Carl Goldberg GBGA0040 User Manual

Welcome to the carefree radio control experience that is Electra. With the flip of a switch you’re flying! No fuel
or messy exhaust oil to clean. No adjustments to make on an engine. Electra performs like a thoroughbred
but has a stable pony temperament. She is based on the proven and popular Gentle Lady sport sailplane, but
has been modified for the higher performance demands of electric flight. Building is easy, but carefully FOL­LOW THESE STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS to prevent simple mistakes. Many a modeler has built two
right wings because he failed to follow the instructions. You’ll also find many installation and flying tips includ­ed. We think you will find electric flying to be a quiet, yet exciting change of pace−maybe even “Electra-fying!”

WARNING!

THIS IS NOT A TOY! A radio-controlled model is not a toy and is not intended for persons under 16 years old.
Keep this kit out of the reach of younger children, as it contains parts that could be dangerous. A radio-con­trolled model is capable of causing serious bodily injury and property damage. It is the buyer’s responsibility to
build this kit correctly and to properly install the motor, radio, and all other equipment. Test and fly the finished
model only in the presence and with the assistance of another experienced R/C flyer. The model must always
be operated and flown using great care and common sense, as well as in accordance with the safety standards
of the Academy of Model Aeronautics (5151 Memorial Drive, Muncie, IN 47302, 1-800-435-9262). We suggest
you join the AMA and become properly insured prior to flying this model. Also, consult with the AMA or your
local hobby dealer to find an experienced instructor in your area. Per the Federal Communications
Commission, you are required to use only those radio frequencies specified “for Model Aircraft.”

Pt. # 2083 4/00

INSTRUCTIONS

© copyright 1986

ITEMS NEEDED TO COMPLETE KIT

RADIO GUIDANCE SYSTEM (2-CHANNEL
MINIMUM)

6 CELL 7.2 VOLT BATTERY PACK

2-OZ. BOTTLE CA GLUE

3 ROLLS COVERING

1 TUB JET MODEL MATE™ FILLER

BOX OF #64 RUBBER BANDS

BATTERY CHARGER

SPOOL OF SEWING THREAD

ADDITIONAL ITEMS FOR REMOVABLE WINGTIP

1/8” x 3” x 18” HARD BALSA SHEET

3/32” x 12” MUSIC WIRE

3/32 I.D. x 6” BRASS TUBE

3/4” VINYL ELECTRICAL TAPE

OPTIONAL ITEMS

1/2” x 8” x 12” CGP FOAM RUBBER

FUEL PROOF PAINT™

SERVO MOUNTING TAPE

SPARE MOTOR FUSES

1-1/2” WHEEL

3/32” x 8” WIRE

3/32” WHEEL COLLAR

3/8” LANDING GEAR STRAP

TRANSPARENT SPRAY ENAMEL FOR
CANOPY

FOR USE WITH CGP TURBO 550 MOTOR AND

3-CHANNEL RADIO SYSTEM

BRACKET

SNAP-R KEEPER

SNAP NUTS

PUSHROD CONNECTOR

NECESSARY TOOLS AND SUPPLIES

MISCELLANEOUS RUBBER BANDS

WAXED PAPER

MODELING KNIFE AND RAZOR BLADES

SANDPAPER (ASSORTED GRITS, INCLUDING
MEDIUM (150) AND FINE (220-320)

SANDING BLOCK

"T" PINS (at least 75)

BUILDING BOARD (24" x 60")

ELECTRIC DRILL

1/16" DRILL BIT

ALLEN WRENCH (.050 FOR #4 SOCKET SET
SCREW)

SMALL SCREWDRIVER (1/8” BLADE TIP)

MASKING TAPE

SMALL PLIERS
COVERING IRON (OR SMALL HOUSEHOLD
IRON)

HEAT GUN (OPTIONAL)

10" 30-60-90 DRAFTING TRIANGLE

LIMITED WARRANTY

Carl Goldberg Products, Ltd. takes pride in the care and attention given to the manufacture of its model airplane
kits. The company warrants replacement of any materials found to be defective for their intended use, prior to
their use in construction of the aircraft, provided the buyer requests such replacement within a period of one year
from the date of purchase and provided the defective part is returned, if so requested by the company.

No other warranty, expressed or implied, is made by the company with respect to this kit. The buyer acknowl­edges and understands that it is his responsibility to carefully construct a finished flying model airplane and to fly
it safely. The buyer hereby assumes full responsibility for the risk and all liability for personal or property damage
or injury arising out of the buyer's use of the components of this kit.

2

USING THIS INSTRUCTION MANUAL

Before you start gluing and sanding, take some time
becoming familiar with the plans and looking through this
entire Instruction Booklet. It is designed to guide you through
the construction process step by step, so build in the order
given in this book. Building options, as well as balancing, set­up, and flying the model are covered.

Like a full-size airplane, the ELECTRA is built from basic
structures (stabilizer, fin, wing, etc.), which are then assem­bled into the complete airplane.

Special procedures or comments will usually be
explained before a step, so you will be prepared. If a step
begins with a statement like "Note," "Warning," or "Important,"
it is a good idea to read through the step before doing it.

A check-off box appears at the beginning of each step.
Check these boxes as you build, so you can tell at a glance
what steps you have completed. Some steps are repeated
and must be marked twice, as in the case of the left and right
wing panel.

Some of the instructions deal with general procedures.
Boxes are not needed for these sections.

HOW TO READ THE PLAN

There is one plan sheet in this kit, showing the Fuselage
(Body), the Wing, and the Tail Parts. Everything on the plan
is drawn to full-size and shape and shows how the finished
parts fit together.

The plan is drawn to show the model completely assem­bled, but as a result, the areas inside or underneath are cov­ered up, making it hard to understand how these parts fit
together. Therefore, for clarity, some parts are drawn with
hidden lines, others with breakaway views, and some are
entirely removed from the structure and shown separately.

For example, on the fuselage, the left side of the com­pleted model has been removed to show the details inside.
Sometimes a surface is broken away to reveal the detail
behind or underneath. Dashed lines indicate details that are
hidden behind or under another part of the surface.

The model is made from four varieties of wood: balsa,
bass, birch, and various plywoods. Each kind of wood has its
own characteristic end grain pattern (as viewed from the end)
which has been drawn on the plan. You can easily use these
end grain patterns to identify what kind of wood is shown for
a part, if you are in doubt.

INTRODUCTION

HOW TO USE THE PLAN

The plan is used in several ways. The wings, stabilizer, and
fin are assembled directly over the plan. Each wood part is
matched over its corresponding location printed on the plan
and pinned in place. To prevent ruining your plan from gluing
your wings, etc. to it, cover the area you are working on with
waxed paper.

The paper the plan is printed on can expand or con­tract slightly with changes in temperature or humidity.
Because of this, a preformed part such as the notched
wing trailing edge may not exactly match the plan. This

is no problem, as slight deviations in the outline or size will not
noticeably affect flight performance.

Because the fuselage plugs together and is self-aligning,
it is not built directly over the plan. As you assemble the fuse­lage, you will find the plan helpful in identifying parts and how
things fit together.

IDENTIFYING PARTS

Parts for the wing are bundled together; likewise, parts
for the tail assembly are also grouped. Die-cut plywood and
balsa sheets of common sizes are bundled together, so they
are less likely to be damaged during shipping and handling.

The various screws, hinges, and fittings are packaged in
plastic bags.

The plan also shows the installation of a typical radio,
battery and all remaining equipment and hardware needed to
complete the model. By referring to the examples shown, you
should be able to install your own radio, etc., even if it is not
the same as what is shown on the plan.

PREPARING FOR ASSEMBLY

Set a flat, warp-free pinning board on your work bench.
Any material that accepts pins, such as insulation board, soft
plywood, or dry-wall (sheet rock) will work. Important: any
warps or bends in the pinning board will result in wings or tail
surfaces that are also warped or bent, making your model
more difficult to fly. Make sure that the pinning board is flat by
laying a straight edge across it. You may be able to correct a
warped board by shimming its low areas.

Position the area of the plan (such as the stabilizer) on
which you are going to build over the pinning board and tape
it in place so the plan lays flat and wrinkle free.

Place a sheet of waxed paper or plastic kitchen wrap over
the work area to prevent Super Jet from sticking to your plan
and ruining it.

CONSTRUCTION TIPS

In assembling your model, the following tips will prove

helpful.

IMPORTANT: ALWAYS READ A FEW STEPS AHEAD.
This will alert you to coming instructions and will help you plan
accordingly.

You may find it convenient to empty all of the small parts
from the hardware bags into a common container, such as a
margarine tub. This will help you find items quickly.

When drilling any 1/16" holes in balsa, you may find it
easier to twist the drill between your thumb and index finger.
This procedure allows more control in positioning the drill on
the center mark.

Punch out only the die-cut (D/C) parts you need as you
proceed. This will help you keep track of parts, especially the
small ones.

Sometimes you will be asked to “tack cement” a piece of
wood that will later be taken apart. To provide for easy
removal without damage, use only a small drop of glue.

After completing each section of the aircraft, you may
want to go back and reglue the joints, just in case some area
has been missed. Be careful not to use too little glue, which
will leave the model weak, or too much glue, which can make
the model heavy. Properly glued joints are important to the
overall strength of the model. Super Jet™ is recommended
for most parts of the assembly, although Jet Epoxy may be
used when more time is needed for careful placement.

3

ADHESIVES & GLUING TECHNIQUES

The ELECTRA was designed for fast assembly using
SUPER JET™ CA (cyanoacrylate adhesive), which is spe­cially formulated to firmly glue the plywood, hardwood, and
balsa used in your model and to withstand vibration.
However, there are times, such as when you are installing the
stabilizer and fin on the fuselage and want more set-up time
for careful alignment and positioning, when you should use
JET EPOXY™. Occasionally, you also will want to use
INTANT JET™, which "wicks" into the surrounding areas.
Aliphatic resin glue or similar water-based glues can also be
used, but they will add to the assembly time because they dry
so much more slowly than SUPER JET™.

WARNING

Never use watery THIN type CA glue for gluing plywood
and hardwood parts. Thin CA's do not adequately bond
these areas.

SUPER JET™ is strongly recommended for most model
building tasks because, when pressed into a very thin layer, it
sets almost instantly. After the initial bond, SUPER JET™
continues to strengthen. However, because of SUPER
JET's™ quick set-up, you must be careful to read instruc­tions thoroughly, as you will have only seconds for positioning
of parts. Be sure to trial fit parts together before gluing.

SUPER JET™ is used in two general ways. One is to
apply the CA to one part and then press the two parts to be
glued together. Or, you can position parts in contact and then
run SUPER JET™ into the joint. As it seeps into the joint, it
will leave a slight reinforcing fillet. If you don't see a slight fil­let, the CA has soaked into the wood edges and a second
coat is needed.

SUPER JET™ sets up a bit slower with plywood and
other harder woods, so hold such parts together a little longer
than you would for balsa. Corner fillets take even longer to dry
because there is a thick layer. To speed up such slow drying
joints, use JET SET™, an accelerator for all brands of CA
glue. JET SET™ bridges greater gaps, speeds up slow
bonds, and provides strong glue joint fillets.

Epoxy glues come in two parts which need to be mixed
before using. When buying epoxy, check to see how long the
glue takes to set. We recommend either JET 6 MINUTE
EPOXY™ or JET 20 MINUTE EPOXY™. Disposable wood
strips, cotton swabs, cheap stiff bristle brushes or acid brush­es from auto stores make good applicators. Because epoxy
is so thick, it is easy to apply too much. Use sparingly, espe­cially when assembling the fin, stabilizer, and wings.

CAUTION. Some people may experience an allergic
reaction when exposed to fumes from CA glue or epoxy. As
with paints, thinners, and solvents, it is always important to
use glues only where there is adequate ventilation to carry
fumes away. A fan is recommended. Also, special care must
be taken when using CA, as it will bond skin as well as other
surfaces. JET DE-SOLV™ is a CA solvent which removes
hardened glue from fingers and softens glued joints for repo­sitioning. Before using any CA, carefully read all label pre­cautions. When using CA, protective eye-wear and care in
keeping the glue away from the face is highly recommended.
If CA does happen to get into the eye, hold lid open and flush
with water only. Seek immediate medical attention.

