F14 developed a radio fault

Hi. Could do with a few suggestions on how I could sort out a fault in the radio on my Freewing F14. The model has had a few flights and seemed ok. I stripped the model down to carry out a few repairs and to remove the retracts in order to reduce weight with the intention of using a bungee to launch it. During set up I noticed that the right taileron had developed a really bad glitch whenever the rudders or elevator are operated. I have tried a few things to try and sort it out, the receiver battery is fully charged, I have re-bound the receiver a couple of times, I have swapped the receiver for one that I know is ok and I have tried using a different transmitter and I have replaced both elevator servos. The only other thing I can think of doing is bypassing the onboard integrated circuit module unless anyone has any other idea what may be causing it that I could try. Thanks John

John, are you using FW’s ‘bluebox’ ? Is this the module you mention? If so, yes, try and bypass that. I took mine out of the T33, not because I had issues with it but had read of some that supposedly had.

Its the module that is supplied with the model. I think I could bypass it completely and just use the elevon mix on the transmitter. I will give it a go tomorrow. Thanks

Yep, dump the module and use your TX for mixes. I had similar issues with a Taft EDF a few years ago, I pored over the circuit board for dodgy tracks/headers, etc. Surfed the "Net" and nearly everyone said dump the board and plugged in direct. Open TX gave me 8 -16 channels so plenty of options.

Ok managed to bypass the onboard circuit module, and after a fair bit of head scratching got the tailerons and every thing else directly programmed into the transmitter and that has sorted it out, thanks Dave and Phil. Next got design and make a ramp to launch it from.

No idea what size your tomcat is but i use one of these for my Impressivio

hobbyking.com/en_us/pedal-operated-bunge...embly.html?wrh_pdp=1

Kevin's ramp is light weight so if your TomCat is fairly heavy then you need to make one out of 50mm waste pipe, rivets and a ply foot pedal like what I have. Plus 10 meters of surgical bungy doubled up too. Have you not seen mine John??? It is 2 meters long with 20 degree slope. Two meters is just enough to get it to flying speed. I have used it to launch wings, EDFs or anything with a hook. See the post below.

wimbornemac.org/forum/roll-calls/2498-tu...-june?start=10#22815

Might be worth trying out on mine to see if it will work for you. Any weaponry underneath might line up with launch tubes though. Hook position is critical though, forward of CG.

Thanks for that Kevin, but this is a pretty big plane and I cant really sit it on its wings to launch it because of the swing wing mechanism.

Yeah that ramp of Kevins is not going to work. Because of the weight of the model sitting on the wings and the swing wing mechanism and the close proximity of the tailerons launching it from that type of ramp is going to be difficult. I think it would have to be quite simply of a flat smooth board. I have protected the foam under the fus with some clear Perspex strips, where it would make contact whilst launching and landing. Eurofighter would launch of your ramp ok or the Hawk, but not the F14, I think it would leave the tailerons behind.

John, have you considered a drop off 'dolly' for take off rather than a ramp?