Great Planes GPMA1200 User Manual

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INSTRUCTION MANUAL

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Wingspan: 52.5 in [1340mm] Wing Area: 483 in Weight: 5.0 – 5.5 lb [2270 – 2495g] Wing Loading: 24 – 26 oz/ft Length: 46 in [1160mm] Radio: 4-channel, 3 – 5 standard servos Engine: .40 – .55 cu in [6.5 – 9.0cc] 2-stroke glow ,

.52 – .70 cu in [8.5 – 11.5cc] 4-stroke glow , .46 RimFire™ (42-60-800kV), 14.8V (4S) 3200mAh LiPo , 60A ESC

[31.2dm2]

[73 – 80g/dm2]

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

Champaign, Illinois

(217) 398-8970, Ext 5

airsupport@greatplanes.com

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

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

AMA ..................................................................................2

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS .................................................2

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

Motor/Battery/ESC Recommendations ........................3

Glow Engine Recommendations ..................................4

Radio Equipment ..........................................................4

ADDITIONAL ITEMS REQUIRED ....................................4

Optional Supplies & Tools ............................................4

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

ORDERING REPLACEMENT PARTS ..............................5

METRIC CONVERSIONS .................................................5

KIT INSPECTION ..............................................................6

KIT CONTENTS ................................................................6

PREPARATIONS ...............................................................7

Tighten the Covering ....................................................7

ASSEMBLE THE WINGS ..................................................7

Hook Up the Ailerons (Single Servo Option) ................7

Hook Up the Ailerons (Dual Servo Option) ..................9

ASSEMBLE THE FUSELA GE ........................................11

Hook Up the Elevator & Rudder .................................11

Mount the Main Landing Gear ....................................12

Mount the Electric Motor ............................................13

Mount the Engine .......................................................14

Mount the Fuel Tank (or Motor Battery) .....................15

Hook Up the Throttle ..................................................17

Two-Stroke Hookup ....................................................17

Four-Stroke Hookup ...................................................17

FINAL ASSEMBLY .........................................................19

Final Radio Installation ...............................................19

Apply the Decals ........................................................20

GET THE MODEL READY TO FLY .................................20

Battery Precautions ....................................................20

Check the Control Directions .....................................21

Set the Control Throws ...............................................22

Balance the Model (C.G.) ...........................................23

Balance the Model Laterally .......................................24

PREFLIGHT ....................................................................24

Identify Your Model .....................................................24

Charge the Batteries ..................................................24

Balance Propellers .....................................................24

Ground Check & Range Check ..................................24

ENGINE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS .................................25

AMA SAFETY CODE (excerpts) ....................................25

CHECK LIST ...................................................................26

FLYING ............................................................................26

Takeoff ........................................................................26

Flight ..........................................................................27

Landing ......................................................................27

INTRODUCTION

Thank you for purchasing the Great Planes Escapade ARF. The Escapade is a perfect “second airplane” for someone who is ready to move on from their high-wing trainer. The Escapade is also a great Sunday ﬂ yer for pilots who want to enjoy the simplicity and thrill of a “straight-forward” .40-size, low-wing sport model.

The Escapade may be powered by either a 2-stroke or 4-stroke glow engine, or electric motor. Installation instructions for each are detailed in this instruction manual. The Escapade also features the option of dual, outboard aileron servos or a single aileron servo mounted in the middle of the wing. Dual aileron servos will provide a little more precision and control response because the pushrods work directly on the ailerons. Additionally, response will be quicker . There will be more “power” connected to the ailerons because each one is operated by its own servo. But, if you prefer simplicity and economy, the single aileron servo will ﬂ y the Escapade well.

For the latest technical updates or manual corrections to the Escapade ARF visit the Great Planes web site at www.greatplanes.com. Open the “Airplanes” link, then select the Escapade 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.

AMA

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 47302-9252

Tele. (800) 435-9262

Fax (765) 741-0057

Or via the Internet at:

http://www.modelaircraft.org

IMPORTANT!!! Two of the most important things y ou 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, Y OURSELF

& OTHERS....FOLLOW THESE

IMPORTANT SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

1. Your Escapade 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 Escapade, if not assembled and operated correctly, could possibly cause injury to yourself or spectators and damage to property.

2. Y ou 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 y able model. In a f e w cases the instructions may differ slightly from the photos. In those instances the written instructions should be considered as correct.

