Great Planes GPMA1159 User Manual

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 modification. 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 final assembly or material used for final assembly, no liability shall be assumed nor
accepted for any damage resulting from the use by the user of the final user-assemb led product.By the act of using the user-assembled
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 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 WARNINGS
AND INSTRUCTIONS CONCERNING THE ASSEMBLY
AND USE OF THIS MODEL.

GPMZ0177 for GPMA1159 V1.0© Copyright 2005

Champaign, Illinois

[phone], Ext 5

[e-mail]

INSTRUCTION MANUAL

Wingspan: 32 in [810mm]
Wing Area: 190 sq in [12.3 dm2]
Weight: 16 oz [454g]
Wing Loading: 11 oz/ft2[34 g/dm2]
Length: 25 in [635mm]
Radio: 3 Channel w/ 2 micro (9g) servos and 10 Amp ESC
Power System: Included S280BB Motor with Gearbox

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

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS..................................................3

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

Required Radio Gear ...................................................3

Charger........................................................................3

Adhesives and Building Supplies.................................3

Optional Supplies and Tools ........................................4

IMPORTANT BUILDING NOTES.......................................4

COMMON ABBREVIATIONS............................................4

KIT INSPECTION...............................................................5

KIT CONTENTS .................................................................5

ORDERING REPLACEMENT PARTS...............................6

BUILDING INSTRUCTIONS..............................................7

Aileron Installation .......................................................7

Elevator Installation......................................................9

Motor Installation .......................................................10

Radio and Battery Installation....................................11

FINAL PREPARATIONS..................................................12

Propeller Installation ..................................................12

Main Wing Installation................................................12

Apply the Decals ........................................................13

GET THE MODEL READY TO FLY ................................13

Check the Control Directions.....................................13

Set the Control Throws..............................................13

Balance the Model (C.G.)..........................................13

Balance the Model Laterally......................................14

PREFLIGHT.....................................................................14

Identify Your Model.....................................................14

Charge the Batteries ..................................................14

Balance Propellers.....................................................14

Range Check.............................................................15

MOTOR SAFETY PRECAUTIONS..................................15

AMA SAFETY CODE ......................................................15

CHECK LIST ....................................................................15

FLYING.............................................................................16

Hand Launch .............................................................16

Flight..........................................................................16

Landing......................................................................16

Thank you for purchasing the Great Planes Hellcat Park
Flyer ARF! The Hellcat was one of the most important
aircraft to the US Navy during World War II. This fighter and
the F4U corsair became the most infamous pair among
Japanese pilots in the Pacific resulting in a ratio of kills to
losses of 11:1. Now you too can fly this outstanding heavy
fighter from the WWII era.

For the latest technical updates or manual corrections to the
Great Planes Hellcat Park Flyer ARF, visit the ElectriFly web
site at www.electrifly.com. Then, select the Great Planes
Hellcat Park Flyer 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

We urge you to join the AMA (Academy of Model Aeronautics)
and a local R/C club.The AMA is the governing body of model
aviation and membership is required to fly at AMA clubs.
Though joining the AMA provides many benefits, one of the
primary reasons to join is liability protection. Coverage is not
limited to flying at contests or on the club field. It even applies
to flying at public demonstrations and air shows. Failure to
comply with the Safety Code (excerpts printed in the back of
the manual) may endanger insurance coverage. Additionally,
training programs and instructors are available at AMA club
sites to help you get started the right way. There are over
2,500 AMA chartered clubs across the countr y. Contact the
AMA at the address or toll-free phone number below:

Academy of Model Aeronautics

5151 East Memorial Drive

Muncie, IN 47302-9252

Tele. [phone]

Fax [phone]

Or via the Internet at:

http://www.modelaircraft.org

IMPORTANT!!! T w o of the most important things you can do
to preserve the radio controlled aircraft hobby are to avoid
flying near full-scale aircraft and avoid flying near or over
groups of people.

AMA

INTRODUCTIONTABLE OF CONTENTS

2

1. Your Great Planes Hellcat Park Flyer ARF 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 Great Planes Hellcat Park Flyer
ARF, if not assembled and operated correctly, could possibly
cause injury to yourself or spectators and damage to property.

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 unflyable 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 first­class condition.

5.You must correctly install all R/C and other components so
that the model operates correctly on the ground and in the air .

6.You must check the operation of the model before every
flight to insure that all equipment is operating and that the
model has remained structurally sound. Be sure to check
clevises or other connectors often and replace them if they
show any signs of wear or fatigue.

7. If you are not an experienced pilot or have not flown this
type of model before, we recommend that you get the
assistance of an experienced pilot in your R/C club for your
first flights.If you’re not a member of a club, your local hobb y
shop has information about clubs in your area whose
membership includes experienced pilots.

