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

[Aros]

Ha!

Elbee is going to come after me for not following his voodoo-freeing ceremony to a tee! So this is what I get…

So last weekend I went to remaiden. Plugged in the battery and started on all my preflight checks when suddenly I started to smell that dreaded electrical smell like something was burning. Suddenly I noticed one of the flap servos was smoking. EEEK!!

I immediately unplugged the battery and discovered the Hitec servo started to melt which in turn started to melt the plastic housing.

If any of you weren’t convinced this particular model of mine isn’t cursed, maybe this will persuade you.

[Hugh Wiedman]

Aros you need to post the photo you sent me of your hitec servo after joining up with your "demon" F-18. I've never seen that, but maybe others here with more experience can shed some light on this "thorny" issue! I'm completely out of ideas on that bad boy of yours. I'd keep one eye open when sleeping at night unless you lock it in the garage!

[Aros]

Thanks fellas, appreciate the feedback!

[jetpltrich]

Gents,

Could use some help for a buddy of mine. His words…

“I need the elevator servos for a F-18 I'm working on but there are so many 9g servos on your site I don't know which ones to get. I'll need a standard and reverse servo. Can you ask folks which one of the new better 9g servos I need?”

Ideas? It’s true, we have so many to choose from. Appreciate the help!

I swapped ALL servos in my F-18's to Hitec. For the elevators I'm using Hitec HS-5065MG Ball Bearing Digital Metal Gear Sub-Micro Servo, all the rest are Hitec HS-5065MG Ball Bearing Digital Metal Gear Sub-Micro Servo. You will need the Hitec HFP-30 Digital Servo Programmer and Universal Servo Tester to reverse one of the elevator servos. Now, why did I do that? The flap servos failed on 6th flight and MotionRC basically said F-CAW-F when I requested service about the issue. They said the same thing when I purchased an ECM for the F-18 and the battery lead was WAY too short. They directed me to Amazon to purchase a battery lead extension. Anyway, I am very pleased with the servo upgrades. I have confidence now.

[xviper]

Gents,

Could use some help for a buddy of mine. His words…

“I need the elevator servos for a F-18 I'm working on but there are so many 9g servos on your site I don't know which ones to get. I'll need a standard and reverse servo. Can you ask folks which one of the new better 9g servos I need?”

Ideas? It’s true, we have so many to choose from. Appreciate the help!

The ELE servos on this plane are actually 23g, one “normal” and one “reverse”. To be sure, take one out and see what it says. If you go to the product page at MotionRC, in the “overview” tab, scroll down to “servos”. It actually tells you the catalogue number in the form a link. Just click on the link for left ELE and right ELE and it will take you to that product’s page where you can put it in the cart. Failing that, the ELE servos are the only 23g ones for this plane that has 100mm leads. Unfortunately, they are SOLD OUT at MRC.
There’s still hope. You can get them from RC Castle for the same price but you’ll have to pay for shipping from Hong Kong. They have stock.

https://www.rc-castle.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=12151

https://www.rc-castle.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=12150

[Aros]

Gents,

Could use some help for a buddy of mine. His words…

“I need the elevator servos for a F-18 I'm working on but there are so many 9g servos on your site I don't know which ones to get. I'll need a standard and reverse servo. Can you ask folks which one of the new better 9g servos I need?”

Ideas? It’s true, we have so many to choose from. Appreciate the help!

[Elbee]

Elbee, this is just a post of his to set us up for SPAM! I've reported his SPAM post.

Got it, banned member and deleted Topic.

Thanks again, couldn't do this without y'all.

Best, LB

[xviper]

CB,

Welcome to Hobby Squawk.

Glad to have you onboard, Sir.

Best, LB

Elbee, this is just a post of his to set us up for SPAM! I've reported his SPAM post.

[xviper]

For me, this has been going on about 10 days. At first I thought it was my Cobalt based computer and was considering upgrading to Fortran, but this is the only site with those delays!

That's about the same amount of time for me as well, maybe a bit longer. (Things might go a lot faster for me if my punch card reader didn't jamb so often.)

