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

[ColtPilot]

These are the batteries I have to work with... I have 6 of them, and cannot afford more batteries at this time. Unless you feel like donating 4 of these lighter batteries😉. I get what your'e saying about dead weight, but what about the guys running sound systems in theirs? That's dead weight right there, eh? That sound system, with 2 35C 5000mah packs has got to be more heavy than what im running. All I keep reading about is that the A-10 doesn't care about the added weight. Who is correct here? 🤷♂️

Mine is running at a pound and a half over sound system, position lights, and a HUD. All take separate batteries. Oh and strobes too.

https://youtu.be/BX0ps168WPY

[xviper]

These are the batteries I have to work with... I have 6 of them, and cannot afford more batteries at this time. Unless you feel like donating 4 of these lighter batteries😉. I get what your'e saying about dead weight, but what about the guys running sound systems in theirs? That's dead weight right there, eh? That sound system, with 2 35C 5000mah packs has got to be more heavy than what im running. All I keep reading about is that the A-10 doesn't care about the added weight. Who is correct here? 🤷♂️

Noone is really wrong in this regard. "Dead weight" is always undesirable but the A-10 can haul it well. It's a big, heavy plane to begin with. An extra few hundred grams isn't a big deal for it. If that's what you've got for batteries, by all means, use them but as you've already experienced, some workarounds are needed to make them fit and balance the plane. If it were me, I'd carve up that canopy to make it work without stacking them, but that's me. You've got a good workaround. Go with it.

[Hugh Wiedman]

It's official, for me anyway, the A-10 is the easiest EDF I have to fly. Got another 7 flights on it (boy, this thing puts a dent in my battery stock) along with my F-16, F-4 and Slick 60. Must be the easiest landing EDF there is and it does "jet acrobatics" so easy, I just love it. Now I need to by a LiPo factory to keep this thing fed!

Should have the 3D cockpit finished by the end of the week, it looks fantastic, thanks to Dirty Dee for coming up with the design and any other "phantom" friends out there who helped me out. Just got my 1/10 scale JH hobby pilot in, now final gluing of the pieces and then repainting to get with the Arctic theme. Glad I purchase a spare cockpit to work on so I could keep flying in the meantime.

[ColtPilot]

It's official, for me anyway, the A-10 is the easiest EDF I have to fly. Got another 7 flights on it (boy, this thing puts a dent in my battery stock) along with my F-16, F-4 and Slick 60. Must be the easiest landing EDF there is and it does "jet acrobatics" so easy, I just love it. Now I need to by a LiPo factory to keep this thing fed!

Should have the 3D cockpit finished by the end of the week, it looks fantastic, thanks to Dirty Dee for coming up with the design and any other "phantom" friends out there who helped me out. Just got my 1/10 scale JH hobby pilot in, now final gluing of the pieces and then repainting to get with the Arctic theme. Glad I purchase a spare cockpit to work on so I could keep flying in the meantime.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/NELgBR7k1rxaf4CD9

my 3d printed pilot and seat.

[ColtPilot]

https://photos.app.goo.gl/eErBwdhPyrMi8atN9

redid the GAU-8 to look more realistic. 1/8" brass tubing.

[Hugh Wiedman]

https://photos.app.goo.gl/NELgBR7k1rxaf4CD9

my 3d printed pilot and seat.

WOW, impressive, especially the blue (I think) eyes, looks like he's looking right at you!!

[ColtPilot]

https://photos.app.goo.gl/jtXLKf48y9unvdjf9

just another view of the 3d printed pilot and seat.

[Hugh Wiedman]

ColtPilot Nice work, he does have blue eyes!

