Official Freewing F/A-18C Hornet 90mm EDF Thread

[Hugh Wiedman]

Regarding the pilot I just found in my work room, I think it might possibly have come from an old airplane, maybe the Freewing F-15. This one is about a 3/4 body, and fits well into the Hornet cockpit. I think it is probably a different one from what you used in your picture, based on the hands position of the pilot, though. I painted him up yesterday and the helmet reflects the markings I found online of a VFA-146 "Blue Diamonds" helmet. Notice I didn't say "Gray Diamonds" but that's a whole different subject!

I acknowledge your comments on the weight of the scale cockpit and pilot, and how you have to put counterweights in the tail to compensate for the CG. Having to move the battery back just to fit the cockpit in will be a help to move the CG back some, but I can see putting some weights in the tail as you indicated. How much weight did you have to put in the tail to get it to the 100mm point CG?

I'm going to use the stock cockpit for at least the first several flights until I get it "dialed in."

Dave

Now that I see your pilot, yes it is a different one than what I used. Better than the shoulder/head pilot it comes with. I've got several of the same pilot you used in my "pilot inventory" and it is a FW pilot but can't remember what aircraft they came in. The one I used in the Tiger Hornet has moveable arms, but those stupid gloves are annoying.

Regarding the CG, on the Hornet with the 3D cockpit I think I put 3/4 ounce in each elevator bay. That, along with a little weight for the afterburner allowed me to achieve a maximum rearward CG of 105mm with a 6200 weighing 814 gr. I also put all electronics, RX and wires under the battery tray so I could move the battery as far back as possible. The RX is under the front part of the tray (away from the battery and cables) with the antennae going up to the nose and a remote satellite is all the way in the back of the tray with antennae going around the fuselage. In the Tiger Hornet, I set it up the same with electronics and RX, but am able to get to 112mm (not that I want to) with no lead in the elevator bay. Currently flying both at 102mm.

Your cockpit is outstanding and the scheme on his helmet is so realistic. Can't wait to see the finished product!

[davegee]

Dave, I think I probably used that same Motion RC pilot in my Tiger F-18 and cut his lower half off at the waist. It was slightly larger than the stock pilot. Didn't do the outstanding Elbee cockpit in that one to keep the nose weight down since I had a hell of a time getting the CG back around 100mm or more in the first Canadian one. As I said before, that full cockpit mod and pilot must have added about an extra 250 gr and ended up having to put lead in the elevator servo bays to get it back from the nose heavy 88mm they recommend. You'll notice the full 3D cockpit extends down into the battery bay and you'll have to put the battery further back just to fit it in, but then you'll want to anyway to get the CG correct.

Hi Hugh: that is an incredible paint job on your Hornet, I say again: "well done!!"

Regarding the pilot I just found in my work room, I think it might possibly have come from an old airplane, maybe the Freewing F-15. This one is about a 3/4 body, and fits well into the Hornet cockpit. I think it is probably a different one from what you used in your picture, based on the hands position of the pilot, though. I painted him up yesterday and the helmet reflects the markings I found online of a VFA-146 "Blue Diamonds" helmet. Notice I didn't say "Gray Diamonds" but that's a whole different subject!

I'll attach some pics I just took of the finished pilot in the cockpit. One of them is a rear view of an actual VFA-146 helmet I found online. I'll probably use him at least initially, before deciding if I want to use the Jet Hangar pilot figure. I'd prefer not to have to cut and whittle that one down to fit, maybe use it on a new, different project someday.

I acknowledge your comments on the weight of the scale cockpit and pilot, and how you have to put counterweights in the tail to compensate for the CG. Having to move the battery back just to fit the cockpit in will be a help to move the CG back some, but I can see putting some weights in the tail as you indicated. How much weight did you have to put in the tail to get it to the 100mm point CG?

I'm going to use the stock cockpit for at least the first several flights until I get it "dialed in."

Dave

[Hugh Wiedman]

I'll be respectful of his "naughty bits."

When I was rooting around my shop this afternoon, I found a Motion RC pilot that is a 3/4 body, and probably slightly smaller than what I think the one from Jet Hangar Hobbies "fat ass" pilot is. I've painted some insignia on him to signify the plane he's flying, VFA-146 Blue Diamonds. If I find that the jet hangar pilot is going to be too much to cut down to look good, I think I'll just use this pilot, which is probably a little more in scale to this cockpit. I can always use the jet hangar pilot for a future project, someday.

davegee

Dave, I think I probably used that same Motion RC pilot in my Tiger F-18 and cut his lower half off at the waist. It was slightly larger than the stock pilot. Didn't do the outstanding Elbee cockpit in that one to keep the nose weight down since I had a hell of a time getting the CG back around 100mm or more in the first Canadian one. As I said before, that full cockpit mod and pilot must have added about an extra 250 gr and ended up having to put lead in the elevator servo bays to get it back from the nose heavy 88mm they recommend. You'll notice the full 3D cockpit extends down into the battery bay and you'll have to put the battery further back just to fit it in, but then you'll want to anyway to get the CG correct.

[davegee]

incredible degree of detail. stay away from the trees... don't be like me.

Thanks. Shouldn't be too hard staying out of the trees here in northwest Wyoming. Pretty much desert where our field is, tallest obstacle is sagebrush!

Davegee

[davegee]

Just be careful not to cut off any of his private parts, he'll need 'em to fly this bad boy!

I'll be respectful of his "naughty bits."

