Official Freewing Twin 80mm EDF A-10 Thunderbolt II Super Scale V2 Thread

[FlyNAce]

I fly with Futaba and I flew my V2 A-10 with the Futaba 6108SB and I decided not to use the reverse thrust just because I don't need it with the long runway I fly at, I went with the flashing gun instead which I could never see it flashing in the air, its more of a on the ground thing and if I got another A-10 I don't think I would even bother with the flashing gun, kind of worthless without sound.

I didn't know about the Radtron rx your talking about until now, kind of curious if they do work really well or not because some of these Futaba receivers are getting hard to find and are expensive. I've been using Futaba receivers so long it's hard to change to another receiver when I've never had any issues with them, been with Futaba for 41yrs now, but if you do try one let me know how it goes.

Thanks for the reply DCORSAIR ... good to hear from another long-time Futaba user. (me 56 + years). I was thinking that one couldn't see that muzzle flash in the air, hence why I was giving it up, to keep the TR for when I do fly on a shorter field. I've always used Futaba Rx also, with never an issue. And it's hard to think about messing with success, especially with a bird like this. I fly some BUSA detailed out 1/3 scale WWI birds and I only trust those to Futaba as well. But like you said, some of these Futaba Rx are getting hard to find and are getting pricey! So I may buy one of the Radtron Rx to try on one of my cheaper aircraft sometime, just to check it out. If I do, I will let you know what the results are with any drop outs, etc. I'm ordering the V2 A-10 when I finish this reply. I'm looking forward to receiving and flying it. Thanks again for your reply!

[DCORSAIR]

Ok, keep me updated if you do try one of those receivers.
You will love the A-10, it has to be one of the best flying EDF jets out there, I sold mine because I went back to the big 120mm HSD jets and if I do get another one down the road I will get the one with no gyro and with the outrunners, I like the sound better with 9 blades and it don't need a gyro, it's so stable.

[Raptorflyr]

Hi guys! I am also a Futaba user and I just got the new A10 which is a wonderful airplane. I went with an older 12-channel FAST-Multi Futaba receiver in mine. The current version of that receiver is really expensive. I needed the extra channels as I have a sound system installed in my A10 and required the extra channels for switching the sounds on and off.

I did want to chime in and say that I have several of the generic Radtron receivers. I have not used the big one you mentioned, but have used a couple of the 4-channel units, a couple of the lightweight units, and the one with the gyro built in. All of them have worked flawlessly with no glitching or any other signal problems. You get a lot of value for your money with this brand. Since the A10 is so big and expensive, I would suggest perhaps getting the receiver you want to use and fly it around in a smaller bird just to make sure it works for you. We fly in a wide-open farmland area, so there isn't much in the way of interference, so I can't speak to how the receivers would perform in a noisy area.

I switched from Spektrum to Futaba a few years ago because I felt like the "feel" of the Futaba radio was better than the Spektrum products. I went with the 18SZ, but also have a 16 IZ.

Good luck with your A10!

[FlyNAce]

Ok, keep me updated if you do try one of those receivers.
You will love the A-10, it has to be one of the best flying EDF jets out there, I sold mine because I went back to the big 120mm HSD jets and if I do get another one down the road I will get the one with no gyro and with the outrunners, I like the sound better with 9 blades and it don't need a gyro, it's so stable.

Ah, I probably will end up not using the gyro, especially with the NWS, from what I've heard and read. I only ordered the 12 blade because of my other EDF jets, it seems the 12 blades have a better sound. But you say you think the 9 blade does on this one? Interesting. It's expected on June 3rd so I'm looking forward to it. Did you fly it on 5000 mAH batteries? I'm contemplating 6000 but looking at the weight difference and the CG? I didn't order batteries as I have both already. What 120mm HSD jets did you go back to? Thanks again for the info. I'll stay in touch...

[FlyNAce]

Hi guys! I am also a Futaba user and I just got the new A10 which is a wonderful airplane. I went with an older 12-channel FAST-Multi Futaba receiver in mine. The current version of that receiver is really expensive. I needed the extra channels as I have a sound system installed in my A10 and required the extra channels for switching the sounds on and off.

I did want to chime in and say that I have several of the generic Radtron receivers. I have not used the big one you mentioned, but have used a couple of the 4-channel units, a couple of the lightweight units, and the one with the gyro built in. All of them have worked flawlessly with no glitching or any other signal problems. You get a lot of value for your money with this brand. Since the A10 is so big and expensive, I would suggest perhaps getting the receiver you want to use and fly it around in a smaller bird just to make sure it works for you. We fly in a wide-open farmland area, so there isn't much in the way of interference, so I can't speak to how the receivers would perform in a noisy area.

I switched from Spektrum to Futaba a few years ago because I felt like the "feel" of the Futaba radio was better than the Spektrum products. I went with the 18SZ, but also have a 16 IZ.

