Great Planes GPMA1133 User Manual

INSTRUCTION MANUAL

™

Wingspan: 30 in [760mm]
Wing Area: 332 sq in [21.4 dm2]
Weight: 7.5 – 8.0 oz. [215 – 225g]
Wing Loading: 3.3 – 3.4 oz/sq ft [10 – 11 g/dm2]
Length: 22 in [545mm]
Radio: 3-Channel with two micro servos
Motor: RimFire™ 250 (28-13-1750kV),

WARRANTY

Great Planes® Model Manufacturing Co. guarantees this kit to

be free from defects in both material and workmanship at the date
of purchase. This warranty does not cover any component parts
damaged by use or modifi cation. In no case shall Great Planes’
liability exceed the original cost of the purchased kit. Further,
Great Planes reserves the right to change or modify this warranty
without notice.

In that Great Planes has no control over the fi nal assembly or
material used for fi nal assembly, no liability shall be assumed nor
accepted for any damage resulting from the use by the user of
the fi nal user-assembled product. By the act of using the user­assembled product, the user accepts all resulting liability.

If the buyer is not prepared to accept the liability associated
with the use of this product, the buyer is advised to return

7.4V (2S) LiPo 300mAh, SS-8 ESC

this kit immediately in new and unused condition to the place
of purchase.

To make a warranty claim send the defective part or item to Hobby
Services at the address below:

Hobby Services

3002 N. Apollo Dr., Suite 1

Champaign, IL 61822 USA

Include a letter stating your name, return shipping address, as
much contact information as possible (daytime telephone number,
fax number, e-mail address), a detailed description of the problem
and a photocopy of the purchase receipt. Upon receipt of the
package, the problem will be evaluated as quickly as possible.

READ THROUGH THIS MANUAL BEFORE STARTING CONSTRUCTION. IT CONTAINS IMPORTANT

INSTRUCTIONS AND WARNINGS CONCERNING THE ASSEMBLY AND USE OF THIS MODEL.

Entire Contents © Copyright 2008

Champaign, Illinois

[phone], Ext 5

[e-mail]

GPMA1133Mnl1.0

TABLE OF CONTENTS

AMA

INTRODUCTION ............................................................... 2

PRECAUTIONS ................................................................. 2

DECISIONS YOU MUST MAKE ........................................ 3

Motor, Battery, ESC Recommendations .................... 3

Radio Equipment ......................................................3

ADDITIONAL ITEMS REQUIRED .................................... 3

KIT INSPECTION .............................................................. 3

KIT CONTENTS ................................................................ 3

ASSEMBLY ....................................................................... 4

Join the Bottom Wing to the Fuselage ....................... 4

Join the Stab and Fin to the Fuselage ....................... 4

Hook up the Elevator and Rudder .............................. 6

Mount the Motor, ESC and Battery ............................ 6

Mount the Top Wing and Main Landing Gear ............. 7

Attach the Cowl and Add the Decals .........................8

OPTIONAL: Add the Flying Wires .............................. 9

GET THE MODEL READY TO FLY ................................. 10

Check the Control Directions ................................... 10

Set the Control Throws ............................................ 10

Balance the Model (C.G.).........................................11

PREFLIGHT .................................................................... 11

Charge the Batteries ................................................ 11

Balance Propellers ................................................... 11

MOTOR SAFETY PRECAUTIONS ...................Back Cover

FLYING ..............................................................Back Cover

Ground Check and Range Check ..............Back Cover

Flight ..........................................................Back Cover

If you are not already a member of the AMA, please join! The
AMA is the governing body of model aviation and membership
provides liability insurance coverage, protects modelers’ rights
and interests and is required to fl y at most R/C sites.

Academy of Model Aeronautics

5151 East Memorial Drive

Muncie, IN 47302

Tele: [phone]

Fax [phone]

Or via the Internet at:

http://www.modelaircraft.org

IMPORTANT!!! Two of the most important things you can do

to preserve the radio controlled aircraft hobby are to avoid
fl ying near full-scale aircraft and avoid fl ying near or over
groups of people.

PROTECT YOUR MODEL, YOURSELF

& OTHERS...FOLLOW THESE

IMPORTANT SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

1. Your Sopwith Pup should not be considered a toy, but rather
a sophisticated, working model that functions very much like a
full-size airplane. Because of its performance capabilities, the
Pup, if not assembled and operated correctly, could possibly
cause injury to yourself or spectators and damage to property.

INTRODUCTION

Thank you for purchasing the ElectriFly Sopwith Pup Slow
Flyer EP ARF. Obviously, the Pup was intended for indoor
fl ying, but is also fun to fl y outdoors on calm evenings or in
the morning when the winds are still calm.

For the latest technical updates or manual corrections
to the Sopwith Pup, visit the Great Planes web site at
www.greatplanes.com. Open the “Airplanes” link, then
select the ElectriFly Sopwith Pup ARF. If there is new technical
information or changes to this model a “tech notice” box will
appear in the upper left corner of the page.

