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

[MikeT]

Hey guys! I've got a couple of these awesome A-10's, one I'm flying now stock and the other I'm working on customizing. Anyway after reading all of these threads (and I mean all of them) it dawned on me that about 7 years ago I bought a BlitzRC A-10 that has been moving with me over the years but I never even started. So, long story short, there is a canopy retract mechanism in the kit that I'm going to modify to fit and operate the canopies on my Freewing A-10's. It can be found bananahobby.com. If the hyperlink doesn't work just go to banana and look at the A-10 and then spare parts. It will take a little craftiness but I can see how it's rigged on the Blitz A-10, even has springs to draw the canopy forward at closure. They are very close to the same size (in fact the blitz A-10 is a little smaller airframe but the cockpits are almost the same size.

BlitzRCWorks RC - Radio Controlled - RC (bananahobby.com)

So for those of you who would like to add an opening canopy I do think that this mechanism can go a long way to helping you kit bash your way into it! I'll post my progress but don't hold your breath, I work on mods at the same pace I work on paying my taxes (I pay em, but not fast!)!

That's from the old LX A-10. I found it unreliable after time.
Mike

[ColtPilot]

Hey guys! I've got a couple of these awesome A-10's, one I'm flying now stock and the other I'm working on customizing. Anyway after reading all of these threads (and I mean all of them) it dawned on me that about 7 years ago I bought a BlitzRC A-10 that has been moving with me over the years but I never even started. So, long story short, there is a canopy retract mechanism in the kit that I'm going to modify to fit and operate the canopies on my Freewing A-10's. It can be found bananahobby.com. If the hyperlink doesn't work just go to banana and look at the A-10 and then spare parts. It will take a little craftiness but I can see how it's rigged on the Blitz A-10, even has springs to draw the canopy forward at closure. They are very close to the same size (in fact the blitz A-10 is a little smaller airframe but the cockpits are almost the same size.

BlitzRCWorks RC - Radio Controlled - RC (bananahobby.com)

So for those of you who would like to add an opening canopy I do think that this mechanism can go a long way to helping you kit bash your way into it! I'll post my progress but don't hold your breath, I work on mods at the same pace I work on paying my taxes (I pay em, but not fast!)!

I still have 3 Blitz RC Works A-10's. I've hung them up and only fly the FW. 4years running. Built 3 FMS and 1 E-flight. Mine is loaded with other stuff and did think about adding the retract mechanism to the canopy. Enjoy the FW A-10.

[ITVader]

Hey guys! I've got a couple of these awesome A-10's, one I'm flying now stock and the other I'm working on customizing. Anyway after reading all of these threads (and I mean all of them) it dawned on me that about 7 years ago I bought a BlitzRC A-10 that has been moving with me over the years but I never even started. So, long story short, there is a canopy retract mechanism in the kit that I'm going to modify to fit and operate the canopies on my Freewing A-10's. It can be found bananahobby.com. If the hyperlink doesn't work just go to banana and look at the A-10 and then spare parts. It will take a little craftiness but I can see how it's rigged on the Blitz A-10, even has springs to draw the canopy forward at closure. They are very close to the same size (in fact the blitz A-10 is a little smaller airframe but the cockpits are almost the same size.

BlitzRCWorks RC - Radio Controlled - RC (bananahobby.com)

So for those of you who would like to add an opening canopy I do think that this mechanism can go a long way to helping you kit bash your way into it! I'll post my progress but don't hold your breath, I work on mods at the same pace I work on paying my taxes (I pay em, but not fast!)!

[GliderGuy]

How to place RF chokes correctly?

See post 10834
Mar 28, 2021, 08:56 PM

And subsequent comments. Also, I suggest you enter "ferrite' or "choke" or "RF choke" in the search window and read all the various posts that come up. Keep the chokes as close to the ESC as possible. The end result is shown below. Clip it on...pretty simple.

More than one wire can pass through a single choke.



-GG

[Miroslav Cerny]

The topic of the RF chokes has been discussed a lot in the various forums (F-4, AL37, MiG-29, A-10 threads). Just enter "ferrite" or "RF choke" or "choke" in the search window and begin reading what has been posted to date.

Thanks for your time....could save yourself and others the loss of a plane. The main thing is...they are cheap, easy to install, light in weight....and a possible solution to prevent crashes of high current EDFs. So....why not use them? Can't hurt. AND...worth noting...some mfgs install them in their planes as they come from the factory. When I purchased a Futaba SR-10 servo reverser, it also had one installed on it.

-GG

How to place RF chokes correctly?

[Aros]

The topic of the RF chokes has been discussed a lot in the various forums (F-4, AL37, MiG-29, A-10 threads). Just enter "ferrite" or "RF choke" or "choke" in the search window and begin reading what has been posted to date.

Thanks for your time....could save yourself and others the loss of a plane. The main thing is...they are cheap, easy to install, light in weight....and a possible solution to prevent crashes of high current EDFs. So....why not use them? Can't hurt. AND...worth noting...some mfgs install them in their planes as they come from the factory. When I purchased a Futaba SR-10 servo reverser, it also had one installed on it.

