Freewing CTLS Fligt Design

[Thosmosis]

Motion email me that it's back in stock. But I am hoping that it drops a couple of bucks. Love the scale looks. Anyone get one recently? I imagine that the front gear problem hasn't been updated on these...

[retiredflyer]

RE: Freewing CTLS Fligt Design

Motion email me that it's back in stock. But I am hoping that it drops a couple of bucks. Love the scale looks. Anyone get one recently? I imagine that the front gear problem hasn't been updated on these...

Hi Thosmosis,
  If you go to the Hanger section of the forum and type in CTLS MAKEOVER you will see my extensive posts about what I did to my little guy. I got mine as a scratch and dent because the pilot figures were unglued. That worked out fine as I added flaps and upgraded their seats and needed to get into the cockpit anyway.
  I bought an extra front gear just in case but you will see I beefed up mine with aluminum and epoxy. Also added a metal gear servo in front.
  Unfortunately I haven't flown her yet, hoping to maybe maiden this week weather permitting. I'll let you know how she flys....and lands!
  I agree, it is a cool looking plane with great detail in the cockpit.

[Thosmosis]

RE: Freewing CTLS Fligt Design

Motion email me that it's back in stock. But I am hoping that it drops a couple of bucks. Love the scale looks. Anyone get one recently? I imagine that the front gear problem hasn't been updated on these...

Hi Thosmosis,
  If you go to the Hanger section of the forum and type in CTLS MAKEOVER you will see my extensive posts about what I did to my little guy. I got mine as a scratch and dent because the pilot figures were unglued. That worked out fine as I added flaps and upgraded their seats and needed to get into the cockpit anyway.
  I bought an extra front gear just in case but you will see I beefed up mine with aluminum and epoxy. Also added a metal gear servo in front.
  Unfortunately I haven't flown her yet, hoping to maybe maiden this week weather permitting. I'll let you know how she flys....and lands!
  I agree, it is a cool looking plane with great detail in the cockpit.

Oh well. Looks like they are out of stock allready. They must have only had a couple in stock from China... Maybe just one, after they sent me an email that they had it in stock... That's what I get for hesitating... I was undecided anyway...

[retiredflyer]

RE: Freewing CTLS Fligt Design

I finally performed the maiden a few weeks ago.  The weather was finally warmer.  I use a hot topped road that is not used too much and I thought it would be smooth enough....NOT.  The plane needs glass to land on.  I ran off the end of the tar into gravel and flipped the plane over upside down. No damage so I tried a rec center parking lot yesterday.  Two good flights and two decent landings.  The nose gear stood up to it fine.  My last takeoff however resulted in a disaster.  The battery cover underneath fell off and the plane ran over it at full speed, nosed into the pavement, broke the prop which in turn hit the rudder and tore it off.  Today I took the cowl off only to find the motor mounting tabs (aluminum and PART of the actual motor housing) are snapped off.  The motor is now trash and I need to spend 22 bucks for a new one!!!!!
  So the CTLS goes on the shelf until I send for new motor....won't be immediately as I have a bunch of other planes to fly at the moment.

[Thosmosis]

RE: Freewing CTLS Fligt Design

I finally performed the maiden a few weeks ago.  The weather was finally warmer.  I use a hot topped road that is not used too much and I thought it would be smooth enough....NOT.  The plane needs glass to land on.  I ran off the end of the tar into gravel and flipped the plane over upside down. No damage so I tried a rec center parking lot yesterday.  Two good flights and two decent landings.  The nose gear stood up to it fine.  My last takeoff however resulted in a disaster.  The battery cover underneath fell off and the plane ran over it at full speed, nosed into the pavement, broke the prop which in turn hit the rudder and tore it off.  Today I took the cowl off only to find the motor mounting tabs (aluminum and PART of the actual motor housing) are snapped off.  The motor is now trash and I need to spend 22 bucks for a new one!!!!!
  So the CTLS goes on the shelf until I send for new motor....won't be immediately as I have a bunch of other planes to fly at the moment.

I keep thinking that I want this plane. There are so few civilian models available these days. Warbirds a plenty... But with these flight reports, it seems like a total headache!!

[retiredflyer]

RE: Freewing CTLS Fligt Design

It may be. Has been so far. Anyway, I too like the plane, just hope I can get the kinks worked out. I did find she likes a bit of rudder when turning. The rear end wants to sag unless you give it some rudder. I have mine mixed with ailerons but I need to increase it a bit compared to my other planes.

