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

[IdidItOnPurpose]

Hi guys,
Did anybody try to Exchange the landing gear of the f-18 with the eflite 80mm f-18 because of the scale look?

Best regards

dario

Yes I did the swap along with 'fix'ing the doors. Quite a bit of hacking involved but pleased with how it turned out.

[fredmdbud]

Thanks for the shout out Brinka
Speaking of EDF's, a little sneak preview of my nearly completed F-18 number 2. Got it, along with the Mig, the day before the price increase and have been working on the repaints of both for over a month now. Picked a livery that it turned out was even more complicated that my first F-18 I did in the 1867-2017 Canadian scheme. She needed a wing man, so came up with another Canadian version, but one I haven't seen much around. Now I now why; it was a B..... to do! I'll post finished photos in the next couple of days (when/if the rain stops ), but here's some early on ones from several weeks ago. Anyone care to guess what the livery is? (And it's not Linus's "Great Pumpkin" from Charlie Brown). The Mig is about a week out from being released! My garage, kitchen, main foyer and office/hangar has been been littered with aircraft parts in various stages of painting for over a month and finally today most areas have been cleaned up, just in time as my wife had an appointment with a divorce attorney!

I'm guessing this.

[Airguardian]

Looking good!

I want to get my hands on some SMC batts so badly... T.T

[Hugh Wiedman]

Thanks for the shout out Brinka . I was just hoping your upgrade to the 12 blade would have been more dramatic, but didn't realize how good your old outrunner really was. For me it was a huge upgrade, but then I was going from the original stock 1750 9 blade outrunner that my Grandmother had.

BTW, as I've reported to some already privately, I just got a hold of some of the new Graphene SMC 5300's and 6200's. These have tested out better than any other battery I've tested (Admirals/HRB/Roaring Top/Spektrum/ Hobbystar/Venom/etc./etc). These are labeled 40C and test out to that on the Progressive IR meter (un heard of), where the highest C I've ever found till now (on advertised 50C to 100C) has been 34. The 5300's weigh in at an extremely lite 684 gr (most 5000's are 720-750) and will be used in my new Mig and the 6200's weigh in at 814 gr and will power all my 12 blade 90mm inrunners (except my F-16 that loves the SMC 8100 mah and gives over 5 minutes). The individual cell amps are great at around 160 mamps, and the individual cell IR's are around 1.3 mohms. Discharge C and cell amps stay consistent from fully charged down to 30%. On my 90 mm 12 blade inrunners, the power draw is up to a whopping 127.7 Ah (oh , I've only got a 130 amp ESC), and up to just under 3200 W, by far better than anything I've tried. I'm still using my RT 6250's on my Stinger/Avanti and A-10 (because I have so many and they don't need a huge C rate) and the Admirals on most of my prop planes, but from now on, most of my EDF's will be dining on SMC!

Speaking of EDF's, a little sneak preview of my nearly completed F-18 number 2. Got it, along with the Mig, the day before the price increase and have been working on the repaints of both for over a month now. Picked a livery that it turned out was even more complicated that my first F-18 I did in the 1867-2017 Canadian scheme. She needed a wing man, so came up with another Canadian version, but one I haven't seen much around. Now I now why; it was a B..... to do! I'll post finished photos in the next couple of days (when/if the rain stops ), but here's some early on ones from several weeks ago. Anyone care to guess what the livery is? (And it's not Linus's "Great Pumpkin" from Charlie Brown). The Mig is about a week out from being released! My garage, kitchen, main foyer and office/hangar has been been littered with aircraft parts in various stages of painting for over a month and finally today most areas have been cleaned up, just in time as my wife had an appointment with a divorce attorney!

[Brinka]

My thoughts on 12b in runner set up: After picking Hughs brain, I went for it, the investment cost me $300 (Inrunner $150, 2 HRB 6000mah 50c Lipos $150). I originally had the old 90mm Tbird F16 Outrunner in my F18 ARF kit, which gave me plenty of power but extremely low flight times 3:30, along with heavy battery drain. I had to purchase 2 new packs because both of my 6000mah packs had high internal resisitance, and on the bench they didn't test well. I fly foamy's because I do not want to spend all my hard earned cash all on the hobby. So this was a huge deal for me and I had to pull the trigger, So after the upgrade I saw better battery performance and the most importantly flight time (4:00 min). As far as thrust, I wasn't too impressed but that's because my former outrunner was a beast, so I felt just a tad better thrust. Biggest difference was less full throttle use, the F18 flew excellent on 3/4 throttle for high speed passes, or vertical climbs.

Hugh Wiedman I wanna thank you for your extensive knowledge and help. I'm happy and feel that although the set up is a bit too expensive, it certainly performs as you would expect. I still need a few more flights to see if I can extend the flight times to 5mins. After 4mins I'm coming back at 42% left. With a bit more throttle management, I can be confident to try.

[didier n]

I changed the old stock outrunner for the new 1900kv inrunner, did you guys change the settings from the original ESC? Timing maybe? I haven't got the chance to fly yet...

Thanks!