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

4. Y ou 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 racing, or if an engine 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.

7. WARNING: The cowl and wheel pants included in this kit are made of ﬁ berglass, the ﬁ bers of which may cause eye, skin and respiratory tract irritation. Never blow into a part (wheel pant, cowl) to remove ﬁ berglass dust, as the dust will blow back into your eyes. Always wear safety goggles, a particle mask and rubber gloves when grinding, drilling and sanding ﬁ berglass parts. Vacuum the parts and the work area thoroughly after working with ﬁ berglass parts.

We, as the kit manuf acturer, 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 y our time and follow the instructions to end up with a well-built model that is straight and true.

Of course, with glow motors there is never any waiting for batteries to charge (it takes one hour to charge a LiPo battery). You may purchase multiple batteries and charge them at home the evening before you go ﬂ ying, but then the number of consecutive ﬂ ights will be limited by the number of battery packs you own—and battery packs (and all the associated chargers, power supplies, cell balancers , connectors) can be expensive. Finally, with a glow engine, it is usually easier to accurately determine your ﬂ ight time. Sometimes, with electric motors, ﬂ ight times can be inconsistent due to the number of variables that can have an effect on a battery’s condition, thus causing ﬂ ights to end sooner than expected.

However, glow engines are messy. With an electric motor, there will never be any oily exhaust residue to clean off the model. Electric motors are easier on the airframe because there is little vibration (and again, no fuel or oily exhaust residue that can leak into the structure). Electric motors are simple to operate—they don’t require starting (other than advancing the throttle stick on your transmitter!). Over the long haul, and depending on how much you ﬂ y, electric motors can be more economical than glow because you’ll never have to buy fuel (although, most LiPo batteries have a life cycle of approximately tw o years). Finally, electric motors are pure and quiet.

Motor vs. Engine

An engine is a device that converts heat energy (in a fuel) into mechanical energy that can do work. A motor is powered by electricity or a mechanism (such as a spring in a wrist watch).

Motor/Battery/ESC Recommendations

If powering your Escapade with an electric motor, it performs superbly on a RimFire™ .46 motor (GPMG4725) and a single, 4S (four , single cells) 3200mAh 14.8V LiPo battery . If experimenting with different batteries, make certain they are rated f or at least a 20C discharge (as is the recommended battery).

DECISIONS YOU MUST MAKE

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

The most important decision you may be thinking about is whether to go electric or glow. Here are some considerations that may help you:

Almost always, glow power provides the longest ﬂ ight times (in the Escapade, approximately 12 minutes with a glow engine and approximately 6 – 8 minutes with electric motor). Usually, it is an achievement if one can get the power of an electric motor to equal that of a comparable glow engine.

A 60A ESC (electronic speed controller) is also required. The Great Planes Silver Series 60A Brushless ESC (GPMM1850) is recommended.

Following are the other suggested items if powering your Escapade with an electric motor:

❏ Suitable propeller and spare propellers (APC 12" x 6"

thin electric propeller – APCQ4130)

❏ 12V power supply (Hobbico

– HCAP0250)

❏ Adhesive-backed Velcro ❏ LiPo battery charger (Great Planes PolyCharge4

LiPo charger – GPMM3015)

❏ (1) Great Planes ElectriFly Equinox

Balancer (GPMM3160) for each battery to be charged simultaneously

12 Volt Power Supply

(GPMQ4480)

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LiPo Cell

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❏ (1) Great Planes ElectriFly Equinox 4S/5S 4S adapter

set for each Equinox balancer (GPMM3162)

❏ 8mm prop reamer (for propellers and included spinner

– GPMQ5007)

❏ Great Planes Pro

gluing motor mount to fuselage)

IMPORTANT: The Escapade requires a single, 4S battery pack. But if experimenting with different battery combinations and connecting multiple battery packs with adapter plugs, refer to the Battery Precautions on page 20.

Glow Engine Recommendations

The recommended glow engine size range f or the Escapade is printed on the cover of this instruction manual. It will ﬂ y well with any of the engines within the recommended range. And, the Escapade is a lightweight model, so when ﬂ own with engines even at the smaller end of the scale it will still be fast and responsive . So , unless you are an e xperienced pilot, you may be better off starting out with a smaller engine.