[Thosmosis]

RE: Freewing CTLS Fligt Design

It may be. Has been so far. Anyway, I too like the plane, just hope I can get the kinks worked out. I did find she likes a bit of rudder when turning. The rear end wants to sag unless you give it some rudder. I have mine mixed with ailerons but I need to increase it a bit compared to my other planes.

Good to know. Even with all of your flight reports, I can't stop looking at it... How detailed is the cockpit? Can you easily get a camera in there?

I like trying to detail the cockpit of some of my planes to get a pilot view. Here's one of them.

http://youtu.be/AKj5GHuf0ks

[retiredflyer]

RE: Freewing CTLS Fligt Design

  Very impressive video, looks like the real thing. I like the sound of the real radio traffic in the background. 
  Most certainly plenty of room in the CTLS. You can remove one of the pilot figures and put in the camera. The cockpit detail is nice. I will eventually get the new motor but it can wait for a bit. I have three planes I haven't even flown yet, and two still to be put together.

[Flygirl]

RE: Freewing CTLS Fligt Design

  Very impressive video, looks like the real thing. I like the sound of the real radio traffic in the background. 
  Most certainly plenty of room in the CTLS. You can remove one of the pilot figures and put in the camera. The cockpit detail is nice. I will eventually get the new motor but it can wait for a bit. I have three planes I haven't even flown yet, and two still to be put together.

Okay, I feel better now.... I only have one completed plane that hasn't flown yet and one yet to be built. Oh wait, I have a camera gimbal and a racing quad to be built yet too... Oh and put the OSD on the Y6 multirotor. Sigh.... I need to do that retired thing too... (1 more year)!

[Thosmosis]

RE: Freewing CTLS Fligt Design

  Very impressive video, looks like the real thing. I like the sound of the real radio traffic in the background. 
  Most certainly plenty of room in the CTLS. You can remove one of the pilot figures and put in the camera. The cockpit detail is nice. I will eventually get the new motor but it can wait for a bit. I have three planes I haven't even flown yet, and two still to be put together.

Thanks Retiredflyer,

I am always looking for planes that will get good flight view...

This Easysky plane I use a lot (in the video below). Has a good view. I added a preflight checklist and some dashboard detail... And then some more dashboard detail... Lol

http://youtu.be/OD6vNpPh6A4
[hr]

  Very impressive video, looks like the real thing. I like the sound of the real radio traffic in the background. 
  Most certainly plenty of room in the CTLS. You can remove one of the pilot figures and put in the camera. The cockpit detail is nice. I will eventually get the new motor but it can wait for a bit. I have three planes I haven't even flown yet, and two still to be put together.

I was going to also ask... Does it have a door, or anything to access the cabin?
[hr]
Also was wondering... Didn't you crash your CTLS on it's maiden? A brown out? Or maybe wasn't the maiden?

[retiredflyer]

RE: Freewing CTLS Fligt Design

  Very impressive video, looks like the real thing. I like the sound of the real radio traffic in the background. 
  Most certainly plenty of room in the CTLS. You can remove one of the pilot figures and put in the camera. The cockpit detail is nice. I will eventually get the new motor but it can wait for a bit. I have three planes I haven't even flown yet, and two still to be put together.

Thanks Retiredflyer,

I am always looking for planes that will get good flight view...

This Easysky plane I use a lot (in the video below). Has a good view. I added a preflight checklist and some dashboard detail... And then some more dashboard detail... Lol

http://youtu.be/OD6vNpPh6A4

[hr]

  Very impressive video, looks like the real thing. I like the sound of the real radio traffic in the background. 
  Most certainly plenty of room in the CTLS. You can remove one of the pilot figures and put in the camera. The cockpit detail is nice. I will eventually get the new motor but it can wait for a bit. I have three planes I haven't even flown yet, and two still to be put together.

I was going to also ask... Does it have a door, or anything to access the cabin?

[hr]
Also was wondering... Didn't you crash your CTLS on it's maiden? A brown out? Or maybe wasn't the maiden?

No, it wasn't the maiden.  The only thing I did on that flight a few weeks ago was run off the pavement on landing and hit the soft gravel and it flipped over on it's top.  This was the 4th flight that I had the "take-off" mishap.  Also, the side doors are really just big plastic pieces that are a pain to get off. They are glued on and you have to slice them off the foam and them re-glue them back on. In your case maybe Velcro or something as you would need to access your camera.

