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Posted by Herb | Dec 13, 2017 @ 04:53 PM | 77,403 Views
I got this nice MiG-21 as an "airframe only" kit for $249 from MRC :

http://sz-freewing.com/

https://www.motionrc.com/products/fr...mm-edf-jet-arp

https://www.motionrc.eu/collections/jets-and-ducted-fan

http://www.rc-castle.com/index.php?r...Jet+Kit+Silver

The original has a length of 14.7m and a wingspan of 7.15m,

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikoyan-Gurevich_MiG-21

whereas the model has a length of 173cm and a wingspan of 80cm,

which makes the model a ~1:8.9 scale (almost exactly the same scale as the FW A-4 Skyhawk).

This particular model is suppose to depict the third generation "MF" variant (with enlarged dorsal spine), as described here:

http://www.mig-21.de/english/technicaldataversions.htm

Direct link to the pdf instructions : https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/10...33136327299338

I plan to install my own power setup, an FMS 80mm inrunner fan, as described here:

https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/show...EDF-fan&pp=100

The main reason is that the FMS fan is a lot lighter than the stock (or even non-stock) FW fan plus it has a better inrunner motor.

I have the same setup in the A-4 Skyhawk and it works really were there, no need to change anything

The paint scheme will the Russian aerobatic one, red on top and silver on the bottom. More or less the same scheme I have in my scratch-built MiG-21 105mm edf:

https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/show...lt&perpage=100

EDIT : videos added

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MiG-21 by Freewing with FMS 80mm Inrunner Fan (2 min 36 sec)


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MiG-21 by Freewing with FMS Inrunner Fan - Big Loops 4K (3 min 37 sec)


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Freewing MiG-21 80mm fast flybys and nice slow rolls (3 min 39 sec)


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Posted by Herb | Nov 04, 2017 @ 11:46 AM | 67,957 Views
Acquired this new nice small Hawk as a replacement for my 70mm FW F-104 missile ... The 104 flies very nicely but in the silver scheme is a bit hard to see on the landing approach when it comes toward you.

With the idea of moving my power setup from the F-104 tom the Hawk, I got just the $169 airframe ("Arf-Plus") kit :

http://sz-freewing.com/

https://www.motionrc.com/products/fr...awk-t1-red-arp

https://www.motionrc.eu/collections/jets-and-ducted-fan

https://www.rc-castle.com/index.php?...th=470_507_508

It is a pity they don't make a similar, no frills & lightweight one, in a bigger size ~90mm

I love the way Hawks fly, this is my ninth edf one from what I can count (the first one was a Gloeckner kit with a Schwerdfeger 69mm fan) ... Too bad the larger FW offerings are either airliners (A-10) or that overcomplex F-14.

It turns out this Hawk also runs rings around my overbelled and overwhistled FW 90mm F-16 even though the latter has a very powerful JetFan / HET 700 combo in it .

Edit: Short video added:

BAe Hawk Red Arrows edf by Freewing Maiden (4 min 17 sec)


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BAe Hawk FW 70mm landing (0 min 22 sec)
...Continue Reading
Posted by Herb | Oct 20, 2017 @ 01:17 PM | 54,875 Views
I've used gyros for years in my EDF jets ... They can be useful for takeoff and landing, and occasionally in flight when there's a lot of wind.

Without getting into some sort of religious war : I love gyros and use them all the time, under the right conditions (eg crosswind, a lot of wind, some landings etc).

Nevertheless it makes sense (to me) to first get the jet to fly right without a gyro, by

* simple mechanical adjustments

* sensible throws

* correct CG

* correct wing & tail incidences

* correct thrust angle(s)

* correct stance

* sensible main gear position

and later have fun with the gyro on a model that is now at least set up half right Instead of having some chinese mystery electronics just try to fix everything in one swoop. That's at least how I do it.