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30-minute epoxy (GPMR6043) (for

For dual aileron servo option:

❏ (2) standard torque/size aileron servos ❏ (2) 6" [150mm] servo extension wires (HCAM2000

for Futaba®)

❏ (1) Dual servo extension (FUTM4130 for Futaba)

ADDITIONAL ITEMS REQUIRED

In addition to common hobby tools (screwdrivers, pliers, wire cutters), f ollowing is a list of sug gested building supplies:

❏ 1/2 oz. [15g] Medium Pro

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CA+ (GPMR6007)

❏ 1/2 oz. [15g] Thin Pro CA (GPMR6001) ❏ CA applicator tips (HCAR3780) ❏ #1 Hobby knife (HCAR0105) ❏ #11 Blades (5-pack, HCAR0211) ❏ Power drill ❏ Drill bits; 1/16" [1.6mm], 3/32" [2.4mm], #48 (.076" [1.9mm])

drill or hobby knife

❏ Great Planes Pro Threadlocker (GPMR6060) ❏ 21st Century

sealing iron (COVR2700)

In addition to the engine, follo wing are the additional items required if powering your Escapade with a glow engine:

❏ Suitable propeller and spare propellers ❏ Fuel, fueling system (pump, fuel line, fuel can ﬁ ttings

set), 1.5V glow driver, ﬁ eld box, tools

❏ #36 (or 7/64) [2.6mm] drill ❏ Optional: 6-32 tap and drill set (GPMR8102), (4) 6-32

x 1" socket-head cap screws (GPMQ3038) for mounting engine with machine screws instead of included sheetmetal screws.

Radio Equipment

4-channels are required to ﬂ y the Escapade. However, the number of servos required can be from three to ﬁ ve. Only three channels will be required if ﬂ ying the Escapade with an electric motor and using the single aileron servo option. If powering the model with a glow engine, a servo will be required for the throttle. And in either case (glow or electric), two servos will be required for the ailerons if using the dual aileron servo option. In all cases, standard-size servos with standard output torque (40 – 50 oz-in torque) are suitable.

Following is the speciﬁ c radio gear required for the different conﬁ gurations:

Optional Supplies & Tools

Here is a list of optional tools mentioned in the manual that will help you build the Escapade.

❏ 21st Century iron cover (COVR2702) ❏ 21st Century trim seal iron (COVR2750) ❏ Stick-on segmented lead weights (GPMQ4485) ❏ 2 oz. [57g] Spray CA activator (GPMR6035) ❏ Dead Center ❏ C.G. Machine ❏ Precision Magnetic Prop Balancer

• 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]

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Engine Mount Hole Locator (GPMR8130)

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(GPMR2400)

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(TOPQ5700)

IMPORTANT BUILDING NOTES

For all versions;

❏ 4-channel radio system w/4.8V 500-600mAh ﬂ at Rx

battery back, on/off switch

❏ 1 ea. standard size/torque elevator and rudder servo

For single aileron servo option:

❏ (1) standard torque/size aileron servo ❏ (2) 6" [150mm] servo extension wires (HCAM2000)

This is a number 4 screw that is 3/4" [19mm] long

with forty threads per inch.

• The Escapade is factory-covered with Top Flite MonoKote® ﬁ lm. Should repairs ever be required, MonoKote can be patched with additional MonoKote

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purchased separately. MonoKote is packaged in six-foot rolls, but some hobby shops also sell it by the foot. If only a small piece of MonoKote is needed for a minor patch, perhaps a fellow modeler would give you some. MonoKote is applied with a model airplane covering iron, but in an emergency a regular iron could be used. A roll of MonoKote includes full instructions for application. Following are the colors used on this model and order numbers for six foot rolls.

Jet White – TOPQ0204 Orange – TOPQ0202 True Red – TOPQ0227

• The stabilizer and wing incidences and engine 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 ﬂ y, please expect slight deviations between your model and the published values.

ORDERING REPLACEMENT PARTS

Replacement parts for the Great Planes Escapade ARF are available using the order n umbers in the Replacement Parts List that follows. The fastest, most economical service can be provided by your hobby dealer or mail-order company.

To locate a hobby dealer, visit the Hobbico web site at www.hobbico.com. Choose “Where to Buy” at the bottom of the menu on the left side of the page. Follow the instructions provided on the page to locate a U.S., Canadian or International dealer.