Excellent I will look into that, thanks! I'm a visual guy, do you know of anyone with video on how/where to add these to our models?

[steven gubala]

Nice bird, you should check your connection's and you should be getting a good 5 to 6 hard flying minutes, ans using the chokes the best thing to use.

[GliderGuy]

I would like to learn more about these chokes. Sounds like a great topic for a new Knowledge Blog article.

The topic of the RF chokes has been discussed a lot in the various forums (F-4, AL37, MiG-29, A-10 threads). Just enter "ferrite" or "RF choke" or "choke" in the search window and begin reading what has been posted to date.

Thanks for your time....could save yourself and others the loss of a plane. The main thing is...they are cheap, easy to install, light in weight....and a possible solution to prevent crashes of high current EDFs. So....why not use them? Can't hurt. AND...worth noting...some mfgs install them in their planes as they come from the factory. When I purchased a Futaba SR-10 servo reverser, it also had one installed on it.

-GG

[Aros]

I would like to learn more about these chokes. Sounds like a great topic for a new Knowledge Blog article.

[Hugh Wiedman]

Hi both, I’ll definitely get the ferrite RF chokes, thanks. Last time I looked they were out of stock but I shall persist! 😊

Running x2 6S 6000 packs and had the same experience as Gringoteurto above.

EDIT: my packs are NOT hot on landing curiously.

Andy

That is very strange, mine are the stock outrunners and 5 minutes of 75% throttle and tons of acrobatic moves including knife edge flight, it comes down with 30% left on each RT 6250 pack. Could probably go another 30 seconds but always like to save some in the tank for a go around or two. I'm not one to ease it around and conserve battery cause I believe if you got more throttle, use it when you want to and I get bored just cruising level in a oval circuit. And as per GliderGuy I've put those RF chokes in all my EDF's, better safe than sorry. Could it be that you're flying a little more nose heavy? At 92-95mm, it definitely will float and glide easily, especially with full flaps at landing. I've seen others post here where they say they need to keep on the throttle to bring it in and land nose up, but honestly this is one of the few EDF's I have that on landing approach after base leg turn, I can drop it to about 10-15% throttle, it glides in nice and slow and when I'm just a few feet off the ground I have to cut the throttle and raise the nose even higher for a nice, slow, main first touch down. Glides very easily in the air after coming out of a cuban 8 or split S and can cut the throttle to 25% on the down slope and wait quite a bit before having to get back to 50-60% throttle. And it definitely is not pitchy and tail heavy. I am flying with an AR637T with gyro gains in the 60% range, so that may help as well.

[GliderGuy]

Hi both, I’ll definitely get the ferrite RF chokes, thanks. Last time I looked they were out of stock but I shall persist! 😊

Running x2 6S 6000 packs and had the same experience as Gringoteurto above.

EDIT: my packs are NOT hot on landing curiously.

Andy

There are several offerings on Amazon for the RF chokes. Search Amazon for clip-on ferrite chokes. Get a variety pack...you'll be glad you did (small, medium and large).

It was back in 2018 when I was flying the A-10. Was using the Venom Fly 30C 5000 mAh batteries then.

Flight times are so "individual to flying style" that it's hard to compare. But, my A-10 had the outrunner EDFs. As mentioned by Hugh above, a 5 min flight was typical for the mixed throttle flying (50% mostly then to the occasional 100% aerobatic push). As I recall, the batteries would get pretty warm during a flight. I did not have a battery meter back then, so I cannot comment on post-flight battery voltages. However, inrunner EDFs are typically more efficient, so 3 min "seems" short for inrunners. See below...

I get 4 min on the MiG-29 running 75% mostly to 100% for aerobatic pushes for 2.5 min and 50% for another 1.5 min and land with about 3.7 volts and about 3800 mAh consumed by the 80 mm inrunners of the MiG. Could easily go longer if I flew more conservative, but (1) I like to leave about 30% to 40% in reserve....the LiPos last longer and (2) take less time to charge if I use less out of them per flight. Note: The MiG is using the Admiral Pro 6000 50C batteries. So, not a true apples-to-apples comparison for Gringotuerto.

As another point of comparison for the 6000 mAh, the F-4, 90mm outrunner, gets me 3.5 min total with 2 min of 75% mostly to 100% for aerobatic pushes and 1.5min with 50% throttle with about 3.7 volts and about 3900 mAh to 4000 mAh consumed.

Just a thought...have your verified your timing settings for the ESCs? Are you timed more aggressively?

-GG

[The43rdHammer]

Hi both, I’ll definitely get the ferrite RF chokes, thanks. Last time I looked they were out of stock but I shall persist! 😊

Running x2 6S 6000 packs and had the same experience as Gringoteurto above.

EDIT: my packs are NOT hot on landing curiously.

Andy

[Gringotuerto]

Weird about the short flight time. Curious...What size and brand of batteries are you using?

