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

[rifleman_btx]

I'm still thinking on going with the fms, if I feel it doesn't have enough to fly well, what I will plan to do then is install the 80mm fans. Also will be flying on 4500 instead of 5000mah packs

[downwindleg]

Do you have your remote receivers attached to your Spektrum receiver? It will bind without them, but the controls wont move or the ESC arm unless it is bound with the remotes in place... Had that happen a day or so ago... Just a thought!

I will check that out. Old receiver does but new one may not. Thanks Thanks also to Jim and themuduck in advance.

[Elbee]

WOW!! I was wrong!!! SORRY!!! :( I just set up the vert/horizontal stab from another A-10 and checked the servo motion and realized that the sub trim only works if the elevator servos use separate channels, like Mike stated. I has used the sub trim to center the ailerons from port to starboard, not the elevator!!! After I posted, my brain was not happy, and I had to pull out the equipment and check it. Doing the tunnel for the servo screw is better than removing the servo... Again, please forgive my mistake LB! Getting old here... :Silly:

Hardway, they don't call you that for nothin'. LOL. As I wrote, I tried it and both servos moved, thought about re-channeling the offending servo and even I knew that was 'silly' for the elevator. Pilot Rule #10607: Never eff with the elevators. LOL. And for the record, no apology required, though given is of course accepted, sir. The tunnel is barely noticeable even by Tammes, the amazingly talented. Best, LB

[DCORSAIR]

I am turned on, bound,NO CONTROLS WORK, and I get a slow beep from both motors and the lights are on. I've even put the motors from the wrecked A-10 on the new airframe.....no joy. Tried brand new receiver, fully charged the batteries, even tried a brand new setup(saving the old one). It's got to be something stupid simple but I'm stumped. I've tried everything on your checklist, tried them one at a time trying to isolate the problem. I bought this plane partially built by a friend who says he ran the motors and had started dialing in the control surfaces. He uses a high end futaba radio so I am wondering if something might be screwy there. I may have to go back and check all connections on the board or possibly bipass the board and y the throttle leads together into the receiver. If I recall correctly, the control surfaces don't operate until the motors are armed? I just had some hand surgery Wednesday for carpal tunnel (rudder/throttle) so I'm limited for awhile as to what I can do. Let me know if you or anybody else has seen this problem.
Brad

I also fly Futaba (34 yrs) and I have set up about 20 EDF jets and several planes over the last two yrs, the only thing that Futaba requires, is to reverse the throttle channel before you plug in the ESC's, so I don't think you have a problem with the other guy using Futaba. My trims are always in the middle and it's just plug and play for Futaba. Don't know a thing about Spectrum so I can't help you there and of course I'm not starting or saying which is a better radio war, only saying because you said something might be screwy with the guy using Futaba. I know you said you checked the throttle channel, make sure it is not reversed, that is the only problem I run into when setting all these FW and FMS planes up, I always get just beeps if I don't remember to check throttle channel is reversed on Futaba. Have you tried plugging the one battery in, the one with the BEC and at full throttle and see if you get the usual two beeps for calibration if not, reverse your throttle and try it again at full throttle and see if you get the two beeps, if you try this, make sure you unplug the battery before you got to low throttle, this way you won't enter program mode. Did the guy that you got it from have everything working on Futaba?? Just trying to help you out.

[themudduck]

I will check that out. Old receiver does but new one may not. Thanks Thanks also to Jim and themuduck in advance.

If you are bound, but none of the controls move, then this is not a problem that is just the motors. The receiver isn't working (duh) and I agree, it could be a satellite that's not plugged in or defective.

But anyway, you need to isolate the problem. I would strongly suggest that you try a different receiver, one that you know works. Just for testing. Plug in just the BEC lead (to an empty channel) and one servo lead directly into the receiver (say, the elevator) and see if you can bind it.

Once its bound, you should be able to move the one servo with your radio. This proves that the receiver is OK.. And also you will have confidence that the leads are in correctly. (Obviously nothing will work if the leads are plugged in backwards). Dark = negative. White or Yellow = signal.

OK assuming the receiver is working, now plug in one motor directly into the throttle channel (bypass the control board) and it should beep and the motor should operate normally.
Then unplug that one, and plug in the OTHER motor lead directly to the throttle channel. If that one works too, great. This proves both motors and ESCs are good.

Then plug both motor leads into the control board, and plug in the throttle lead to the receiver. Both motors should work. This tests the board.

During these steps if something doesn't work then you will have narrowed it down.
a) if everything works then the previous receiver had the problem
b) if only one motor works, then the other ESC is bad
c) if both motors work and then neither motor works after you use the control board, then there is a problem with the control board.

I hope that's helpful... GOOD LUCK!!!

[xviper]

I'm still thinking on going with the fms, if I feel it doesn't have enough to fly well, what I will plan to do then is install the 80mm fans. Also will be flying on 4500 instead of 5000mah packs

Make sure 80mm fans will actually fit into those nacelles. That's 10mm diameter more to try to squeeze in there. Not sure you can grind out 5mm of foam all the way around.

[rifleman_btx]

Yeah that's what I'm gonna check first thing when I get it. I just dont see just swapping to a same size fan would give me much extra power. Only other thing I guess would be a higher punch motor. :Confused:

[fhhuber]

With some ESCs, the Futaba would need you to dial up the ATV/endpoint adjustment because the default min/max throttle values of Futaba are not as far from center value as Spektrum/JR.

That would have similar effect on the other channels. JR/Spectrum might give 60 deg control throw range at default when Futaba would give just 45 deg using the same servo and linkage.