CHOOSING A RADIO

IMPORTANT: When selecting a radio, remember that
there are many radio frequencies available, but not all of
these frequencies can be used legally to operate model air­planes. Be sure to tell your dealer that you want a radio with
a "Model Airplane" frequency.

Although the ELECTRA is designed to fly on 2 or 3­channel radio equipment, we recomend you purchase at
least a 4-channel radio with 3 servos. This will be more
useful, if later you wish to move up to more sophisticated
aircraft.

4

In flight, the model is controlled by using the rudder and the
elevator (see drawing). One radio channel controls the rud­der, which is the primary turn control. It rolls, or "banks" the
model. Another channel operates the elevator, which controls
the pitch (climbing, level flight, and descent). The third chan­nel is for the motor.

Radios are battery powered with rechargeable nickel­cadmium batteries (ni-cads). Such sets come equipped with
a recharging unit. Also, many of the radio systems now avail­able feature "servo reversing" switches which allow the pilot
to reverse the response of the servo. This feature simplifies
installation and is a worthwhile consideration when selecting
a radio system. Other radios come with a variety of sophisti­cated features, such as dual rates, exponential and control
mixing, etc. These features are typically used by more
advanced flyers and are not necessary for flying the ELEC-

TRA.

MOTORS & PROPELLERS

The Carl Goldberg Models TURBO 550 Motor is includ­ed in your ELECTRA kit because it has excellent perform­ance and will provide you with a good climb for four minutes
or more, using a standard 6-cell battery and 8-4 prop. If you
don’t mind spending more, you can power your ELECTRA
with various other power units. We suggest you consult your
hobby retailer or a modeler who has experience in electric
flight. Since electric flight has become an increasingly popu­lar option for sport fliers, the technology has been changing
rapidly.

The Turbo 550 Motor System is equipped with an in-line
fuse. Without a fuse, the motor or battery could be perma­nently damaged if the prop is installed or jammed while the
motor is running. If you plan to buy another brand of motor,
make sure it has a fuse or, if it doesn’t, ask your dealer how
to install one.

An 8-4 nylon prop also is included in your kit. It is the best
all-round prop to use with the Turbo 550. Although some
wood props may give better climb, they can break easily in a
slightly rough landing. If you use a geared or cobalt motor,
refer to the manufacturer’s recommendations on props.

BATTERY CHARGERS

Many different battery chargers are available and most
work quite well. For the best advice, see your local hobby
dealer. If there isn’t one nearby, here is a brief description
of the various types of chargers and how they work.

Some chargers use 12 volts, such as in a car battery,
and some use 120 volt house current. Some will work on
both 12 and 120 volts and most will accomplish a quick
charge in 20 minutes or less. A handy accessory to have is
a digital volt meter.

BASIC CHARGERS (with a mechanical timer) work well, but
must be used with care to avoid overcharging your batteries.
These are generally the least expensive chargers.

AUTOMATIC WITH DELTA (PEAK) DETECTION CHARG­ERS are more expensive, but very easy to use. Just hook it
up and come back in 20 minutes. These chargers usually
operate only from a 12 volt power supply.

AUTOMATIC WITH HEAT SENSOR CHARGERS are gener­ally the most expensive type. These chargers, which are
available in 12, 120, and 12/120 volt power requirements,
work extremely well. Simply plug in and hook up the COOL
battery. Return in 20 minutes to a fully charged unit. (Note:
the battery must be cool before the charge cycle begins.)

ELECTRA CONSTRUCTION OPTIONS

NOTE: Materials for these options are not included
in your kit. They must be purchased separately.

REMOVABLE TIP OPTION If a 6-1/2 foot wing will not

fit in your car, you will want to build the wing with removable
wing tips.

TINTING THE CANOPY If you wish to “tint” the canopy,
do not try to dye the plastic. Instead, purchase a “transpar­ent“ spray enamel paint and apply carefully to the INSIDE of
the canopy surface.

LANDING WHEEL OPTION The plans show how to
install an optional single landing wheel on your ELECTRA.
Although this really is not necessary, it can help prevent
breakage of wooden propellers and damage to the fuselage
when landing on gravel or other rough surfaces. Another
way to prevent damage to the fusage is to apply CGM
ScuffGuard, a transparent scuff resistant strip, to the bottom
of your aircraft. Application is very easy and highly recom­mended.

ELEVATOR

RUDDER

MOTOR

5

ABOUT THE WOOD IN THE KIT

We strive to supply good quality materials in your kit.
Wood parts are inspected with regard to the function
they will serve. If an imperfection is spotted in a scrap
corner of a die-cut sheet and doesn't affect actual parts,
the sheet is considered acceptable. Also, internal
stresses in wood are relieved as it is cut into parts.
These relieved stresses may cause some parts to bow.
Bows in wood parts (such as leading edges) readily
straighten out as they are Super Jeted into a structural
unit

WOOD PARTS

Be careful when removing parts (such as fuselage
sides) from the die-cut sheets. Long parts are fragile
until Super Jeted into a structural unit. If necessary,
use a razor knife or razor saw to assist in the removal
of parts from the sheet. Sometimes a little trimming and
sanding can improve parts, where desired. Save scrap
until the model is completed, in case a part is missing
or damaged. Also, scrap is used in some building
steps.

BASIC STRUCTURE

END VIEW OF STRIP WOOD PARTS

BASSWOOD BALSA

6

MAIN SPAR

REAR SPAR

INBOARD
PANEL

OUTBOARD
PANEL

CENTER
SHEETING

CANOPY

3/16” DOWEL

BATTERY
HATCH

NYLON
HOLD DOWN

MOTOR
MOUNT

FRONT SPAR

1/4 x 13/32”

REAR SPAR

1/8 x 3/8”

FRONT SPAR

1/4 x 3/8”

REAR SPAR

1/8 x 3/8”

1/4” SQUARE

17-7/8”

INBOARD L.E. = 20-3/4” LONG

OUTBOARD L.E. = 17-5/8” LONG

ELEVATOR L.E.

3/16 x 3/8”

ELEVATOR

TRUSS

5/64 x 3/16”

RUDDER T.E.

8-1/4” LONG

ELEVATOR.

20-3/4” LONG

INBOARD T.E. = 20-3/4” LONG

OUTBOARD T.E. = 17-1/2” LONG

HATCH RAIL

1/8” SQ.

STABILIZER

INBOARD WING SPAR

OUTBOARD WING SPAR

WING LEADING
EDE (L.E.)

WING TRAILING
EDGE (T.E.)

PUSHROD

TRAILING
EDGE

RUDDER

FIN

HINGES

ELEVATOR

COWL

L.E. SHEETING

LEADING
EDGE

RIB

SHEET 4001 WING RIBS 5/64 x 2-7/8” 2 REQ’D.

SHEET 4002 WING RIBS 5/64 x 2-7/8” 2 REQ’D.

DIE-CUT WOOD SHEETS

SHEET 4006 3/16x 2-7/8 x 9-1/2” 1 REQ’D.

SHEET 4008 1/16x 2-5/8 x 13-1/2” 1 REQ’D.

SHEET 4011 1/16x 2-5/8 x 13-1/2” 1 REQ’D.

SHEET 4010 1/16x 2-7/8 x 18” 1 REQ’D.

BATTERY HATCH FORMER C DOUBLER

HATCH DOUBLER

SHEET 4009 1/8x 2-3/8 x 17” WING CENTER JOINERS 1 REQ’D.

SHEET 4005 1/16x 2-7/8 x 24” 1 REQ’D.

SHEET 4007 1/16x 2-7/8 x 24” 1 REQ’D.

SHEET 4012 1/16x 3 x 24” 2 REQ’D.

SHEET 4013 1/16x 3 x 24” 2 REQ’D.

SHEET 4014 1/8 x 2-1/4 x13” 2 REQ’D.

BEVELING MOTOR
TOOL WING GAUGE SWITCH

MOUNT

SHEET 4004 5/64 x 2-7/8 x 18” FUSELAGE SIDE DOUBLER 2 REQ’D.

7

STAB TIPS WING/TAIL GUSSETS STAB CENTER PLATFORM

DORSAL
FIN
STAB L.E.
JOINER

FIN
BOTTOM

FUSE REAR TOP

FORMER D

STAB PLATFORM

FUSE REAR BOTTOM

OUTBOARD PANEL L.E. SHEETING

MID CENTER SHEETING

INBOARD PANEL L.E. SHEETING

JOINER CLAMPS

SERVO
MOUNTING
RAIL

FORMER B

FORMER C

REAR MOTOR FORMER POLYHEDRAL
MOUNT A JOINERS

FUSE REAR DOUBLER

FUSE WING PLATFORM

FUSE BOTTOM
FRONT

HATCH
TONGUE

FORMER A
DOUBLER

SHEET 4003B FUSELAGE REAR

SHEET 4003A FUSELAGE FRONT

ARF: Almost Ready to Fly
AILERON: the control surface on the wing that rolls the

plane

AIRFOIL: the shape of the wing as seen from the end
ANGLE OF ATTACK: the angle at which the wing meets

the air flow

BEVEL: to sand to an angle shape
BURR: the rough edges on a piece of wood or metal after

it is cut

CAP STRIP: a thin strip glued to the edges of the ribs to

shape the wing

CONTROL HORN: a device attached to each control sur-

face to provide an attachment point for the pushrod

COWL (COWLING): the nose section of the fuselage

that encloses the engine

DECALAGE: the difference between the incidence of the

wing and stabilizer

DIHEDRAL: the upward angle of the wings, as seen from

the front

ELEVATOR: the moveable part of the horizontal tail,

which controls pitch

EMPENNAGE: the tail of the plan
FIN: the fixed vertical part of the tail
FIREWALL: the hard wooden former at the front of the

fuselage, to which the engine is mounted

FORMER: a piece which shapes the fuselage; and to

which the sides of the fuselage are attached.

GUSSET: a small triangular piece glued into a corner to

strengthen it

INCIDENCE: the angle of the wing or the tail in relation

to the thrustline

LAMINATE: to glue two thin sheets of material together

to form a thick sheet

LEADING EDGE (L.E.): the edge of the wing that first

meets the airflow

LONGERON: a stringer that runs the length of the fuse-

lage

OUTPUT ARM: the piece that attaches to the servo and

connects it to the pushrod

PITCH: an up and down movement of the nose of the

plane, which is controlled by the elevator

POLYHEDRAL: a wing with more than one upward angle
PROTOTYPE: the full scale airplane from which the

model design was taken

PUSHROD: the long, stiff dowel or plastic piece that con-

nects the servo with the control horn

RTF: Ready to Fly
RIB: the airfoil-shaped piece that connects the leading

edge, spars and trailing edge of the wing together
and holds them in shape

GLOSSARY OF MODELING TERMS

RETRACTS: devices for extending and retracting the

wheels on command

ROLL: tilting of the plane as viewed from the front, con-

trolled by the ailerons

RUDDER: the moveable vertical tail of the plane, which

controls yaw

RX: radio receiver, the portion of the radio located

inside the fuselage

SERVO: the part of the airborne radio system that

moves the control surfaces

SHEAR WEB: wood sheeting that connects the top and

bottom spars to stiffen the wing

SHIM: a thin piece of wood inserted between two other

pieces to improve their fit

SPAR: a wooden stick running lengthwise through the

wing that serves as its backbone

SPINNER: the rounded cone that fits over the propeller

hub

STABILIZER (STAB): the fixed horizontal part of the tail
STALL: a situation in which the plane is flying too slow-

ly to move sufficient air across the wing to produce
lift

STRINGER: a long piece of wood attached to the form-

ers to shape the fuselage

THRUSTLINE: a line drawn from the center of the pro-

peller hub straight through the airplane

TORQUE: a rolling tendency caused by the spinning

propeller

TRAILING EDGE (T.E.): the edge of the wing that faces

the rear of the plane

TRAVEL: the movement of the control surfaces (rudder,

elevator, aileron) from side to side or up and down

TRIM: small adjustments made to the control surfaces

to cause the plane to fly straight and level by itself

TX: radio transmitter, the part of the radio system that is

held by the pilot and which sends signals to the
model

WASHIN: a twist in the wing tip that makes the trailing

edge lower than normal

WASHOUT: a twist in the wingtip that makes the trail-

ing edge higher than normal

WING SADDLE: the shaped part of the fuselage in

which the wing rests

WHEEL COLLAR: a metal ring that holds the wheel on

the axle

YAW: a right-to-left movement of the nose, controlled by

the rudder

8

TAIL CONSTRUCTION

1.  Collect the following items.

(4) 3/16 x 3/8 x21” BALSA PT. #4853
(1) 1-3/4 SQ. x 21” BALSA PT. #4696
(3) 5/64 X 3/16 X 24” BALSA PT. #4698
(1) 1/2” SQ. x 8-1/4” BALSA PT. #4701
(1) D/C SHEET 4006 BALSA PT. #3606

containing:
Stab center platform
Stab leading edge joiner
Wing and tail gussets
Stab tips

Dorsal fin
(1) CENTERLINE MARKER PT. #1425
(7) SMALL FLEX-POINT HINGE PT. #1448

2.  Lay the horizontal stabilizer portion of the plan
over the building board and cover with waxed
paper.

 Buidling over the plan, carefully cut two 3/16 X

3/8” balsa sticks to form the stabilizer leading
edge. Make sure to exactly match the plan from
the center mark to the tips.

