New Freewing Afterburner lights

[wolpertinger]

Has anybody seen these or tried these out yet?

[xviper]

FNRC featured these a couple days ago:

[NewbieBob]

I really think these units give a great scale look.
I would love to have them in my jets. BUT I havent found anywhere that identifies any negatives in either the reduction of final thrust or the amount the install changes the CG. Perhaps it dosent have any negatives. Then there is the afterburner ring and what effect it has on the performance similarly.
Not looking to be negative in anyway as I think they are really cool looking. Just wondering if there is any downside.
Cheers
Bob

[HangarQueen]

I made my own version of those, with an Arduino and a little bit of code. In my world, this afterburner simulation needs some flickering. Just like with weathering, less is better.
But anyway, I use a similar light bulb (LED), but I failed to properly secure the 3D-printed bulb adapter to the EDF motor case, so after a couple of flights, on takeoff of the next, my model literally spit out the whole thing. Which was funny enough to crack up the whole club.
This just shows that it does have its effect on the airflow. If it didn't it wouldn't have been blown out of the tailpipe. But I never did any measurements of thrust losses. I would say, from an intuitive standpoint only, if thrust is already marginal, don't add these things.

[Gilatrout]

One thing they strongly enhance is visibility. It can really help orientation under certain circumstances.

[NewbieBob]

Great point Gilatrout. I hadnt even thought about it from that perspective.
B

[kallend]

I make my own, including the controller, and take great care to fair in the adapter to minimize any impact on thrust, unlike most of the commercial offerings. The operating parameters are programmable too - you can adjust the turn-on point, the amount of flickering, the extent to which brightess varies with throttle setting, etc. to suit your own preference.

https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/show...DF-afterburner

I make the Arduino program available on request to anyone. You can easily make your own system for a twin for under $30 (less for a single). The one controller will independently control two exhausts.

https://youtu.be/UblsMx91mDY

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/eDpmZlzUuT8

[kallend]

I made my own version of those, with an Arduino and a little bit of code. In my world, this afterburner simulation needs some flickering. Just like with weathering, less is better.
But anyway, I use a similar light bulb (LED), but I failed to properly secure the 3D-printed bulb adapter to the EDF motor case, so after a couple of flights, on takeoff of the next, my model literally spit out the whole thing. Which was funny enough to crack up the whole club.
This just shows that it does have its effect on the airflow. If it didn't it wouldn't have been blown out of the tailpipe. But I never did any measurements of thrust losses. I would say, from an intuitive standpoint only, if thrust is already marginal, don't add these things.

My Do-it-Yourself AB simulator program can very easily be adjusted to control the turn on point, the amount of flickering (if any), the way brightness varies with throttle setting, etc. by just changing some constants at the beginning of the code.

[HangarQueen]

My Do-it-Yourself AB simulator program can very easily be adjusted to control the turn on point, the amount of flickering (if any), the way brightness varies with throttle setting, etc. by just changing some constants at the beginning of the code.

Yep, that's the way to do it.
I remember a great quote about the use of constants in programming, from years ago. They used an example of code to calculate the surface of a circle, first by hard-coding the value of pi, then used the argument for setting pi as a constant at the top of the program, so it can easily be modified, and I quote, "should the value of pi change".
I intended to use a separate channel to set the turn on point, making it even more versatile to use in any model.
Unfortunately, after being spit out by my FMS Hawk, I kind of lost interest and concentrated on flying. But I might resuscitate this little project for my L-39, which has plenty of thrust. Would be a great test bed for this kind of thing.

[kallend]

Yep, that's the way to do it.
I remember a great quote about the use of constants in programming, from years ago. They used an example of code to calculate the surface of a circle, first by hard-coding the value of pi, then used the argument for setting pi as a constant at the top of the program, so it can easily be modified, and I quote, "should the value of pi change".

Pi will have a different value in the vicinity of a neutron star or black hole, due to the curvature of space-time.

[Gilatrout]

You can never have too much pie

[Tom]

We have loads of these Freewing tail Flame kits on the way. I don't have an exact ETA yet. There are two versions. One version fits the Freewing 80mm and 90mm motors and the second version fits non-Freewing motors. The picture posted above is for non-Freewing motors and is a bit more expensive because of the included adapters required. I've attached the initial version of the manual. I think you guys will be shocked at the price (it's very reasonable).

The tail flame LED includes a control board. The LED and control board are powered via your LiPo balance connector. The second connector on the control board connects via a Y cable to the receiver throttle channel.

[Gilatrout]

I prefer to connect afterburners to a separate 2 cell battery usually a jst connection. Not a big deal to change it. Just my preference

glad to see this as an easy option and add on

[kallend]

I prefer to connect afterburners to a separate 2 cell battery usually a jst connection. Not a big deal to change it. Just my preference

glad to see this as an easy option and add on

Depends on the LED lamp used whether 2 cells will be enough It *looks* like a 12-14 volt lamp in the photo.

They are already available on ebay
https://www.ebay.com/itm/225236279964

[kallend]

They are already available. That price will undercut most of the other brands:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/225236279964

[Skosh25]

Will they be sold as single motor or dual or both?

We have loads of these Freewing tail Flame kits on the way. I don't have an exact ETA yet. There are two versions. One version fits the Freewing 80mm and 90mm motors and the second version fits non-Freewing motors. The picture posted above is for non-Freewing motors and is a bit more expensive because of the included adapters required. I've attached the initial version of the manual. I think you guys will be shocked at the price (it's very reasonable).

The tail flame LED includes a control board. The LED and control board are powered via your LiPo balance connector. The second connector on the control board connects via a Y cable to the receiver throttle channel.

[Evan D]

If you look where they are already available there is only a single version.

[Tom]

Will they be sold as single motor or dual or both?

These are for a single motor/single exhaust plane. A dual motor setup is possible using two of these. You would have to get a little creative with batteries to power the two.

I am talking to Freewing about a setup for planes with dual motors/dual exhaust outlets. I'm also working with them on a second setup for planes having a single motor with bifracated exhaust such as the 90mm F-18, 90mm F-15, 90mm F-4, etc.

[kallend]

Will they be sold as single motor or dual or both?

If you're handy with a soldering iron, my "Do-it Yourself" afterburner controller already works with dual motor systems, and with single motor bifurcated exhaust systems. You can make a dual motor system for around $15 that has each tailpipe flicker independently.

https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/show...DF-afterburner

I have also made adapter designs for a variety of motors:

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4042564

All of which are considerably more streamlined than most of the commercial systems.

[JamesonC]

I really like the design on these for the Freewing motors. Just simply screws onto the motor! Very nicely done!