Here's the gyro in question :

https://www.banggood.com/Hobby-Eagle...-p-991417.html

https://www.banggood.com/Hobbyeagle-...l?rmmds=search

https://www.amazon.com/HOBBYEAGLE-Co.../dp/B0123C57LE

http://www.hobbyeagle.com/gyros/a3super2.php?lang=en

This particular gyro has a number of fancy features, but I only use the most basic ones (KISS principle)

The many options can be confusing, but I use the "NORMAL" mode exclusively, and most of the factory DEFAULT settings. For ex. I never used the "Auto-Balance" , the "3D-AVCS" or the "Auto-Hover" features. I also use the standard (default) setup for servos eg. 50Hz.

As a result, there's hardly anything...Continue Reading
Posted by Herb | Sep 16, 2017 @ 12:15 PM | 66,255 Views
Got this one as an "Arf Plus" kit from MRC for $249 - including shipping to Cali :

http://sz-freewing.com/

https://www.motionrc.com/products/fr...mm-edf-jet-arp

https://www.motionrc.eu/collections/jets-and-ducted-fan

https://www.rc-castle.com/index.php?...th=470_507_508

This thread in German : https://translate.google.com/transla...ing%26pp%3D100

Will install my own 80mm inrunner motor fan with a yep (yge) 150A esc,

https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/show...EDF-fan&pp=100

Was not going to use the outrunner fw fan that comes with the pnp kit, although the performance should be rather similar, at least to the comparable FW inrunner version.

The original Douglas A-4 Skyhawk had a wingspan of 8.38m and an overall length of 12.22m :

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_A-4_Skyhawk

whereas the model has a wingspan of 940mm and a length of 1430mm, which gives as an overall scale for the model of ~ 1: 8.91 (from the wingspan numbers).

The paint scheme on mine represents an A-4P of the Argentinian air force around ~ 1982 so it's usualy referred to as the "Falklands" ("Malvinas") scheme.

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Videos added :

A-4 Skyhawk by Freewing - FMS 80mm fan 4K (3 min 2 sec)



A-4 Skyhawk 80mm EDF by Freewing with FMS inrunner fan (3 min 38 sec)
...Continue Reading
Posted by Herb | May 16, 2017 @ 11:47 AM | 61,317 Views
Got this one from HK for $215, airframe only - but with complete metal landing gear, some servos (gear door) and a simple gear door sequencer.

http://sz-freewing.com/

http://www.f-hobby.com/freewing-su35-pnp-and-kit-p-66

https://www.motionrc.com

https://www.motionrc.eu/collections/jets-and-ducted-fan

https://www.rc-castle.com/index.php?...th=470_507_508

Had no use for the junk fans, junk outrunner motors and escs that the pnp version comes with for an extra $150

The original Sukhoi Su-35 has a wingspan of ~ 15.3 meters and a length of ~ 21.9 meters,

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukhoi_Su-35

whereas the model has a wingspan of 108 cm and a length of 163 cm, which gives as an approximate scale ~ 13.8 : 1 .

Some but not all Su-35's have thrust vectoring ... the Su-37 variant does as well.

The original is not a slow floater jet ... Top speed is ~ 2400 km/h or Mach 1.94

Will be repainted in a different camo scheme, similar to the one shown below.

Power will be from twin WeMoTec MiniFan EVO 70mm or a comparable 10-bl setup, with either a HET 2w, Arc or Mad Thrust, or similar , quality in runner motor on 6S.

A proven setup very similar to what I have in my Sukhoi Su-47 Berkut :

https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/show...0mm-EDF&pp=100

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Video of the maiden :

Su-35 Flanker by Freewing Maiden - Twin CS-10 70mm Inrunner Fans (3 min 54 sec)
...Continue Reading
Posted by Herb | Apr 12, 2017 @ 04:03 PM | 58,210 Views
I picked up one of these as an "airframe only" from MRC for $159 :

http://sz-freewing.com

https://www.motionrc.com/products/fr...mm-edf-jet-arp

They also sell it (the airframe only but with LG) for $104 in China :

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/RC-a...782118518.html

It seems slightly larger than my JePe F-16 (35" ws vs 31" ws) :

https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/show...by-Jepe&pp=100

so a rough comparison will be interesting.

On this one the wingspan is 88 cm and the length is 131 cm, whereas the real one has a 9.96m wingspan at a 15.06m length

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genera...ighting_Falcon

so the model is in the ~ 1:11.4 scale range.