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

❏ 3-Channel Radio system
❏ (2) S3103 Micro servos (FUTM0037)

or

❏ (2) S3108 Micro servos (FUTM0042)
❏ (1) 6” [152mm] Servo Extension (HCAM2000)
❏ R114F-FM72MHZ Low (FUTL0442) or High band

(FUTL0443) Receiver

❏ Low band short FM receiver crystal (FUTL62**) or

high band (FUTL63**)

❏ Flight battery, either the 2-Cell 1500mAh LiPo pack

from Great Planes (GPMP0830) or 8-cell 650mAh
NiMH pack (GPMP0106)

❏ 10 Amp ESC such as the Great Planes C-10

Electronic Speed Control (GPMM2010)

❏ Deans Male Ultra Plug (WSDM1302)

(needed only for use with LiPo Battery)

If using the 2-cell 1500mAh LiPo pac k, a charger capable of
charging 2-cell (7.4V) LiPo batteries such as the Electrifly
PolyCharge 1-3 cell LiPo charger (GPMM3010) must be
used. If using another charger, it must be a LiPo charger or
have a LiPo charging mode. Never charge LiPo batteries
with chargers not intended for LiPo batteries or chargers on
NiMH or NiCd settings. Overcharging or explosion may
result. In addition to the PolyCharge, the ElectriFly Triton

™

(GPMM3150) or Accu-Cycle Elite™(HCAP0280) are also
suitable chargers. The Triton and Accu-Cycle Elite are
suitable for charging NiMH and NiCd batteries used to fly
the Great Planes Hellcat Park Flyer ARF.

This is the list of Adhesives and Building Supplies that are
required to finish the Great Planes Hellcat Park Flyer ARF.
Due to the foam construction, only foam safe glues and epoxy
can be used for assembly. Regular CA is not recommended as
it will aggressively attack the foam parts used in this model. In
addition to being foam compatible, the foam-safe CA is also
suitable for gluing together all of the rest of the materials (balsa,
carbon, etc...) included in this ARF.

❏ 1oz Great Planes CA Medium Foam Safe (GPMR6069)

❏ 1oz Great Planes CA Thick Foam Safe (GPMR6072)

Adhesives and Building Supplies

Charger

Required Radio Gear

ADDITIONAL ITEMS REQUIRED

We, as the kit manuf acturer, provide you with a top quality ,
thoroughly tested kit and instructions, but ultimately the
quality and flyability of your finished 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.

PRO TECT YOUR MODEL,YOURSELF

& OTHERS...FOLLOW THESE

IMPORTANT SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

3

Here is a list of optional tools mentioned in the manual that
will help you build the Great Planes Hellcat park flyer.

❏ Great Planes Pro

™

Epoxy 6 Minute Formula

4oz (GPMR6042)

❏ Great Planes Pro Epoxy 30 Minute Formula

4oz (GPMR6043)

❏ Great Planes Double-Sided Servo Tape 1/2”X3’

[13 x 914mm] (GPMQ4440)

❏ Hobbico

®

#1 Hobby knife (HCAR0105)

❏ Great Planes 2 oz. [57g] spray CA

activator (GPMR6035)

❏ Great Planes CA debonder (GPMR6039)

❏ Hobbico Pliers with wire cutter (HCAR0630)

❏ Robart Super Stand II (ROBP1402)

❏ Great Planes Threadlocker thread locking

cement (GPMR6060)

❏ Great Planes CG Machine

™

(GPMR2400)

❏ 1/16" Drill bit

• There are two types of screws used in this kit:
Sheet metal screws are designated by a number and

a length.

For example #6 x 3/4”[19mm]

This is a number six screw that is 3/4”[19mm] long.

Machine screws are designated by a number, threads
per inch, and a length.

For example 4-40 x 3/4”[19mm]

This is a number four screw that is 3/4”[19mm] long with
forty threads per inch

.

• When you see the term

test fit

in the instructions, it means
that you should first position the part on the assembly without
using any glue, then slightly modify or

custom fit

the part as

necessary for the best fit.

• Whenever the term

glue

is written you should rely upon
your experience to decide what type of glue to use.When
a specific type of adhesive works best for that step, the
instructions will make a recommendation.

• Whenever just

epoxy

is specified you may use

either

30­minute (or 45-minute) epoxy or6-minute epoxy. When 30­minute epoxy is specified it is highly recommended that
you use only 30-minute (or 45-minute) epo xy, because you
will need the working time and/or the additional strength.

• Photos and sketches are placed before the step they
refer to .Frequently you can study photos in following steps
to get another view of the same parts.

• The stabilizer and wing incidences and motor thrust angles
have been factory-built into this model. However, some
technically minded modelers may wish to check these
measurements anyway. To view this information visit the
web site at www.greatplanes.com and click on “Technical
Data.” Due to manufacturing tolerances which will have
little or no effect on the way your model will fly, please
expect slight deviations between your model and the
published values.

Fuse = Fuselage

Fin = Ver tical Fin

LE = Leading Edge

TE = Trailing Edge
LG = Landing Gear
Ply = Plywood

Stab = Horizontal Stabilizer

" = Inches

SHCS = Socket Head Cap Screw

mm = Millimeters

COMMON ABBREVIATIONS

IMPORTANT BUILDING NOTES

Optional Supplies and Tools

4

5

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. When repor ting defective or missing parts, use the part names exactly as they are written in
the Kit Contents list.

Great Planes Product Support:

3002 N Apollo Drive, Suite 1

Champaign, IL 61822

Telephone: [phone], ext. 5

Fax: [phone]

E-mail:

[e-mail]

KIT INSPECTION

1 Fuselage
2 Wing
3 Prop Adapter
4 Nose Cone
5 Motor and Gear Drive

6 Control Hor n Keepers
7 Cowl
8 Control Hor ns
9 Hook and Loop

10 Propeller

Kit Contents (Photographed)

Control Horns (3)
Control Horn Retainers (3)
Pushrod Snap Keepers (3)
Aileron Pushrods (2)

Elevator Pushrod (1) + guide
3 x 20mm Wood Screw (1)
2x13mm Sheet Metal Screw (3)
Quick Connectors (2)

Kit Contents (Not Photographed)

KIT CONTENTS

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10