Official Freewing Twin 70mm AL37 Airliner Thread

[Gilatrout]

I can see this being helpful. To adjust it now is quite a challenge with the planes size. I also see people are bypassing the bluebox. So far mine seems to be functioning where i dont think it’s necessary. I can say the retracts are extremely slow to raise and a bit slow to drop in my opinion. Maybe the blue box has something to do with it.

Blue box has everything to do with retract speed. There are some advantages for slowing down. 1, it's more scale sometimes... and 2, it gives you a chance to correct an accidental retract on the ground.

Some planes I bypass the blue box, others I don't. It is very subjective about the speed.

[Macosta1492]

I'm not disagreeing with what has been said before about telemetry, but frankly I insist using at least 7 channels for all planes in with nose gear and flaps.

Putting the nose gear on a separate channel allows you to trim the steering independently from the rudder. This significantly improves ground handling and simplifies tracking on the ground. Steering adjustment will not affect the rudder so the plane flies better and stays in fight trim.

I can see this being helpful. To adjust it now is quite a challenge with the planes size. I also see people are bypassing the bluebox. So far mine seems to be functioning where i dont think it’s necessary. I can say the retracts are extremely slow to raise and a bit slow to drop in my opinion. Maybe the blue box has something to do with it.

[Macosta1492]

Actually, that is just the first video. There are over a dozen of them.
I think Spektrum over-sold you. Shame on them, but I guess they're in the business to sell. First, you don't need an 8-ch RX to fly this plane. You could have got the job done with their 6-ch AS3X/SAFE/telemetry receivers, costing less. Do you need telemetry? Without some extra cost modules and Spektrum smart ESCs and a Spektrum smart battery, the information you get will be somewhat limited anyway. You can save some money getting just a 6-ch AS3X/SAFE RX without the telemetry. However, even those require you do some studying on how to program them.
You can always save that RX for a future plane where you will benefit from having 8 channels. For now, you could simply get a basic 6-ch Lemon RX and a cheap HobbyEagle gyro that will do the same thing at a third the price.

yeah i dont think i really needed the telemetry. I watched a couple build vids and there was an older gentlemen that was setting it up with a different rx and at the end he switched to the one i currently have saying it was the correct one to use(droneman productions). Oh well i got it already. I guess ill have extra channels for mods when i figure it out and get in the air.

[Gilatrout]

I'm not disagreeing with what has been said before about telemetry, but frankly I insist using at least 7 channels for all planes in with nose gear and flaps.

Putting the nose gear on a separate channel allows you to trim the steering independently from the rudder. This significantly improves ground handling and simplifies tracking on the ground. Steering adjustment will not affect the rudder so the plane flies better and stays in fight trim.

[xviper]

to be completely honest. When i bought the plane i emailed spektrum asking them what they recommended for my TX to work with this specific plane and so that i could have safe. There is just so little information out there about this rx. I definitely wont be flying the plane anytime soon. I wont dare take that risk. Im gonna watch this video. Hopefully it shines loght on something im missing.

Actually, that is just the first video. There are over a dozen of them.
I think Spektrum over-sold you. Shame on them, but I guess they're in the business to sell. First, you don't need an 8-ch RX to fly this plane. You could have got the job done with their 6-ch AS3X/SAFE/telemetry receivers, costing less. Do you need telemetry? Without some extra cost modules and Spektrum smart ESCs and a Spektrum smart battery, the information you get will be somewhat limited anyway. You can save some money getting just a 6-ch AS3X/SAFE RX without the telemetry. However, even those require you do some studying on how to program them.
You can always save that RX for a future plane where you will benefit from having 8 channels. For now, you could simply get a basic 6-ch Lemon RX and a cheap HobbyEagle gyro that will do the same thing at a third the price.

[Macosta1492]

You should not fly any airplane with such a RX installed in it until you fully understand what it does and how to make it do what you intend for it to do. The RX likely comes with some default settings that may or may not need activating and assigned to a switch. Even though your control throws are "functional", the gyro response direction may not be appropriate for that airplane. You at least need to know how to test for all the functions of the plane and the AS3X and SAFE responses. If a gyro response is inappropriate, the plane can either shake itself to death or take a dive into the dirt.
Go to the product webpage: https://www.horizonhobby.com/product...PMAR8360T.html
There, you will see a video for setting up these types of RXs. They use an AR737T RX as an example. The programming is similar for your RX.

If you are anxious to fly the plane before you figure out how the RX works, you might be better off to go with a receiver that has no gyro in it or go into the 8360T and at the very least, reduce the gains severely for everything (30 or less). Then it'll act more like a "normal" RX (if gains are set to zero). Use "forward programming" to assign SAFE to a switch so you can use it when you want to. There should be default settings for SAFE that should be OK to begin with. However, the advice is to watch as many of those set up videos as you can before flying the plane.

to be completely honest. When i bought the plane i emailed spektrum asking them what they recommended for my TX to work with this specific plane and so that i could have safe. There is just so little information out there about this rx. I definitely wont be flying the plane anytime soon. I wont dare take that risk. Im gonna watch this video. Hopefully it shines loght on something im missing.

[xviper]

Hello all. I recently purchased a al37 to add to my collection. I own a spektrum dx8e and i purchased the spektrum ar8360t receiver. I have the plane built and i have verified all the control surfaces are functional. My concern is that im extremely unfamiliar with how to use this controller. It has so many setting that im scared i have possibly missed something in programming and binding. Does anyone have experience working with this receiver and transmitter combo. Any inputs on what i need to setup. Would like to possibly get safe activated.

