New Freewing Me 262 in box has 12 blade fans

[Alpha10]

How is it on a grass runway? You guys aren't the first to tell me that the F-86 would be a good first jet. I'm reluctant to spend 3 bills, though, for a plane that I'm not heads-over-heals crazy about. I should get over that, and listen to the sage advice that I'm being given. We have a swap meet coming up in a month. Maybe I can score a used one in good condition.

IDK... The F86 gear has always been it's Achilles Heel. It's too light duty for the size of the plane IMHO.

I think the Mig21 with it's stronger gear would do better off of grass than the F86. (If you can get past it's looks haha)

Plus it comes stock with more power, which will help as well.

[Oxotnik]

Fishbed is certainly a child that only a mother can love. LOL

With its stubby wings, I suspect that it'd be a bugger to handle in the air.

[Alpha10]

Fishbed is certainly a child that only a mother can love. LOL

With its stubby wings, I suspect that it'd be a bugger to handle in the air.

I HATE the way it looks, but I tell you what... It's a great flier man! No joke...

[Oxotnik]

Honestly, if it were a comparable first-EDF to the F-86 and handled better on the ground, I'd probably jump on it. There are quite a few F-86s in our club already. And my call sign is Oxotnik, a transliteration of Охотник, so Russian planes are cool with me, even ugly ones.

[smdub]

IDK... The F86 gear has always been it's Achilles Heel.

But they can be swapped? I've read that some on the RCG F86 thread have used F5E trailing-link mains to good success. I bought a used SU35 which has what I think are F5E mains and they work very well off grass. I'm ordering another set to put on my used (but new to me) F86 I just picked up. Staring at the A6 in the corner contemplating how to do something similar.

[Alpha10]

But they can be swapped? I've read that some on the RCG F86 thread have used F5E trailing-link mains to good success. I bought a used SU35 which has what I think are F5E mains and they work very well off grass. I'm ordering another set to put on my used (but new to me) F86 I just picked up. Staring at the A6 in the corner contemplating how to do something similar.

You can make anything work with enough patience and modifications... The F-5 mains ARE pretty nice.

[Mike_Then]

How is it on a grass runway? You guys aren't the first to tell me that the F-86 would be a good first jet. I'm reluctant to spend 3 bills, though, for a plane that I'm not heads-over-heals crazy about. I should get over that, and listen to the sage advice that I'm being given. We have a swap meet coming up in a month. Maybe I can score a used one in good condition.

A club member has one (not the 12-blade) and it takes off effortlessly from our grass runway. And now that it has 12-blade fans, I'm thinking I gotta find room for one! This hobby is killing me!!

[Oxotnik]

In other threads and PMs, the MiG-21, dH Venom, and Avanti S have been recommended as good first jets. I'm really torn. My goal was to find an 'inexpensive' first jet, to become more proficient with the takeoffs and landings on grass fields (I'm really not too worried about the actual flight characteristics themselves, as long as the plane isn't too quirky. I figure that if it takes off and lands well, it'll fly well). I also want the plane to be one that I'll enjoy flying for years to come. Despite being an ugly baby that only a mother could love, I've taken a really liking to the Fishbed, maybe because I seem to have a passion for non-US warbirds, but I've pretty much decided that it would not be a good first jet. I should go with the Avanti S, as it seems to be an awesome, well balanced jet, but non-military really just don't interest me, long term. DH Venom... wow! Looks awesome, but significantly bigger and most expensive than I'd planned for a first jet (but I'm warming up to it, and may well rationalize it to the top of my list). The 80mm F-86, although more than I'd originally planned to pay for a first jet, seems to be the consensus as probably the best first-jet (military) choice, with the caveat that the gear may not be ideal for the grass (opinions seem to be split here). But, it's ubiquitous and breaks my uniqueness mantra. I'll probably go with the F-86 despite that.

I have decided, though, that I'm thinking waaaaay too much about this and should just pop on one and start flying. :Silly:

[edit] Actually, to prolong the agony, I'm going to wait until our upcoming swap meet (April 1), to see if I can score a great deal on a used EDF.

[Oxotnik]

I'm totally stoked. I went to a swap meet today and scored a Schwalbe (V1, with 6-blade fans) with a good (hopefully) 6S-5000 batt, for $150. Some superficial damage to the nose (mediocre repair work), but the fans, servos, and retracts all worked well and sounded good. Hopefully, I can get Weiße Zwei in the air tomorrow.

I'm considering turning myself in to the police for swap-meet robbery. :)

[TiredIronGRB]

I'm totally stoked. I went to a swap meet today and scored a Schwalbe (V1, with 6-blade fans) with a good (hopefully) 6S-5000 batt, for $150. Some superficial damage to the nose (mediocre repair work), but the fans, servos, and retracts all worked well and sounded good. Hopefully, I can get Weiße Zwei in the air tomorrow.