Replacement Parts List

Description How to Purchase

Missing pieces Contact Product Support Instruction manual Contact Product Support Full-size plans Not available

Contact your hobby supplier for the following parts:

GPMA3250 Fuselage GPMA3251 Wing GPMA3252 Tail Surface Set GPMA3253 Landing Gear GPMA3254 Wheel Pants GPMA3255 Wing Joiner GPMA3256 Canopy/Hatch GPMA3257 Decal GPMA3258 Out-runner Mount GPMA3259 OPTIONAL Fiberglass Cowl

METRIC CONVERSIONS

1" = 25.4mm (conversion factor)

1/64" = .4mm 1/32" = .8mm 1/16" = 1.6mm 3/32" = 2.4mm 1/8" = 3.2mm 5/32" = 4.0mm 3/16" = 4.8mm 1/4" = 6.4mm 3/8" = 9.5mm 1/2" = 12.7mm 5/8" = 15.9mm

3/4" = 19.0mm 1" = 25.4mm 2" = 50.8mm 3" = 76.2mm 6" = 152.4mm 12" = 304.8mm 18" = 457.2mm 21" = 533.4mm 24" = 609.6mm 30" = 762.0mm 36" = 914.4mm

Parts may also be ordered directly from Hobby Services by calling (217) 398-0007, or via facsimile at (217) 398-7721, but full retail prices and shipping and handling charges will apply. Illinois and Nevada residents will also be charged sales tax. If ordering via fax, include a Visa® or MasterCard® number and expiration date for payment.

Mail parts orders and payments by personal check to:

Hobby Services

3002 N. Apollo Drive, Suite 1

Champaign, IL 61822

Be certain to specify the order number exactly as listed in the Replacement Parts List. Payment by credit card or personal check only; no C.O.D.

If additional assistance is required for any reason contact Product Support by e-mail at productsupport@greatplanes.com, or by telephone at (217) 398-8970.

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KIT INSPECTION

KIT CONTENTS

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 reporting 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: (217) 398-8970, ext. 5

Fax: (217) 398-7721

E-mail: airsupport@greatplanes.com

KIT CONTENTS

1 Fuselage 2 Canopy 3 Spinner 4 Wheel Pants (L&R) 5 Main Landing Gear (L&R) 6 Main Wheels (2) 7 Motor Mount

13 14

Kit Contents

8 Fuel Tank 9 Tail Gear Assembly 10 Horizontal Stabilizer & Elevators 11 Vertical Stabilizer (Fin) & Rudder 12 Aluminum Wing Joiner Tube 13 Left Wing Panel w/Aileron 14 Right Wing Panel w/Aileron

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PREPARATIONS

Tighten the Covering

Refer to the separate instruction sheet titled How To Tighten Covering On ARF Models. Follow the instructions to tighten

the covering. If you pref er to get started on assembly right away, the tightening process could be done later (but it is usually easiest to do while the model is still in separate pieces).

❏ 2. Temporarily mount the servo with the scre ws that came

with it. Remove the screws and take out the servo. Add a few drops of thin CA to each screw hole. Wait a minute for the CA to harden and re mount the servo (guiding the wire between the right side of the servo and the servo mount). Don’t overtighten the servo mounting screws—just make sure the heads of the screws apply a little pressure to the grommets and that the servo is secure.

ASSEMBLE THE WINGS

Hook Up the Ailerons (Single Servo Option)

If using dual aileron servos, skip to the next section on page 9.

❏ 1. Place your aileron servo in the servo mount built into

the right wing half (note the servo wire coming out between the right side of the servo and the mount). Drill 1/16" [1.6mm] holes for the servo mounting screws.

❏ 3. Temporarily connect the aileron servo to your receiver

with a battery and on/off switch. Turn on the transmitter and receiver and center all the trims on the transmitter.

CUT OFF THE

YES 90°

UNUSED ARMS

❏ 4. With the radio on, position the servo arm on the splined

output shaft on the servo so it will be 90-degrees as shown in the sketch. Once you ﬁ nd the orientation that’s 90-degrees , cut off the other two unused arms. The radio may now be turned off, disconnected from the aileron servo and set aside.

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TORQUE ROD HORN

AILERON TORQ UE ROD

❏ 5. Screw a torque rod horn onto the right aileron torque

rod so that the top of the horn is even with the top of the torque rod. Tempor arily ﬁ t the clevis on the end of one of the shorter pushrod wires for the ailerons onto the horn. Use a ﬁ ne-point felt-tip pen to mark the pushrod wire where it crosses the outer hole in the servo arm.