IMPORTANT! SAVE SCRAP MATERIAL FOR USE IN
CONSTRUCTING THE FUSELAGE.

 Pin the pieces in position and glue at the cen-

ter joint.

3.  Continue building the stab outline, pinning and
gluing the stab tips, the L.E. joiner, the center
platform, and additional 3/16 x 3/8” balsa sticks
in place as shown above.

4.  Still working over the plan, and using the tech-
nique shown above, cut 5/64 x 3/16” balsa
sticks to form stab trussing. Trim carefully to
size, so that each truss fits in place without
forcing. SAVE THE SCRAP MATERIAL!

 When satisfied with the fit, glue in place.

5.  Glue the gussets in place and allow the entire
stab to dry thoroughly.

6.  Referring to the plan, mark the hinge locations
on the top of the trailing edge with a soft pen­cil.

 Using 3 or 4 drops of Super Jet™, tack-cement

the elevator to the stab.

 Carefully transfer the hinge location marks

onto the elevator.

7.  Again working over the plan, assemble the fin
and rudder in the same manner as the stabiliz­er.

NOTE: Since the rudder trailing edge. is tapered, it

should be shimmed with 1/16” balsa scrap
before gluing, so that it will be level.

STAB TIPS WING & TAIL GUSSETS

STAB
CENTER
PLATFORM

DORSAL
FIN

STAB L.E. JOINER FIN BOTTOM

GUSSET

9

9.  Tack cement the rudder to the fin and then

transfer the hinge locations onto the rudder. Do
not sand.

10.  Referring to the plan, flat sand the fin/rudder
assembly and the stab/elevator assembly,
rounding all outer edges except the bottom and
lower 2” of the fin leading edge. Take care not
to sand away the hinge locations.

 Sand the elevator tips to blend with the stab.

 Holding the CGM centerline marker at an angle,

so that the pegs touch the wood, lightly pass the
marker back and forth so that the point scribes
a line, marking the hinge locations on the fin and
the stab.

 Again using the centerline marker, mark a cen-

terline along the entire leading edge of both the
elevator and the rudder.

12.  Using an awl or similar tool, make a pilot hole at
the hinge locations on the fin and the stab.

 Move the stab T.E. close to the edge of the table

and, using 1/16” scrap ply as a shim, make sure
the T.E. is level and steady.

 Carefully drill 1/16” holes for the hinges, as

shown above.

8.  Referring to the plan, mark the hinge locations
on the fin T.E.

 After gluing the fin and rudder pieces, allow to

dry before continuing.

11.  Carefully separate the stab from the elevator
and the fin from the rudder. Gently sand to
remove any rough spots from tack-cementing.

10

TILT CENTERLINE
MARKER SO PEGS
TOUCH

SCRAP PLY END VIEW

THROUGH STAB

KEEP FLAT ON SHIM

13.  Next, cut 45º slots on each side of each hole to
accommodate the hinge webs.

NOTE: The CGM hinge slotting kit (Item # 600) is handy

for this process.

14.  Move the elevator close to the edge of the table
and support the thin edge with wing rib scrap, as
shown.

 Carefully cut hinge slots, as, at the proper loca-

tions.

15.  Repeat the slotting method for the fin and rud-
der.

16.  Referring to the above diagrams, assemble the
beveling tool. First glue the narrow strip to the
handle, taking care to keep it square. Then glue
the wide strip to the handle and the narrow strip.

 When the glue has dried, cut a strip of 100-200

grit sandpaper to size and tack-cement the
sandpaper to the tool, as shown.

17.  Tape the T.E. of the elevator to the work surface.
Using the beveling tool, sand the L.E. to the
centerline. Then turn the parts over and bevel
the other side.

 Repeat this process for the rudder. When fin-

ished the pieces should look like the drawing
below.

THIS COMPLETES THE TAIL CONSTRUCTION.
PUT THE PIECES ASIDE UNTIL THEY ARE NEED­ED LATER.

BEVELING­COMPLETED

11

SCRAP PLY WING SHIM

END VIEW THOUGH ELEVATOR

WING CONSTRUCTION

IMPORTANT: YOU WILL BE BUILDING A RIGHT AND THEN A LEFT
WING. FOLLOW THE STEPS CAREFULLY TO AVOID CONFUSION.

1.  Collect the following items:

(2) D/C SHT. 4001 5/64” Balsa PT. #3601

Contains: WING RIBS

(2) D/C SHT. 4002 5/64” Balsa PT. #3602

Contains: WING RIBS
(1) D/C SHT. 4006 WING GUSSETS PT. #3606
(1) D/C SHT. 4008 1/16” Ply PT. #3608

Contains: POLYHEDRALJOINERS
(1) D/C SHT. 4009 1/8” Ply PT. #3609

Contains: WING CENTER JOINERS
(1) D/C SHT. 4010 Balsa PT. #3610
(2) D/C SHT. 4012 1/16” Balsa PT. #3612

Contains: WING SHEETING
(2) D/C SHT. 4013 1/16” Balsa PT. #3613

Contains: WING SHEETING
(2) D/C SHT. 4014 Ply PT. #3614

Gauges & clamps
(4) BALSA SHEET 1/16x3x12” PT. #4600
(2) INBOARD T.E.LONG PT. #4688
(2) OUTBOARD T.E.SHORT PT. #4689
(2) INBOARD L.E. LONG PT. #4690
(2) OUTBOARD L.E. SHORT PT. #4691
(2) INBOARD MAIN SPAR Bass PT. #4692
(2) OUTBOARD MAIN SPAR PT. #4694
(2) INBOARD REAR SPAR Bass PT. #4855
(2) OUTBOARD REAR SPAR balsa PT. #4874
(1) 3/4 X 38” NYLON FABRIC PT. #9524
(1) 1 x 6” ALUMINUM STRIP PT. #1390

2.  Working over the RIGHT INBOARD PANEL of
the plan, place a 1/4” x 13/32” basswood spar
main spar so that the spar end is aligned with
the wing center on the plan.

NOTE: If building the second half of the wing, you

will be working over the LEFT INBOARD
PANEL. DO NOT BUILD TWO RIGHT
WINGS!

 Hold the spar in place by cross-pinning

between the ribs shown on the plan.

 Position the rear spar on the plan.

12

D/C SHT. 4001

D/C SHT. 4002

D/C SHT. 4010

D/C SHT. 4006

D/C SHT. 4014

D/C SHT. 4012

D/C SHT. 4008

D/C SHT. 4013

D/C SHT. 4009

4.  Position the wing leading edge (L.E.) in place
over the plan and pin.

 Secure the ends of both spars with pins, as

shown.

5.  Remove the two #5 ribs nearest the wing cen-
ter.

 Glue all remaining #5 ribs, as shown on the

plan.

IMPORTANT! IF BUILDING THE LEFT WING, PRO­CEED DIRECTLY TO STEP 10.

6.  Noting that the rear spar joiner has a tapered

end, fit the front and rear spar joiners into posi­tion as shown.

 Glue the joiners to the spars and, referring to

the plan, hold in place with the gauges. Allow
to dry.

7.  Taking care to make sure that the grain of the
sheeting will run parrallel to the spars, L.E. and
T.E., cu t t hree 3-1/4” pieces from a 1/16 x 3 x
24” balsa sheet.

8.  Slide one piece of sheeting forward until it just
touches the L.E. Gently holding the sheet in
position, mark the spar location on both of the
rear corners of the sheet.

3.  Align the notches in the wing trailing edge (T.E)
with those shown on the plan.

 Using no glue, position the four #5 ribs as

shown above. Hook each rib over the main
spar and then over the rear spar, as you go.

MARK MARK

13

NOTCHED END

MATCH WING GAUGE
POSITIONS TO PLAN

NO NOTCH

REAR SPAR
JOINER HAS
TAPERED ENDS.

DO NOT
GLUE THESE
RIBS

WOOD GRAIN MUST BE PARALLEL TO SPARS, L.E. AND T.E.

11.  Using no glue, set ribs #7, 9,12, and 15 in their
respective T.E. notches, hooking them over the
spars as you go.

 Making sure the T.E. and the ribs are correctly

aligned over the plan, pin in place.

 Glue the ribs to the spars and the T.E.

12.  Pin the outboard L.E. in place and glue it to the
ribs.

13.  One at a time, position and then glue the
remaining ribs # 8 through #14 in place. Let dry
thoroughly.

NOTE: IF YOU ARE CONSTRUCTING A ONE­PIECE WING, CONTINUE AT STEP 14. IF YOU
WISH TO BE ABLE TO REMOVE THE WING TIP,
REFER TO THE FOLLOWING OPTIONAL
INSTRUCTIONS.

 Remove the sheet from the wing and, using a

metal straight edge, carefully trim the sheeting
so that, when the piece is laid flat, it just fits
between the L.E. and the spar.

 Following the same procedure, trim and fit two

more sheeting pieces for the bottom center
section.

 Fit the first sheeting piece between the spars

and, holding it flat to the building board, Super
Jet the edges to the spars.

 Install the other two sheeting pieces in the

same manner.

9.  Position ribs #2, 3, and 4, making sure to align
the rib fronts over the front guide lines on the
plan.

 When satisfied with the alignment, glue to the

L.E., the bottom sheeting, the spars, and the
T.E.

10.  Pin the outboard main spar in place over the
plan. Then set the rear spar and the T.E. in
place.

IMPORTANT! The outboard T.E. has no notch at one
end. This unnotched end must be at the polyhedral
joint, as shown.

14

DO NOT GLUE
IN THIS AREA

POLYHEDRAL
JOINT

NOTCHED
END

REMOVABLE TIP OPTION

NOTE: The materials needed to make the wing tip
removable are NOT INCLUDED in your kit.
Necessary templates for this option are found in
the upper right corner of the wing half of the plan.

Follow these steps ONLY IF YOU WANT TO BE
ABLE TO REMOVE THE WING TIPS. Otherwise,
continue at Step 14.

A.  Collect the following items:

1/8” x 3” x 18” HARD BALSA SHEET
3/32” x 12” MUSIC WIRE
3/32 I.D. x 6” BRASS TUBE
3/34” VINYL ELECTRICAL TAPE

B.  Make a sanding block from 1/8” scrap plywood,

using the SANDING ANGLE TEMPLATE from
the plan. Make sure to establish tthe proper
sanding block angle, as show above.

C.  From the 1/8” hard balsa sheet, cut four NEW

#6 ribs. DO NOT USE THE #6 die cut ribs that
are included with your kit.