Good luck with your A10!

Hey Raptorflyr... Thanks for "chiming in"! Good to hear that you like the V2 A-10 as well. I am looking forward to receiving my A10 shortly! I was wondering about adding a sound system maybe, down the road. Do you use it for the gun?

I ordered the 14 channel Radtron receiver to try in a smaller, less expensive aircraft on a trial basis. I appreciate your feedback on the Radtron receivers. It's good to get some feedback from someone who has tried them. Our field that I mainly fly at here in the north PHX area isn't too bad yet in the way of interference but you never know, as we are getting encroached upon.

I do agree with you on the "feel" of flying Futaba over Spektrum.

What version of A-10 did you buy? And what mAH battery are you flying your's with? Again, I appreciate you "chiming in". It's all good info... Have a good evening! And continued Good Luck with your A-10...Enjoy it!!!

[xviper]

Ah, I probably will end up not using the gyro, especially with the NWS, from what I've heard and read. I only ordered the 12 blade because of my other EDF jets, it seems the 12 blades have a better sound. But you say you think the 9 blade does on this one? Interesting. It's expected on June 3rd so I'm looking forward to it. Did you fly it on 5000 mAH batteries? I'm contemplating 6000 but looking at the weight difference and the CG? I didn't order batteries as I have both already. What 120mm HSD jets did you go back to? Thanks again for the info. I'll stay in touch...

This harkens back to the day when people used to put nerf whistles in the exhaust of their V1 A-10. It gave a more whistly, whiney sound that some say mimics the real A-10. The 9-blade started off being more of that sound that people liked. The nerf whistles made it more so. Some put 2 in each engine nacelle. The 12-blade gives more of a true to real life jet sound. To each their own.

[DCORSAIR]

Ah, I probably will end up not using the gyro, especially with the NWS, from what I've heard and read. I only ordered the 12 blade because of my other EDF jets, it seems the 12 blades have a better sound. But you say you think the 9 blade does on this one? Interesting. It's expected on June 3rd so I'm looking forward to it. Did you fly it on 5000 mAH batteries? I'm contemplating 6000 but looking at the weight difference and the CG? I didn't order batteries as I have both already. What 120mm HSD jets did you go back to? Thanks again for the info. I'll stay in touch...

I used only 5000mah packs in my old 9 bladed A-10 and also in the new V2 A-10, I did notice right away on the new version with the inrunners I was able to get longer flight times compared to the old version with 9 blade fans and outrunners. When I got the new version it just seemed so much quieter to me but after watching and listening to some of the older versions and now the new one, the new version seems to have a better wooosh sound and the whine is still there, I still think the old 9 blade version sounds closer to scale, my opinion.

Here, you be the judge.

https://youtu.be/-lyqt5cXW5M?si=jqPSu-HtcFPX5TJB

https://youtu.be/aDk3luclifA?si=p9XSpkgYH0am7yRu

[GliderGuy]

Interesting that there is a lot of “test this first”, “expensive plane”, “take precautions” talk in the last several posts. But nobody has mentioned the simple addition of RF chokes that have been discussed at length in other EDF jet forums. Additional failure proofing of high current ESCs by adding RF chokes is an item that has proved to reduce holds and frame drops caused by RF noise coming from the ESC.

I lost 3 EDFs before using RF chokes, and I have not lost a single one since I started using RF chokes. And I am talking several thousand flights on various EDF jets.

They clip on, they are cheap, they are light weight, they reduce the chance that RF noise generated by the ESC will upset the TX/RX binding look-up table hand shake…why not use them?

https://a.co/d/iERymWQ

Clip them around all the wires between the ESC and battery/BEC like this…and as close to the ESC as possible. Not needed on motor side of the ESC. You can use one larger one to clip around several wires, or smaller ones on individual wires.

Basically, choose not to use them at your own risk!

Such a simple way to help assure you won’t have radio control issues. See below…(the arrow points to the wire you are clipping the choke on)…

-GG

[Aros]

I got them in my jets thanks to you!

[f4u ausie]

Inc the battery wires??? All in one

[GliderGuy]

Inc the battery wires??? All in one

All the wires, but nooooo not all in one choke.

You can use several different size chokes to fit what is needed. Now you “could” put all the wires in one choke, BUT THAT WOULD BE A HUGE CHOKE.

Best to use several smaller size chokes that best fit the wire size.

Yes…including the battery wires. Just not the wires going from the ESC to the motors. That side of the ESC doesn’t emit much RF noise.

-GG

[FlyNAce]

Interesting that there is a lot of “test this first”, “expensive plane”, “take precautions” talk in the last several posts. But nobody has mentioned the simple addition of RF chokes that have been discussed at length in other EDF jet forums. Additional failure proofing of high current ESCs by adding RF chokes is an item that has proved to reduce holds and frame drops caused by RF noise coming from the ESC.

