Official FlightLine RC 2000mm B-24D/J Liberator Thread

[SoLongSidekick]

I swear I see people on this forum say "wow I can't believe you're having problems with Motion!" so often it hurts my brain. After a certain point you guys are going to have to accept that either Motion's quality has gone downhill over the years, or there is a *really* strange coincidence going on. I personally have only had 1 issue with Motion (which in my opinion they didn't handle very well) and don't have anything against them, but it just astonishes me how often I've seen that exact same sentiment repeated.

In fact just between the last person complaining in this thread alone and this post was another person complaining about Motion's new standard of announcing parts/components that never see the light of day. While for most people I would imagine it's not a huge deal, but if you bought a specific model because of those announced features then it can become a very big deal.

[xviper]

Check that the retract struts are not slightly bent from a harder than usual landing. This can bend the strut so that when it goes up into the wheel bay, the tire can hit the wheel bay prematurely, making the retract have to force itself that last little bit, trying to unbend the strut. This resistance can prevent the retract from hitting its end stop. When the retract is deployed, this is the time that you can bend the strut more straight to alleviate the resistance when retracted.

[Hugh Wiedman]

Man, still having major problems with the retracts. Ordered 3 spare retracts a few weeks ago and none of them worked properly. The original retract (which was a replacement since the one installed with the plane was dead) I had to replace because after 6 flights it was working slowly on the bench, making funny noises and working intermittently . Replaced it with retract #1, but it too didn't work smoothly and was intermittent. Installed #2 which worked on the bench, but this weekend on the first flight it stuck in half position-no recycling changed it. Had to land with 2 1/2 retracts (couldn't even belly in with one down half way). Fortunately, I was able to keep it on the runway so it didn't cartwheel, but did brake two props and messed up my customized front turret (which fortunately I was able to repair last night). Replaced that retract with #3 last night and it did the exact same thing-always sticking at half mast. I thought it must be another problem, so I changed out all the circuit boards and wiring with a spare set, but no change. Even plugged it into the other side, but still half mast. At this point, I thought only a Viagra can help it, but had one more retract spare that I got when I bought the plane and it worked beautifully (on the bench-over a dozen times).

Taking it out again maybe Thursday, but a little apprehensive about that gear. After the retract fail on the first flight this weekend (and replacing the broken props), I still flew it 2 more times but left the gear locked down. I didn't notice any difference in the handling (still rolled fine, did Cuban 8's and other non-bomber maneuvers), so if you have to leave the gear down, no problem. Called Motion and Derek was very helpful, set up a ticket, and am sending them back for testing. He also told me they would check the 3 replacements before sending them to me and he would add a couple of props. WOW, nice to deal with Motion. BTW, I do love to fly this plane and with the customized painting, decals, multi-engine sound card, operating turrets and cockpit/pilots/gunners modifications it gets lots of attention.

[xviper]

That did it! Complete user error on my end. I had the counter-rotating props mixed with the standard ones. Everything seems well now and can taxi in a nice straight line. I feel a little dumb, but I appreciate the tips. And thanks for not laughing me out of the forum!

"Mammy Yoakum" of the 424th BS / 307th BG / 13th AF

We've all done "been there, done that" at some point in this hobby. I've even put on a prop (single prop) "backwards" and wondered why the thrust (or pull) was almost non-existent.

[hwhite815]

Do you have all the props on the correct sides? If you've mixed a counter-rotating prop with a "normal" one, the plane will drive itself in a circle. Are the motors rotating in the direction they ought to be?

That did it! Complete user error on my end. I had the counter-rotating props mixed with the standard ones. Everything seems well now and can taxi in a nice straight line. I feel a little dumb, but I appreciate the tips. And thanks for not laughing me out of the forum!

"Mammy Yoakum" of the 424th BS / 307th BG / 13th AF

[rifleman_btx]

Almost looked like you had one side overpowering the other. Check the escs and make sure one isn't cutting out or going into thermal power reduction. What about your cg? Was it on point as well?

[xviper]

Our grass is far worse and the B-24 doesn't have any problems hitting props. Even though the video was very poor and badly pixelated, one could see it start to roll right very soon after lift off. It's almost like the motors weren't synced and the left was pulling more that the right and the climb may have been too steep for the airspeed it had, resulting in a compounded effect of less lift on the right side. Or it could have been a simple case of "dumb thumbs".