D.  Remove the pins from the inboard panel and

use the sanding block to gently sand the poly­hedral ends of the spars, the L.E., and the T.E.
to insure uniform vertical surfaces.

E.  Referring to Step 14 for correct use of the die-

cut wing gauges, raise the inboard wing panel,
as shown.

F.  Position the 3/32 x 3” wire on the back of the

spars, as shown.

 Referring to the TIP OPTION on the plan, care-

fully groove the spars for the wire and for the
brass tube.

G.  Tack-glue the WIRE to the OUTBOARD SPAR

and the BRASS TUBE to the INBROARD
SPAR.

 Plug the wing panels together and make cer-

tain the wing structures butt evenly at the poly­hedral joint. If adjustments are needed, take
the panels apart and rework the grooves slight­ly.

 When satisfied with the fit of the joint, glue the

metal parts in place.

H.  With the wing panels plugged together, posi-

tion the new #6 ribs at the polyhedral joint. The
ribs should be tilted slightly toward the out­board panel, so that they match the spar angle.

 TAKING CARE TO NOT GLUE THE WING

PANELS TOGETHER, carefully glue the ribs to
their respective wing panels.

I.  Unplug the wing panels. Then, working on first

the inboard panel and then the outboard panel,
wrap a about 2” of 3/4” wide nylon fabric
(included in your kit) around each of the spars
to secure the wire and brass tubing.

 Saturate the nylon fabric with Super Jet or Jet

Epoxy, to create a sturdy bond.

J.  Add gussets (D/C Sht. 4006) at the L.E. and

T.E., as shown above.

NOTE: This completes the removable tip option con­struction for the first wing half. When working on the
second wing half, you again will follow the above
instructions. After the wing parts are covered, the
removable panels are fastened to the inboard wing
sections using vinyl electrical tape. This tape holds
firmly, yet can be removed without damaging the cov­ering material.

NOW PROCEED DIRECTLY TO STEP 19.

15

SANDING
BLOCK

SANDING
ANGLE TEM­PLATE

POSITION & GLUE
SCRAP PLY TO BACK SO
THAT FRON MATCHES
WITH TEMPLATE.

3/32” I.D. TUBE 3/32” WIRE

WRAP NYLON AROUND SPARS,

TUBES, AND WIRES

19.  Set the outboard L.E. sheeting in place, aligning
the inboard edge of the sheet with the joint
between rib #6 and the #6a doubler. When cor­rectly positioned, tape the sheeting to the L.E.

 Lift the sheeting, as shown, and apply Super

Jet™ along the top of each rib where it will
contact the sheeting.

 Fold the sheeting back down over the ribs and

hold in place until dry.

 Apply a bead of glue to the L.E./sheeting joint,

in the areas between the tape. Allow to dry.

HINT: Using Jet Set™ accelerant speeds this (and

many other) gluing processes.

 When the joint is firm, remove the tape and

apply glue to the remaining unglued areas of
the joint.

If this is your first wing half, set it aside and begin
building the left half of the wing.

MAKE SURE YOU WORK OVER THE LEFT

WING
PORTION OF THE PLAN. DO ONLY STEPS 1
THROUGH 5 AND 10 THROUGH 19 FOR THE LEFT
INBOARD PANEL.

When both halves are complete to this point, con­tinue with Step 20.

14.  With the outboard panel still pinned down, raise

the inboard panel and support it with the wing
dihedral gauges under the first rib #5 location, as
shown on the plan.

IMPORTANT: The end of the gauge stamped “A” must
be up. Hold the gauges firmly in place by tack-cement­ing, clothespins, etc.

 Carefully inspect the panel joint to make sure all

of the end pieces of the inboard panel fit tightly
to those of the outboard panel. If one part pro­trudes too much, sand slightly for a better fit.
WARNING: always sand just a little at a time

, so
that you do not remove too much wood. You may
find it helpful to use the sanding tool described in
the removable tip option.

15.  TEMPORARILY install the diihedral joiners on
each side of the spars. Use die-cut clampls to
hold in place.

 When satisfied with the fit of the inboard and out-

board panels, pin in place, as shown above.

16.  Remove the dihedral joiners and apply a liberal
bead of Super Jet to all joints of the L.E., spars,
and T.E.

 Quickly apply glue to the joiners and immediate-

ly reinstall. Use the clamps again to hold both
joiners tight to the spars. Allow to dry.

17.  Lay out two #6 ribs, and two doublers, as shown.

 Glue rib doubler #6a to each rib, taking care to

make on left and one right rib.

18.  Position rib #6 so that it aligns with the joints in
the L.E., the spars, and the T.E. Make sure that
the doubler is facing out, toward the outboard
pannel. When satisfied with the fit, glue in place.

 Referring to the plan for location, glue gussets to

rib #6, the L.E., and the T.E.

16

20.  Trim off excess spar material extending beyond

the #15 ribs (wing tip ribs)

21.  Glue trip strip to the #15 ribs, as shown.

 Carve and sand balsa tri-strips, so that they

match the top contour of the wing tip ribs.

22.  Still working over the plan, pin down the left
inboard panel.

 Slide the right inboard panel up tight next to the

left inboard panel, engaging the joiners with the
spars, as shown above.

23.  Raise up the right inboard panel, supporting it
with the dihedral gauges at the oute

rmost rib

#5 position.

IMPORTANT! The ends stamped “B” must be up.

 Examine the center joint for good fit and align-

ment of the L.E., the spars, the joiners, and the
T.E. Adjust as necessary, sanding slightly to
make the pieces fit together.

 Temporarily install the clamps to hold the join-

ers tight on the spars.

 When satisfied with the fit, pin the wings togeth-

er.

24.  Remove the clamps and insert pins between
the spars and the joiners.

 Apply Super Jet™ between the parts and then

remove the pins, allowing the pieces to come
back together. Immediately replace the clamps
to hold the joiners tight on the spars. Let dry
thoroughly.

17

 When the L.E. sheeting is dry, install the die-

cut, tapered center sheeting.

 From plain 1/16 x3 x 12” balsa, cut and fit the

remaining rear sheeting piece.

 Remove all pins and gauges and complete the

sheeting of the right wing.

28.  Using 240 grit (fine) sandpaper, flat sand the
entire wing to blend the surfaces and remove
high spots. Take care not to sand too much, or
the sheeting will be thin and weak.

 Cut the 1 x6” aluminum strip into two 3” pieces

and sand lightly for better glue adherence.

 Apply a bead of Super Jet™ to one half of one

of the aluminum pieces and glue it to the bottom
of the wing, as shown above.

 When dry, apply glue to the other half of the

strip and wrap it around the T.E.

 Repeat this procedure for the other aluminum

piece.

IMPORTANT!

The following procedure must be done in a

WELL-VENTILATED AREA.

25.  When the glue has dried, remove all clamps

from the spars.

 Cut three 3-1/4” pieces of bottom sheeting from

the remainder of the 1/16” balsa sheeting.

 Trim to fit between the spars, just as was done

in Step 7. When satisfied with the fit, glue in
place.

 Glue the L.E., the bottom sheets, and the T.E.

together at the center joint.

26.  Glue the remaining ribs #2, #3, and #4 in place.

 Glue together two #1 ribs to make a single, dou-

ble-thickness rib.

 Position this doubled #1 rib at the center joint,

making sure it aligns with the spar center joint,
the L.E., the bottom sheeting, and the T.E. Glue
in place.

NOTE: Make sure all joints are well-glued before com­pleting the center sheeting.

27.  Following the same procedure used in Step 19,
install the inboard L.E. sheeting.

18

ALUMINUM
SHEET

GLUE ALL JOINTS
BEFORE COMPLETE­ING SHEETING

29.  Cut a piece of 3/4” wide nylon long enough to
wrap completely around the wing with a small
overlap.

 Apply a spot of Super Jet™ on the wing bottom

at the center joint.

 Immediately stick one end of the nylon strip to

the wing and let dry until it is firmly glued to the
balsa.

 Before continueing, protect fingers with a plas-

tic bag or plastic wrap.

 Starting with the bottom of the wing, apply a

squiggle of glue along the wing joint and lay the
nylon strip over it.

 Rub the glue thoroughly into the nylon strip.

 Continue applying the nylon strip around the

L.E., across the top of the wing, around the
T.E., and finally overlapping where you started
on the wing bottom.

 Unless you have made the removable wing tip

option, repeat the above procedure, installing
nylon fabric at the polyhedral sheeting joints.

THIS COMPLETES THE WING ASSEMBLY. SET
ASIDE UNTIL IT IS TIME TO COVER.

19

FUSELAGE CONTRUCTION

1.  Collect the following parts:

(2) D/C SHT. 4003 Fuse Side PT. #3603
(2) D/C SHT. 4004 Fuse Doubler PT. #3604
(1) D/C SHT. 4005 Fuse Top PT. #3605
(1) D.C SHT. 4006 Dorsal Fin PT. #3606
(1) D/C SHT. 4007 Fuse Bottom PT. #3607
(1) D/C SHT. 4008 Ply PT. #3608
Containing:

Former “A”, Rear
Motor Mount, Polyhedral Joiners

(1) D/C SHT. 4011 Ply PT. #3611

Containing: Fuse bottom front,
Battery hatch, Hatch doubler, Hatch

tongue, Former “C” doubler
(2) D/C SHT. 4013 PT. #3613
(2) DOWEL 3/16x3-7/8” PT. #1748
(2) PUSHROD 1/4x1/4x17-7/8” PT. #4699
(2) HATCH RAIL 1/8x1/8x7-3/8” PT. #4875
(1) FLAT HOLD DOWN PT. #1434
(1) #2x3/16” PAN HEAD SCREW PT. #1085
(1) MOTOR MOUNT PT. #1665
(2) 10” THREADED ROD PT. #1272
(1) CLEAR CANOPY PT. #1628
(1) #2 x 3/16” SHOULDER SCREW PT. #1105

 Remove the die cut fuse parts and lightly sand

any rough edges.

 Place the fuse section of the plan over the

building board and protect with waxed paper.

2.  Match the beveled corner edges of the hatch
tongue with the hatch corner. Note the vent
hole positions.

 When aligned, glue the tongue to the hatch.

3.  Butt the fuse front bottom sheet against the
hatch and center it by aligning the die-marked
lines with the hatch sides, as shown.

 Carefully glue the fuse tongue to the fuse bot-

tom sheet. DO NOT GLUE TO HATCH PARTS!
Allow to dry.

20

FRONT BOTTOM FUSE
SHEET TONGUE

MATCH
TONGUE
CORNERS

D/C SHT. 4003

D/C SHT. 4007

D/C SHT. 4004

D/C SHT. 4008

D/C SHT. 4011

D/C SHT. 4005

D/C SHT. 4013

D/C SHT. 4006

HATCH MARKS

 When dry, gently slide the hatch away from the

fuse bottom sheet.

4.  Position 1/8” square x 7-3/8” bass rails behind
the hatch tongue and flush with the hatch sides.
Glue in place.

 Positiion the 1/16” ply doubler at the end of the

hatch, as shown. Glue in place.

5.  From 3/16 x 3/8” scrap material (from stab), cut
and glue a strip to match the top of Former “B”.

 From 5/64 x 3/16” scrap (stab trussing materi-

al), cut and glue a strip to match the bottom of
Former “B”.

 Using additional 5/64 x 3/16” material, cut and

glue strips to match the tops and bottoms of
Former “C” and Former “D”, as shown above.

 Turn For m er “C” over and glue the die-cut

(D/C Sht. 4011) 1/16” ply doubler flush with the
bottom edge.

6.  Lay out the fuselage, as shown, so that there
is a left and a right side.

 Temporarily position the front and rear dou-

blers on each fuse side to check for fit.

 Making sure all holes are aligned and edges

are flush, glue the front doublers to the fuse
sides.

 Next, glue the rear doublers in place.

7.  Place the doubled fuse sides over the side
view on the plan and mark the location of
Former “D.”

8.  Using no glue, place the fuse sides together
and loosely rubberband the two pieces togeth­er at the tail. Make sure “V” cuts are facing in.