[Hugh Wiedman]

Hugh, I believe your double post is part and parcel of the ongoing issue with this site's "mechanics" (IT stuff). A few of us have experienced intermittent security issues and slow (extremely slow at times) response to "Post Reply", Edits and Saves. As such, this may compel some posters to click "post reply" a second time because nothing happens after the first click. I've experienced up to 30 seconds before a reply is posted. Someone else here has reported up to 1 minute. That's a long time to wait for something that usually takes less than a second.

I've definitely experienced those extremely slow post and edits time, so you're probably 100% correct, as usual! For me, this has been going on about 10 days. At first I thought it was my Cobalt based computer and was considering upgrading to Fortran, but this is the only site with those delays! The site takes twice as long to open and respond as before and when posting the "working" label takes forever, so much so that I'll hit "Post Reply", then go off and read a book and come back later! Took 10 seconds just to load more similes here!

[Elbee]

hello everyone..!

CB,

Welcome to Hobby Squawk.

Glad to have you onboard, Sir.

Best, LB

[ConnorBlast]

hello everyone..!

[f4u ausie]

Hugh U make us all chuckle.. me anyway no shadow of a dought. That awsome tiger paint will be shredding paint soon .. won't b easy to fix.. weather here crappy tmora morn (Sunday). So gota wait bit longer to get F16 first 8s flightin nervous but confident .. with little Xtra weight. Just keep speed up me

[xviper]

Why did I have a double post?

Hugh, I believe your double post is part and parcel of the ongoing issue with this site's "mechanics" (IT stuff). A few of us have experienced intermittent security issues and slow (extremely slow at times) response to "Post Reply", Edits and Saves. As such, this may compel some posters to click "post reply" a second time because nothing happens after the first click. I've experienced up to 30 seconds before a reply is posted. Someone else here has reported up to 1 minute. That's a long time to wait for something that usually takes less than a second.

[Hugh Wiedman]

Why did I have a double post? I know everyone is just sitting on the edge of their seat hoping to hear words of wisdom from this modern day Mahatma Gandi, but once should be more than enough for my adoring fans!
Elbee can you delete one for me (maybe both if you're honest about it)? Tried, but couldn't do it, I'm more of a rotary phone guy with turntable music in the background.

[davegee]

Super work, Hugh!

Wishing you blue and dry skies!

Cheers

Davegee

[Hugh Wiedman]

Just finished my 2nd F18 upgrade to 8S! Whoopi (and not the Goldberg kind. ) Now calling them "Semi-Super Hornets", just hope the graphics and paint don't strip off from the intense air friction at full throttle!

Was only able to get 3 flights on the 1st over the last 2 weeks due to continued never ending rain, so hoping to test #2 out soon. #1 flew spectacularly, so no reason this won't either. Nice thing about the upgrade was that the 8S battery placement wasn't much different vs 6S, back less than 10mm to still balance at 103mm. Previously used SMC HiV 6S 5900 (750 gr), now using SMC HiV 8S 4900 (843 gr) or SMC HiV 8S 5900 (972gr).

Check out the clean battery bay thanks to Jandro's guidance, (battery placement of the front of a 4900 at green lines, 5900 about 20mm further back):

[Aros]

I really hope that Aros has a successful flight with his F-18.

Thank you sir, that makes two of us!

[jetpltrich]

jetpltrich Outstanding report Rich!! Now if we can just get Aros into the "Brotherhood of the F18 Plus RX", maybe we can get Freewing to do a V2 Super Hornet. But then my 8S Hornet would just be obsolete after only a week. Hornet number 2 set for 8S upgrade Sunday

Thanks Evan and Hugh. My goal with this project had two objectives. 1. To really prove the Plus receiver is cable of taming this airframe, and 2. To let others in this community know that though this airframe is wicked it can be tamed and be an absolutely awesome bird to fly. I approach flying my jets like flying the real thing. I fly with a GPS speed read out and have found like the real thing it helps tremendously. My only issue is it has a slight lag and the mental math on windy days can be a challenge. I would like to see Spectrum bring back their airspeed unit, if anyone has one laying around, I'll gladly purchase it.

I really hope that Aros has a successful flight with his F-18.

Rich

[Hugh Wiedman]

jetpltrich Outstanding report Rich!! Now if we can just get Aros into the "Brotherhood of the F18 Plus RX", maybe we can get Freewing to do a V2 Super Hornet. But then my 8S Hornet would just be obsolete after only a week. Hornet number 2 set for 8S upgrade Sunday