When I was rooting around my shop this afternoon, I found a Motion RC pilot that is a 3/4 body, and probably slightly smaller than what I think the one from Jet Hangar Hobbies "fat ass" pilot is. I've painted some insignia on him to signify the plane he's flying, VFA-146 Blue Diamonds. If I find that the jet hangar pilot is going to be too much to cut down to look good, I think I'll just use this pilot, which is probably a little more in scale to this cockpit. I can always use the jet hangar pilot for a future project, someday.

davegee

[jasmith41]

Hugh, just looking at your hanger... i'll see you and raise you about 8...
holy fk - PJ50 came in today and it's going to sit in the box with the FW 80mm A10 and Mig 29 until i can figure out to sneak them home and into the hangar...🤣

[jasmith41]

incredible degree of detail. stay away from the trees... don't be like me.

[Hugh Wiedman]

Thanks, Hugh. I'll be waiting for him in the mail with my sander and exacto saw!!😁

Just be careful not to cut off any of his private parts, he'll need 'em to fly this bad boy!

[davegee]

DG, beautiful work, Sir. Great idea using the detailed cockpit as a static display. Will definitely save you 4-5 ounces of FWD weight. And bless your pea-pickin' heart for the compliment. Best, Steve

All kudos, to You, Steve!. A beautiful job designing all those parts to make this beautiful and realistic cockpit!

Cheers

Dave

[davegee]

Thanks, Hugh. I'll be waiting for him in the mail with my sander and exacto saw!!😁

[Hugh Wiedman]

I'm making some progress using the STLs that Elbee worked so hard to produce for the cockpit of the F-18C. The parts went together well so far, and I am totally impressed with the minute details that Elbee came up with for various parts of the cockpit. I had a friend print them up for me since I don't have a printer yet.

I have a stock cockpit that I'll fly for the initial maiden and subsequent flights until I feel comfortable flying it, and then use the detailed cockpit for local fly in's and that sort of thing. I have ordered a pilot from Jet Hangar Hobbies that Hugh Weidman recommended and uses for his F-18 airplanes.

Davegee

Outstanding Dave. One word of caution on the 1/10 scale JHH Pilot. In order to get his head to fit in under the canopy, I had to shave his rather large behind and cut him off at the knees, just where his legs would fit into the front instrument panel holes at the base. It also required me to lose the actual bottom of the ejection seat and shave off a bit of the back of the seat so it would fit. No matter, with his big arse in there you wouldn't be able to see much of the back of the seat and the bottom anyway. Just the size of our pilot would scare the hell out of any bogie once they get a look at him!

[Elbee]

I'm making some progress using the STLs that Elbee worked so hard to produce for the cockpit of the F-18C. The parts went together well so far, and I am totally impressed with the minute details that Elbee came up with for various parts of the cockpit. I had a friend print them up for me since I don't have a printer yet. I have a stock cockpit that I'll fly for the initial maiden and subsequent flights until I feel comfortable flying it, and then use the detailed cockpit for local fly in's and that sort of thing. I have ordered a pilot from Jet Hangar Hobbies that Hugh Weidman recommended and uses for his F-18 airplanes. Davegee

DG, beautiful work, Sir. Great idea using the detailed cockpit as a static display. Will definitely save you 4-5 ounces of FWD weight. And bless your pea-pickin' heart for the compliment. Best, Steve

[davegee]

I'm making some progress using the STLs that Elbee worked so hard to produce for the cockpit of the F-18C. The parts went together well so far, and I am totally impressed with the minute details that Elbee came up with for various parts of the cockpit. I had a friend print them up for me since I don't have a printer yet.

I have a stock cockpit that I'll fly for the initial maiden and subsequent flights until I feel comfortable flying it, and then use the detailed cockpit for local fly in's and that sort of thing. I have ordered a pilot from Jet Hangar Hobbies that Hugh Weidman recommended and uses for his F-18 airplanes.

Davegee

[Cape Jets]

Hello Hornet Flyers....... Looking to set up my F-18 with Tailerons. Is there a mix that uses only the elevators/ tailerons and cancels the ailerons. I would like to set up on a switch to enable just tailerons, tailerons-ailerons and normal setup. Since winter up here on the Cape I have alot of time on my hands and would like this set up on all my jets. Currently 90mm Thunderbird (8S) , 90mm F-15 (8S) and 2 Blue F-18's.

[Elbee]

I test fitted a 2mm rod and it fits nicely in the molded slot. Best, LB

[PILOTJOE]

Does anyone have a carbon fiber rod dimension that would fit or link on amazon for the Nose Gear Slant Strut? I'd like to glue one in there as I fly off grass. thanks.

[Evan D]

Oh, just adjust the ball link.

Like all servos I make sure the servos are reasonably at a right angle to the push rod and more the arm appropriately. Then to fine tune it subtrim the servo. Then adjust the ball link to get the surface where it needs to be for neutral.

[PILOTJOE]

Hey all, I'm about to assemble my f18 and was wondering how to you go about the 7mm up elevator for neutral? Is that something I do with the control rod? Or sub trim in my nx8? Thanks for the help.

[Airguardian]

Model and full scale... close enough! :p

[Hugh Wiedman]

Hi folks, just a question in between: I am happy flying the Freewing F/A 18 90mm and originally bought it in its base grey / PNP version to customize it with one of our Swiss Air Force liveries; just thought to buy another one but noticed, that it is (no longer?) available as base grey / PNP? Just temporary out of stock or would Motion RC no longer support that version? (also happy to buy diamond grey/PNP but then of course a bit more effort to paint it in our Swiss Air Force colors...)

Interesting, I think it must have been discontinued and only the Blue Angels version and Diamond Grey are now being sold as I too no longer see the base grey on their website.