❏ 7. Temporarily join the wings with the aluminum wing

joiner tube. Connect the other aileron pushrod the same wa y you did the ﬁ rst one. Install the servo arm screw and slip the silicone retainers over the pushrod.

❏ 8. When it’s time to join the wings for ﬂ ying, mount the

strap to the wings as shown in step 12 on page 11. When you want to separate the wing halv es , simply disconnect the clevis on the left aileron pushrod from the torque rod horn, and then slide the wings apart.

Later, during ﬁ nal radio and control throws set up, the pushrods will be adjusted so the ailerons are centered when the radio is on (or, you could reconnect your aileron servo to the radio and do this now).

Proceed to Assemble the Fuselage.

90° PUSHROD CONNECTOR

❏ 6. Disconnect the pushrod from the torque rod horn and

make a sharp, 90° bend in the wire at the mark. Enlarge the holes in the aileron servo arm with a #48 (.076" [1.9mm]) drill or a hobby knife . Fit the pushrod into the outer hole in the servo arm, then attach a 90° pushrod connector to the assembly. Cut the excess wire 1/16" [2mm] abov e the connector.

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Hook Up the Ailerons (Dual Servo Option)

You can do both servos simultaneously, or do them one at a time as described below:

SERVO OPENING IN WING

CUT THE COVERING 1/8" [3mm] FROM THE EDGES OF THE OPENING. SLIT THE COVERING UP TO THE CORNERS.

❏ 1. Cut the covering from one (or both) of the aileron servo

openings in the bottom of the wings. The “neatest” way is to cut the covering 1/8" [3mm] inside the opening, cut slits up to the corners, and then use a trim iron to seal the edges down inside the openings. Or, just cut the cov ering up to the edges.

❏ 3. Use the string in the wing to pull the servo extension

out the end and place the aileron servo in the wing. Drill 1/16" [1.6mm] holes for the servo mounting screws.

❏ 2. Connect a 6" [150mm] servo extension to the aileron

servo and secure the connection with a 1-1/2" [40mm] piece of heat shrink tubing included with this kit—shrink the tubing with a heat gun or a hobby torch—use care not to scorch the wires!

❏ 4. Temporarily mount the servo with the scre ws that came

with it. Remo v e the screws and tak e out the servo . Add a fe w drops of thin CA to each screw hole. Wait a minute for the CA to harden and remount the servo. Don’t overtighten the servo mounting screws—just make sure the heads of the screws apply a little pressure to the grommets and that the servo is secure.

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CUT OFF THE

YES 90°

UNUSED ARMS

❏ 5. Temporarily connect the ser vo to the receiver with the

battery and switch. Turn on the transmitter and receiver and center all the trims on the transmitter. With the radio on, ﬁ t the ser vo arm onto the splined output shaft so it will be 90-degrees as shown in the sketch.

CONTROL HORN

FRONT EDGE ALIGNS WITH BOTTOM OF AILERON

❏ 7. Temporarily ﬁ t the clevis on the end of one of the shorter

pushrod wires for the aileron into the second-from-the-outer hole of a control horn. Hold the horn to the aileron so the front edge of the horn will be at the front edge of the bottom of the aileron and the pushrod will align with the outer hole in the aileron servo. Use a ballpoint pen to mark the location of the holes in the horn onto the aileron.

RIGHT WING

LEFT WING

❏ 6. Note the position of the servo arms in the sketch. Cut

off the other three unused arms from the aileron servo arm.

❏ 8. Without drilling through to the top of the aileron, drill 1/16"

[1.6mm] holes, 3/8" [9.5mm] deep at the marks. Mount the horn to the aileron with two #2 x 3/8" [9.5mm] Phillips screws. IMPORTANT: Remo ve the scre ws, add a fe w drops of thin CA to the holes, allow to harden, and then remount the horns.

❏ 9. Use a ﬁ ne-point felt-tip pen to mark the pushrod wire

where it crosses the outer hole in the servo arm.

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90° PUSHROD CONNECTOR

ASSEMBLE THE FUSELAGE

Hook Up the Elevator & Rudder

❏ 1. Fit the vertical stabilizer (frequently referred to as

the “ﬁ n”) to the vertical stabilizer (stab). Guide the ﬁ n rods through the holes in the bottom of the fuselage and make sure the stab is fully seated to the fuselage and that the ﬁ n is fully seated onto the stab.

