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

[GliderGuy]

Update to post 106…

The thin plastic rear nose gear door takes a beating when on grass. I’m happy to report that the door was held in place by the added carbon strips. Unhappily, the door cracked nearly in two with more grass ops!

I’m going to study this rear door and come up with a beef-up solution. The problem may be partially solved by using a spring connection to the nose gear shaft, and part of the solution may be to reduce the fore-aft play amount of the nose gear shaft that can develop after less than perfect landings or from stress from bumps in the grass.

Stand by for further updates.

About 20 flights flown to date and loving this bird. Just gotta get the rear nose gear door issues fixed.

The simple solution…remove the rear nose gear door, but I like to tinker too much to take the easy way out.

-GG

Update: After studying the rear nose gear door, gluing strips of carbon sheeting to the inside of the door will be what I try. Using Foam-Tac for a bit of flexibility. Basically, the door is a carbon sheet, now.

Will find out if this can withstand grass ops stresses with some more flights.

2nd Update: The bottom of the rear nose gear door is impacting the tire!!! I adjusted the linkage so it sits farther back. Fixed the problem! The door probably isn’t closing all the way, but not gonna care.

[GliderGuy]

Did my first grass ops today and discovered the hinge pins on the nose gear rear door are not long enough to stay in the hinge holes. The rougher grass field stressed the rear gear door enough to make the rear gear door pop off the hinge. Did a little head scratching and came up with a solution. Glue a piece of carbon sheet over each side of the hinge.

Honestly, even ops on pavement will probably pop the pins out of their holes at some point. Pins are too short.

Place the carbon sheeting as close to the door as possible. Then paint the carbon to match.

See photos….

Studying the “pins”, it will also be easy to Dremel a trench and put a metal wire hinge in. I’ll do that when the pins break.

-GG

[GliderGuy]

Double post removed

[TwistedGrin]

Motion just released Wes flying on grass via Admiral 50c 4000mAh packs with a 4:30second flight:

https://youtu.be/WgJ_R-MEX4Y?si=ifd5TLp4BBTPLSzo

TwistedGrin

[johnsctt78]

i may havt to throw a spektrum AR631+ with a remote REC in till my 8 channel comes in, sunny skies etc and i want to fly this great looking bird.I can get by without the nose LED and reverse thrust for a week or so

[DCORSAIR]

Oooops, double post..

[DCORSAIR]

Yeah, I just got mine and put it all together, I was a little surprised by the bright blue lights instead of green and I don't like it so I may unhook them. I have to say I am a little surprised why they did not get that part right

[tab28682]

An excellent and worthy upgrade to the A-10. The only slight misstep are blue formation (slime) lights, which are supposed to be green. If it matters to an owner, I predict it can likely be easily fixed by carefully cutting and applying some translucent yellow tape over the blue light segments. Amazon has a number of possible choices for translucent yellow tape.

I have done something similar on some non flying display models.

[GliderGuy]

UPDATE to Post 95…


Apologies for the rough sketch….F = front, R = rear
Nose gear area…

If you will put a dollop of RTV Silicon rubber (black glob in the sketch indicated by the arrows), and be careful not to get any “inside” the slide tube, this will hold the outer decorative slide tube shock strut in place and relieve the stress off the 2 small plastic pins at the end nearest the gear strut.

I was able to repair the missing plastic pin by using a tiny screw and some minor Dremel work. Once I made the repair to the broken outer slide tube pin, I added the silicon rubber to secure it all in place to the nose gear strut and to help it not break again.

The rubber allows things to flex that need to flex during retraction/extension.

Works well…. Strongly suggest you add the silicon rubber “now” before you break the pins. The pin repair was a bit tricky. It required Dremelling a small trench into the inner core to accommodate the end of the screw that replaced the pin.

-GG

[TwistedGrin]

Bet you are pleasantly surprised as to how well she’ll do on grass. Big wheels!!!

-GG

Yep the Freewing AL-37; PJ-50, AeroFoam Mig-17 have no issues on our short Bermuda grass field - so this airframe will be fine on our field ....unlike the B-2 Spirit which needs "special" conditions to rotate for takeoff

Looking forward to fly this A-10

TwistedGrin

[GliderGuy]

Will be interesting to see how the "Softer" landing gear strut springs work on grass......I have yet to maiden yet....but this will be in my cue for experimenting with this bird

TwistedGrin

Bet you are pleasantly surprised as to how well she’ll do on grass. Big wheels!!!

-GG

[TwistedGrin]

Will be interesting to see how the "Softer" landing gear strut springs work on grass......I have yet to maiden yet....but this will be in my cue for experimenting with this bird

TwistedGrin

[GliderGuy]

When these get stocked up and available, you may want to order a set or two. I had a pin break off (circled area) due to a less than perfect landing this morning. 4 flights…amazing amount of thrust!

I have a temporary fix in mind for this “not important…for looks only” part.

The protruding pins (they are on both ends) can’t take much stress. NOSE GEAR SCALE PARTS ASSORTMENT

-GG

[TwistedGrin]

Thanks I missed this in the build video.....and it's not conclusive in the assembly manual....CG right side up gear down.

TG

[GliderGuy]

Is the CG confirmed with landing gear down or retracted (Up)?

Thanks in advance
TG

Did mine gear down and right side up. No pitch change resulted in flight. The build video also says this way.

[TwistedGrin]

Is the CG confirmed with landing gear down or retracted (Up)?

Thanks in advance
TG

[3D-Seth]

Just wondering what version2 parts will work on the version1? I'm especially interested in the flashing muzzle upgrade.

In my discussion with Freewing, they have told me that essentially nothing is compatible except the clear canopy. I do know that the main wings and fuselage are not of course because of the new quick release wing attachment design. I can't speak for certain on others. I'm sure there are a few odds and ends that 'can' work with a little bit of modeling, but unfortunately, I don't have both models to directly compare fitment of parts.

[Aros]

One of the advancements in the hobby I continue to pray for is for manufacturers to figure out how to create a technology or formula that removes that dreaded gatoring we all despise.

[TwistedGrin]

Just a friendly PSA......make sure you shield your foamies from direct sunlight. I thought I was in the shade while setting up surface controls of my A-10 in the back yard for only a few minutes...one side started the dreaded gatoring....it's not bad but I can readily see it

Keep your birds out of the sun & in the shade at every opportunity

TwistedGrin
A-10 Maiden Pending

[Dreams]

I believe this is an index for a balance....possible marking the "Spinner" on either a low or high side.

TwistedGrin

Thank you. That's what I was thinking as well. Something to do with Fan balancing.