Official Freewing 80mm EDF F-86 Sabre Thread

[davegee]

Good choice Dave!
I was thinking of this one for a winter project, great to hear that she's a great flyer. No surprise though, all my FMS birds have been rock solid.

Dan

Yeah, I'd like to get a concensus on making mods on the FMS gear (if we actually do a group build) so that the gear doors will go up after the gear is down. FMS disappointed me on that score. I tried one of the offerings from Chris Wolfe RC Geek using braided fishing string on the main gear to do this, but it wasn't satisfactory for me in testing. Could be I needed a fishing wire closer to what he used. That might have made a difference, I don't know. For the nose gear, that is some sleight of hand with servos and servo wire plug-ins to make that door cycle like the real thing. A group build I bet would come up with answers that would work for this plane.

The new FMS F-86 has six sheets of waterslide decals, optional for the modeler interested (or daft) enough to put them on. Yesterday, I had a couple of hours free and was daft enough to put almost all of them on the plane. Looks pretty cool when done, and a bit more realistic. For coming from China, the English language was reproduced very well, just a few minor typos that I saw. Good drawings of location for the decals in the instruction booklet.

I'm taking it back out to the field tomorrow morning to do some more practice flights.

Cheers

Davegee

[Grossman56]

Good choice Dave!
I was thinking of this one for a winter project, great to hear that she's a great flyer. No surprise though, all my FMS birds have been rock solid.

Dan

[jetfool]

Nice!

[davegee]

I enjoyed flying the Freewing F-86 for a long time. After tons of flying it for several years, I finally had to remove the goodies inside for use on future airplanes and trash the airframe. I hadn't thought too much more about this plane except when they came out with the FMS F-86 a couple of years ago. Since there was nothing currently out or available that I fancied, I picked up the FMS F-86 and received it a couple of days ago.

It went together very well, and I ran ground tests on it yesterday and early this morning. Then, the moment of truth. I pushed the throttle stick forward on our very rough runway and took off! The plane was really in the groove from the beginning, I don't think I added any trim, maybe a click or two of up elevator in cruise, but it flew like on a rail.

I remember from my Freewing F-86 that in turns because of the wing design it has a tendency to lose a little altitude and required some moderate back pressure on the elevator (more than I'm used to.). But it was very manageable, as was the whole FMS airplane.

The one thing I found remarkable is that this plane is SLICK, especially going "downhill" on final approach with gear and flaps out. It sped right past me landing long, but for both flights I did today, landings were very manageable and the reverse thrust was really critical keeping it from sailing off the end of the runway. I did NOT use the speedbrakes on either of these flights, but will start introducing it on the next round of test flights I do on it. This plane is currently in a total Stock configuration with no changes (yet) by me. I'm really liking what I'm seeing so far.

I'll attach a couple pics I took after today's maiden and subusequent flight I did this morning. I still have some minor adjustments I need to add to my transmitter, but I'm hoping for a very long and happy life for this plane with me. I'll work in weathering, pilot replacement from OEM, etc., as time goes on. I Love its classic lines and lineage from North American Aviation!

Davegee

For some reason, I couldn't post the other photo I wanted to with my above writeup. I'll try adding it here.

[Elbee]

Yeppers, she's a beauty for sure. Best, LB

[davegee]

I enjoyed flying the Freewing F-86 for a long time. After tons of flying it for several years, I finally had to remove the goodies inside for use on future airplanes and trash the airframe. I hadn't thought too much more about this plane except when they came out with the FMS F-86 a couple of years ago. Since there was nothing currently out or available that I fancied, I picked up the FMS F-86 and received it a couple of days ago.

It went together very well, and I ran ground tests on it yesterday and early this morning. Then, the moment of truth. I pushed the throttle stick forward on our very rough runway and took off! The plane was really in the groove from the beginning, I don't think I added any trim, maybe a click or two of up elevator in cruise, but it flew like on a rail.

I remember from my Freewing F-86 that in turns because of the wing design it has a tendency to lose a little altitude and required some moderate back pressure on the elevator (more than I'm used to.). But it was very manageable, as was the whole FMS airplane.

The one thing I found remarkable is that this plane is SLICK, especially going "downhill" on final approach with gear and flaps out. It sped right past me landing long, but for both flights I did today, landings were very manageable and the reverse thrust was really critical keeping it from sailing off the end of the runway. I did NOT use the speedbrakes on either of these flights, but will start introducing it on the next round of test flights I do on it. This plane is currently in a total Stock configuration with no changes (yet) by me. I'm really liking what I'm seeing so far.

I'll attach a couple pics I took after today's maiden and subusequent flight I did this morning. I still have some minor adjustments I need to add to my transmitter, but I'm hoping for a very long and happy life for this plane with me. I'll work in weathering, pilot replacement from OEM, etc., as time goes on. I Love its classic lines and lineage from North American Aviation!