Maybe I'm doing something wrong, but I also get around 3 mins with 5000mah Admiral batteries from MotionRC, and they come back around 3.8v (which is about where I like to finish). And they come back HOT - hotter than on any other plane I own. I guess I have a heavy thumb. As they say, "3 minutes of flying mixed throttle flying".....but maybe a mix of settings between 98% and 100%, lol. I also use two pieces of foam on either side to keep them centered, which probably doesn't help the cooling. I should probably modify that a bit.

[GliderGuy]

Hi Hugh, that’s very kind of you, she’s pretty much as stock as she comes but I love her all the same. After arm wrestling the sharks mouth waterslide to the front of her I pretty much needed therapy afterwards 🤪

Not sure what’s going on with the flight times, I seem to remember getting nearly 6-minutes out of the outrunners. These are the 9-blade inrunners which I had hoped would give me longer... that worked out well then 🤣

C’est la vie!

Andy

Hi Andy,

FYI...I lost an A-10 twice (once repaired) due to a loss of control event (also lost an F-4). If you haven't installed some clip-on, ferrite RF chokes as discussed above in the recent posts...PLEASE consider installing them. I have not had a loss of control event since I began using them. A HAM radio guru put me on to them as a solution for high-current ESC birds. I offer up several thousand flights with another F-4, AL37 and MiG-29 in evidence...no issues experienced with chokes installed. The HAM suggested that common mode RF noise from the ESCs may interrupt the hand-shake process between the RX and TX by causing the FHSS look-up table pointer process to get messed up. Not common, but possible. I fly so much that "IF" it can happen, it will happen to me.

Weird about the short flight time. Curious...What size and brand of batteries are you using?

-GG

[The43rdHammer]

What's so different in your set-up that you're ending up with 40% less flight time? We need to keep you in the air longer, sooo many juicy targets to go after and so little time!

BTW, glad our English Brothers are back in the air, it was very lonely up there without you!

Hi Hugh, that’s very kind of you, she’s pretty much as stock as she comes but I love her all the same. After arm wrestling the sharks mouth waterslide to the front of her I pretty much needed therapy afterwards 🤪

Not sure what’s going on with the flight times, I seem to remember getting nearly 6-minutes out of the outrunners. These are the 9-blade inrunners which I had hoped would give me longer... that worked out well then 🤣

C’est la vie!

Andy

[Hugh Wiedman]

Hi all,

Flew my hog again today with the new innrunner setup, sounded great but the flight time was short, 3-minutes at best.

I have also shuffled the CG back 10-15mm and it's now PERFECT.

I fitted an Eagle A3 Super 3 gyro to her and tested it for the first time today, the results were out of this world, I'm almost embarassed to land the A-10 now as I don't really have to do a lot more than ensure she follows the glide slope.

Winds were reasonably high for the test, 15mph gusting to 25mph, albeit straight down the runway.



Cheers

Andy

Nice looking Hog Andy. Surprised you're only getting 3 minutes on her. I'm using the original Stock 9 blade 1900 Kv outrunners powered by 2 RT 6250 35 C batteries and get 5 minutes of very aggressive flying in with lots of vertical maneuvers all with the full ordinance package. Mine is also a bit heavier than stock with the Dirty Dee 3D cockpit and I have it balanced at 92-94 mm, with both batteries shoved as far aft as possible after removing the circuit board and sticking it on the port fuselage wall. The relatively long flight time of 5 minutes for an EDF is one of the many things I love about this beast.

What's so different in your set-up that you're ending up with 40% less flight time? We need to keep you in the air longer, sooo many juicy targets to go after and so little time!

BTW, glad our English Brothers are back in the air, it was very lonely up there without you!

[The43rdHammer]

Hi all,

Flew my hog again today with the new innrunner setup, sounded great but the flight time was short, 3-minutes at best.

I have also shuffled the CG back 10-15mm and it's now PERFECT.

I fitted an Eagle A3 Super 3 gyro to her and tested it for the first time today, the results were out of this world, I'm almost embarassed to land the A-10 now as I don't really have to do a lot more than ensure she follows the glide slope.

Winds were reasonably high for the test, 15mph gusting to 25mph, albeit straight down the runway.



Cheers

Andy

[GliderGuy]

GFSPilot - Found this pix...helpful perhaps. It is a suggestion for where to place the clip-on RF chokes. Which side of the ESC, that is. Keep them as close to the ESC as possible. “All” means all these wires need to go through a choke.

You can route more than one wire through a choke. I even added a small choke near the green ring choke on the throttle wire....placed it next to the green ring choke. Can’t hurt....but possibly overkill.

Additional places to consider....place a clip-on choke near the servo on any long running servo wires. Again....could be overkill, but it can’t hurt.

[GFSPILOT]

Thanks for the pics HW that was very helpful!

[Hugh Wiedman]

Okay guys so I just ordered a satellite receiver for redundancy and I would like to look at some pictures of how you guys use the carbon fiber rods to support the front of the aircraft for The battery area and last I am wondering where to buy those chokers at.

For what it's worth, 1st: shows location of the rods (you'll see it when you get the aircraft), 2nd is the location of my satellite, and 3rd is my very very rear located battery placement. RX and antennae for that located behind the aft battery.