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

[xviper]

not quite sure what youd call this type
http://www.fmsmodel.com/main-landing...500mm-fmsps116

Those don't work as well as trailing links like the stock mains on the FW A-10. When you hit a big bump, those just go up. With trailing links, they go back and up. This takes way more of a beating than the FMS ones. I've probably got one of the roughest fields I've seen on these forums and today, I maidened my A-10. First flight was perfect - took all the lumps and bumps no problem. (The guy with the FMS A-10 lost both mains on the first landing.) Then came my second flight. The landing was looking real good until I hit a gopher mound and the plane catapulted into the air and came down hard on the nose gear - bent the main rod that goes into the retract and cracked the plastic mounting plate slightly. The mains were solid as a rock because they sprung back and up. (Video to follow.) All fixed and ready to go again tomorrow.

[xviper]

A-10 vs gopher hole mound (flight #2) ............................

[downwindleg]

not quite sure what youd call this type
http://www.fmsmodel.com/main-landing...500mm-fmsps116

That would be an oleo type strut with a double scissor. Never seen that before but the whole reason for the scissor on a real plane is to maintain longitudinal stability, otherwise known as tracking straight. Double scissors, I assume, would reinforce the straight tracking. That is usually accomplished on a model with a pin coming from the lower half of the strut sticking through a vertical slot in the upper half of the strut and the scissor is more for scale looks. Wondering if the hole at the top of the FMS strut fits the pin coming out of the Freewing retract unit. Also wondering if the length from top of strut to axcel centerline is the same or close to the Freewing. If those two conditions are the same then it would be a "drop in".....major plus. Brad

[Sky Wolf]

A-10 vs gopher hole mound (flight #2) ............................

Ouch...But WOW, the gear are extremely rugged!

[Aros]

Thank you.

Of course you are welcome and nowhere near as important but I thought it was still worth mentioning that your maiden landing was SUPERB. :Cool:

[TSHobbies]

Those don't work as well as trailing links like the stock mains on the FW A-10. When you hit a big bump, those just go up. With trailing links, they go back and up. This takes way more of a beating than the FMS ones. I've probably got one of the roughest fields I've seen on these forums and today, I maidened my A-10. First flight was perfect - took all the lumps and bumps no problem. (The guy with the FMS A-10 lost both mains on the first landing.) Then came my second flight. The landing was looking real good until I hit a gopher mound and the plane catapulted into the air and came down hard on the nose gear - bent the main rod that goes into the retract and cracked the plastic mounting plate slightly. The mains were solid as a rock because they sprung back and up. (Video to follow.) All fixed and ready to go again tomorrow.

there are no gopher mounds on asphalt, which is why I'm not liking the trailing links. think they are basically acting like catapults.

[TSHobbies]

That would be an oleo type strut with a double scissor. Never seen that before but the whole reason for the scissor on a real plane is to maintain longitudinal stability, otherwise known as tracking straight. Double scissors, I assume, would reinforce the straight tracking. That is usually accomplished on a model with a pin coming from the lower half of the strut sticking through a vertical slot in the upper half of the strut and the scissor is more for scale looks. Wondering if the hole at the top of the FMS strut fits the pin coming out of the Freewing retract unit. Also wondering if the length from top of strut to axcel centerline is the same or close to the Freewing. If those two conditions are the same then it would be a "drop in".....major plus. Brad

I was told it has a 5mm pin. I do think because of the wheel there may need to be some foam trimming ,not quite sure yet..but by the measurements he gave me,looks to be a close fit

[gravityworks]

I may have come up with a bounce fix, I switched the struts from one side to the other...they still have straight up and down suspension but don't catapult. There's a little milling (filing) to be done on the "new" front side of the retract to match the other side,, just continue the dropped edge around to the other side and "V" out the retract plate a little on the open end. I hope this makes sense.

I just put four flights on the A-10 and the last two I dropped it a little hard and only the nose wheel bounced a little.

hey tired iron ... anymore flights with your leading links on the mains?? I think you really might have something there wont be able to test it my self till Saturday

[catvman]

I have the same on one of my flaps, and was wondering the same.
Billy

Also make sure that while installing flap links, that you adjust your servos in radio mix so that they arms are rolled toward the flaps. This will also make it so you dont have to adjust the ends so far out on rods.

Ron

[TiredIronGRB]

hey tired iron ... anymore flights with your leading links on the mains?? I think you really might have something there wont be able to test it my self till Saturday

Yes, I have eight landings on it that way and so far no bouncing even with some intentional hard landings.

[xviper]

there are no gopher mounds on asphalt, which is why I'm not liking the trailing links. think they are basically acting like catapults.

If I had only flat, paved runways, I wouldn't bother with them either. Stocks would do fine. All my nice jets that didn't come with trailing links have been modded with them. I know what the plane is like before and after. I'll always target big planes (especially EDFs) that are sold with them and do the conversion on those I must have that don't have them.

[OV10]

Yes, I have eight landings on it that way and so far no bouncing even with some intentional hard landings.

Pics of those reconfigured main gears are worth a thousand words ;)

[dahawk]

With the A-10, it's a strange sensation . I'm getting 3.5 min plus another 30 sec or so taxi on and off time but it seems so short. After two circuits ,I hear the DX9 saying: " 2 minutes" A slight letdown. So, I'm going to go to RT 6250 35C's and push the 5 minute mark.

[downwindleg]

Yes, I have eight landings on it that way and so far no bouncing even with some intentional hard landings.

So Tired Iron, were the reversed struts in addition to the shortened springs or just reversed alone? Brad

[downwindleg]

Porkster, I meant to tell you what a beautiful part of the country Suffolk is! We loved Cambridge! I kept looking at all those fields and thinking what great flying fields they would make (which of course they did in WWII)! Rob

Speaking of WWII, when you were in Cambridge did you get by Duxford? The Stephen Gray collection of flyable warbirds is incredible plus the U.S. Air Museum. Brad

[TSHobbies]

If I had only flat, paved runways, I wouldn't bother with them either. Stocks would do fine. All my nice jets that didn't come with trailing links have been modded with them. I know what the plane is like before and after. I'll always target big planes (especially EDFs) that are sold with them and do the conversion on those I must have that don't have them.

strange that I'm the opposite...all my edfs are fine with the oleo type gear on asphalt. this is the only one Ive seen trouble with... mind you if its dead calm wind theres been no issues,settles in just right and smooth... but when the wind is up..more power needed..and I get a bounce from time to time. sure, its now 'always' bouncy, but it only takes one to do damage.

[RCAV8R]

Speaking of WWII, when you were in Cambridge did you get by Duxford? The Stephen Gray collection of flyable warbirds is incredible plus the U.S. Air Museum. Brad

Missed that one Brad...bummer! But we did go to the Eagle Tavern where all the air crews burned their tail numbers on the ceiling with their cigarette lighters! Now it is a museum of photos of reunions and testimonies...and of course a pint of ale! Rob

[xviper]

3rd flight, fully loaded. This time, missed the gopher mounds, just the usual lumpy, bumpy field.

[Shirty]

Nice mate ;)

[MANFRED]

Ok after a few perfect flights and landings with this ship, I had a power failure of some sort and did not make it over a hill. Fuse broke on half and she sustained other damage and is under repair right now. One of the biggest issues was some brush took out one of the 80mm fans. Just wondering if anyone has an extra fan or perhaps the remains of their encounter with gravity. Thanks!