That is part of why Spektrum let you program 120% ATV but Futaba will let you program for 150%. Its a leftover from a difference in how the older JR processed trims vs how Futaba used to do it. Futaba, moving trim on AM radios moved both the center and the endpoints. Some older JR radios it just moved the centering. To prevent over-ranging the servos mechanically, Futaba gave a reduced range from the stick.

***********

That won't affect total loss of ability to make servos move.

It can affect the max power you get from your motor if you don't calibrate the ESC range to the throttle range. and it might prevent the ESC from arming until you adjust the ATV/endpoints.

[xviper]

Yeah that's what I'm gonna check first thing when I get it. I just dont see just swapping to a same size fan would give me much extra power. Only other thing I guess would be a higher punch motor. :Confused:

Find another 70mm fan/motor in an inrunner that has the same or higher kv using the same number of blades. Of course, using fewer blades at a given kv generally gives more efficiency and thus, more thrust, but more Hoover noise. The more powerful fan/motor assemblies are from models that offer the "high speed" version (see RC Castle for those examples). However, buying a set of those with counter-rotating units may burn up what you are trying to save by buying FMS. Fly it first and see for yourself if you can live with what you get.

[crxmanpat]

The new updated 70mm fans/motors in the Freewing Me-262 would work awesome in the FMS A-10 I bet.

[BreakX101]

Here is something I came up with. It mounts to the Mobius mount that comes to the camera. It requires a small screw or pin to lock in the 2 separate parts together as well as the freewing attachment hardware.

Will that fit the f-4 pylon mounts?

[Dirty Dee]

Will that fit the f-4 pylon mounts?

If the F4 uses the same attachment hardware, then yes (I don't have one yet so cant confirm)

[crxmanpat]

Will that fit the f-4 pylon mounts?

Yes and no. The pylon mounts for the F-4 are dual rail for the sidewinders. However, you could add a mounting plate to the center of it to mount the Mobius box. Depends on how wide the box is. or you could just leave the sidewinders off.

[BreakX101]

Yes and no. The pylon mounts for the F-4 are dual rail for the sidewinders. However, you could add a mounting plate to the center of it to mount the Mobius box. Depends on how wide the box is. or you could just leave the sidewinders off.

Well the pylon mount itself holds on with the same two tabs. I would take the whole mount off and just use the printed piece in place.

[crxmanpat]

That would work too.

[rifleman_btx]

The new updated 70mm fans/motors in the Freewing Me-262 would work awesome in the FMS A-10 I bet.

Copy that, if all else fails, I'll go with this option instead of trying to upsize:Cool:

[themudduck]

Here is something I came up with. It mounts to the Mobius mount that comes to the camera. It requires a small screw or pin to lock in the 2 separate parts together as well as the freewing attachment hardware.

DirtyDee, good job, that looks very good. I like the way it uses the original mount, its a great idea!

Guys, some time ago I showed off a Mobius camera box that my friend Bob designed (he lives in Belgium, and is not on the Squawk). We've been playing with it and making different versions. We made the original simple box to mount under a Freewing wing pylon. Then we made a new design that was aerodynamic (and a lot cooler).

Then we made a version that could be mounted on TOP of something, And, a pylon so that the camera could be raised up or down. I used this on my Radian glider.

Any of you guys with 3D printers can print these if you wish.

The mounts are the standard "hooks" that fit into the "slots" that are on the weapon pylons - but you can also use APMECH1's design and print the slots, which can be mounted anywhere on the airplane so that this camera can just be mounted anywhere you want.

I have finally uploaded the STL files. Here is a Thingiverse link if you want to download: https://www.thingiverse.com/Foaminatthemouth/designs

[themudduck]

Yes and no. The pylon mounts for the F-4 are dual rail for the sidewinders. However, you could add a mounting plate to the center of it to mount the Mobius box. Depends on how wide the box is. or you could just leave the sidewinders off.

The hooks mount into the sockets that are on the bottom of the weapon pylons that are on many Freewing planes, like the A10. You will need a pylon.
The mounting plate with the sockets can be ordered from MRC (its on the 90mm F16 spare parts page) or you can print your own, APMECH1 published his design on Thingiverse (as well as a bunch of cool ordnance).
I

[ColtPilot]

Try to wait and save up if you can. I think you'll be somewhat disappointed in the FMS offering. 2 guys at my field has the FMS A-10. One was the first one to arrive in the city. It was bought by the RC manager at a LHS as his personal plane. He flew it once and complained it had barely enough power to get off our grass field. He said it felt underpowered when it flew and seemed to want to fall out of the sky during banked turns. It needs to be flown at above 3/4 to full throttle most of the time. His first and only landing resulted in both main gear falling out. I've talked to him since that flight last fall and he says he's fixed it but will likely never fly it again. He'll sell it when he gets the chance.
The second was purchased in the last month or so and the owner had one of our more experienced flyers at the field do the maiden and the second flight because he didn't feel confident doing it himself. The guy who actually flew it had no actual problems with it and he greased the landing so no broken gear. However, he did say to me that the plane did not inspire confidence. It was underpowered and again, felt like it was always about to fall out of the sky whenever it banked. It just felt really, really heavy in the air and felt like it wallowed and was mushy.
By contrast, the Freewing A-10 is also quite a heavy plane but it has so much power (even in 80mm form) that it flies superbly and never feels mushy, dull or lack luster in the air. Those 2 guys see mine and wish they had held out for the "real" thing. FMS does make some models that are better than Freewing. Their A-10 is not one of them.

I've built 4 FMS A-10's and all of mine flew fine off of grass, plenty of power and speed. I still like the Freewing better because of the size. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKdTkOmuhH4

[ColtPilot]

Here is the video I took at the EDF Jet Jam in Rosewood Indiana with the great folks from Motion RC present.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G74ex-crt4M&t=7s