21

FLUSH

FLUSH

FLUSH

LEAVE STRIP TOPS STRAIGHT.

D/C PLY DOUBLER

ALIGN
HOLES

DOUBLER

V-CUTS FACE IN

10.  With the die-cut slot on the left side (as the pilot
faces the front) of the model, and engaging the
fuse notches with the sheeting taps, position the
top sheeting on the fuse. Glue in place.

 Position the stab platform at the rear of the fuse,

between the fuse sides. Glue in place.

 When the entire fuse assembly is completely dry,

remove all pins.

11.  Apply a piece of electrical tape along the die-cut
centerline of the wing platform. Bend gently
along the centerline, until the wing platform
matches the dihedral angle on the top of
Formers “B” and “C.”

 Position the wing platform between the fuse

sides and glue in place. Remove tape and apply
glue to the center area.

12.  Take Former “A” and, ONLY IF USING A
GEARED MOTOR, remove the lower portion of
the cut-out. Refer to plan.

 Position the former with the side stamped “R”

facing forward on the right side of the model, as
shown.

 Glue Former “A” in place and allow to dry.

 Spread the fuse front apart and, with the dou-

bler strips facing toward the front of the
model, plug Former “B” into the holes in the
fuse sides.

 Now, with the doubler strips facing thr rear of

the plane, insert Former “C”.

NOTE: The v-cut tops of the formers face in toward

each other.

9.  Working over the plan, pin the balsa bottom
rear sheet in position.

 Spread the fuse sides slightly apart and posi-

tion them over the rear bottom sheet, taking
care to engage the notches in the fuse sides
with the tabs in the bottom sheet. Remove the
rubber band on the tail.

 Hold the sides in place on the bottom sheet by

pinning from the outside. Apply pins only in the
area 2” behind Former “C” to the rear of the the
fuse.

 Remove the pins on the inside (holding down

the fuse bottom).

 Insert Former “D” at locations previously

marked on fuse sides.

 Thoroughly glue all of the joints attaching

Formers “B”, “C”, and “D” to the fuse bottom
and to the fuse sides. Allow to dry.

22

STAB
PLATFORM

POSITION SLOT
ON LEFT SIDE

APPLY GLUE ONLY IN THIS
AREA

REMOVE FOR GEARED MOTOS ONLY

13.  Turn the fuse over and position the 1/16” ply
front bottom sheet on the fuse sides, behind
Former “A.”

 Tape the sheet in position and then glue the

joints. When dry, remove the tape and apply
the glue to the taped areas.

14.  Referring to the plan, spread the fuse sides
slightly and insert the motor mount support into
the notches. IMPORTANT! The side stamped
“R” must be positioned on the right side of the
model.

 Glue the motor mount support in place.

 Then, insert and glue the two Former “A” dou-

blers in place behind Former “A.”

16.  Place the battery hatch in the fuse bottom and
position a nylon flat hold-down at the centerline
of the fuse. The open-hole half of the fastener
should rest on the battery hatch and the close­hole half on the fuse rear bottom sheet.

 Mark the fastener hole locations with a pencil.

 Using a 1/16” drill bit, first install the hold-down

on the fuse bottom sheet with a #2 x 3/16”
sheet metal screw.

 Install the #2x 3/16” shoulder screw with

enough of the unthreaded shaft exposed to
engage the fastener. Test for fit.

15.  Position the plastic motor mount so that
approximately 1-1/2” protrudes in from of
Former “A.”

 Using either Super Jet™ or Jet Epoxy, glue to

Former “A” and the rear motor mount. Allow to
dry.

NOTE: The motor mount is offset to compensate for
motor torque and to help the plane fly straight.

17.  Temporarily install the wing dowels in the fuse.

 Rubberband the wing onto the fuse, making sure

it is centered and level.

 Trial fit the stab in place, determining whether or

not it sits level with respect to the wing.

 If necessary, sand the stab platform to provide a

good, level fit for the stab. DO NOT ALTER THE

DIE-CUT ANGLE OF THE FUSE SIDES!

 Center the stab on the fuse. Measure from the

stab leading edge to the front of the fuse to make
sure the stab is exactly centered.

 When satisfied with the fit, pin in place.

18.  Glue the dorsal fin to the main fin. When dry,
carefully trim off the die-cut bumps.

 Trial fit the fin assembly onto the stab. DO NOT

GLUE. Sand as necessary to obtain a good fit.

23

1-1/2”

FOR GEARED
MOTORS USE
LOWER SLOT

R TOWARD
RIGHT

LEVEL STAB WITH RESPECT TO WING

EQUAL DISTANCE
FROM STAB TIP TO
NOSE

DORSAL FIN

 As was done with the threaded wires, bend

down one end of each 4” wire.

 Again, make a recess in the wood and drill a

hole at the end of the recess to accept the
hooked end of the wire.

 Attach each wire to the other end of each balsa

pushrod and secure, as before.

23.  Remove the canopy from its vac-formed sheet-
ing by carefully cutting along the trim lines, as
shown above.

THIS COMPLETE THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE
FUSELAGE. IT IS NOW TIME TO TAKE ALL OF THE
MODEL COMPONENTS AND COVER THEM.

19.  Take one of the two 10” threaded rods and
mark 7-1/4” from the threaded end. Cut at the
mark.

 Take the other threaded rod and cut to a length

of 4-1/4”.

 On each of the rods, bend the cut down about

1/4”, as shown.

20.  Using the threaded end of one of the rods, file
a slight recess 1” long at one end of each 1/4”
sq. x 17-7/8” balsa pushrod.

 Drill a 1/16” diameter x 1/4” deep hole at the

end of the recess in both pushrods.

 Glue the threaded rods into the balsa pushrods,

as shown.

 When the assembly is dry, taper (by sanding)

and round the balsa ends of each pushrod
where it meets the threaded rod.

 Bind the rod/balsa joint with strong thread, coat

with Super Jet™, and allow to dry.

21.  Referring to the full-size drawings on the plan.
take the shorter (rudder) pushrod with the 7”
wire attached and trim the balsa end so that the
entire balsa piece measures 12”.

 Place the threaded wire over the fuse side

drawing on the plan and bend the wire to match
the plan.

NOTE: Leave the balsa on the other pushrod at its orig­inal length, approximately 17-7/8”.

22.  Take the 1/16 x 12” unthreaded wire rod and cut
into two 4” pieces. Save the scrap wire for the
radio installation.

24

FIRST REMOVE SIDE &
BOTTOM SCRAP

SECOND, CUT HERE.

THEN, CAREFULLY
TRIM AS SHOWN.

COVERING

INTRODUCTION

There are several ways to cover the frame of a model
airplane. Years ago, the open framework of most air­planes was covered with a combination of tissue (or
silk) and dope; the solid structures were painted.
Today, most models are covered with polyester films
that resemble either a painted finish or a fabric finish.
These films are easy to apply and actually increase the
strength of the aircraft. The following instructions
describe the general procedure for covering a model.
However, it is important to carefully read the instruc­tions that come with the film, as different products are
applied in somewhat different ways.

PREPARATION

Any irregularities in the wood surface will show on the
covering, so a good covering job MUST be preceded
by careful sanding, filling of nicks and dents (we rec­ommend JET Model Mate™ balsa filler), and then more
sanding. For the final sanding, use fine sandpaper
(240-320 grade) and a sanding block.

COVERING THE MODEL

IMPORTANT: Before starting, it's a good idea to do a

lay out of the covering pieces you will need to cut from
the covering rolls, so that you make efficient use of
your material. You can draw patterns on UltraCote's
paper backing. BE SURE TO LEAVE EXTRA MATE-
RIAL (1½" to several inches) around all pieces, so you
will have plenty of covering to go around the edges of
each section.

Generally, one first covers the wing, then the tail, and
finally the fuselage. Other small parts (such as the
hatch) are covered separately.

Set the covering iron to the proper temperature. Test
it by laying a small strip of covering over a scrap piece
of balsa and firmly pressing with the iron. Make sure
the iron is hot enough to activate the adhesive, but not
so hot that it burns the covering.

COVERING THE WING

Using a fresh model knife blade or razor blade, cut a
piece of covering material at least 1" larger than one­half of the inboard wing bottom panel.

Remove the protective backing paper and lay the cov­ering over the bottom of the wing, making sure there
is enough excess material for wrap-around at the L.E.,
T.E., and wing tip.

HINT: Leave a minimum of 3" excess at the wing
tip.

25

Work from the center out and tack to the ribs, sheeting,
and other wood surfaces, using medium heat. Gently
rub the covering with a soft cloth to help set it in place.

Press the covering around the edges, again rubbing
with a cloth and making sure to apply enough pressure
to work the adhesive into the wood.

For inside corners, follow the instruction that come with
your covering, as different materials may require slight­ly different techniques.

Using your iron (or a special covering "heat gun,") set
at relatively high heat, shrink the covering tight. Neatly
trim off any surplus.

Following the same procedure, cover the remainder of
the wing bottom and then cover the wing top. Be sure
to overlap all seams at least ¼". Remember that there
must be sufficient overlap to allow for the shrinkage
when high heat is applied.

TRUING THE WING

IMPORTANT: After the wing has been covered, you
must check to make sure it is free of warps. This is a
very critical step and should not be rushed or omit­ted.

To detect warp,.set each section of the wing on a flat
surface and make certain the panel sits flat. To count­er any warp, twist panel slightly in the direction oppo­site to the warp and hold this position while gliding the
iron over the covering to re-tension the structure.
Repeat process until the panel is true. NOTE: The wing

tip will rise up about 1/4 from the flat surface.

COVERING THE FUSELAGE

For added realism, the cabin interior may be painted
now, before the pieces are covered. Use UltraPaint™
or even auto primer.

Cut pieces of covering for the fuse bottom, sides, and
top. Again, make sure the pieces are large enough to
allow for overlap.

COVERING THE TAIL

Cover all tail components (the stabilizer, the elevator,
the fin, and the rudder), following the same procedure
as with the wing. The component pieces should each
be covered separately, before assembly. Then, the
covering should be carefully removed from the areas
to be glued, so that a strong WOOD-SURFACE-TO­WOOD-SURFACE adhesion is achieved.

IMPORTANT: Once the tail sections have been cov­ered, and while the hinge locations are still fresh in
your memory, IMMEDIATELY slit the covering to open
up the hinge slots. (Refer to the plan for help in locat­ing the hinge slots.)

After locating and opening the hinge slots, insert and
glue a hinge into each of the stab slots. Let the glue
wick into the slots and allow to dry. Then, attach the
elevators by inserting the other half of each hinge into
the elevator slots. Again, glue and allow to dry.
Repeat this procedure to attach the rudder to the fin.

When the glue has dried, firmly pull at each hinge loca­tion to make sure the bond is secure. FAILURE TO
FIRMLY INSTALL HINGES CAN LEAD TO LOSS OF
CONTROLL AND A CRASH. Periodically check con­trol surfaces to make sure the bond has not weakened.

26

1/4” WASHOUT

POLYHEDRAL JOINT

Apply covering to the solid bottom pieces, wrapping
and sealing around the edges. If necessary, slit the
corners for a smooth appearance.Apply covering to
the sides next, and then to the top. Make sure to over­lap seams at least ¼”, so that when high heat is
applied, the shrinking will not create a gap.

Cover the hatch bottom, carefully sealing around the
edges. Trim the covering even with the hatch bottom
and remove the covering from the ventilation holes.

When covering the top of the fuse, do not cover the
stap platform, as proper installation of the stab requires
a wood-to-wood bond.

To minimize abrasion in landing, triple-cover the under­side of the fuse from the nose to about 6” back.

Finally, it’s a very good idea to permanently affix your
name, address, phone number, AMA number and the
word “REWARD” on your aircraft. Then, if your model
should fly away for any reason, you’ll have a chance
of getiing it back.

Clean the model surfaces thoroughly before applying
decals.

