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

[Hugh Wiedman]

Flew my A-10 yesterday several times and i have to say its the BEST flying plane i have ever owned. It flies like a 60 size trainer if you want that or a fast mover once you put the coals to her. I am tempted to buy another one and leave it in the box just in case Motion moves on from it. The PNP is currently out of stock atm

Agree with that!! BTW, your Arctic Thunder looks outstanding. Did the same with mine. Currently flying it on 2 HiV SMC 5900's each weighing only 740 gr.
Not to nitpick, but did you notice that Callie's graphic for the engine nacelles have Alaska backwards? I didn't notice at first, until my mother in law, who was born in Cuba, pointed out that Alaska was backwards (way to show up someone born here ). I sent Callie photographs and she remade them for me and it was a real pain removing the wrong ones. Seem to remember it was just one side though. This was a couple years ago.

WRONG:



CORRECTED:



Finished Product:


Love the Dirty Dee Cockpit:

[ElCid]

Agree with that!! BTW, your Arctic Thunder looks outstanding. Did the same with mine. Currently flying it on 2 HiV SMC 5900's each weighing only 740 gr.
Not to nitpick, but did you notice that Callie's graphic for the engine nacelles have Alaska backwards? I didn't notice at first, until my mother in law, who was born in Cuba, pointed out that Alaska was backwards (way to show up someone born here ). I sent Callie photographs and she remade them for me and it was a real pain removing the wrong ones. Seem to remember it was just one side though. This was a couple years ago.

Love the Dirty Dee Cockpit:

Thank you! Yours looks fantastic as well. I just printed the DirtyDee cockpit and its waiting for winter to paint and install. I did install his thrust nozzles and they work really well.

I fly the 5300 SMC's. I wasn't sure about the 5900s size wise since i use my batteries across the fleet (F4, MIG. F22 and FW190). The 5300 are perfect and very light. BTW do you charge them to the full 4.35v or only 4.3v per cell?

[Corsec]

I am trying to find a replacement pin that goes in the “knee” of the main trailing link gear. Mine is either bent or the gear frame itself wasn’t machined correctly. The left gear is smooth when flexing the right gear however would barely move. I discovered this while making the gear mod inserting a screw to pre flex the gear. I will have to drill out this pin as I’ve tried everything I can to get the pin out. Obviously I can order the whole mechanism but I like fixing things. Only I can’t seem to find a replacement pin. Any thoughts? It’s 2.5mm diameter with groove on the end for snap ring and 16.5mm total length.
thanks

[Hugh Wiedman]

Thank you! Yours looks fantastic as well. I just printed the DirtyDee cockpit and its waiting for winter to paint and install. I did install his thrust nozzles and they work really well.

I fly the 5300 SMC's. I wasn't sure about the 5900s size wise since i use my batteries across the fleet (F4, MIG. F22 and FW190). The 5300 are perfect and very light. BTW do you charge them to the full 4.35v or only 4.3v per cell?

I do charge them to 4.35 V per cell. The majority of my ESC's handled the HiV cells correctly, a few did not but reprogrammed those (mostly the Castle ESC's and 2 FW ESC's) and removed the low voltage cutoff if the ESC recognized them as 7 cell instead of 6. I started primarily using the standard SMC 6200's (weight 814gr) in most of my aircraft (except Mig), then went to the 6200 HiV (weight 848 gr). I did use the SMC 5300's, regular voltage (weight 684 gr) in a few including the Mig. Then tried the 5300 HiV (730gr) in the Mig. When the HiV 5900's (weight 740 gr) came out, tried them in the Mig, F4, F16, F18 and the A-10 and they worked outstanding (same weight as the 5300 HiV and 100 gr less than the 6200 HiV). Now I use those HiV 5900's in almost everything and sold off all my 5300's and most of the 6200's. I only use the HiV 6200 in my Corsair and Spitfire as they can use the extra nose weight. Saved 2 of the older regular 5300's for my SU-30 with dual batteries, though mostly use 2 HiV 4400's there.

My flying buddy has also primarily converted over to the 5900's as well. It is outstanding, you may want to try them out in the A-10, Mig and the F4. Size is 47X50X150, only a few mm larger than the HiV 5300 (44X48X150) and the same weight. The F-4/16/18 and A-10 really enjoyed the loss of some weight from the 6200's. The regular SMC 5300 is slightly longer and narrower at 43X43X160 but also 60gr less in weight, but Danny hasn't made those in a couple of years.

[ElCid]

I do charge them to 4.35 V per cell. The majority of my ESC's handled the HiV cells correctly, a few did not but reprogrammed those (mostly the Castle ESC's and 2 FW ESC's) and removed the low voltage cutoff if the ESC recognized them as 7 cell instead of 6. I started primarily using the standard SMC 6200's (weight 814gr) in most of my aircraft (except Mig), then went to the 6200 HiV (weight 848 gr). I did use the SMC 5300's, regular voltage (weight 684 gr) in a few including the Mig. Then tried the 5300 HiV (730gr) in the Mig. When the HiV 5900's (weight 740 gr) came out, tried them in the Mig, F4, F16, F18 and the A-10 and they worked outstanding (same weight as the 5300 HiV and 100 gr less than the 6200 HiV). Now I use those HiV 5900's in almost everything and sold off all my 5300's and most of the 6200's. I only use the HiV 6200 in my Corsair and Spitfire as they can use the extra nose weight. Saved 2 of the older regular 5300's for my SU-30 with dual batteries, though mostly use 2 HiV 4400's there.

