Official Freewing 80mm A-4E/F Skyhawk Thread

[OV10]

That is a lot of junk to carry on wings that are under 30ff!

Nawwwww...............I can remember the ol' man telling me that with enough horsepower you can fly a barn door LOL

[Hardway]

That is a lot of junk to carry on wings that are under 30ff!

[OV10]

Big shout out to Chris Wolfe, the RC Geek, for 3D printing some MER's for the Mk82's I am putting on my A-4. I modelled this plane back in the early 80's (BVM, ducted fan) but never completed the load out for it. Now I am getting to complete it with the Freewing A-4. He had to do some slight tweaking for the JHH 1/10th bombs to fit but they turned out exactly how I was hoping they would.

They are SWEET :Cool:

[RCjetdude]

Big shout out to Chris Wolfe, the RC Geek, for 3D printing some MER's for the Mk82's I am putting on my A-4. I modelled this plane back in the early 80's (BVM, ducted fan) but never completed the load out for it. Now I am getting to complete it with the Freewing A-4. He had to do some slight tweaking for the JHH 1/10th bombs to fit but they turned out exactly how I was hoping they would.

[Chief58D]

Lots of good feedback and encouragement guys -
Thank you!

Come on, tax refund!!! :Cool:

[Chief58D]

I show how I did my functioning tail hook on post 1583. It’s a fun mod to do !

Can't believe I missed your thread with it so close!! Darn these aging eyes, LOL!!! :P
Thanks!

[Chief58D]

Randy, you might be able to find some useful information on my Blue Angels build thread here. https://www.hobbysquawk.com/forum/rc...els-conversion and if you have specific questions, ask away. As JBTFB said, the Scooter flies well off of grass with no modifications but it certainly couldn't hurt to support the nose strut if desired. I am assuming you mean similar to how some have modified the Avanti?

Steve

TONS of good info in your conversion thread - thanks Steve!
And yes, it was the Avanti thread I was thinking of concerning the gear reinforcement plate.

Glad to hear the A-4 probably won't need it -
after a horrible experience with the landing gear on my Freewing 80mm Scorpion, I'm a bit gun shy!!

[seaviper]

Chief58d... I fly off the roughest hay field I have seen. I have almost 100 missions on the A-4 (almost 5 hours TTOA now) and no gear issues. I always keep an extra nose gear pin in the box just in case. It's pretty easy to bend the nose gear pin on a hard landing or if you run off into the high grass.
But she flies off grass no problem.

[Topshot19]

I do believe this A-4 is now on the "next plane" short list!!

A couple of questions (apologies if I missed the discussion somewhere in the previous 80 pages...;)) -

First -
I'll be operating primarily off a grass runway. I was wondering if anyone else operating off of grass strips has found a need to support the landing gear struts when they're down, and if so, do you by chance have a sketch or 3D print file for a support plate?

Second -
I do want to add a bit of addtional scaling, and am a firm believer in adding some lights (helps the aging eyes keep up, along with looking cool!!)
Has anyone found any online documentation that shows the placement of the various lights used on the actual A-4?

Thanks in advance!

Randy

PS -
I know I've seen some posts describing operating tail hook mods, but the forum search feature seems to be uncooperative at the moment.
Anyone know of specific posts that discuss this mod?

Thanks!!

I show how I did my functioning tail hook on post 1583. It’s a fun mod to do !

[RCjetdude]

My scoot is approaching the 100 mission mark. Good bird.

That is quite the testimony to it's gear.

[seaviper]

My scoot is approaching the 100 mission mark. Good bird.

[RCjetdude]

I do believe this A-4 is now on the "next plane" short list!!

A couple of questions (apologies if I missed the discussion somewhere in the previous 80 pages...;)) -

First -
I'll be operating primarily off a grass runway. I was wondering if anyone else operating off of grass strips has found a need to support the landing gear struts when they're down, and if so, do you by chance have a sketch or 3D print file for a support plate?

Second -
I do want to add a bit of addtional scaling, and am a firm believer in adding some lights (helps the aging eyes keep up, along with looking cool!!)
Has anyone found any online documentation that shows the placement of the various lights used on the actual A-4?

Thanks in advance!

Randy

PS -
I know I've seen some posts describing operating tail hook mods, but the forum search feature seems to be uncooperative at the moment.
Anyone know of specific posts that discuss this mod?

Thanks!!

Randy, you might be able to find some useful information on my Blue Angels build thread here. https://www.hobbysquawk.com/forum/rc...els-conversion and if you have specific questions, ask away. As JBTFB said, the Scooter flies well off of grass with no modifications but it certainly couldn't hurt to support the nose strut if desired. I am assuming you mean similar to how some have modified the Avanti?

Steve

[Jimbobtheflimbob]

I fly from pretty unkempt, wet grass and the gear holds up just fine. the struts do a great job of absorbing the shocks and the gear are very solidly mounted so you dont need any reinforcement. the photo shows the best condition the grass has ever been when ive ever flown the a-4 and it took off easily in about 30m. Since then ive flown from far worse.

[Chief58D]

I do believe this A-4 is now on the "next plane" short list!!

A couple of questions (apologies if I missed the discussion somewhere in the previous 80 pages...;)) -

First -
I'll be operating primarily off a grass runway. I was wondering if anyone else operating off of grass strips has found a need to support the landing gear struts when they're down, and if so, do you by chance have a sketch or 3D print file for a support plate?

Second -
I do want to add a bit of addtional scaling, and am a firm believer in adding some lights (helps the aging eyes keep up, along with looking cool!!)
Has anyone found any online documentation that shows the placement of the various lights used on the actual A-4?

Thanks in advance!

Randy

PS -
I know I've seen some posts describing operating tail hook mods, but the forum search feature seems to be uncooperative at the moment.
Anyone know of specific posts that discuss this mod?

Thanks!!

[RCjetdude]

Has anyone tried the power plant out of the FW f-86 in this airframe. I have a complete unit(ESC,motor/fan) that I want to put to use.

I have not tried it but based on the difference in kV of the stock motors from each aircraft I think the 100kV penalty would fly it but it would be borderline under-powered.

[e4dragongunner]

Looking at picking this up.My only edf experience is with the fw 80mm f86. I can fly that like a boss. Hows this one in comparison.

I have both! You will love the Scooter! 11mm on aileron throw seems just right! any more and it will roll like a drill. :-)

[MOFO1]

Has anyone tried the power plant out of the FW f-86 in this airframe. I have a complete unit(ESC,motor/fan) that I want to put to use.

[RCjetdude]

The A-4 flies very comparable to the F-86 in my opinion. With the stock throws it is very sensitive on the ailerons. Set some low rates to try if it is too much for your flying style. I felt the stock CG was too tail heavy on mine. It feels great to me at 180mm from the reference point in the manual. If you are flying the F-86 well, you will feel right at home with the A-4.

[AkumaZeto]

Looking at picking this up.My only edf experience is with the fw 80mm f86. I can fly that like a boss. Hows this one in comparison.

[RCjetdude]

hey guys check out my functional tail hook mod.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyCOVs_OOCM

It wasnt a very difficult process. i first removed the cover to the edf and cut out the plastic that holds the tail hook. I attached a piano hinge hinge into it also with some balsa, after that i put a small hole through the foam. on the other side there is a nice area for a servo. the hardest part was treading the wire to the front of the plane.

Nice job Topshot.