❏ 10. Make a 90° bend in the wire at the mark. Enlarge the

holes in the aileron servo arm with a #48 (.076" [1.9mm]) drill or a hobby knife. Fit the pushrod into the outer hole in the servo arm, then attach a 90° pushrod connector to the assembly. Cut the excess wire 1/16" [2mm] above the connector. Install the servo arm screw and slip the silicone retainers over the pushrod.

❏ 11. If you haven’t yet done so, hook up the other aileron

the same way.

❏ 12. Slide the wings together with the wing tube. T emporarily

mount the nylon strap to the wings with two #4 x 3/8" [9.5mm] Phillips screws. Same as when installing the servo screws, remove the screws from the strap, harden the holes with a few drops of thin CA and allow to harden before putting the wings together and installing the screws.

❏ 2. Even though the nuts used on the ﬁ n rods are locking

nuts, a drop of threadlocker on the threads is recommended. Add a drop of threadlocker to the threads of the ﬁ n rods. Then, tighten the assembly to the fuselage with a #4 ﬂ at washer, a #4 lock washer and a 4-40 lock nut on each rod. The included socket tool may be used to tighten the nuts.

❏ 3. Mount the tail gear assembly in the following order: ❏ A. Fit the bushing into the hole in the fuselage and glue

it into position with a few drops of thin CA. Allow to harden before the next step.

❏ B. Add a small drop of threadlocker to the threads on

the 4-40 set screw for the collar. Then, thread the set screw into the collar. Fit the tail gear wire through the hole in the strap, then the collar, but don’t tighten the set screw yet.

❏ C. Fit the assembly into the bushing in the fuselage.

Then, press the post into the bottom of the ﬁ n. Place the spring wire into the notch in the post. Glue the post into position with a few drops of thin CA.

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❏ D. Using the holes in the strap as a guide, drill 1/16"

[1.6mm] holes into the bottom of the fuselage. Install, then remove two #2 x 3/8" [9.5mm] Phillips wood screws into the holes, apply a few drops of thin CA to the holes, allow to harden, and remount the strap with the screws.

❏ E. Tighten the set screw in the collar. ❏ F. Mount the tail wheel with the small, nylon retainer.

❏ 4. Slide the elevator and rudder pushrods into the guide

tubes in the fuselage. Connect the clevises to the secondfrom-the-outer holes of the horns. Slide the silicone retainers over the clevises.

Mount the Main Landing Gear

❏ 1. Use a 1/2" and 7/16" open-end wrench to mount an

axle to each landing gear. Use a metal ﬁ le to grind a ﬂ at spot on the end of both axles.

Refer to this photo for the following three steps.

❏ 5. Place the elevator and rudder servos in the servo tray

in the fuselage. Same as you did with the aileron servo(s), connect the rudder and elevator servos to your receiver and battery and turn on the radio. Center the trims and ﬁ nd the correct orientation for the servo arms that will be 90-degrees. Cut off the unused arms.

❏ 6. Mark, cut, bend and connect the pushrods to the

servos the same way you did f or the ailerons . After you mark the pushrods, it will be easier to bend and cut them if you disconnect the clevises from the horns on the other end.

❏ 2. Mount the wheels to the axles with a collar on both sides

held on with the 3mm screws and threadlocker on the threads .

❏ 7. The same way you mounted the aileron servo(s), mount

the elevator and rudder servos with the servo screws that came with them—don’t forget to harden the screw holes with a few drops of thin CA after installing, then removing the screws.

❏ 3. Mount each wheel pant to the landing gear with two

4-40 x 1/2" [13mm] Phillips screws and threadlocker on the threads. Be certain to use threadlocker because there are no lock washers.

Page 13

TAB

SLOTS

TAB

SLOTS

AIR

INLET

❏ 4. Mount the main landing gear to the bottom of the

fuselage with four 6-32 x 1/2" [13mm] Phillips screws, #6 lock washers and ﬂ at washers. Same as always, be certain to use threadlocker on the threads of the screws before screwing them in.

Mount the Electric Motor

If using a glow engine, proceed to Mount the Engine on page 14.

Refer to this photo for the following three steps.

❏ 4. Use a large, ﬂ at-blade screwdriver to “knock out” the

tab slots and air inlet in the ﬁ rewall for the electric motor mount installation.