I plan to possibly have a tailerons only setup, to reduce wing drag.

Fan will be an 70mm one with quality inrunner, and a 150A YEP esc I already have.

Finish will be in a simple 1984 Belgian TigerMeet scheme, which I have done a few times before ...

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Edit: Video added Oct 22

F-16 70mm EDF by Freewing with WeMoTec EVO fan (3 min 17 sec)


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Takes off and lands like a feather :

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F-16 FW 70mm edf takeoffs and landings (1 min 14 sec)
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Posted by Herb | Mar 03, 2017 @ 01:21 PM | 111,763 Views
I just got this new FMS 80mm inrunner motor plastic fan from China,

https://www.rc-castle.com/index.php?...roduct_id=6674

http://www.banggood.com/FMS-80mm-12-...p-1125125.html

http://www.fmsmodel.com/fms-80mm-duc...0-kv2000-motor

http://hobby-paradise.com/en/product...ct_detail.html

For $76 it includes (what looks like) a nice inrunner motor, and that was the main reason for buying it. Many of these chinese fans nowadays include some $10 junk outrunner motor that I really don't care about

I am not familiar with that particular motor brand ("Predator") ... we shall see

So far it seems from the FMS and Bangood sites, there is only one version of this fan with a 3270 2000kv motor.

Different measurements that people might or might not get could depend on a weak battery, incorrect transmitter endpoints, free-standing vs. installed in edf jet, and wrong esc setup (wrong timing not suited to a 4-pole inrunner) etc.

EDIT : Now there is also a softer 1930kv inrunner motor version (see later below).

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Posted by Herb | Jan 28, 2017 @ 02:36 PM | 77,376 Views
I got this one as an "airframe only" kit for $129

http://www.bananahobby.com/8-ch-blit...f-jet-kit.html

https://lxhm.en.ecplaza.net/products...47-rtf_1410471

http://www.f-hobby.com/sky-flight-su...or-thrust-p-13

http://www.generalhobby.com/su47-ber...ion-p-816.html

https://www.turbines-rc.com/en/jets-...p-upgrade.html

https://ru.aliexpress.com/item/Twin-...795390878.html

The manufacturer is listed as "Sky Flight Hobby", and occasionally as LX or Lan Xiang.

The kit version is fine for me, as I really don't need all the extra junk motors, junk fans and junk escs

Will strip out all that thrust vectoring stuff, plastic nozzles, plastic mounts etc as well, and as a result lighten it up as much as possible.

Power setup will the twin WeMoTec Mininfans EVO 70mm on 6S.

Here's a couple of videos of how mine flies :

Sukhoi Su-47 Berkut (3 min 21 sec)


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Sukhoi Su-47 Berkut (3 min 50 sec)
...Continue Reading
Posted by Herb | Jan 06, 2017 @ 10:17 PM | 54,678 Views
I got the F-16C from MRC a couple of weeks ago, very simple and straightforward to put it together...

http://sz-freewing.com

https://www.motionrc.com/products/fr...mm-edf-jet-pnp

https://www.motionrc.eu/collections/jets-and-ducted-fan

https://www.rc-castle.com/index.php?...th=470_507_508

She's a bit smaller than my Tam F-16 (which is 12-th scale) and a bit larger than my old all molded JePe F-16.

On this one the wingspan is 102.3 cm and the length is 152.2 cm, whereas the real one has a 9.96m wingspan at a 15.06m length

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genera...ighting_Falcon

so the model is in the ~ 1:10.2 scale range.

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Nice Relaxing Evening Flight :

F-16 Freewing 90mm EDF - Evening Flight (4 min 3 sec)


Short Takeoff :

F 16 Freewing 90mm takeoff 4K (0 min 16 sec)
...Continue Reading
Posted by Herb | Dec 21, 2016 @ 07:02 PM | 53,631 Views
I got this from MRC as an airframe kit only for $159,

http://sz-freewing.com

https://www.motionrc.com/products/fr...f-jet-arf-plus

https://www.motionrc.eu/collections/jets-and-ducted-fan

http://www.rc-castle.com/index.php?r...rch=F-104+70mm

http://www.hobby-paradise.com/en/en/...e.html?sort=4d

It is made out of EPO = Expanded Poly Olefin (which is NOT EPS = Expanded Poly Styrene).