I lost 3 EDFs before using RF chokes, and I have not lost a single one since I started using RF chokes. And I am talking several thousand flights on various EDF jets.

They clip on, they are cheap, they are light weight, they reduce the chance that RF noise generated by the ESC will upset the TX/RX binding look-up table hand shake…why not use them?

https://a.co/d/iERymWQ

Clip them around all the wires between the ESC and battery/BEC like this…and as close to the ESC as possible. Not needed on motor side of the ESC. You can use one larger one to clip around several wires, or smaller ones on individual wires.

Basically, choose not to use them at your own risk!

Such a simple way to help assure you won’t have radio control issues. See below…(the arrow points to the wire you are clipping the choke on)…

-GG

Hey GG... I started putting RF chokes in my electric planes after my Son advised me to do it many, many years ago. ( He's an EE and was a Project Manager/a Lead Engineer for Boeing on the Apache helicopter here in Mesa AZ for 13 years before he left to start his own successful engineering business in the industry and beyond.). I've never lost an electric RC aircraft to EMI since doing that either. (knock on wood!). It's awesome that you've shared your knowledge and experience on here for others to gain that knowledge to help keep their aircraft as safe as possible. We all enjoy this hobby and like our aircraft!!! I appreciate you... and the fact that you mentioned it again. Because maybe someone could have missed your posts about it. I for one, really enjoy reading your comments and knowledge.... Happy Flying!!!!

[GliderGuy]

Thank you FlyNace! I appreciate your comments and confirmation. My tip about chokes came from a friend who is a HAM radio operator.

Some have said, “Never have used them and ain’t gonna start using them.”

Brings to mind the image of an Ostrich with its head buried in the sand.

It appears the server crash caused a loss of my prior images….reposting here. The arrow shows how the wire(wires) fit in the choke’s central channel. Then the choke folds in half and snaps closed. I always add a zip tie to secure the closure.

The ESC photo shows the side where you put the chokes on.

-GG

[Raptorflyr]

Hey Raptorflyr... Thanks for "chiming in"! Good to hear that you like the V2 A-10 as well. I am looking forward to receiving my A10 shortly! I was wondering about adding a sound system maybe, down the road. Do you use it for the gun?

I ordered the 14 channel Radtron receiver to try in a smaller, less expensive aircraft on a trial basis. I appreciate your feedback on the Radtron receivers. It's good to get some feedback from someone who has tried them. Our field that I mainly fly at here in the north PHX area isn't too bad yet in the way of interference but you never know, as we are getting encroached upon.

I do agree with you on the "feel" of flying Futaba over Spektrum.

What version of A-10 did you buy? And what mAH battery are you flying your's with? Again, I appreciate you "chiming in". It's all good info... Have a good evening! And continued Good Luck with your A-10...Enjoy it!!!

Hey FlyNAce. I purchased the high performance V2 version with the gyro. I haven't yet felt the need to even flip the gyro on, but wanted to get the highest performance version possible.

I have a few ModelSounds Inc Shockwave 3 sound systems. The gentlemen that ran the company has retired and they aren't available any longer... However, it does have sounds for the turbines and the gun. I mixed the gun sound with the light so it comes on when the light switch is flipped. He sold his sound sets to Beier Electronics for use in their MSM-1. There is a US Distributor for this product. The sound certainly adds an element of realism, but does add weight. I use exciter speakers which attach to the airframe and use it for resonance.

As far as batteries, I have been using 100c ZEEE 5200's which are available from Amazon. So far I have had good luck with these and you buy them in a two - pack for about what it costs to buy one battery from one of the major hobby outfits.

Got a few more flights on the A10 last weekend and still really liking it. It is a totally different animal than the smaller EFlite A10 I had before.

[GliderGuy]

Regarding the gyro…I disconnected the nose steering servo from its connection to the gyro and connected it to the “nose steering” port on the control board.

Just me…but I like it a LOT better this way. Rudder, aileron and elevator are still connected to the gyro which seems to do a very good job for these.

-GG

[Dreams]

Well she's all done and ready for her first flight. I Absolutely Love the custom graphics I got from Callie Graphics! The Nellis AFB markings are so special to me because I worked on this Aircraft many years ago!

[Elbee]

Dreams

Very nicely done, Sir.

Best, LB

[Aros]

Looks great!

[DCORSAIR]

Sorry if this has been asked already, but I did sell my V2 to get back into the 120mm Jets and was wondering if Freewing fixed the blue slime light syndrome, if not does anyone know if it will be updated to green later??? That was another reason I sold it, those blue lights just bothered me more than I thought...

[f4u ausie]

Did I see somewhere,, some r painting the blue a clear green paint to improve that.......
But wanted to ask why this jet. Has a. Distinctive down thrust line... Been watching John,, on 2 brothers the fms 70 has more down