Official Freewing Twin 80mm/90mm A-10 Thunderbolt II Thread

[AndrewF]

Im with mshagg on the alternate power system. Im starting on my backup A10 and using the "pre high performance" 90mm outrunner fan combo. Keeping the stock ESC's and going with duel 6250ma 6s packs with the CG at 85-90mm. I have the stock 80mm setup also i have been flying for about 4 years now and it does have great power for stock. Only "upgrade" has been to use the oleo struts to help tame the bronco landing. Adding DirtyDee exhaist nozzles also adds a little more up thrust but not a necessity. With the CG back at 90mm, it settles in great and even if it drops a little, the struts dont rebound as the trailing link struts do. Get it, fly it and fly it like you stole it in the stock config and enjoy.

what batteries were you running on the 80mm setup? How were the flight times. I’ve got a couple 5000mah 35c packs from roaring top that would be nice to use.

[sam51401]

Im with mshagg on the alternate power system. Im starting on my backup A10 and using the "pre high performance" 90mm outrunner fan combo. Keeping the stock ESC's and going with duel 6250ma 6s packs with the CG at 85-90mm. I have the stock 80mm setup also i have been flying for about 4 years now and it does have great power for stock. Only "upgrade" has been to use the oleo struts to help tame the bronco landing. Adding DirtyDee exhaist nozzles also adds a little more up thrust but not a necessity. With the CG back at 90mm, it settles in great and even if it drops a little, the struts dont rebound as the trailing link struts do. Get it, fly it and fly it like you stole it in the stock config and enjoy.

[mshagg]

80mm is more than adequate.

I wouldnt say it's a waste of money going 90mm, but it depends on what you're trying to achieve. I went for a low amp 90mm build using the stock ESCs and $45USD AF brand EDFs. It sounds better, makes more power (not that you really need an A-10 to go straight vertical lol), and gets better flight times than stock because of the hilariously low throttle required. Zero regrets going 90mm on it, posted a few more comments here.

If on the other hand you're putting in a pair of freewing's highish amp draw 90mm EDFs it's probably going to be a bit of a gass guzzler that needs upgraded speed controllers and you're on an expensive road to nowhere lol.

[AndrewF]

If you get this, stick with stock. There is absolutely no need to upgrade to 90mm on this one. Like DC said, it flies fantastic right out of the box, and upgrading to 90mm is just a waste of money.

seems everyone is in consensus that the 80mm is fine. Now I just have to pick which one to get 😂

[crxmanpat]

Hey guys, I’m about to pull the trigger a new EDF. I am currently deciding between this, and the freewing SU-35. Both seem so cool! I like the maneuverability of the SU-35 but the A-10 looks so good in the air. How many of you guys have gone with a 90mm setup on this plane? Is it worth it over the stock 80mm? Do you have to run 8s if you go to the 90mm?

If you get this, stick with stock. There is absolutely no need to upgrade to 90mm on this one. Like DC said, it flies fantastic right out of the box, and upgrading to 90mm is just a waste of money.

[crxmanpat]

I purchased the 'upgraded' landing gear main struts. When I lowered the stock gear and got a closer look a them .... they seem very robust and may even perhaps be stronger than the ones I purchased. The stock ones even have a trailing-link type of feature that I like. I guess I'm not exactly sure where the 'upgrade' is on the ones I purchased ......

Bob

So the upgraded gear are not really an "upgrade" per se. The stock mains are trailing link type, but the nose is scissor type. If you buy the "upgraded" mains, then all your gear will be the scissor link type. If you buy just the "upgraded" nose gear, then all gear will be the trailing link type.

What happened was that originally the plane was to come with all trailing link type gear. But after posting pictures of the forthcoming plane, a lot of the scale nazis complained that the nose gear did not look right, so they went with a scissor link strut instead, but left the mains as trailing link. What many people found out is that the mains would give on landing, but the nose would bounce back up as it was stiffer and would get you into the dreaded bunny hop. So they then offered these "upgrades" so that you could make the gear all of one type.

[AndrewF]

I had two so far, both 80mm, they fly great as is out of the box, I personally thing its a waist of money, I don't see the reason really for the extra power, I mean it will loop and roll and do just about anything you want all stock, the extra beans may be nice, but how fast do you need to go,,,,

that’s a good point. It’s not meant to be a racer. Plus, the 90mm fan setups are pretty pricey too.