[Evan D]

Totally different way of retraction. Plus the EF have no suspension. While they look good function is horrible.

[Blackhawk71]

Hi guys,
Did anybody try to Exchange the landing gear of the f-18 with the eflite 80mm f-18 because of the scale look?

Best regards

dario

[Elbee]

Making slow progress on the 2nd Hornet. Looks like I'm on the Elbee production time line (but definitely don't expect the same outcomes). I was going to do the full blown 3D cockpit as I did on the first, but got a little lazy, so ended up with a 2D unprinted "Rube Goldberg" version (probably most are too young for that reference). It's nowhere near as nice or accurate, in fact nothing on it is accurate, but the nice thing is it weighs only 1.2 ounces more than the stock plain cockpit.

Hugh, looks great my friend. Love the 2D reference. And I think I'm related to ol' Rube. Best, LB

[Airguardian]

Thanks Aros!

As promised, there go the raw clips without music / slowmo for those that prefer to hear the jet ;)

[Aros]

Airguardian always a treat to watch your spectacular flights, thank you! Hugh Wiedman that cockpit detail is SICK and I am officially not going to share my photos because my detailing is so minimalistic to what you and LB have done it's embarrassing. Fantastic attention to detail!

[Airguardian]

Airguardian awesome flight/video/music. When I grow up, I want to fly just like you do (uh oh, way to late for that to happen).

Naaaah, never too late!
Just need to get over the pucker factor and practice a lot at a safety altitude first! :p

That looks almost too smooth to be playing back at normal video speed -- is it ?

It's not, it's slowed down a bit.
I typically post both edited and raw clips... will post the other one later this week. ;)

[Hugh Wiedman]

Making slow progress on the 2nd Hornet. Looks like I'm on the Elbee production time line (but definitely don't expect the same outcomes). But at least I saved about $120 by ordering them just before the 15th! Probably shouldn't have undertaken the repaint of the Mig at the same time but couldn't leave it in the box so I figured it was better to paint 2 at once and save some "paint barn" costs and time. Finished the Mig cockpit and just finished the Hornet cockpit. Now it's on to final masking and primer time for both.

I was going to do the full blown 3D cockpit as I did on the first, but got a little lazy, so ended up with a 2D unprinted "Rube Goldberg" version (probably most are too young for that reference). It's nowhere near as nice or accurate, in fact nothing on it is accurate, but the nice thing is it weighs only 1.2 ounces more than the stock plain cockpit. My 3D cockpit weighed 4.75 ounces more than the stock and it required some real creative work with the battery placement and the dreaded "lead in the tail". With the 12 blade inrunner and the AB's, that 1.2 ounces in the nose should be a non issue and allow me to place the battery wherever I want (at least I can hope it does).

[killickb]

That looks almost too smooth to be playing back at normal video speed -- is it ?

[Hugh Wiedman]

Airguardian awesome flight/video/music. When I grow up, I want to fly just like you do (uh oh, way to late for that to happen).

[Airguardian]

Killer flights with the Hornet

[fredmdbud]

Not as convenient or "clean" when assembling/disassembling the jet at the field, but hopefully a "safer" solution.

Neat and expedient rarely ever go well together.

The happy medium is "manageable" :)

[Airguardian]

I haven't had flap problems myself either but it's clear many have for whatever reason.
To pinpoint the exact cause may be nightmarish at best ( :

[Elbee]

Then I've decided to loose the wing ribbon cables and wing connector panel, and just wire the ailerons and flaps directly to the receiver with a y-connector (the only thing coming off the wings), completely bypassing the BB. Not as convenient or "clean" when assembling/disassembling the jet at the field, but hopefully a "safer" solution. Might as well do the same for the elevators and then only the gear and lights go through the blue box. I suspect there is a drop in voltage somewhere going through the BB (maybe with too long wires) or even a cold solder joint. I'm certainly no electrical engineer, but there's something funky going on there. I've never had an issue with flaps, even delayed up to 4 seconds, on a plane that the flaps are wired directly into the receiver.

Hugh, a very logical approach. I did similarly, though I am not entirely finished with mine yet. Glad to know others are ditching the BB on this airframe. Best, LB

[Hugh Wiedman]

I had no flap delay on my two F-18 and they both still did it, almost lost them both from the same issue, it's just crazy, also had one where the rudders would go left when I retracted the gear, that was fun on the maiden, I hated the way that jet flew anyway, never could get them locked in to what I liked. sold both of mine, problem solved...............

Then I've decided to loose the wing ribbon cables and wing connector panel, and just wire the ailerons and flaps directly to the receiver with a y-connector (the only thing coming off the wings), completely bypassing the BB. Not as convenient or "clean" when assembling/disassembling the jet at the field, but hopefully a "safer" solution. Might as well do the same for the elevators and then only the gear and lights go through the blue box. I suspect there is a drop in voltage somewhere going through the BB (maybe with too long wires) or even a cold solder joint. I'm certainly no electrical engineer, but there's something funky going on there. I've never had an issue with flaps, even delayed up to 4 seconds, on a plane that the flaps are wired directly into the receiver.