It includes pretty much everything except fan and esc (and of course receiver). I really had no need for another $20 outrunner edf plastic fan .

Seems pretty well made for what it costs, the overall near-scale outline and the paint job look pretty good.

More importantly the ducting is actually pretty decent compared to some other FW offerings !

For some reason all the ones I have seen in person crashed badly, nevertheless the F-104 is generally a decent EDF (or turbine) flier.

The original F-104 had an overall length of 16.66m and a wingspan of 6.36m,

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockhe...04_Starfighter

whereas the model has 1.403m and 0.656m respectively, giving a scale of 11.88 (length) to 9.70 (wingspan), or on the average ~10.8 scale.

Here's a video of how mine flies (it gets faster as the batteries warm up) :

F-104 Starfighter 70mm EDF with WeMoTec MiniFan EVO (1 min 32 sec)


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F-104 Starfighter Freewing fast & low Flybys (0 min 36 sec)
...Continue Reading
Posted by Herb | Oct 29, 2016 @ 08:19 PM | 50,306 Views
Started to look at the various pieces as the came out of the FlyFly box, it seems all the underwing tanks are missing.

Other than that, the kit seems in reasonable shape. I got it from hobby88.com (which is basically flyfly),

http://www.hobby88.com/shop/index.ph...d1beeb4f8d431c

http://www.scaleflying.com/Hawker-Hu...an_p_2409.html

JePe's modifications are described in detail here :

www.jepejets.com/blog/?cat=10

....Continue Reading
Posted by Herb | Oct 19, 2016 @ 12:11 PM | 52,312 Views
I got this kit some time ago from Dragon Hobby for $64 which is not bad, so I don't get all the extra junk I don't need.

https://www.dragonhobbyusa.com/edf-jets/90mm-edf.html

Setup is a JetFan 90mm with HET 650 motor on 6S (3S+3S) 4000's , this is the setup I took out of that POS Freewing Fiat G-91 with atrocious ducting that always felt overweight, underpowered and never flew half right

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Posted by Herb | Feb 01, 2016 @ 12:09 AM | 19,366 Views
A few pictures ... still have a long way to go. This is the so called Haoye or KMP or Kondor Model styrofoam kit that has been around for 8+ years :

http://www.jepejets.com/jepeshop/118...ornet-fastfoam

http://www.jepejets.com/jepeshop/f-1...70mm-fans.html

http://www.jepejets.com/blog/?p=21

In spite of the pictures below, power will be twin WeMoTec EVO 70mm fans, each on 6S 4000's ...

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Posted by Herb | Jan 10, 2016 @ 12:50 PM | 41,315 Views
Here's my latest fast foam project , a $99 FlyFly Mirage 90mm EDF

http://www.scaleflying.com/Mirage-20...ey_p_3404.html

http://www.generalhobby.com/flyfly-m...ion-p-879.html

http://www.hobby88.com/shop/index.ph...page=1&sort=6a

modified following (rather loosely) JePe's very detailed suggestions:

http://www.jepejets.com/jepesite/Fas...age/mirage.htm

http://www.jepejets.com/jepeshop/mir...am-mirage.html

The model has been around for a while so here's a few useful threads talking about it:

https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/show...1197638&pp=100

http://www.rc-network.de/forum/showt...BERICHT/page50

I got the kit about a month ago, and did the maiden yesterday

I like to do most of the finishing & detailing work after the maiden, for obvious reasons

Below is what she looks like after the maiden

And here is a short video of the Mirage, I had to edit some parts out as the camera was on auto-focus:

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Mirage 2000 by FlyFly 90mm EDF (2 min 14 sec)


....Continue Reading
Posted by Herb | Apr 28, 2014 @ 12:14 PM | 39,900 Views
Here's my latest project, I picked this one up at a local HS (Rob's).

Like most Kyosho products it looks very well made

http://www.kyosho.com/eng/products/r...duct_id=109840

The specs are scale 1:7, 1.8m (71") wingspan.

Recommended engine size is described as 90 to 120 ...

