Joseph Frost

Last week I was offered this brand new EDF, partly assembled by someone who obviously didn't have a clue what he is getting into. For a bargain or fraction of the replacement cost I couldn't refuse despite I never like the way it is build. Heavy as a brick for its size, I'll do it my way to make most of it.

New toy.



AIL and Flaps set up.


Fine tuning of the power unit.


Replacement of the stock ESC for larger Opto unit.

sweetpea01

My Feedback: (10)

Do you think you could convert that to one of the new smaller Kingtech Turbines and get more out of it than EDF?

Joseph Frost

Sure, anything can be converted to turbine, but I will get lot more out of it as an EDF flying-wise. BTW, this is EDF Forum.

oliveDrab

EDF is the way to go in my opinion. Easy to transport, no fuel required, no waiver required to fly EDF in the USA. EDF's are reasonably fast and sound awesome.

Joseph Frost

I got enough turbines in my fleet, prefer to stick them in decent size model than little piddle like this "F-4". Just plug it in and way you go, I use EDFs as trainers for the real things.

Same weight as my larger foamy so I reduced the weight by wing tips mod.


More practical size for turbine.

sweetpea01

My Feedback: (10)

No judging or disrespect on keeping it EDF. I just bought the Motion RC F-4 EDF. I was just looking at what you have there, the room inside and thought with the new smaller turbines this "could" be a good conversion plane.

Post some video of it once you get it airborne!

Joseph Frost

No idea why people bringing up turbines in EDF jet forum.

Joseph Frost

Finally airborne today after the wet spell, tho only in 3 level flights off the beach sand to check the CofG. Probably too nose heavy as it needed lot of speed, long run and full elevator just to rise its nose. CG balance moved to extreme rear for next test flights.

Joseph Frost

Few level test flights to confirm all is well.
After few more adjustments she is all good.

oliveDrab

You've got a nice beach to fly off of? Looks to be really wide and really long, an RC flyer's dream. I assume it's hard packed sand.

Joseph Frost

At right conditions the beach is perfect place for flying, but there are times not so, just as well. Yesty, while testing the Phantom was one of those, very narrow margin of hard packed sand and lot of cross wind, on one of those passes I was almost flipped over while gliding down with no power at slower speed.
Today I did my first runs from my grass strip, unfortunately not much good. It's too bumpy and I doubt I get enough speed with those small wheels to rotate off only 70 meter usable strip. Maybe in winter time when it gets bit drier and some decent head wind but beach seem no issue taking off.
(Phantom beach test)

Joseph Frost

Arrestor handle installed.


Nose gear converted to skid/fin hook.
After some grass field test trials it would be very risky taking off, the model was bouncing all over the place with its small wheels and goat track strip so I have decided to convert it to catapult launcher.

Joseph Frost

Even with catapult launch is a slug on 6S. Next job is to hotted up!
Not impressed with the performance of this model, bit of a flying brick, so power plant upgrade is my next plan.

Joseph Frost

12b/90mm rotor mod.


Multi blade rotor with smooth new sound.


Cooling sink fitted.


Fine tuning of the new power unit.
Instead of spending fortune to upgrade the power unit in this flying brick I decided first to modify the stock fan with the use of 12 blade rotor reduced from 90mm to fit the stock shroud. After couple of test runs I have found a considerable increase in current draw and wattage, (85A/1800+W) with the canopy off and over 100A currents/2150+Watts with the canopy on which limits some air intake as there is air flow cheater inside of the duct to cool ESC.. Further test will be done to compare the static pull/thrust. Might have to upgrade the stock 2852 motor to 2967 to handle it.

Joseph Frost

I wouldn't rely pushing the stock motor to these new extreme figures (2250+W) with this new multi blade rotor so I have swapped it for longer can one after some shroud casing surgery to fit it in. After more soldering and fine tune/balance, further tests will come up with the truths.

Joseph Frost

Test runs of the new motor.


Much better results with larger ESC.
After some fine tuning of my modified new rotor the longer can motor seem to run nice while testing couple of speedos, the larger HW120 runs lot cooler than the FW130, which I put more like 100A basket case. Next job will be thrust test to see if there is any difference to my poor 1.55kg using the stock set up.

Joseph Frost

Fine tuning the power unit on the stand.


Testing all sorts of rotors.


'and batteries.
After bit of home work I have hit my target, over 2.2 kg static pull. 2.4kilo on 7S, @90A/2500W.