[Thosmosis]

RE: Freewing CTLS Fligt Design

  Very impressive video, looks like the real thing. I like the sound of the real radio traffic in the background. 
  Most certainly plenty of room in the CTLS. You can remove one of the pilot figures and put in the camera. The cockpit detail is nice. I will eventually get the new motor but it can wait for a bit. I have three planes I haven't even flown yet, and two still to be put together.

Thanks Retiredflyer,

I am always looking for planes that will get good flight view...

This Easysky plane I use a lot (in the video below). Has a good view. I added a preflight checklist and some dashboard detail... And then some more dashboard detail... Lol

http://youtu.be/OD6vNpPh6A4


[hr]

  Very impressive video, looks like the real thing. I like the sound of the real radio traffic in the background. 
  Most certainly plenty of room in the CTLS. You can remove one of the pilot figures and put in the camera. The cockpit detail is nice. I will eventually get the new motor but it can wait for a bit. I have three planes I haven't even flown yet, and two still to be put together.

I was going to also ask... Does it have a door, or anything to access the cabin?


[hr]
Also was wondering... Didn't you crash your CTLS on it's maiden? A brown out? Or maybe wasn't the maiden?

No, it wasn't the maiden.  The only thing I did on that flight a few weeks ago was run off the pavement on landing and hit the soft gravel and it flipped over on it's top.  This was the 4th flight that I had the "take-off" mishap.  Also, the side doors are really just big plastic pieces that are a pain to get off.  They are glued on and you have to slice them off the foam and them re-glue them back on. In your case maybe Velcro or something as you would need to access your camera.

I used magnets on the video in the cabin of that Archer. Are the doors plastic, surrounded by foam? I could just magnet those, if so.

[retiredflyer]

RE: Freewing CTLS Fligt Design

No, just thin plastic. Very flimsy too.

[Thosmosis]

RE: Freewing CTLS Fligt Design

No, just thin plastic. Very flimsy too.

BBut the doors don't open? You have to cut them out to access the cabin?

[Flygirl]

RE: Freewing CTLS Fligt Design

Ryan or somebody at Motion must have done that mod because they have a video of the plane with a camera in the right seat. Maybe a PM to Ryan?

[retiredflyer]

RE: Freewing CTLS Fligt Design

No, just thin plastic. Very flimsy too.

BBut the doors don't open? You have to cut them out to access the cabin?

Correct, you have to peel them away from the fuselage.  They are put on with tape/glue and not that difficult to remove.

[Thosmosis]

RE: Freewing CTLS Fligt Design

I may have to watch for stock on Motion. If they ever get anymore.

[Thosmosis]

RE: Freewing CTLS Fligt Design

I finally ordered one and got it last weekend. Haven't done anything but open the outer box. I ordered a 9g metal gear servo to replace the known bad front gear (plastic) gear servo. Has the Freewing model been changed with the front gear servo? Or does it still need replacing?

I saw a mod of turning it into a tail dragger. Which I may resort to if all goes south while testing. I have a much smaller 800mm plane with trike gear. (Two of them) that, though they cannot handle grass of any kind. They can easily land on packed dirt. Take off too. I am wondering if I will have problems with the CTLS and anything but a blacktop or concrete surface...

[retiredflyer]

RE: Freewing CTLS Fligt Design

I finally ordered one and got it last weekend. Haven't done anything but open the outer box. I ordered a 9g metal gear servo to replace the known bad front gear (plastic) gear servo. Has the Freewing model been changed with the front gear servo? Or does it still need replacing?

I saw a mod of turning it into a tail dragger. Which I may resort to if all goes south while testing. I have a much smaller 800mm plane with trike gear. (Two of them) that, though they cannot handle grass of any kind. They can easily land on packed dirt. Take off too. I am wondering if I will have problems with the CTLS and anything but a blacktop or concrete surface...

I replaced the front servo on mine with a metal one. After my mishap a few months ago I have still not gotten a new motor. The mounts broke after a nose hit on takeoff when my battery door came off. Just haven't got around to spending the 25 bucks. Someday!

[Thosmosis]

RE: Freewing CTLS Fligt Design

I pulled out the servo that comes with the front gear. It's metal. I also ordered a Freewing metal gear servo 9g, thinking that I would have to replace it. The two metal gear servos are identical. Maybe Freewing stopped using the plastic gear servo in the nose gear? Anyway. That seems like good news.

The wheels look big enough to handle a slightly dirt runway.

I imagine that lots of the proplems are at take off. When the power is high and the plane hits a bump, causes a prop strike, then noses in the plane. Just guessing. But looking at the design. But I like it!