2. You must assemble the model according to the instructions.
Do not alter or modify the model, as doing so may result in an
unsafe or unfl yable model. In a few cases the instructions may
differ slightly from the photos. In those instances the written
instructions should be considered as correct.

3. You must take time to build straight, true and strong.

4. You must use an R/C radio system that is in good condition,
a correctly sized engine, and other components as specifi ed
in this instruction manual. All components must be correctly
installed so that the model operates correctly on the ground
and in the air. You must check the operation of the model and
all components before every fl ight.

5. If you are not an experienced pilot or have not fl own
this type of model before, we recommend that you get the
assistance of an experienced pilot in your R/C club for
your fi rst fl ights. If you’re not a member of a club, your local
hobby shop has information about clubs in your area whose
membership includes experienced pilots.

6. While this kit has been fl ight tested to exceed normal use,
if the plane will be used for extremely high stress fl ying, such
as aggressive aerobatics, or if a motor larger than one in the
recommended range is used, the modeler is responsible
for taking steps to reinforce the high stress points and/or
substituting hardware more suitable for the increased stress.

2

We, as the kit manufacturer, provide you with a top quality,
thoroughly tested kit and instructions, but ultimately the
quality and fl yability of your fi nished model depends
on how you build it; therefore, we cannot in any way
guarantee the performance of your completed model,
and no representations are expressed or implied as to
the performance or safety of your completed model.

Remember: Take your time and follow the instructions to
end up with a well-built model that is straight and true.

Radio Equipment

The ElectriFly Sopwith Pup is designed to fl y on three
channels—elevator, rudder and throttle. Two ES40 Pico
Micro Servos (GPMM1200) are recommended and are
featured in this manual. A minimum 3-channel receiver is
also required.

ADDITIONAL ITEMS REQUIRED

DECISIONS YOU MUST MAKE

This is a partial list of items required to fi nish the Sopwith Pup
that may require planning or decision making before starting to
build. Order numbers are provided in parentheses.

Motor, Battery and ESC

Recommendations

The ElectriFly Sopwith Pup was designed to fl y with a RimFire
250 (28-13-1750kV) Outrunner Motor (GPMG4502)

powered by either a 7.4V (2S) 300mAh ElectriFly Power
Series LiPo Battery (GPMP0594) or a 7.4V (2S) 300mAh

ElectriFly Competition BP LiPo Battery (GPMP0700). The
Power Series battery will allow the Pup to fl y longer, but the
Competition BP is lighter weight and will provide more power.
An ElectriFly SS-8 8 Amp Brushless ESC (electronic speed
control) is also required (GPMM1800).

Finally, a suitable propeller such as a Great Planes 8 x 6
Power Flow Slo-Flyer Electric Propeller (GPMQ6610, qty.

2) will also be required.

In addition to common hobby tools, this is the list of additional
accessories and building supplies required to fi nish the Pup.
Order numbers are provided in parentheses.

❏ Medium foam-safe CA (GPMR6069)
❏ J&Z R/C-56 white glue (or any household white glue)
❏ Optional: Black thread or string for fl ying wires (see page 8)

KIT INSPECTION

Before starting to build, take an inventory of this kit to make
sure it is complete, and inspect the parts to make sure they
are of acceptable quality. If any parts are missing or are not of
acceptable quality, or if you need assistance with assembly,
contact Product Support.

Great Planes Product Support

3002 N Apollo Drive, Suite 1

Champaign, IL 61822

Telephone: [phone], ext. 5

Fax: [phone]

E-mail: [e-mail]

KIT CONTENTS

1

5

6

2 3

7

5

6

8

9

3

4

10 10

11

12

13

1. Cowl

2. Fuselage

3. Vertical Stabilizer

4. Horizontal Stabilizer

5. Struts (2)

6. Cabanes (2)

7. Pilot

8. Bottom Wing

9. Top Wing

10. Landing Gear Covers (2)

11. Landing Gear Wire

12. Wheels (2)

13. Wheel Covers (2)

ASSEMBLY

Join the Bottom Wing to the Fuselage

The bottom wing is done fi rst so it can be used as a reference
for aligning the horizontal stabilizer.

❏ 1. Use a sharp hobby knife to cut the skin from the top of

the bottom wing over the landing gear slots. Also cut the skin
from the slots near both ends of the wing for the struts.

❏ 2. Using a pin with a straightedge as a guide, perforate

the skin of the bottom wing between the outer strut slots
as shown, but don’t poke the holes all the way through to
the bottom. These perforations will strengthen the glue bond
between the struts and wing.

❏ 3. Test fi t the bottom wing to the fuselage. When satisfi ed

with the fi t, apply a generous bead of foam-safe CA to both
wing saddles on the fuselage, and then place the wing into
position. Also glue the leading and trailing edges of the wings
to the balsa formers.

Join the Stab and Fin to the Fuselage

❏ 1. Glue the vertical stabilizer (fi n) to the horizontal stabilizer

(stab) using a small builder’s square to make sure they are
perpendicular. Note: Don’t build up a large fi llet of CA. Later,
after the model has been completed, all of the glue joints
will be reinforced with white glue (such as R/C 56 or regular
white glue).

4