the inside. Prop planes are relatively easy. I usually hang them from the prop shaft and from the tailwheel looped over the stab joiner each side. The vertical fin or rudder end up keeping the plane straight.

On jets, you don't have the prop shaft. But, typically, you have either a nose cone tongue or a canopy tongue. They're usually foam, but some are made of wood or plastic. Simply loop the string around the tongue, refit the canopy or nose cone and hang it. Also typical, you have the plastic exhaust in back to loop the string. For the foam tongues, I wrap them with fiber tape. Make sure the fiber is running perpendicular to the string so as to do the best job of protecting the foam tongue. Also, the string barely makes an indent where it exits the crack between the nose/canopy and the fuse. You can also add fiber tape to these areas or re-enforce to your specs. If you're really concerned about small dents in the seam, you can use dental floss for the string as it is very thin and strong.

Something else to watch for... always try to hit a ceiling joist when installing hooks. I use proper wall anchors if I absolutely can't get near a joist. Of course, joists almost always run parallel to each other at even distances apart. This usually makes all the planes also hang parallel unless you have the need to get creative.

And this, sometimes if there is no tongue or outside hard point, I have used the forward battery tray or any other inner hard point and drilled a hole in the fuselage directly above the connection. To get the string thru this small hole I clamp a portion of the string in my vise and super glue about 3' of the string while pulling tight. Let it dry. Now you have a section of strong straight string that will easily poke thru the hole.

[Elbee]

Hi: While not in use, I’d like to mount mine on a wall or ceiling. Are there recommendations or kits available to do either? Thanks!

D74,

I do not know of anything commercially available; however, I see other guys on U-toob and in photos, that are doing just that.

If you find a system or come up with one on your own, please post that solution.

Best, LB

[Elbee]

Im sure someone has tried or even done it by now, but has anyone swapped the wing actuators for standard sized servos?

RM, I have not done this, obviously, but I looking at linear actuators as an alternative if for nothing other than weight savings. Interesting thought. Best, LB

[Delorean74]

Hi: While not in use, I’d like to mount mine on a wall or ceiling. Are there recommendations or kits available to do either? Thanks!

[rifleman_btx]

Im sure someone has tried or even done it by now, but has anyone swapped the wing actuators for standard sized servos?

[shortround91]

Thank ya, I upgraded to a AR10360t+ really like the plus seems like I can get more throw and boy does it work great. Next up is to install the 3D cockpit install a HUD light set for the canopy

[Elbee]

shortround91

She is a Beauty for sure.

Bravo Zulu, Sir.

Best, LB

[shortround91]

The 9b inrunners were good, I expect the 2150 to be great. Yes ANs work with them... The only times I've heard issues is with Avian ESCs.




The Mirage has had three different fans stock during it's 10 year run (so far)...

That’s not bad depending on how much you fly her, just into my 13th month flying again I got the updated Mirage then threw a JetFan set up in it along with crashing one. So I had 2 extra EDF and ESC’s laying around. Guys at my club were really impressed how much better it flew after I replaced the old outrunners. I’ve kinda went overboard on the 80 F14 but boy are they such a looker

[Elbee]

I decided to install the long overdue upgrade with new inrunners from Freewing Mig 29 setup as recommended by all. I also installed a new 14 channel ExpressLRS receiver. The rebuild took a full night work as I also installed a KMRC burner lights. The overall cost was about $340, yes very pricey but I can contest, worth it for my beloved Tomcat. After the upgrade the CG changed a bit as the new inrunner fan covers are plastic and not metal much lighter and efficient.

One of the main reasons I switched was because one of my newly purchased outrunner motors was badly vibrating (I inspected all but couldn't find the issue, everything was tight). It vibrated the right wing so bad that one of my servo covers came off during flight and the flap servo was dangling!

The re-maiden went smoothly, the sound was clean and most of all flight time can be extended now, as my 2x HRB 5000's 6s lipos had 50% left after 4 mins of flight time. Now I can extend the timer to 5 min, I didn't have use full throttle either it was flying great at half throttle! So now I highly recommend this upgrade also, it took me about 8 yrs smh.

The Freewing 80mm Tomcat has been an absolute joy and privilege to fly! I hope she gets the proper upgrades if a V2 releases one day.

Brinka,

Congrats, my friend, worth the wait, time and expense, it would seem.

Best to you and yours this Thanksgiving Day.

LB

[Evan D]

The 9b inrunners were good, I expect the 2150 to be great. Yes ANs work with them... The only times I've heard issues is with Avian ESCs.