You should not fly any airplane with such a RX installed in it until you fully understand what it does and how to make it do what you intend for it to do. The RX likely comes with some default settings that may or may not need activating and assigned to a switch. Even though your control throws are "functional", the gyro response direction may not be appropriate for that airplane. You at least need to know how to test for all the functions of the plane and the AS3X and SAFE responses. If a gyro response is inappropriate, the plane can either shake itself to death or take a dive into the dirt.
Go to the product webpage: https://www.horizonhobby.com/product...PMAR8360T.html
There, you will see a video for setting up these types of RXs. They use an AR737T RX as an example. The programming is similar for your RX.

If you are anxious to fly the plane before you figure out how the RX works, you might be better off to go with a receiver that has no gyro in it or go into the 8360T and at the very least, reduce the gains severely for everything (30 or less). Then it'll act more like a "normal" RX (if gains are set to zero). Use "forward programming" to assign SAFE to a switch so you can use it when you want to. There should be default settings for SAFE that should be OK to begin with. However, the advice is to watch as many of those set up videos as you can before flying the plane.

[Macosta1492]

Hello all. I recently purchased a al37 to add to my collection. I own a spektrum dx8e and i purchased the spektrum ar8360t receiver. I have the plane built and i have verified all the control surfaces are functional. My concern is that im extremely unfamiliar with how to use this controller. It has so many setting that im scared i have possibly missed something in programming and binding. Does anyone have experience working with this receiver and transmitter combo. Any inputs on what i need to setup. Would like to possibly get safe activated.

[xviper]

I can’t connect with radio t4k…?

I don't know what a t4k is. This plane is a "PNP". You need your own radio and receiver and battery. If your radio and receiver can support at least 6 channels, I don't know why it wouldn't work.

[Zakir hussain syed]

I can’t connect with radio t4k…?

[elmshoot]

I want to do the P-8 and wondered who does the bomb bay and all the warts that are on the airplane?
Sparky

[GliderGuy]

Lots of options available …. One example

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CWCSNW9...Y208NXE4DZKQ8G

Place as close to the ESCs as possible. Several wires can run through one choke. I then put a zip tie around each choke to ensure they don’t pop open.

If you have room, add to both sides of the ESC.

-GG

[wrangler1]

Nice Job Wrangler1 / Just a couple of items for you to consider...

#14
Feb 25, 2021, 09:53 PM This will help keep the wing from developing cracks, if you plan to fly a lot and/or do aerobatics.


AND....enter the words ferrite or RF choke or choke in the search window and read/learn about this easy to install and cheap preventative measure for helping prevent potential radio issues. I installed them on both the frontside and backside of the AL37 ESCs (lots of room under the battery tray). I also installed an RF choke in the tail on the wires running to the elevators and added a small one by the green ferrite ring up by the receiver.

I've made several thousand flights on the AL37 (and F-4 and MiG-29) without issue. Others have shown better radio performance (fewer holds and fewer frame losses) after installing the RF Chokes. Prior to using them, I lost an F-4 and an A-10. No issues since I began using them.

-GG

HI glider Guy, normally i put some ferrite rings on the power line to the rx and also to the ailerons, elevators and rudder. But when you say choke, what type of choke are you reffering to ( can you show me an example pls ?).

By the way, today i made the cables that goes from the rx to the blue box and also a PLA base for the blue box and put it below the battery tray. ( photos attached).

[GliderGuy]

Nice Job Wrangler1 / Just a couple of items for you to consider...

#14
Feb 25, 2021, 09:53 PM This will help keep the wing from developing cracks, if you plan to fly a lot and/or do aerobatics.


AND....enter the words ferrite or RF choke or choke in the search window and read/learn about this easy to install and cheap preventative measure for helping prevent potential radio issues. I installed them on both the frontside and backside of the AL37 ESCs (lots of room under the battery tray). I also installed an RF choke in the tail on the wires running to the elevators and added a small one by the green ferrite ring up by the receiver.

I've made several thousand flights on the AL37 (and F-4 and MiG-29) without issue. Others have shown better radio performance (fewer holds and fewer frame losses) after installing the RF Chokes. Prior to using them, I lost an F-4 and an A-10. No issues since I began using them.

-GG

[wrangler1]

Hi to all from the Dominican Republic. I decided to build my storage AL-37 a few weeks back and decided to decorate it with the Alaska Airlines Cartoon scheme. Due to a lack of information i didn't prepare the base color of the tail for the decals, so i used one that i ordered also of the B 737-800 original launch livery as a base and over it i put the face that goes on all Alaska Airlines planes. Also i modified a little bit the original design but it came completely amazing !!!!. Also i will use the Spektrum Ar 637T receiver and decided to put it over the CG point, to reach the position i design and printed myself a base that compensates the 12 mm difference (nose down) from where is going to go vs the real leveled attitude. And also i'm taking my time with your comments so i can made the improvements before the maiden.

[MeyerVW]

I have a runcam2 4k and runcam 5 The 5 is awesome.

[Scale Freak]

What type of camera are you all using to take these videos?

[Scale Freak]

can someone give me a copy of the sheet that shows where the waterslide stickers go interested in the "area vsm" without window and the eight smallest stickers, Thanks heaps in advance

here is where I put some.

[Bazza]

can someone give me a copy of the sheet that shows where the waterslide stickers go interested in the "area vsm" without window and the eight smallest stickers, Thanks heaps in advance

[themudduck]

Nice job! All fixed up and flyin' fine...