[dahawk]

Sad to see this. Bummer. Grass didn’t look too long. Our grass looks similar.

https://www.facebook.com/636713299684649/posts/1853959494626684/

[quitcherbitchen]

That's too bad, I feel for you. A common problem with this plane are prop strikes. Especially considering the tall grass you were flying off of, it is possible you caught the outside nacelle prop and it broke off the engine nacelle, thus causing the roll to the right.

[Jose23]

Finally had the weather to maiden my B-24 but it didn't go well. I did my control check all good taxi out all fine and dandy. started to applied power and gain some lift suddenly the aircraft went right and to the ground. I think the ailerons got reverse but when I check them again they were on the correct direction. I have an admiral receiver and DX9 radio. Also, I was flying a Parzone P47 and the FW F8 before with no problems at all. The damage is fixable just have to wait for new wings to be in stock. (flight,crash,repair)

[rifleman_btx]

Oh yeah that will cause major headaches if you forget about checking those things

[xviper]

Hi all. I've had my B-24 since Christmas but just now getting her all set up and running into a few problems. Did anyone else have motor issues? Anytime I taxi her over half throttle she just goes into a ground loop to the left, even with full right rudder to counteract. I can't even get her off the ground. The outboard port-side motor does not sound to be running smoothly in comparison to the other three. Any recommendations? Initially I thought I may not have had the ESC's calibrated properly but I've done that several times and they all seem to be running in sync, excluding that outboard motor. Also, this is my first multi-engine plane so I'm not excluding user error. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

Do you have all the props on the correct sides? If you've mixed a counter-rotating prop with a "normal" one, the plane will drive itself in a circle. Are the motors rotating in the direction they ought to be?

[hwhite815]

Hi all. I've had my B-24 since Christmas but just now getting her all set up and running into a few problems. Did anyone else have motor issues? Anytime I taxi her over half throttle she just goes into a ground loop to the left, even with full right rudder to counteract. I can't even get her off the ground. The outboard port-side motor does not sound to be running smoothly in comparison to the other three. Any recommendations? Initially I thought I may not have had the ESC's calibrated properly but I've done that several times and they all seem to be running in sync, excluding that outboard motor. Also, this is my first multi-engine plane so I'm not excluding user error. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

[Hugh Wiedman]

This side has issues. It seemed to gator more, the paint didn't adhere like the other side and it had some paint bleed. I can fix it, but I have another vertical stab I may just start over on.... Sigh.... :Thinking::Straight-Face:

Are you putting a primer on first? I have painted on over 14 foam planes and found that I have to first put down some of the testor's primer, then paint it. The primer is a little thick so it also fills in any imperfections (most notably the foam gator surface). I then use testor's high gloss enamel and get a great finish with only one coat (rarely have to use 2 coats, depending on the color). I have to paint virtually all my wing tips and tail for visibility (cause I'M BLIND), and usually also the bottom of the plane (especially the wing tip, usually red on bottom to contrast yellow on top) to help me with orientation. Here's just a few. The finish comes out absolutely flat and perfect with a high gloss finish that is much harder than the foam.

[Hardway]

This side has issues. It seemed to gator more, the paint didn't adhere like the other side and it had some paint bleed. I can fix it, but I have another vertical stab I may just start over on.... Sigh.... :Thinking::Straight-Face:

[Hardway]

Did you check with Callie to see if she sold those graphics to anyone else? Wouldn't want to step on any toes.

Was there a reason you asked, or was it just for fun?

[Hardway]

Tail with paint..... One more to go. :Cool:

[Hardway]

Did you check with Callie to see if she sold those graphics to anyone else? Wouldn't want to step on any toes.

Yes. Callie was great, as usual.... :Cool:

[radfordc]

I know Charlie. I just don’t like duplicating effort on a livery already modeled. I like being unique! :Silly: Since we are a big family here, I just thought it would be nice to ask first. :Cool: But, the Dragon grew on me!

Did you check with Callie to see if she sold those graphics to anyone else? Wouldn't want to step on any toes.

[crxmanpat]

Maybe FLRC could offer some .stl files so that they could be 3D printed?