Ah yes so we're the Tomcat elders, lol. Good move, you will see the performance difference right away! I didn't connect the reverse thrust, as I fly off a large runway, but the new ESCs had the yellow plugs available for reverse thrust. Not sure if the afterburners will work with it.

The Mirage has had three different fans stock during it's 10 year run (so far)...

I have the KMRC blue burners in mine and they look amazing. I used the Mirage EDF and ESC’s incredible how much more power it has now mine was a original outrunner also and off grass was very lacking power wise

[shortround91]

Ah yes so we're the Tomcat elders, lol. Good move, you will see the performance difference right away! I didn't connect the reverse thrust, as I fly off a large runway, but the new ESCs had the yellow plugs available for reverse thrust. Not sure if the afterburners will work with it.

I have the KMRC blue burners in mine and they look amazing. I used the Mirage EDF and ESC’s incredible how much more power it has now mine was a original outrunner also and off grass was very lacking power wise

[Brinka]

I got my first one when they were initially sold. I flew the snot out of it and loved it. I flew it stock with stock programming. I did cut foam to move batteries back and used 700g 5000's. My second got the newer 9b in runner fans, AB's and I used 545g 5000's again with stock programming. I did reenforce the battery floor and nose gear mount.

I am in the process of buying 2150's and reversing ESCs to build #3.

Ah yes so we're the Tomcat elders, lol. Good move, you will see the performance difference right away! I didn't connect the reverse thrust, as I fly off a large runway, but the new ESCs had the yellow plugs available for reverse thrust. Not sure if the afterburners will work with it.

[Evan D]

I got my first one when they were initially sold. I flew the snot out of it and loved it. I flew it stock with stock programming. I did cut foam to move batteries back and used 700g 5000's. My second got the newer 9b in runner fans, AB's and I used 545g 5000's again with stock programming. I did reenforce the battery floor and nose gear mount.

I am in the process of buying 2150's and reversing ESCs to build #3.

[Brinka]

I decided to install the long overdue upgrade with new inrunners from Freewing Mig 29 setup as recommended by all. I also installed a new 14 channel ExpressLRS receiver. The rebuild took a full night work as I also installed a KMRC burner lights. The overall cost was about $340, yes very pricey but I can contest, worth it for my beloved Tomcat. After the upgrade the CG changed a bit as the new inrunner fan covers are plastic and not metal much lighter and efficient.

One of the main reasons I switched was because one of my newly purchased outrunner motors was badly vibrating (I inspected all but couldn't find the issue, everything was tight). It vibrated the right wing so bad that one of my servo covers came off during flight and the flap servo was dangling!

The re-maiden went smoothly, the sound was clean and most of all flight time can be extended now, as my 2x HRB 5000's 6s lipos had 50% left after 4 mins of flight time. Now I can extend the timer to 5 min, I didn't have use full throttle either it was flying great at half throttle! So now I highly recommend this upgrade also, it took me about 8 yrs smh.

The Freewing 80mm Tomcat has been an absolute joy and privilege to fly! I hope she gets the proper upgrades if a V2 releases one day.

[shortround91]

I don’t see any unusual wear, I fly from the grass doesn’t take long to get some worn places on the fan. If you have concerns just install 2 new there pretty cheap. I just finished mine up again went to a 10 channel Spektrum AS3X+ to disable ailerons on wing sweep. Unfortunately it’s just been to windy for me to remaiden her, the new EDF’s really wake the F14 up since I did mine I couldn’t be happier. Cheers and hope all goes well with your upgrades, another I’d suggest is the battery tray mod and like mine installing a balsa reinforcement for the front gear otherwise you’ll need grease landings to not break things

[kallend]

It is normal. Many have had them replaced but all I've seen are like that. They may rub held in hand but should not mounted in the plane.

Indeed. When hand held the tendency is to squeeze non uniformly and distort the case slightly, and the clearances are so small you get some rubbing.

[Evan D]

It is normal. Many have had them replaced but all I've seen are like that. They may rub held in hand but should not mounted in the plane.

[Reptielenfreak]

It doesnt look to terrible if you ask me. I bought a brand New f22 90mm and the fan was rubbing on the wall so i contacted motion and they say that there is nothing wrong or faulty. So i have been flying like this for many many flights no problems. Maybe its just that, keep an eye on maybe some wobble during throttle and abnormale sounds.
maybe its a good idea try to clean it with some apc ok a towl/cloth and some ear cleaning sticks