Official Freewing Twin 70mm AL37 Airliner Thread

[f4u ausie]

Bad and good luck gg. Looks like futaba??? Even they get glitches Here or there

Great rebuild.. wish I didn't lose mine

[GliderGuy]

Say hello to Frankenbird! A crash pretty well took out my AL-37. But wait! There’s the hangar queen I’ve been using for spare parts for years! It was grounded because of wing stress cracks which kept coming back. The hangar queen’s fuselage was fine.

Soooo, I ordered new wings and had everything else on hand. 3 evening’s work, and Frankenbird had a successful test flight last week.

Many more enjoyable flights since last week’s “maiden” have convinced me that the effort was well spent.

The typical and suspect critical path failure points: TX? RX? Gyro? Capacitor on gyro? Servo? BEC? No way to tell…too many possibilities. Straight down from about 200 ft up.

-GG

Before and after repairs:

[Scots_rubz]

Photo post painted.

[Scots_rubz]

Finally looking like an aircraft again. Callie graphics to apply this week and tidy up Rx ect then be ready for maiden. Will post photos once completed.

[xviper]

As a Canadian who owns this plane, I can make some suggestions for you. My AL-37 came from MotionRC many years ago and the graphics from Callie Graphics in WestJet theme. However, times (tariffs, etc) have changed. We Canucks will pay the shipping again from MotionRC. Their prices already includes shipping from China to them but that free shipping only applies to US customers. Not only will you pay for additional shipping, you will also pay hefty brokerage fees and possibly additional tariffs. As for the receiver, there is no such thing anymore as a "MotionRC reciever" (Admiral). Those are no longer sold. They now sell the true "Lemon" that the Admiral was based upon.
Now for up to date news for Canadian buyers. RC Castle, based in Hong Kong sell the AL-37 and the Lemon RX (get the 10-ch stabilized RX, also get the satellite RX for it). By today's standards, even after you've paid for the seemingly exorbitant shipping cost (don't select the cheapest method as that can take up to 3 months by surface shipping) and the small Canada Post brokerage (+GST), you will still save a hundred to 2 hundred bucks over the "to your door" cost from Motion. Another option for a RX is the latest Spektrum AS3X+, with serial satellite but that will cost you dearly. These can be purchased from your local hobby shop or from Great Hobbies online (they also sell the Lemon but it's cheaper from RC Castle if you include it in the box with the plane). Of course, what you use for a RX will be dependent on what transmitter you will use.
As far as batteries are concerned, these can only be shipped via ground. Your best option is the buy them from Amazon.ca as ground shipping within Canada is fast and you won't have to deal with customs. Target the HRB, 6s, 50C, 6000mah. They will be cheaper than anything else you can buy from the typical US suppliers and HRBs will serve the purpose well. You can also buy Gens Ace from Great Hobbies if you like but these are a higher cost.

[f4u ausie]

Callie graphics for decals.. plp means all electronics.. receiver needs to suit transmitter.
6000 mah battery as start.. not sure.. but don't think so... It's not a beginner plane. But would make an awesome display

[Uwhoo]

Hi All,

I just had a couple of questions as I would like to buy this plane for my 60th birthday. I am not ready to fly it, but I will be in a year or so. But as it's my 60th birthday, I think it will be a gift for me. Here are my questions if anyone wants to answer.
1. I will buy a white one as I would like to put on Custom Graphics. How can I best do that, and who can I buy them from? The suggestion by Motion is almost all warplane stuff. I would like a real commercial airliner set up.
2. Does the place come with all electronics? It says included, but the servos don't have that word by them. Are they included?
3. Should I buy the Motion receiver suggested as well with gyro, or is there a better one?
4. Whats the best battery, I cant ship the one they have I am in Canada.
5. Are there other large-scale planes that are on par with this AL37?
6. Anything else you can give me would be helpful.

Thanks for taking the time to answer any of this.
Uwhoo

[cwatkins]

It's better to paint and not get nervous...

I'd spend just as much time agonizing over getting the masking perfect for every line... and I have. Paint is great, but this time I went with vinyl, so I was seeking out any advice from the many others who have already installed this particular graphic, that's all. :)

[lusek_pl]

Also, anyone who has installed graphics where you have to wrap a piece from the belly to the tail, were you able to do that without cutting, or having wrinkles? Any tips you want to share? I'm psyching myself out thinking about laying this on at the angle it needs to go on, having to deal with three different curves, trying to have stripes match with the vertical fin stripes, etc... Thinking big decals like the Southwest tail bits, for instance.

It's better to paint and not get nervous...

[f4u ausie]

Mine was hand painted. Unfortunately it's somewhere in foam heaven after 30 odd flights. Lost signal.. don't ya just hate that

[cwatkins]

Also, anyone who has installed graphics where you have to wrap a piece from the belly to the tail, were you able to do that without cutting, or having wrinkles? Any tips you want to share? I'm psyching myself out thinking about laying this on at the angle it needs to go on, having to deal with three different curves, trying to have stripes match with the vertical fin stripes, etc... Thinking big decals like the Southwest tail bits, for instance.

[cwatkins]

All who have added reversing ESCs... anyone have any issues with it, long term? Impeller unscrewing or anything? Thinking about installing a pair of Hobbywing Skywalker 80a v2 and just thought I'd ask :)

[Bailinout]

Correction, polycrylic, not polyurethane. Sorry.

[Bailinout]

Greetings all, have a question. Has anyone totally glasses a AL 37 and if so did it effect flight weight to the point where the aircraft becomes something really super cool to hang from the ceiling? Reason being I'm doing a Southwest livery (all painted) and just sanding off the little mold markings I've gouged the foam with just the corner of the sand paper and also as others have stated the paint pulls off in some places. I'm thinking about using 3/4 oz fiberglass cloth and polyurethane. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[f4u ausie]

thanks. Least i know someone else has had to sort this issue.

trying to strengthen the join internally might be another option if i can reach in far enough.

Ye i tried that cause was already painted, but found it hard to get in and under there

[Scots_rubz]

Many ways im sure... mine was painted first ,, not enuf research first.. but i used a soldering iron to put (Melt) small groove, around 6 inches long on the to join and epoy in place... noo filler req jjust bit more red paint u can c it in batt placemen t pic 2381

thanks. Least i know someone else has had to sort this issue.

trying to strengthen the join internally might be another option if i can reach in far enough.

[f4u ausie]

Many ways im sure... mine was painted first ,, not enuf research first.. but i used a soldering iron to put (Melt) small groove, around 6 inches long on the to join and epoy in place... noo filler req jjust bit more red paint u can c it in batt placemen t pic 2381

[Scots_rubz]

Afternoon all,

the airframe i have i bought used. I have notice the join on the fuselage is starting to open ever so slightly at the top and don't want to re-paint and then have the tail section disconnect

what is the best way to repair this? Epoxy rods in to cut out slots on the external join then filler to hide?

Thanks all,

SR.

[f4u ausie]

Did say thinking about... ( Will do it) but based on 3 minuts for 6000 mah.. i beleive 4 minuts for an 8000 mah.. 33 percent increase. Any business would luv that flying my f4 for 3 then 4 minuts was huge increase why 100 pcennt throttle? 80 or 90 keeps esc etc way cooler

[pit47l00p@mozmail.com]

For how long can it fly 100% throttle all the way long with 6S 6000mAh Lipo and 8000mAh lipo?