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

[dsmithwc04]

Thanks guys! I’ll order some carbon tube asap.

[Waconut]

I just bought the A10 and was wondering what all things I should address prior to maiden? 526 pages is a lot...

Also order some 5mm square carbon fiber tube and install 2 pieces inside the fuse in the cockpit area. There are 2 grooves, one on each side of the fuselage to epoxy it in place.I think the pieces I added are approx. 17 inches long. This will help strengthen the front of the fuse for when you have the bucking bronco syndrome on a bad landing.
You are going to love the plane it fly’s great!!

[Gringotuerto]

I just bought the A10 and was wondering what all things I should address prior to maiden? 526 pages is a lot...

It is pretty good out of the box, but I can summarize some of the main themes in the previous 526 pages:
1. The elevator should be trimmed a bit up; there is a drawing in the manual showing this, but many of us didn't read the manual and discovered this in the air. This same part of the manual gives guidance on ele mix with flaps.
2. As with many MotionRC manuals, the CG is a little conservative. Most people fly with it a bit farther back (86mm is good).
3. As with many MotionRC manuals, the aileron throw at high rates is pretty "adventurous". Make sure you have low rates available.
4. 250 of 500 pages are dedicated to "bucking." Any tricycle gear plane can buck on landing, but this one does more than most.
A. The plane comes with compression spring nosegear and extension springs on the mains. On the upgrade page you can order the opposite (extension spring nosegear, and compression spring mains). The extension spring (trailing link) nosegear is not straightforward to install because it hits the gear door. I personally have compression springs on all three. Different people have different philosophy on this, and there are infinite hacks and tinkers with the landing gear posted in the foregoing pages and on RCgroups.
B. In any case, land slowly and on the mains. This is what prevents bucking, whatever landing gear you have.
5. It sucks current. Use high-C batteries and be conservative on your flight timer at first.

I guess that's about it. Have fun, it's a great plane!

[dsmithwc04]

I just bought the A10 and was wondering what all things I should address prior to maiden? 526 pages is a lot...

[Splat]

Aha! An aerospace Company in Seattle, hmm. Well instead of "Splat" perhaps we should call you "Boing".

(sorry I couldn't help it. Because the LG is spring loaded)

🤣🤣🤣

[themudduck]

Thanks Pat it was all your inspiration lol.

And yes kept it light as possible, lucky for me I work for an actual aerospace company where we have lightweight epoxy...I just borrowed a little of that. 😁

Aha! An aerospace Company in Seattle, hmm. Well instead of "Splat" perhaps we should call you "Boing".

(sorry I couldn't help it. Because the LG is spring loaded)

[Splat]

Thanks Pat it was all your inspiration lol.

And yes kept it light as possible, lucky for me I work for an actual aerospace company where we have lightweight epoxy...I just borrowed a little of that. 😁

[Warthog]

Has anyone seen the inside of the MrRCSound Smoke System? I was wondering how the heat coils are set up. Photos??

[Gringotuerto]

have the repairs all done...just waiting for the new nose gear to show up tomorrow

Good luck. Did you manage to keep it light? Every time I fix landing gear I end up adding too much weight....too ham-fisted with the epoxy.

[crxmanpat]

Well done on the repair Splat!

[Splat]

I killed the thread lol, have the repairs all done...just waiting for the new nose gear to show up tomorrow and I can put her back together and charge her batteries for the weekend.

[Splat]

Yeah that sucks about your nacelles man...I would have hoped they would have done the right thing and replaced them free.

Here is the current rebuild of my nose mount. I put a parting agent on the metal mounting bracket then screwed it in so I could get the right fit for the wood then added a little gorilla glue to get it up. Removed the plate so the glue didn't set on it and once that is hardened up and cured tomorrow I'm going to trim the expansion and fill in the rest of the space with some epoxy from work...yes we use it on real airplanes so...lol.