Davegee

[rifleman_btx]

Yeah i have a little of everything in regards to brands, but freewing is has the highest number of hanger slots taken at the moment

[Elbee]

rifleman_btx

Thanks for the tip.

Agreed, I've been looking at those and it's a great looking model.

Just didn't want to start modding on a plane that really doesn't need anything...except a possible repaint.

And it's not a Freewing, but I suppose that's snobbery on some level,

I've been accused of worse.

Price point is decent, I figure I'll checkout the RCG Forum for reviews and maybe their classified for a used Freewing F-86.

Best, LB

[rifleman_btx]

You do have the fms option, just saying

[Elbee]

Hey Y'all,

It would appear that Motion RC has discontinued the 80mm Sabre Jet.

We have a hometown hero who flew these in the Korean War, Col James (Jabby) Jabara.

I had hoped to build his livery one day.

Well, if you snooze you loose, and I'd presumed this model would be around forever, like forever.

Not certain how it would work, but I do think MotionRC should let the community know when a model is going to be discontinued.

I am sure there are marketing reasons, but still it would be a nice service to provide, IMHO.

Onward and upward, I do like what they do over there.

Keep up the good work, MRC.

Respectfully, LB

[TBolt]

Thanks

[Evan D]

Things like this are in the manual which is available on Motions site.

Hi everyone, I picked up an old one that I am rebuilding, but am missing the wing bolts, does anyone know what size they are?

[rifleman_btx]

2 20x3 and 2 10x3

[TBolt]

Hi everyone, I picked up an old one that I am rebuilding, but am missing the wing bolts, does anyone know what size they are?

[timmybeetle]

Wheel modification

Pilots

Thanks to Tom Hunt see also https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/show...postcount=7780

I changed my wheels because flying from grass the stock ones are to small

I used:
front wheel from FW T33, SKU: W20110136-T33 (50mm, 1,96")
main wheel from FW T33, SKU: W90114188-F4 ( 70mm, 2,75")
I enlarged wheel well main landing gear, and hopefully I will take off better from our grass field

regards Hans

[Elbee]

Captain Billy, Welcome to "The Squawk", Sir. Glad to have you onboard. She's a beaut. This one is on my hit list. Best, LB

[Captain Billy]

Been flying my Freewing F-86 for about a year and a half now, with over 200 flights on it. Flying off of a grass runway, I've worn out one nose gear and replaced it. The plane is a fantastic flying airplane and would be a great first ducted fan jet for someone wanting to get into jets. I've been flying for 50 years and this was my first ducted fan jet. I've now got the A4 Skyhawk and the F4 Phantom.

[Elbee]

PJ, I have a couple of the MotionRC light kits and just used the LEDs from those,

I bought a spool of 4-wire servo wire, LEDs in white, red, green, blue, yellow, and even some RGBs and now I just wire those myself.

Voltage differences was the learning curve for me.

I add resistors when necessary, and/or use a separate battery pack.

I have even used an extra MotionRC Little Blue Box just for the lighting side.

Best, LB

[Peajay5]

Hey PJ, you are on the right track. Just follow the aileron wires and that keeps your foam surgery to a minimum.

You can make a slit with a hobby knife and pry it open slightly with out damaging the foam too badly.

Stuffing the wire in with almost anything smooth. example plastic butter knife.

A Dremel will definitely remove material you'll need to fill, sand, and prime later.

I do not own this beauty, but I have added extra LED lighting to every FreeWing and FlightLIne model I have bought.

Great idea. look forward to seeing your mod when complete.

Best, LB

Hey what's up man! Thanks for the tip! I can definitely run the wires in the same channels after looking at it from your suggestion. Just have to make a small channel to the wings. i don't want to sand or pime and all that, so trying to keep the surgery to as minimal as possible. I'm using my FMS F86 as a guide also. :) Thanks for the help.

Oh what light kit do you use for your models? I found an LED set with long leads that work for the jet, but I ordered the L-39 Light set as a backup just in case.https://www.motionrc.com/products/fr...-set-fj2151113

[Elbee]

I Found a LED light set today with covers. I'm thinking about doing a NAV and landing light in the wings of my Freewing F 86 aircraft. Has anyone tried or done this mod? I am doing a mockup of how I want to run the wires in the wings and stuff. I have dremel to make clean small channel to run the wires also.

Hey PJ, you are on the right track. Just follow the aileron wires and that keeps your foam surgery to a minimum.

You can make a slit with a hobby knife and pry it open slightly with out damaging the foam too badly.

Stuffing the wire in with almost anything smooth. example plastic butter knife.

A Dremel will definitely remove material you'll need to fill, sand, and prime later.

I do not own this beauty, but I have added extra LED lighting to every FreeWing and FlightLIne model I have bought.

Great idea. look forward to seeing your mod when complete.

Best, LB