Cut the decal sheet into sections, as needed. Fold the
decal in half, front to rear. Then open at the fold and
lay the decal out flat. The protective backing will bub­ble away from the decal at the fold location.Using a
scissors, cut the backing along the bubble, removing
about a 1” wide strip of backing. Carefully position the
decal on the model and, working from the center out,
rub the decal down while peeling off the backing.

APPLYING DECALS

FINAL ASSEMBLY

1.  Gather the various covered elements of the

model, as well as the wing dowels and, if you
choose, any materials for the landing wheel
option.

2.  Position the wing dowels so that they protrude
equally out of both sides of the fuse. Glue in
place and allow to dry.

3.  Using #64 rubber bands (at least 6 on each
side of the fuse), mount the wing onto the fuse.

square with the fuse.

 Using a piece of striping tape or a marking pen,

mark both the wing and the fuse with matching
line-up points, so that you will know where to
set the wing.

4.  Measure carefully from the fuse sides to the
polyhedral breaks (“A” arrows), making sure
the wing is centered.

 Next, measure from the polyhedral joints to the

back end of the fuse, making sure the wing is

5.  Using no glue, trial fit the stab in place, adjust-
ing as necessary to line it up with the wing.

 Measure from the stab tips to the fuse front

(“C” lines) to make sure the stab is square with
the fuse.

 As was done with the wing, mark match-up

lines on the fuse and stab. Draw a line from the
stab L.E. marks to the stab T.E. marks.

27

8.  Trial fit the fin in place on the fuse/stab assem-

bly.

 Use a 90º triangle to make sure the fin is per-

pendicular to the stab.

 Strip covering from the areas of contact on

both the stab top and the fin bottom. Agaiin, be
certain to leave about 1/8” of covering in the
area of contact.

 When satisfied that the fin and stab are

square, glue in place with JET 6 Epoxy™ or
Slow Jet™.

9.  From the 4” piece of tri-stock balsa, cut two 2”
pieces.

 Round the ends by sanding lightly to improve

fit.

 Position the tri-stock at the fin/stab joint and

trace the outline. Remove the covering inside
the trace line.

 Glue both pieces in place on either side of the

fin.

10.  Remove the wing and cut away the covering
over the hole on the left side of the fuse top.
This slot is for the rudder pushrod exit.

 Glue a pushrod exit guide in the slot.

LANDING WHEEL OPTION

NOTE: The materials needed for the landing wheel
option are NOT INCLUDED in your kit. Refer to the
inside cover of this manual for materials needed.

Follow these steps ONLY if you want to install a
landing wheel in your models. Otherwise, contin­ue with information on your Turbo 550 motor.

1.  Referring to the fuse side view on the plan for

location, drill a 3/32” dia. hole straight up
through the fuse bottom into the center of the
plastic motor mount.

2.  Using 3/32” wire, shape the landing gear by
bending over the plan drawing.

3.  Using two 1/2” landing gear straps to secure
the wire, install the gear as shown.

4.  Install a 1-1/2” wheel, using 3/32” wheel col-
lars.

6.  Taking care to avoid cutting the wood

underneath, strip away the covering in the

area of the stab that contacts the fuse. Be cer­tain to leave at least 1/8” to 3/16” of covering
firmly bonded to the stab center.

 Again making sure not to cut the wood below,

remove covering on the fuse top in the area
where the stab will sit.

7.  Using Slow Jet™ or JET 6 Epoxy™, firmly glue
the stab in place on the fuse and allow to dry
thoroughly.

28

1-1/2”
WHEEL

3/32” WHEEL
COLLAR
CGM ITEM #163

DRILL STRAIGHT UP

1/2” NYLON LAND­ING GEAR STRAPS
CGM ITEM #156

MOTOR INSTALLATION

IMPORTANT!

PLEASE READ THIS SECTION BEFORE BEGIN­NING MOTOR & RADIO INSTALLATION.

FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE PRECAUTIONS
CAN LEAD TO SERIOUS PERSONAL INJURY TO
YOURSELF OR OTHERS, AND CAN RESULT IN
PROPERTY DAMAGE.

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS:

WHEN OPERATING THE MOTOR:

z ALWAYS wear eye protection!
z KEEP AWAY from spectators!
z KEEP AWAY FROM CHILDREN. DO NOT

allow children to operate without adult supervi­sion.

z PROPELLER must be properly installed to pre-

vent excessive RPMs.

z MOTOR BATTERY SHOULD BE DISCON-

NECTED except when ready to fly or when
necessary for checking electrial operation and
maintenance.

z OPERATE MOTOR ONLY WITH PROPELLER

INSTALLED.

BATTERY HAZARD!

The battery size used to power the Electra motor
stores a lot of electrical energy. Be careful to prevent
shorting it out. A dead short can cause a powerful
surge of electrical current which can ruin your battery
and generate enough heat to start a fire. It can also
cause burns to you and others.

The motor/battery system used to power the Electra is
very powerful. To avoid injury, always disconnect and
remove the motor battery when you are not flying the
airplane.

PROPELLER HAZARD!

When switched on, the motor instantly reaches full
power and maximum propeller RPM. An electric motor
pulls more battery energy as its work load is increased.
This means, for example, that if the prop hits your
hand, it not only smacks you at high speed, it also
draws more battery power to overcome the added
load. Therefore, the impact force and injury are
increased. It is extremely important that you are aware
of these dangers and take precautions to prevent acci­dentally switching on the motor. This is especially
important while working on the model or when storing
it. Always remove the battery when storing the model
and make sure it is kept away from children and any­one else who is not familiar with its safe operation.

REMEMBER: ALWAYS DISCONNECT AND
REMOVE BATTERY WHEN WORKING ON THE
MODEL, TRANSPORTING, OR STORING IT. DO
NOT LEAVE THE BATTERY CONNECTED EXCEPT
WHEN FLYING!

The Carl Goldberg TURBO 550 motor system is
designed with a safety fuse to protect the system from
excessive motor loads. During motor operation, if the
propeller should hit an object, the sudden surge of bat­tery current will blow the fuse and prevent motor/bat­tery burn out or other damage. Use only a 15 or 20
AMPfuse to connect the fuse terminals. DO NOT BY-
PASS THE FUSE or directly connect the terminals
together. If using another brand of motor, make sure it
is equipped with a fuse. If it isn’t, ask your hobby deal­er how to install one. DO NOT OPERATE YOUR

ELECTRA MOTOR SYSTEM WITHOUT A FUSE!

Operate motor ONLY with propeller securely installed.
Without propeller, the motor may “over-rev” and be
permanently damaged.

29

NOTE: When handling the motor and switch harness,

try to avoid bending the wires near the soldered con­nections. If handled carelessly, these joints can be bro­ken.

The following instructions are for installing the Turbo
550 motor. If using another motor, you may need to
modify the installation according to the motor manu­facturer’s instructions.

IF USING A 2-CHANNEL INSTALLATION, PRO­CEED TO STEP 4 and return to the fuselage side
view on the plan for switch location..

1.  For a 3-channel installation, remove the lock

washer and nut from the top of the switch and
insert the ply mounting plate, as shown.

2.  Locate switch mount just forward of former “B”
and about 1/2” below the top edge of the fuse
side. Refer to the top and side views on the
plan.

NOTE: The motor switch body must be turned, so the
switching action aligns with the pushrod from the motor
servo.

 When satisfied with the position, glue the

switch mount to the fuse side and former “B”.

4.  Insert the motor through from the rear of
Former “A”, so that the motor front protrudes
about 1-3/4” out from the front of the fuse. Hold
the motor in its mount, using rubber bands.

For 2-channel only, drill or cut a 1/4” dia. hole
through the fuse side and mount the switch.

5.  Using a scissors, carefully remove excess

plastic from the base of the cowl.

 Using a sharp hobby knife, rather than the scis-

sors, cut motor and vent holes. Do not try to
“force” the knife, since it could slip and damage
either the part or you. Instead, make a series
of light cuts, each a little deeper than the last.

6.  Referring to the fuse side view on the plan for
the location of the screws, mark the location of
the screws and drill four 1/16” holes through
the cowl.

 Set the canopy in place on the fuse and then

position the cowl over the fuse front and the
canopy.

 When satisfied with the fit, screw the cowl in

place.

6.  Thread a #4 socket set screw in the prop
mount and turn a few times.

 Open the spinner supplied by carefully insert-

ing a small screwdriver straight into each of the
slots. DO NOT TWIST! JUST PRY OPEN.

NOTE: Carefully read the instructions included with

your spinner. Rehydrating of the plastic will
make it easier to open and close the spinner .

 When the spinner backplate has been

removed, place it on the propeller mount.

FUSE TOP VIEW

3.  Using a 7/64” drill, enlarge the nylon bracket to

fit snugly on the switch. You may need a mod­eling knife to make the hole slightly larger than
7/64”.

 With the bracket flange parllel to the switching

action, glue the bracket to the switch.

30

#4 SET SCRES

LARGE WASHER

7.  Place the propeller on top of the backplate so
that it lines up with the pin, as shown above.

 Place a large washer on top of the prop and

then install, using a #4 x 1/2” machine screw.
CAUTION: DO NOT OVER-TIGHTEN, as this
may cause the threads to strip out.

8.  Align the spinner cone with the prop/backplate
and press pins firmly into the holes. One way

to do this is to have the cone pointing down­ward on a table and press until all pins are
seated.

 Install the prop/spinner assembly on the motor

shaft and securely tighten the set screw with a
.050 Allen wrench.

9.  Align the cowl behind the spinner/backplate
assembly, allowing about 1/8” clearance.

 Holding the cowl in this position, install #2 x

3/8” sheet metal screws at the cowl mounting
holes.

 When finished, remove screws and apply a few

drops of Super Jet™ to “harden” the threaded
wood holes. Open the holes with a pin before
the glue dries.

WARNING: A SPINNING PROPELLER CAN CAUSE
INJURY. WEAR SAFETY GLASSES AND OPERATE
AWAY FROM SPECTATORS.

31

PIN

DO NOT OVERTIGHTEN

ALLEN
WRENCH

IMPORTANT! Installation of the Turbo 550 motor and
a typical radio system is described in this booklet.
Depending on the equipment you are using, you may
not be able to follow exactly these instructions. Follow
the installation instructions included with your equip­ment or seek help from your local hobby dealer.

Before beginning, make sure that each of the following
items have been completed:

1. Model is fully covered and painted, if required.

2. All control surfaces are hinged in place.

3. The tail assembly is glued solidly to the fuse.

4. The stab and rudder pushrods are complete.

CONTROL HORN INSTALLATION

1.  Refer to the fuse side view on the plan to deter-

mine the location of the rudder control horn.

 Tack-glue the control horn on the correct side

of the rudder.

 Drill through the holes in the control horn and

then mount the nut plate on the other side of
the rudder, using 2-56 x 1/2” machine screws.
Trim the screws flush with the nut plate.

2.  Again referriing to the plan, and following the

TYPICAL RADIO EQUIPMENT LOCATION

RADIO INSTALLATION

same general procedures, determine the loca­tion for the elevator control horn and mount it
in place.

PUSHROD INSTALLATION

1.  Take a 2-foot piece of string and tape it to the

17” elevator pushrod at both ends. This string
will be used later to help thread the antenna
through the fuse.

2.  Starting in the radio compartment, insert the
threaded-rod end of the pushrod through the
fuselage to the rear opening. Allow approxi­mately 2” of wire to stick out.

3.  Holding the pushrod wire with a pliers, twist a
mini-snap onto the threaded rod, so that the
rod can be seen in the center of the snap link.

4.  Connect the mini-snap to the elevator control
horn.

5.  Install the rudder pushrod in the same manner.

6.  Tape the front ends of the rudder and elevator

pushrods near the battery hatch opening, so
that they will be out of the way.

32

CONTROL
HORNS

MINI-SNAPS
(CLEVISES)

ELEVATOR
PUSHROD

RUDDER

PUSHROD
RADIO
BATERY
PACK

RECEIVER

(RX)
ON/OF
SWITCH.