I'm considering turning myself in to the police for swap-meet robbery. :)

You turd...I wish we had swap meets around here, good score :Cool:

[Oxotnik]

TI, I went to the swap meet to find a F-86 or some other good starter EDF, so that I could practice before getting a FW ME-262 and the FW A-10. Guess that I'll be learning to fly in a Schwalbe.

Maybe, I'll be that guy...

https://youtu.be/uKTTyiuaSeM

[seaviper]

Oxotnik...don't worry about the Schwalbe. She gets off the ground in under 50ft and flies like a P-51 without the torque. Just don't get her too slow or she will stall, just like any warbird.
I fly everything at 100% travel except rudder at 85%, no expo. Set your flaps to full and half. Use half for takeoff. She's a doll. Easy to land too.

If you need any help with the Schwalbe, let me know.

[Oxotnik]

Thanks, Viper! I have a friend who has a FW Me-262, and he also says that it's easy to fly. Do you fly on paved or grass runway? I'm on a grass field.

[Oxotnik]

You turd...I wish we had swap meets around here, good score :Cool:

TI, the Swap meet was in Murfreesboro. I drove 2 hrs up from Huntsville. You cudda driven a few hours down from your place. And we cudda had $2 dog and coke. :-)

My club is hosting a swap meet in Huntsville, on April 1. Maybe I can score a beginner jet then.

[seaviper]

Thanks, Viper! I have a friend who has a FW Me-262, and he also says that it's easy to fly. Do you fly on paved or grass runway? I'm on a grass field.

[mr.frankenjet]

here is the maiden flight of my freewing Me262, been working on this one for quite some time. So far I'm amazed with the quality and flight performance, allot of off the deck stuff but future flights will be a bit more up close :o) Went with wemo fans and 75a cc controllers, revo 5000 6 cell came down with 35% after 3.5 min. Tons of power and she flys well at 50-60% , landing was a non event. If your looking for a great flying twin edf look no further.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leeNiZ3mnrE&lc=z13dgnc5stz4gnmik04cclmojpvpidnw1s40k

[Oxotnik]

Hey, fellow Schwalbers,
A few months ago, I'd posted that I'd scored a great deal on a used (but in great shape) 12-blade Schwalbe, but that I wasn't ready to fly it until I had gained some single-engine military EDF experience. With a dozen or so successful flights of the Freewing 80mm F-86 under my belt, I have finally gained the confidence to fly my 262. I've strengthened the nose with CF, but no other mods yet.

I have a couple observations/questions...
1. The tip cord is really thin and I'm guessing that it'll be more susceptible to tip stalls (low and high speed) than most warbirds. I don't see any washout. I've added a few degrees of UP to each aileron, to cheat in a little washout. Is there any reason that this is a bad idea?

2. The outboard flaps move about twice as much as the inboard flaps. Is this normal?

3. What's the prevailing opinion about powering the RX bus?
- leave both ESC Power leads connected?
- disconnect one ESC power lead?
- disconnect both ESC Power leads and plumb in a separate UBEC?
I'm leaning toward the 3rd option (independent BEC), but haven't done it yet.

Anything thing else that I need to know about or should consider?

I'm really looking forward to flying this beautiful warbird!

[OV10]

Hello Oxotnik
Go with option 2 or 3 on the ESC since it highly probable that it is of the old tech lineage.
It was only recently confirmed(8 months ago) by myself via in depth questioning with Alpha on the FlightLine F7F that it was OK to do option one on that bird because they (FlightLine) had developed an ESC source that could operate a proprietary switching(ESC) device while both power leads where in simultaneous (parallel) use which had been a long standing no-no for this versus a linear ESC that could do it but on no more than a 3S setup.
Even though FlightLine is like a subsidiary of Freewing there has been no confirmed validation of what is being used on the twin EDF's. A prime example is the Freewing 1700 A-10 whereas a separate 10A UBEC is in the system but my suspicion is because of the amount of current the plane requires due to all the servos versus whether or not the ESC's integrated BEC can be tied together.
I have no suggestions for ya on the mechanical side of your questions other than the old school method of adding some washout with the ailerons shouldn't be of harm.
Good luck with the maiden.

[Oxotnik]

Thanks, Warbird. Do your inboard and outboard flaps deploy at different angles, where the outboards deploy at about twice the angle?

[OV10]

Thanks, Warbird. Do your inboard and outboard flaps deploy at different angles, where the outboards deploy at about twice the angle?

As I indicated on my initial response..............no suggestions for the mechanical side of your questions because I don't have the FW Schwalbe, got the Dynam version without the optional flaps