❏ 1. Mount your electric motor to the motor mount with

four 6-32 x 1/2" [13mm] Phillips screws and a few drops of threadlocker on the threads of each screw.

❏ 2. If using a Great Planes ElectriFly 60A ESC, mount

it to the ESC mounting plate on the bottom of the motor mount with three #4 x 3/8" [9.5mm] Phillips screws and #4 ﬂ at washers. If using a different ESC y ou will hav e to ﬁ gure out your own way to mount the ESC to the plate. Remove the screws, add a few drops of thin CA to the screw holes, allow to harden, and remount the ESC.

❏ 3. Use one of the included nylon tie-wraps to secure the

wires to the right side of the mount as shown.

❏ 5. Test ﬁ t the tabs of the motor mount into the slots in the

ﬁ rewall. Then, push the mount do wnward to loc k it into position.

❏ 6. Once you hav e conﬁ rmed that the mount snaps securely

into position, remove the mount, apply 30-minute epo xy to all joining surfaces (in the slots in the ﬁ rewall and to the tabs and the edges of the mount that contact the ﬁ rewall), and ﬁ t the mount back onto the ﬁ rewall. Add more epoxy wherever necessary for a secure bond.

Page 14

❏ 7. Use a propeller reamer to enlarge the hole in your

propeller and in the spinner backplate (this can be made easy by “chucking” the reamer into a power drill). Mount the spinner backplate and a balanced propeller to the motor with the washer and nut included with the motor . Then, mount the spinner cone with the screws that came with the spinner.

❏ 2. Place your engine on the mount, sliding the mount

halves together or apart to ﬁ t the engine. Now you may tighten the mount bolts the rest of the way.

❏ 8. Use a hobby knife with a sharp #11 blade to cut the

covering from the rounded air exit slots in the bottom of the fuselage behind the wing.

Proceed to Mount the Fuel Tank (or Motor Battery).

Mount the Engine

❏ 1. Temporarily mount the two-piece engine mount to the

fuselage with four 6-32 x 1" [25mm] Phillips screws, four #6 lock washers and ﬂ at washers, but don’t tighten the screws all the way yet.

❏ 3. Place the backplate of the spinner on the engine and

position the engine on the mount so there will be a 1/8" [3mm] space between the backplate of the spinner and the front of the fuselage. Note: Most 4-stroke engines will not be able to be positioned far enough aft on the mount to achieve this spacing, so just move the engine as far back as possible.

❏ 4. Use a Great Planes Dead-Center Hole Locator

(GPMR8130) or a sharpened wire to mark the location of the engine mounting holes onto the mount.

Page 15

❏ 5. Drill #36 (or 7/64" [2.6mm]) holes through the engine

mount at the marks you made for the mounting screws . Mount the engine with four #6 x 3/4" [19mm] Phillips screws and #6 lock washers. Alternate method: Some modelers prefer machine-thread screws rather than sheet-metal screws for mounting the engine. But this requires an additional step— tapping threads into the mount. If you prefer to use machine screws instead, use a 6-32 tap to tap threads into the holes after drilling them. Then, use 6-32 x 1" socket-head cap scre ws (SHCS) and #6 lock washers for mounting the engine. Note: Four-stroke engines may have to be temporarily dismounted later while hooking up the throttle.

Mount the Fuel Tank (or Motor Battery)

IMPORTANT: If powering your Escapade with an electric motor, before experimenting with different motor battery combinations and connecting multiple battery packs with adapter plugs, refer to the Battery Precautions on page 20.

THIS SIDE SLANTS BACK

and apply the strip to the upward-facing surface of the plate as shown. Place an equal-sized “fuzzy,” or “loop” side of adhesive-backed hook and loop material to the battery you will be using. If mounting the fuel tank, cut a 2" x 4" [50 x 100mm] sheet from the supplied foam rubber sheet.

Skip the following step if mounting a battery.

❏ 1. Lay the plywood battery/fuel tank plate on your

workbench so the right side of the front edge will be slanted back. If mounting a battery, cut a 1/2" x 5" [13 x 130mm] strip from the rougher, or “hook” side of a strip of Great Planes adhesive-back hook and loop material (not included)

VENT TUBE

❏ 2. Use a ﬁ ne-point felt-tip pen to write “TOP” on the same

side of the fuel tank that has the molded-in label “270cc” (or, just remember that the surface that has the “270cc” is the top). Loosen the Phillips scre w in the stopper assembly a f ew turns and temporarily remove the stopper assembly from the tank. Be certain the vent tube is toward the top of the tank. Then, reinsert the stopper assembly and tighten the screw to squish the rubber stopper and seal the tank.

