Official Freewing Twin 70mm AL37 Airliner Thread

[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...

[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. :)

[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

[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

[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.

[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.

[Scots_rubz]

Photo post painted.

[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:

[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

[Scots_rubz]

Regarding maiden of these birds, is it best to stick to the recommended c of g? Or does it need back slightly as ive heard that up elevator response can be on the limit if nose heavy?

[f4u ausie]

Recommended CG.
Should end with couple mm up trim on elev.
Glider guy has extensive info previously

[Scots_rubz]

Ok cheers Ausie

[GliderGuy]

Ok cheers Ausie

Hi Scots...

Initially, go with the factory CG and about 5 mm of up elevator with neutral stick position. Add about 30% expo to the ailerons, AND add a gyro to address the fact that she will "Wichita Wiggle" yaw dance, if you don't.
She flies fine without a gyro, but you'll like her a lot better with one. A simple 3-axis gyro does the trick with about 60% gain on all 3 axis.

No flap/elevator mix is needed. Set up the throws by the manual.

Leave about 4 clicks of power on final to help round out the flare (15% thrust). Good luck and report how your maiden goes.

-GG

[Scots_rubz]

Hi Scots...

Initially, go with the factory CG and about 5 mm of up elevator with neutral stick position. Add about 30% expo to the ailerons, AND add a gyro to address the fact that she will "Wichita Wiggle" yaw dance, if you don't.
She flies fine without a gyro, but you'll like her a lot better with one. A simple 3-axis gyro does the trick with about 60% gain on all 3 axis.

No flap/elevator mix is needed. Set up the throws by the manual.

Leave about 4 clicks of power on final to help round out the flare (15% thrust). Good luck and report how your maiden goes.

-GG

Hi GG,

thanks for the tips on C of G.

ill mechanically set the elevator to 5mm. Im also using a Spektrum AR10360T rx so will set up as3x and safe on it.

ok ill remove the elevator mix from the flap settings back to 0%.

Hopefully weather this week coming will be suitable as got annual leave for a week :D

[Scots_rubz]

Successful maiden today of my airliner. Thanks GliderGuy for all your excellent knowledge.

Set C of G on the marks with about 4mm up on elevators and she took off like a dream. Needed some down trim once settled and a couple clicks of left but very nice to fly. Just need to get some more flights on her and sus out the approach speed but got her down again in once piece.

thanks all.

S R.

[GliderGuy]

Scots_rubz,

Excellent! Glad you had a good maiden flight!
Don’t be afraid to carry about 15% throttle on final. It helps her to flare better.

-GG

[Scots_rubz]

Can anyone recommend or show how they transport their airline to the flying site? Looking for ideas for a cradle to support air frame and wings. Thanks

[xviper]

Can anyone recommend or show how they transport their airline to the flying site? Looking for ideas for a cradle to support air frame and wings. Thanks

Gear up, wings off, fuse goes down center of SUV bed with nose sticking between front seats and onto center arm rest. Wings can go one on each side of fuse, with towels and foam pads to keep them from touching each other. With wings off, this plane can be carried almost anyway that will fit into the back of a car. I used to carry it in a Prius Prime and now carry it in a RAV4. It doesn't have to be neat and pretty unless you must insist it looks neat and pretty.
I have a second shelf with foam padding and a soft bed sheet. I can carry other planes and parts up there.

[xviper]

Here's a photo of the AL-37 in my old Golf wagon. The Prius was next and it still fit in that one. Now with the RAV4, I think I could put 2 ALs in there - one upside down on the top shelf.

[Scots_rubz]

Thanks viper.