[DCORSAIR]

Hey guys, I’m about to pull the trigger a new EDF. I am currently deciding between this, and the freewing SU-35. Both seem so cool! I like the maneuverability of the SU-35 but the A-10 looks so good in the air. How many of you guys have gone with a 90mm setup on this plane? Is it worth it over the stock 80mm? Do you have to run 8s if you go to the 90mm?

I had two so far, both 80mm, they fly great as is out of the box, I personally thing its a waist of money, I don't see the reason really for the extra power, I mean it will loop and roll and do just about anything you want all stock, the extra beans may be nice, but how fast do you need to go,,,,

[AndrewF]

Hey guys, I’m about to pull the trigger a new EDF. I am currently deciding between this, and the freewing SU-35. Both seem so cool! I like the maneuverability of the SU-35 but the A-10 looks so good in the air. How many of you guys have gone with a 90mm setup on this plane? Is it worth it over the stock 80mm? Do you have to run 8s if you go to the 90mm?

[Balsa Bob]

I purchased the 'upgraded' landing gear main struts. When I lowered the stock gear and got a closer look a them .... they seem very robust and may even perhaps be stronger than the ones I purchased. The stock ones even have a trailing-link type of feature that I like. I guess I'm not exactly sure where the 'upgrade' is on the ones I purchased ......

Bob

[Miroslav Cerny]

Hello. I flew my first flight and this plane is really nice and stable. Very nice model.

[Balsa Bob]

I didn't glue mine on, but after 4 years of taking the ordinance off and on for transport, the plastic has wore down to the point of when I land on a grass field, it is a guess of which weapons are going to slide off when landing due to the sudden deceleration.

Thanks for the response. I'd be very very happy to have mine loosen up after 4 years !

Bob

[rlcamden]

Do the armament pylons and/or the armaments need to be glued in place .... or do they stay in place okay ?

Bob

I didn't glue mine on, but after 4 years of taking the ordinance off and on for transport, the plastic has wore down to the point of when I land on a grass field, it is a guess of which weapons are going to slide off when landing due to the sudden deceleration.

[rlcamden]

Is anyone using a Spektrum AR630 receiver? If so, can you pls share you experience and where you mounted the receiver?

I have my receiver mounted inverted under the canopy release button. Tried the 3D receiver/gyro shelf, but liked this location better. I upgraded from the AR6030T to an AR637T. Those should be the same size as yours.

[Balsa Bob]

Do the armament pylons and/or the armaments need to be glued in place .... or do they stay in place okay ?

Bob

[salali]

Is anyone using a Spektrum AR630 receiver? If so, can you pls share you experience and where you mounted the receiver?

[xviper]

Thanks xviper, Did you put both batteries back there .... and not use the forward tray above the nose gear for one of the batteries ?

Yes, both batteries are back there, actually touching each other.

[Hugh Wiedman]

Hi All, Just finishing mine up, hope to maiden it soon. I will be using 5000 mah packs. Wondering if the plane balances okay with each pack on the trays ? I thought I had read (somewhere) that some people were relocating the Circuit Module to get it to balance ???

Thanks. Bob

Hey Bob, place the batteries so you can balance somewhere around 90mm. The manual calls for the CG at 78mm, but IMO (and I think most others) that's way too nose heavy, making landings somewhat difficult and potentially having the nose wheel touch first and cause the "Dreaded Bucking Bronco". I found that it flies exceptional, for me anyway, around 93mm back (and that's still no where near being tail heavy, in fact, just barely nose heavy). I'm using 2 RT 6250 mah batteries (get over 5 minutes of flight time) weighing 794 gr, so just like xviper, I removed the circuit board from the back of the rear tray and stuck it on the side fuselage on the port side. The front battery is about 1/3rd hanging over the end of the front battery tray.

[Twowingtj]

Balsa Bob I moved the board rearward. I'm using the Admiral 5000mah packs, one on each shelf. Some, that are using heavier packs, had to stack them on the rear shelf in order to get the desired CG.

[Balsa Bob]

I had to shove the board on mine as far back against the rear bulkhead so that the batteries would both fit back there.

Thanks xviper, Did you put both batteries back there .... and not use the forward tray above the nose gear for one of the batteries ?