My flying buddy has also primarily converted over to the 5900's as well. It is outstanding, you may want to try them out in the A-10, Mig and the F4. Size is 47X50X150, only a few mm larger than the HiV 5300 (44X48X150) and the same weight. The F-4/16/18 and A-10 really enjoyed the loss of some weight from the 6200's. The regular SMC 5300 is slightly longer and narrower at 43X43X160 but also 60gr less in weight, but Danny hasn't made those in a couple of years.

Thank you for the detail. I went to order some (5900 )but;all sold out... I am flagged to be notified so if they come in i am going to get 4. If you have a secret source I am all ears.

[Hugh Wiedman]

Thank you for the detail. I went to order some (5900 )but;all sold out... I am flagged to be notified so if they come in i am going to get 4. If you have a secret source I am all ears.

No secret source, but Danny will get some in again as these seem to now be a go to pack for many of us. You can send him an e-mail and ask when he expects to get more in and he'll respond promptly. BTW, just sent you a PM regarding the low voltage cuttoff programming. On my A-10 (which was purchased in mid 2020), the FW ESC recognized the HiV packs as 6S so it did not require reprogramming. My flying buddy has a slightly newer one with FW ESC and 90mm fans and his also recognized 6S.

[ElCid]

Some A-10 Pictures from OshKosh this year

[MetallDanny]

https://youtube.com/shorts/FgJrelE-HGg?si=vSREclNhs1UTSRlj

[MikeT]

Pass.

Mike

[ColtPilot]

The A-10 is fantastic, just ordered the upgrade version and again going with the Red Devils theme.

[ColtPilot]

The special edition has arrived.

[Hugh Wiedman]

The special edition has arrived.

Whoop it up!!! I think you'll really enjoy the upgrades. I upgraded my A-10 a year ago when I decided to upgrade the Mig 29 as I was building it out. Went with the FMS 12 blade 3280-2100Kv inrunners. So I was left with the never been run original Mig stock 9 blade 3658-1920 inrunners and decided that I might as well stick them in the A-10, which had the 9 blade 3530-1900Kv outrunners. Although I thought the stock A-10 was just fine, I really did enjoyed the upgrade, especially in taking off grass and going vertical. This new special addition has even better inrunners than what I used, so you should really reap the benefits. My flying buddy did his A-10 in 90mm, and honestly that was too much, he has a hard time keeping the paint/decals on. So these new 12 blade 1857 Kv inrunners should be just the right power.

[Louierc]

Anyone got crashed foam parts? I would be willing to buy some foam -

Louie

[ElCid]

I upgraded my A-10 a year ago when I decided to upgrade the Mig 29 as I was building it out. Went with the FMS 12 blade 3280-2100Kv inrunners. So I was left with the never been run original Mig stock 9 blade 3658-1920 inrunners and decided that I might as well stick them in the A-10, which had the 9 blade 3530-1900Kv outrunners. Although I thought the stock A-10 was just fine, I really did enjoyed the upgrade, especially in taking off grass and going vertical.

So did you notice any lack of grunt by replacing the 1900 with the 1920. One of the things i like about the A-10 is that get off the grass really quickly. I just upgraded my MIG so i have a set of 1920 motors and fans just sitting around looking for a home.

and to add the mig motor & fans are 78g heavier each.

[stitch]

U kno if going to only make 100 of these like they say, should have put in the upgraded landing gear! I been watching this bird for a few years,a lot of money for it.but it's a lot of jet too oh I really like this jet dam 😆 if they add that updated gear oh man be really nice sell 100 in a week!

[Hugh Wiedman]

So did you notice any lack of grunt by replacing the 1900 with the 1920. One of the things i like about the A-10 is that get off the grass really quickly. I just upgraded my MIG so i have a set of 1920 motors and fans just sitting around looking for a home.

and to add the mig motor & fans are 78g heavier each.

On the contrary, there was a definite increase in grunt by replacing the fans with the Mig motors. Get's off the grass in at least 75% of the time than with the old outrunners. Increased the flight time as well. I was also originally using the SMC 6200's weighing about 815 gr (or the SMC HiV 6200's at 840 gr) and now use the SMC HiV 5900's, weight 740 gr each. That dropped 150-200 gr., and increased the flight time as well. Even before I switched to the 5900's, I noticed a nice increase in thrust still using the 6200's with the Mig fans of at least 10-15%. Full throttle Power draws off the bench on the old outrunners were around 87Ah and 2010 W. On the Mig fans they're up to 101 Ah and 2450 W.

[RAFALR30]

I did something else for my A-10.

[Hugh Wiedman]

I did something else for my A-10.

WOW, nice work!

[Elbee]

I did something else for my A-10.

RR, great looking parts, SIr. Master Class. Best, LB

[stitch]

Well I finally did it, just ordered, there's 3 left 😆 I was going to wait as I can't really afford it now but hell I wanted that nice upgrade there offering right now and if I wait upgrade latter be 320.00 more.