[Hugh Wiedman]

These are the batteries I have to work with... I have 6 of them, and cannot afford more batteries at this time. Unless you feel like donating 4 of these lighter batteries😉. I get what your'e saying about dead weight, but what about the guys running sound systems in theirs? That's dead weight right there, eh? That sound system, with 2 35C 5000mah packs has got to be more heavy than what im running. All I keep reading about is that the A-10 doesn't care about the added weight. Who is correct here? 🤷♂️

Sorry RC30Flyer , didn't realize that you had no other choice. I agree with xviper, the A-10 definitely will handle a little extra weight, no problem. My only concern is getting the CG back around the 88-90 mm mark from the 78 mm recommended CG. That (78 mm) is just too nose heavy, IMO, and landing this nose heavy doesn't leave much room for error. If you can get it in that range I suggested, it just lands like a pu...cat, with absolutely no bounce, floats in smooth with minimal power and flares very easy.

[RC30Flyer]

Sorry RC30Flyer , didn't realize that you had no other choice. I agree with xviper, the A-10 definitely will handle a little extra weight, no problem. My only concern is getting the CG back around the 88-90 mm mark from the 78 mm recommended CG. That (78 mm) is just too nose heavy, IMO, and landing this nose heavy doesn't leave much room for error. If you can get it in that range I suggested, it just lands like a pu...cat, with absolutely no bounce, floats in smooth with minimal power and flares very easy.

Hugh Wiedman I can hit all 3 CG marks... 80-85-90 as marked in the pic. I'll tell you though, balancing this monster brings back memories of my 30cc and 50cc giants. She's definitely a much larger model than I expected 😯

[Elbee]

just another view of the 3d printed pilot and seat.

CP, great looking Pilot, Sir. Nice work. Best, LB

[ColtPilot]

CP, great looking Pilot, Sir. Nice work. Best, LB

https://bestpilots.typepad.com/my_weblog/a-pilot-that-looks-like-you.html

This is the link to where I purchased the pilot. Custom made to the scale of the A-10 and came prepainted cost a little extra. It's amazing what they can do. Cost is reasonable.
Coltpilot

[Hugh Wiedman]

https://bestpilots.typepad.com/my_weblog/a-pilot-that-looks-like-you.html

This is the link to where I purchased the pilot. Custom made to the scale of the A-10 and came prepainted cost a little extra. It's amazing what they can do. Cost is reasonable.
Coltpilot

ColtPilot noticed they discontinued the service of providing a pilot that "looks just like you". Guess they did this after I sent in my picture to them and they promptly decided that this service is a bad idea!

[themudduck]

https://photos.app.goo.gl/eErBwdhPyrMi8atN9
redid the GAU-8 to look more realistic. 1/8" brass tubing.

Nice job!

On mine, I carefully drilled out the original plastic barrels and then painted the inside with gunmetal. I thought it was a nice touch because the original barrels looked like 30cal - but I like what you did!.

[Hiddenhanger63]

Hi all,
I am having a little difficulty with my nose gear door sequence is there a trick to getting it right?

When the gear is lowered the door opens and after a small delay the gear will lower with the light coming on, however no matter how long I wait the door will not then close whilst the gear is down, once the gear is raised it travels to its limit then after a small delay the door is then closed.
I haven't seen any videos of the A 10 taxiing in the pre flight phase with the gear down and the front nose door open so I presume it is supposed to shut, any help gratefully received.

[Waconut]

The gear door stays open while the gear is down.

[ColtPilot]

Hi all,
I am having a little difficulty with my nose gear door sequence is there a trick to getting it right?

When the gear is lowered the door opens and after a small delay the gear will lower with the light coming on, however no matter how long I wait the door will not then close whilst the gear is down, once the gear is raised it travels to its limit then after a small delay the door is then closed.
I haven't seen any videos of the A 10 taxiing in the pre flight phase with the gear down and the front nose door open so I presume it is supposed to shut, any help gratefully received.

That's the way the full size aircraft gear door works.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/gSvtukX8LxQFWjUz7

[crxmanpat]

The two responses above are correct. Nose gear door stays down and does not close after the gear deploy.

[Hiddenhanger63]

[Hiddenhanger63]

I guess this picture from motion there must be something non standard about it then?