[Warthog]

You would think that with the amount of $$$ they make off of us, they would replace it,no problem! I have worked with Martin and he has been helpful on things. Maybe give him a call. I have two of these. One that is modded a lot and the other is new in the box.

[Gringotuerto]

Cant say that I'm a little more than dissatisfied, Motions response to my ticket regarding the shipping damage to the engine nacelles. While the damage isn't really that bad, I do understand that things happen with the amount of people that handle these things, however, this is a $600 aircraft... and the twin engines are pretty much the focal point of this aircraft. I guess I'll have to spend another $60 plus ship for a new engine nacelle assembly because I have slight OCD when it comes to how my jets look. I sure hope my MiG-29 that is preordered doesnt have any damage...😕

Hmm...I have seen people freak out about minor flaws (which are inevitable with foam), but this seems like this one was hit pretty hard. That is not normal handling. I'd probably ignore it, but I'm a bit sloppy. Another option is to get some lightweight spackling and run around that area. If you put it on with a wet finger, it is totally smooth. Then you need matched paint, but you probably can benefit from finding matching paint anyway. I used Model Masters Acrylic "Dark Ghost Grey", but it isn't a perfect match. You can get an optically matched pint from Home Depot for not much money, and then it is really undetectable.

[RC30Flyer]

Frankly I'm a little surprised they did not agree to replace your nacelles. You did send them the pics, correct? I can understand some slight crush or wrinkling in the foam in certain places (I've had a few like this that were not a detraction from the look), but that is an eye-catching amount of damage on a highly exposed part of the aircraft.

I sent them the 2 exact pics that I posted and asked opinions before opening a ticket. Yeah, just disappointed that I have to spend another $60 plus shipping in order for my jet to be in correct order.

[evensen007]

Cant say that I'm a little more than dissatisfied, Motions response to my ticket regarding the shipping damage to the engine nacelles. While the damage isn't really that bad, I do understand that things happen with the amount of people that handle these things, however, this is a $600 aircraft... and the twin engines are pretty much the focal point of this aircraft. I guess I'll have to spend another $60 plus ship for a new engine nacelle assembly because I have slight OCD when it comes to how my jets look. I sure hope my MiG-29 that is preordered doesnt have any damage...😕

That is completely unacceptable IMO. If it was just a little bit rough, I could MAYYYYYBE see their point on this one. Your damage is actually pretty bad and extensive; honestly it looks like garbage. I would never accept the plane in that shape so I suggest you give them a call and demand to go to the next level. Like you said, this is a highly visible and focal part of the jet which show large swathes of damage. No way...

[crxmanpat]

Frankly I'm a little surprised they did not agree to replace your nacelles. You did send them the pics, correct? I can understand some slight crush or wrinkling in the foam in certain places (I've had a few like this that were not a detraction from the look), but that is an eye-catching amount of damage on a highly exposed part of the aircraft.

[Waconut]

RC30Flyer I had the same condition on my A-10 when I received it. I was giving it a complete repaint so I didn’t worry about it.
If it is any consolation the plane is a great flyer. I have 7 flights on mine now and it is a blast. I have flown it with and without the ordinance and with the ordinance it is definitely slower and less responsive.

[RC30Flyer]

Cant say that I'm a little more than dissatisfied, Motions response to my ticket regarding the shipping damage to the engine nacelles. While the damage isn't really that bad, I do understand that things happen with the amount of people that handle these things, however, this is a $600 aircraft... and the twin engines are pretty much the focal point of this aircraft. I guess I'll have to spend another $60 plus ship for a new engine nacelle assembly because I have slight OCD when it comes to how my jets look. I sure hope my MiG-29 that is preordered doesnt have any damage...😕

[Splat]

Thanks for that visual and the info Duck, yes a much bigger PITA than I anticipated so I think I'll stick with my current plan lol. I guess I'll have the spare parts on hand just in case, and knock on wood, I ever have to do a bigger rebuild...did I just jinx myself, I just jinxed myself.