MOTOR
SERVO

ELEVATOR
SERVO

RUDDER
SERVO

1.  Insert the soft rubber grommets into the mount-
ing holes of your servos.

2.  Measure from the bottom of your servo to the
underside of a grommet. Add about 1/8” to this
measurement to get the total distance between
the wing platform and the servo rail.

 Referring to the plan, glue the rear rail against

Former “C”, at the predetermined height.

 Place a servo on the rear rail and determine

the location of the front rail. Be sure to allow
enough clearance to allow easy insertion and
removal of both servos.

 Glue the front servo rail in place.

3.  Place both the rudder servo and the elevator
servo in position on the servo rails. The eleva­tor servo goes on the right (as viewed from the
pilot’s seat) and the rudder servo goes on the
left. There should be approximately 1/4”
between them.

 Mark through the grommets for the location of

the servo mounting screws. Remove the ser­vos.

 Using a 1/16” drill bit, drill holes through the

rails for the screws.

4.  Referring to the plan, and using #2 x 3/8” sheet
metal screws, install the rudder servo on the
left and the elevator servo on the right.

 Untape the pushrod wires and attach each of

them to the corresponding servo, as shown.

2.  Remove the servo wheel and install the CGM
pushrod connector, as shown. This device lets
you easily adjust the motor pushrod movement.

 Remount the servo wheel with the pushrod con-

nector in the approximate position shown on the
fuse top view on the plan.

3.  From 1/16” scrap wire, cut a 2-1/8” length.

 Make a 1/4” bend at the end. Roughen the

unbent end with sandpaper.

 Slip the Snap-R-Keeper on the wire with the

clips toward the bend.

MOTOR SERVO INSTALLATION (3-CHANNEL)

1.  Referring to the plan for proper location, insert

the motor servo onto the fuse side with servo
mounting tape.

ELEVATOR AND RUDDER SERVO INSTALLATION

4.  Position a CGM snap nut about 1” onto the

straight end of the wire.

 Insert the wire through the pushrod connector

and add a second snap nut. (Trim the snap
nuts if they rub against the servo wheel.)

5.  Attach the bent end of the wire to the motor
switch bracket and secure by sliding the Snap
R Keeper clips over the bend.

 Move the pushrod back and forth to simulate

servo action. Feel the OFF and ON switch lim­its. Later, when setting controls, be sure to
adjust the snap nuts within the range of switch
movement.

INVERTED FUSE

33

BATTERY PACK INSTALLATION

1.  You must have fully charged nicads for flying.

2.  Wrap the battery in 1/2” very soft foam rubber

to cushion it from vibration and shock. Use
rubber bands or tape to hold the foam around
the battery.

3.  Position the battery in the fuse and hold it in
place with scrap 1/8” plywood , as shown on
the plan.

RADIO SWITCH AND CHARGING JACK
INSTALLATION

1.  Position the radio switch (and optional charg-

ing jack) cover plates on the outside of the
fuse.

NOTE: In a 3-channel system installation, position

these plates on the side opposite the motor
servo.

 Insert a pencil through the holes in the cover

plates, to mark the location of all holes and
openings.

2.  Cut the necessary holes in the fuse side, mak-
ing sure the opening for the switch button is
long enough to allow the button to move to the
ON and OFF positions.

3.  Referring to your radio equipment instructions,
install the switch and the charging jack in the
side of the fuse. Since the Electra is frequently
hand-launched, we prefer to install the switch
with the ON position toward the rear of the
model.

 Later, when the radio is operational, identify

the ON and OFF positions with the decals pro­vided.

RECEIVER (Rx) INSTALLATION

NOTE: Do not cut, shorten or store inside the fuse-

lage the antenna wire attached to the
receiver. This will greatly reduce the range
of the radio.

1.  Connect all servo wires to the receiver, so that

the radio system is operational. Be sure that
each servo is plugged into its respective Rx
terminal.

2.  Wrap the Rx in foam, as was done for the bat-
tery. Again, keep the Rx firmly in position with
scrap plywood.

3.  Temporarily tape the antenna wire to the string
that was previously threaded through the fuse­lage. Then, use the string to gently pull the
antenna out the rear opening of the fuse.

4.  Gather together all excess lengths of servo
wires and tape down.

5.  Apply ON/OFF decals to the outside of the
fuse at the switch location.

1.  First read and follow the instructions that came
with your radio. The above sketches illustrate
the basic configuration of most transmitters.

 Move the transmitter controls and observe

which servo wheels move when the stick is
moved for various controls.

2.  Apply tape (which can be written upon) to each
servo and identify each for its control function:
“R” for rudder, “E” for elevator, etc. Mark the
plug for each servo the same way. If your Rx
does not have separate plugs for each servo,
but instead has places for the servos to plug
in, apply the tape mark nearby.

NOTE: As mentioned earlier in this book, radios with
the “servo reversing” feature greatly simplifies radio
installation because they allow the pushrods to be
hooked up to either side of the servo’s output wheel.
Then, after checking the control response, a servo
responding in the wrong direction is easily switched to
correct the action (see radio manufacturer’s instruc­tions for me detail).

3.  Push the transmitter motor lever up away from
you and observe where the motor servo wheel
should connect to the motor pushrod to move
the motor switch to the ON position. Mark this
on the servo wheel and then return the motor
lever to the full down (OFF) position.

Study the diagrams below to gain an understanding of
the various Tx functions and the effects they have on
the aircraft.

2-CHANNEL

2 STICKS CONTROL

2 SERVOS

3-CHANNEL

1 STICK AND 1 SLID­ING TAB OR BUTTON
CONTROL 3 SERVOS

4-CHANNEL (OR MORE)

2 STICKS WHICH MAY
BE USED TO CONTROL
3 OR MORE SERVOS

SERVO MOVEMENTS

34

SETTING CONTROL SURFACES

All pushrods must move freely, without binding. Adjust
them, if necessary, for smooth operation. When set­ting the travel (movement of rudder or elevator), make
certain that no servo is hooked to a pushrod in a man­ner that prevents the servo wheel from moving through
its full range of motion. For example, if the servo
motor “buzzes,” when moved to the ON position, the
servo still has movement, but it is jammed against the
limit position. This can damage the servo and drain
the battery, leading to loss of control and a crash.

1.  With the elevator trim tab on the Tx set in the
center, or neutral, position, screw the mini­snap on the elevator pushrod until the top of
the elevator is level with the top of the stab, as
shown above.

 Move the elevator stick on the Tx full up. This

should cause the elevator to move down about
5/16”.

 Now move the elevator Tx stick full down. This

should cause the elevator to move up about
5/16”. If adjustment is needed move the snap
link toward the bottom of the control horn for
more “throw.”

2.  With the rudder trim tab in the center position,
adjust the mini-snap on the rudder pushrod
until the rudder aligns perfectly with the fin.

 Move the rudder stick full right. The rudder

should move about 1” to the right.

 Move the rudder stick full left. The rudder

should move about 1” to the left.

THIS COMPLETES THE INSTALLATION OF THE
RADIO SYSTEM.

BALANCING THE MODEL

IMPORTANT: NEVER NEGLECT THIS STEP WITH
ANY AIRPLANE. If you try to fly a plane with the bal-

ance point outside of the recommended range, you run
the risk of having an unstable aircraft and the strong
likelihood of a crash. TAKE THE TIME TO PROPER-

LY BALANCE YOUR MODEL!

1.  Referring to the fuse plan, side view, carefully
measure and mark the center of gravity (CG)
randge on the fuse sides.

 Next, mark the desired CG on the underside of

the wing.

2.  Place the fully assembled aircraft, with all
equipment installed, on a model balancing
stand, as shown above. You can make this
simple set-up with a couple of ¼" dowels with
rounded tops, spaced just far enough apart to
clear the fuselage.. Alternatively, lift the model
under the wing near the fuse by your finger
tips. (You may wish to get help from a friend if
using the latter method.

3.  Move the position of the plane on the balance
stand until the model is level.

4.  If the plane cannot be balanced with the stand
supports inside the marked CG range, remove
the wing and move some of the R/C equipment
away from the heavy end of the model.

 Replace the complete model on the stand to

see if the model is now balanced in the correct
CG range.

5.  If shifting the R/C gear still doesn’t balance the
model, add weight (available from your local
hobby dealer) to the far end of the nose or tail,
until the plane is properly balanced. The least
weight is needed when added as far forward or
back as possible. Fasten the weight perma­nently in place.

DO NOT attempt to fly the model with the CG EVEN
SLIGHTL

Y OUTSIDE of the recommended position.

35

MOTOR & BATTERY MAINTENANCE & CHARGING

IMPORTANT! THIS SECTION CONTAINS MATERI­AL ESSENTIAL TO YOUR SAFETY AND THE MAX­IMUM PERFORMANCE OF YOUR ELECTRA!

Please take the time to read this section very careful­ly. If you don’t understand, read again or get help from
an experienced electric pilot.

The Turbo 550 is a special motor designed for electric
plane use on 6-cell 1200 MAH nicad battery packs.
This battery is commonly used with 1/10 scale “off
road” electric cars and is therefore readily available. 7­cell batteries also may be used and give a better climb
rate, but this will produce a shorter engine run and the
motor will run hotter. See figure A below.

MOTOR

The motor is ready-to-use;just install as shown and be
sure there is enough ventilation around the motor for
adequate cooling. After a few flights, you should notice
a small increase in power, as the motor “breaks in.”
You may also wish to experiment with other propellers,
but we recommend you stay in the 8-4 size range.

BATTERY

This section is particularly important! One way to

think of a battery charging is to imagine the battery as
a bucket and electricity as water. What you are trying
to do is to fill up the bucket (battery), but not overfill it.

At the very quick charge rate that is common with
today’s field chargers, there is little room for error.
When you over-charge a battery, the temperature rises
quickly and there is potential for EXPLOSION, or at
least battery damage (Figure B). There are numerous
ways to prevent this. How you charge depends on the
type of charger you use.

IMPORTANT! ALWAYS ALLOW THE BATTERY TO
COOL BEFORE CHARGING.

TYPES OF CHARGERS

Basic Charger with a Timer. To prevent an over-

charge, you must know how full the battery is. A new
or nearly empty battery should receive a full charge,
per the instructions that come with the battery. This is
usually about 15-minute charge (at 4.5 AMPS, if you
have an ammeter.)

During the last 5 minutes, lightly and carefully touch
the battery several times (ever minute or so). If it is
slightly warm, that is OK. If it is hot to the touch, that
signals that it is overcharged. STOP CHARGING
IMMEDIATELY! Allow the battery to cool to room tem­perature (usually 15-20 minutes) before using.

If you don’t know how full your battery is, set your timer
for no more than 5 minutes and monitor the tempera­ture by lightly touching the battery every 1-2 minutes.
When the temperature starts to rise, the battery is fully
charged. Stop immediately (Figure C).

If you have a digital volt meter, it can be very useful in
detecting when the battery reaches a full charge. As
the battery fills, the voltage goes up. When it’s fully
charged, the voltage will stop rising and in a minute or
two, as the battery temperature rises, the voltage will
drop slightly. As soon as it drops, stop charging. This
is an excellent way to get maximum batter perform­ance. (Figure D.)

FIG. A

FIG. B

FIG. C

FIG. D

36

Automatic Chargers. DELTA or PEAK DETECTION

CHARGERS are excellent methods of charging a bat­tery, as one simply connects the charger, pushes the
start button, and waits. Within approximately 15-30
minutes, the battery may be disconnected and used.
It is still a good idea to monitor the battery temperature
(by lightly touching) every minute or so after 10 min­utes of charging. If you suspect the battery is over­charging, STOP IMMEDIATELY!

TEMPERATURE SENSITIVE (THERMAL)CHARG­ERS also work well, although they are more expensive
the other charges described. The thermal charger
charges a battery pack in approximately 15-20 and it
doesn’t matter how full the pack is charging begins.
This charger “senses” when the bateery temperature
signals a full charge and automatically stops charging.
However, the battery must be absolutely cool when
charging begins, or the charger will cut off premature­ly.

Follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully
when using any type of charger.

BATTERY EQUALIZATION

Any battery that hasn’t been used for a week or more
should be equalized for best performance. This is
done by charging the battery for 10-20 minutes at the
indicated rate and then giving the battery a trickle
charge for three to four hours. Refer to the charger
instructions for the recommended trickle charge tech­nique. Equalizing the battery will asssure top perform­ance every time.

HOW MANY BATTERIES ARE NEEDED?

To get in the most flying at each session, we suggest
you purchase three battery packs. While one pack is
cooling and waiting to be charged, a second pack can
be on the charger, and the third pack can be in the
plane and ready to fly. With only one battery pack,
there may be up to a 40-minute wait between flights.

“TREAT YOUR RADIO RIGHT AND IT WILL DO

THE SAME FOR YOU!” by Hal deBolt

Today's RC systems are very well engineered and
constructed. However, they will remain only as good
as the way in which they are USED. Always follow the
rules of proper usage and all manufacturer's instruc­tions for your particular piece of equipment.

TRANSMITTERS: Keep your transmitter clean and
free from fuel residue and dirt. Battery condition and
RF output should be monitored, and the system
should be aligned and tuned annually. Do not trans­port under vibration (such as on the floor of a car) with­out cushioning.

RECEIVERS: Receivers must be vibration free. When
installing in the aircraft, wrap them in a minimum of ¼"
soft foam rubber (not plastic foam). Keep well clear of
all cables and batteries. Tune annually (or as recom­mended by the manufacturer), as indicated below
under "Check-Ups."

SERVOS: Servos are vibration prone. Be sure to
mount them with grommet shock mounts in servo trays
which are also shock mounted. Also be sure to keep
them clean. If the neutral position "drifts," this is a sign
of change which should not be ignored; find out WHY
before flying again.

BATTERIES: Nicads also can suffer from vibration, so
they too should be wrapped in soft foam rubber before
installing. Check their condition periodically by meas­uring the voltage with a volt meter or battery tester.
Charge the batteries before EVERY flying session.
When not used for a period of time (such as during the
winter months) the batteries should be charged every
30 days. Never store batteries in a discharged condi­tion.

PUSHRODS: Obviously, pushrods should be installed
to operate freely, so that they place no load on the
servo. Using a servo's power to move a tight rod or
heavy surface by force increases the battery drain,
shortens the electronic life, and can cause neutralizing
problems. In addition, it is important the pushrods do
not flex or vibrate. Any vibration is transferred directly
to the servo, and its gear, motor, and pot. To avoid flex­ing and vibration, use guides and fairleads on the rods.

CONNECTORS: In using connectors, never pull on
the wires to disconnect; grasp the plugs instead.
Clean them by dunking in a solvent, such as dope thin­ner. Tape the connectors together when installing and
make sure there is no strain on the cables.

CHECK-UPS: A full check-up by the factory or an
authorized service center should be done AT LEAST
ONCE A YEAR, as well as any time something unusu­al occurs during usage. A malfunction or "glitch" is the
first sign of an impending failure; it should not be
ignored. The checkup should include tuning and align­ment of the system, as well as battery testing.

37

FLYING THE ELECTRA

LEARNING TO FLY

Flying R/C is both fun and challenging. As with other
portions of this book, the following section is meant to
introduce you to the basics. Read carefully before tak­ing your model out to the field and attempting first
flights. And remember, becoming an R/C pilot takes
time and patience, but the rewards are well worth the
effort.

Equipment Checklist

 Flight batteries, fully charged
 Extra battery packs
 Radio transmitter
 Battery charger
 Tools for tightening any parts that can vibrate

and loosen

 Extra #64 rubber bands
 Extra props and an extra spinner
 Prop wrench
 Bottle of Super Jet™

CGM SUPERTOTE

CHECK YOUR EQUIPMENT

Prior to going to the flying field, with radio batteries
fully charged, turn on both receiver (Rx) and transmit­ter (Tx) and actuate all controls many times until you
are satisfied with all functions.

Before beginning each day's flying,

make a range
check of your equipment in accordance with the man­ufacturer's instructions. In general, with transmitter
antenna collapsed to 6"-8", you should have an at
least 100 foot range on the ground. To check this, turn
on both the transmitter and the receiver switches, set
the model heading away from you, and walk away
while transmitting signals to move the control surfaces.
Watch to see that no signals are missed until you are
at least 100 feet away. Only if the equipment works
perfectly should any flights be attempted. Again, be

careful to not use your transmitter when anyone
else at the field is flying or testing on the same fre­quency!

After the range check, stand behind the model and
make sure the control responses are correct. Moving
the control stick to the right should give right rudder
(on a 3-channel set-up) . Moving the stick back or
down on the Tx should move the elevator up, and vice
versa.

Finally, make sure that everything on your aircraft is
neatly and firmly in place-motor fastened down, servos
snugged down, receiver and battery wrapped in foam
rubber, etc. Prop and spinner must be tight. The
receiver antenna must be extended, not coiled up
inside the model. Nothing should be loose, or unfin­ished, or unchecked.

With everything ready, the motor should be started for
a short time. While the motor is running, make sure the
control surfaces do not jitter or move until you com­mand them and that the motor switch also responds
properly to your command.

With transmitter and receiver switched on, hand launch
the model directly into the wind. Gently correct the
flight path as necessary. If any adjustments are need­ed to maintain straight and level flight, get experienced
help to move the clevises.

In flight control. most of the beginner's trouble comes
from over-controlling or holding a signal too long. It is
better to operate your transmitter slowly and smoothly.

A troublesome tendency is letting the model get down­wind. New flyers should try to keep the model upwind
at all times prior to the landing approach.

If you are a novice, seek the help of an experienced
flyer. Do not hesitate to ask one of the better flyers at
the field for help. Usually, they are glad to spend a lit­tle time to get somebody started right, and they very
likely were helped in the same manner themselves.

WHERE TO FLY

Fly only in areas sanctioned for R/C and known to be
free of radio interference. Ask your hobby dealer or
other modelers if there is an R/C flying field that is used
by a local R/C club. This is the ideal place to fly. If you
don't know of an R/C club nearby, contact the Academy
of Model Aeronautics (AMA), at the address on the
front of this booklet, for information on a club in your
area. Remember: R/C flying fields need to have rules
to help prevent accidents, so ask about them before
you turn on any of your equipment! DO NOT TEST

your transmitter in the parking lot or anywhere
nearby until you are sure no one else is using your
radio frequency. This could cause another flyer to
crash and make you very unpopular!

If there is no club or other R/C flying site available,
locate a square area (preferably a grassy field), at least
four or five football fields long, which is free of
power lines, trees, poles, houses, busy streets and
other obstructions. It must be at least three miles away
from any areas where other R/C models, such as
boats or cars, are operated. It should also have a rel­atively smooth surface, as it will take practice to learn
precision landings. If you find a suitable location, turn
your receiver on for 2 or 3 minutes to check that no one
in the vicinity is operating an R/C device which could
affect your receiver and cause your plane to crash.

38

The Electra was designed for long, slow, relaxed flying

- not loops or similar aerobatic maneuvers. Save that
kind of lying for your next, higher performance sport
plane. Practicing precise control and glide planning on
the Electra is good preparation for the demands of
advanced aerobatic flying.

We recommend you use 3 channels, as this will allow
you to cut power whenever you wish to do so. On your
first few flights, after a couple of minutes, you may feel
you have "had enough" and want to land and relax. A
2-channel system without motor control will not give
you this option; you will have to keep flying until the
battery power runs down.

You can expect a good solid 4 or 5 minutes of powered
flight with a properly charged battery. In this amount of
time, Electra will gain several hundred feet of altitude
and will allow you time to get oriented and familiar with
the control "feel." When the battery power begins to
run out, climb will slow down and the model will begin
a slow descent. You should continue flying your same
flying pattern as the model slowly glides.

For your initial landings, you should not be concerned
about trying to land at a specific spot. Your prime con­cern should be a controlled landing, always into the

wind, with wing level. With practice, you will be able to
plan your approaches to land just about where you
want.

The Electra must be hand launched. This is easy to do,
but must be done carefully to avoid damaging the
model. It is best to launch over some tall grass.
Facing INTO the wind, hold the transmitter in one
hand, the model in the other and raise it above your
head. The wings should be level and the nose point­ing straight ahead-not slightly up. Imagine that you are
gliding it towards a spot about 50 feet ahead. DO NOT
throw the model UP. It's a natural tendency, but it will
make the model stall (fall) and dive to the ground.

After checking all controls, seeing that the Tx trim tabs
are centered, and making sure the Tx meter registers
in the safe zone, turn on the motor and hand launch
the model into the wind. Immediately take the Tx in
both hands and, remembering to operate the controls
smoothly, begin to direct the model in a gentle climb.
Add slight back stick pressure, if necessary, to keep
the model from descending. Soon, when it is about
100 feet away from you, it will start to climb. Be patient;
let it climb slowly. If the climb is too steep, the model
will stall and fall to the ground. Avoid over-controlling.

CLIMB OUT. 1. During the climb out, just try to keep
the model flying into the wind with the wings level until
you reach an altitude of at least 150 feet.

STARTING THE PATTERN 2. At 150-200 feet of alti­tude, add just a touch of left or right stick pressure until
the model begins a very shallow turn in the direction
you want to go. 3. Try to maintain this shallow turn.
The wind will tend to blow your plane and the pattern
further downwind. Try to keep it flying upwind at all
times prior to your landing approach. It is more difficult

39

11

CLIMB OUT SHOWN HERE IS
EXAGGERATED. ACTUAL CLIMB
OUT IS QUITE SHALLOW.

22

33

DOWNWIND TURNS A LITTLE STEEPER

UPWIND TURNS SHALLOW

HAND LAUNCHING

to fly a model when it is downwind, and if a mistake is
made, the model will end up further downwind, making
it more difficult to fly back to the field. To compensate
for wind, continue to make upwind turns shallow, but
make the downwind turns a little steeper.

When the plane comes toward you, the steering will
seem reversed. When you give right rudder, the plane
turns to your left, but it is actually turning to its right.
With practice, you will soon get used to this. (It’s a
good idea to practice using the controls with the model
sitting on a table before you actually begin flying.)
Simply push the stick left or right towards whichever
way the ship is turning. A helpful technique is shown
in the above sketch. You may feel less disoriented and
better able to control the model by facing in the same
direction as the plane is flying and looking over your
shoulder.

LANDING

4. Continue your pattern and try to determine how

much longer the model will glide. Start planning for
the landing. With the power off, you will get used to the
model’s glide. 5. Try to plan your approach so that the
model is about 100 feet high and ready to complete
the downwind portion of your pattern. 6. Continue
making a shallow turn, bringing the plane around until
you have it pointed directly into the wind. Be patient
and keep your glide steady and gentle, with the wings
level. 7. A controlled landing into the wind is your
prime concern. Don’t worry about trying to land the

As you get used to the controls, you probably will
notice the model turning somewhat to the left or right,
or climbing or descending, without any stick pressure
on your part. These tendencies can be corrected in the
air by moving the trim tabs on the Tx. After landing, get
an experienced flier to help adjust the setting of the
rudder or elevator by adjusting the mini-snaps (clevis­es). If the wing or other structures have become
warped, it is best to discontinue flying and take the
model home to straighten it.

If flying with a 2-channel system, when the battery
begins to run out, the model will start a gradual
descent. If flying a 3-channel system, it’s good to have
a helper to let you know when you have been flying for
about four minutes. Then you can turn the motor off
and have about one or two minutes of battery power
left. If you are not happy with your first approach, you
will then be able to restart the motor and set up anoth­er pass.

model near you when you are first learning to fly. It is
better to walk a few blocks to recover a whole airplane
than to pick up pieces at your feet! Just before the
model is ready to touch down, you can add just a
touch of back stick pressure to “flare” the landing.
Retrieve your plane and switch off first the transmitter
and then the receiver.

Take things slow and easy and you’ll be able to enjoy
flying your Electra for years to come.

40

7

6

5

4