(The original F4U Corsair had a wingspan of 41' or 12.5 m, which gives a scale of 12.5/1.8 = 6.94:1 : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vought_F4U_Corsair )

Here's a direct link to the Kyosho instructions (34 Mb) :

http://www.kyosho.com/jpn/support/in...R_EP-GP_IM.pdf

It has been pointed out to me that it looks very similar (if not identical) to the Phoenix Model Corsair (1.80m ws):

http://phoenixmodel.com/Product.aspx?ProductId=301

the slightly smaller BH Model Corsair (1.74m ws) :

http://blackhorsemodel.com.vn/?product=corsair

and the even smaller Phoenix Model Corsair (1.49m ws)

http://phoenixmodel.com/Product.aspx?ProductId=41


....Continue Reading
Posted by Herb | Sep 17, 2013 @ 07:07 PM | 47,417 Views
HTG MiG-15 (90mm EDF) 155cm (61") wingspan, a very nice kit! And quite close to scale

This thread in Italian or German

http://www.hobbytopgun.com/PC/Mig-15.htm

http://www.jepejets.com/jepeshop/116-mig-15-fastfoam

https://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...dProduct=24003 ($159 epo )

http://www.airshowrc.com/mig-15_hobby_top_gun.html

http://wild-technik.de/shop/product_...ucts_id=101561

The MiG-15 with shipping cost me less than a pair of BVM molded MiG-15 wing tanks

Given the 155cm wingspan of the model, the scale is approximately 1008cm / 155cm = 6.50 :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikoyan...urevich_MiG-15

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Flight video added Nov. 17 2013, flies pretty fast but lands slow :

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MiG-15 90mm HTG flyby (0 min 15 sec)

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MiG-15 bis 90mm HTG (1 min 53 sec)
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Posted by Herb | Sep 11, 2013 @ 12:30 PM | 51,570 Views
I got this kit for $119 from the HK usa warehouse, not bad fro the price

I started putting some of it together while I am waiting for some additional parts.

Power setup will be a WeMoTec EVO fan on 6S 4000's.

https://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...dProduct=24283

https://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...ch=MiG-15+1127

It is / was sold as the "Hobbyking", "Proedf", "ProDesign" or "KMP" (Kondor Model Products) MiG-15 90mm edf.

Wingspan is around 1127 mm, length around 1124mm, expected weight rtf around 3kg.


Edit: short flight video added Oct. 27 2013:

MiG-15 90mm composite EDF (HK/ProEdf/ProDesign) (1 min 53 sec)


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Posted by Herb | Feb 03, 2013 @ 04:18 PM | 20,480 Views
I ordered the new Dynam Me-262 from Nitroplanes a few days ago ... I got it in two days, and it took me a day to build and set up.

http://www.nitroplanes.com/60a-dy8950-me262-arf.html (I used a 5% coupon)

http://www.graysonhobby.com/catalog/...c-134_201.html

http://www.dynam-rc.cn/Products_view_169.html

http://hobbyfly.de/en/rc-airplanes-1...00mm-6765.html

http://www.cmldistribution.co.uk/cml...tId=0000006669

http://www.osmot.net/dynam-me262-ele...ivv238r95as1l7

http://www.brentfordrc.co.uk/scripts...idproduct=3337

http://www.miniplanes.fr/avion-rtf/j...r-p-46640.html

On the model the wingspan is 150cm, whereas the original Me-262 had a wingspan of 12.60m (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messerschmitt_Me_262), so that makes the scale approximately 12.6/1.5 = 7.9:1 .

The next day, Saturday, I flew it with the CG at 115 mm and it flew fine, it barely needed any trims. I use the recommended 4S 4000 setup and it flies well, plenty of speed for a foamie . My latest CG is now at 130mm (see picture below).

My nosegear steering lingage kept getting undone at the field, so I had to put a collar to prevent that Z-bend from slipping out.

The elevator and rudder linkages (pushrods) were really flimsy, I had to make the whole assembly a lot more rigid to avoid a possible catastrophy on the maiden.

Other than that, it flies like a charm

Edit : Short video clip :

Me-262 Dynam short video clip (0 min 55 sec)


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