Page 16

6" [150mm]

“HOOK” SIDE

STRAP FOR BATTERY

3" [75mm]

4-1/2" [115mm]

“LOOP” SIDE

7" [180mm]

“HOOK” SIDE

STRAP FOR FUEL TANK

3" [75mm]

7" [180mm]

“LOOP” SIDE

❏ 5. Remove the battery (or fuel tank) from the mounting

plate. Test ﬁ t the plate into the fuselage and make sure the front end keys into the slot in the ﬁ rewall. If building the electric version, guide the wires coming from the ESC through the hole in the battery plate. Also, temporarily screw the battery plate into position with a #2 x 3/8" [9.5mm] wood screw and #2 washer on both sides of the tray near the back end.

❏ 6. Remove the mounting plate, then reinstall, only this

time securely and permanently gluing it into position with epoxy or medium CA.

If you’ve assembled your Escapade as an electric version, proceed to Final Assembly on page 19.

❏ 3. If mounting a battery, make a battery strap from the

included hook-and-loop material by cutting a 4-1/2" [115mm] strip from the softer loop side and a 6" [150mm] strip from the rougher hook side. If mounting the fuel tank, make a fuel tank strap cutting a 7" [180mm] strip from the softer loop side and a 7" [180mm] strip from the rougher hook side. F or either version, join the straps together with a 3" [75mm] overlap. Test mount the battery (or fuel tank with the sheet of R/C foam rubber you cut) to the battery plate with the strap.

❏ 4. While the battery or fuel tank is still mounted with the strap,

use medium CA to glue the strap to the bottom of the plate. This will make it easier to remount the battery (or fuel tank) later.

❏ 7. If using a glo w engine, mount the fuel tank with the strap

and foam rubber sheet. The fuel lines will be connected later.

Page 17

Hook Up the Throttle

Note: The installed receiver and receiver battery appear in a few of the following photos. However, those components will not be mounted until later when you get to Final Assembly.

❏ 1. Glue the plywood throttle servo tray to the rails in the

fuselage just behind the fuel tank, so that, when the servo is in the tray, the servo arm will be on the same side of the fuselage as the throttle arm on the carburetor. Mount your throttle servo to the tray.

❏ 1. Hook up the throttle using the 14" [350mm] pushrod, a

90° pushrod connector on the servo and a nylon clevis on the carburetor arm. If using an O.S. Max AX series engine, the hole for the pushrod guide tube is already cut in the ﬁ rewall. If using a different engine, you ma y need to cut a ne w hole in the ﬁ rew all f or the guide tube that aligns with your carb uretor arm. If you do, mark the location of the new hole, remove the engine if necessary, and then use an extended 3/16" [4.8mm] drill (available at hardware or home improvement stores) or a 3/16" [4.8mm] brass tube sharpened on the end to cut a new hole in the ﬁ rewall.

Proceed to steps 6 and 7 on page 19.

Two-Stroke Hookup

THROTTLE SERVO

90° PUSHROD CONNECTOR

THROTTLE GUIDE TUBE

14" [350mm] PUSHROD

CARBURETOR ARM

CLEVIS

FIREWALL

Four-Stroke Hookup

❏ 1. If using an O.S. Max FL .70, guide the 3/16" x 4-3/4"

[4 x 120mm] plastic throttle pushrod guide tube through the hole in the ﬁ rewall that aligns with the carburetor arm. If using a different engine and the hole in the ﬁ rewall for the guide tube does not align with the carburetor arm, you may need to cut a new hole in the ﬁ rewall for the guide tube that aligns with the carburetor arm. If you do, mark the location of the new hole, remove the engine if necessary, and then use an extended 3/16" [4.8mm] drill (available at hardware or home improvement stores) or a 3/16" [4.8mm] brass tube sharpened on the end to cut a new hole in the ﬁ rewall.

❏ 2. Remov e the engine from the mount. Enlarge the hole in

the carburetor arm to ﬁ t the 7-1/2" [190mm] 4-stroke throttle pushrod wire that has a Z-bend on one end. Fit the Z-bend into the carb arm. Then, remount the engine sliding the pushrod up through the guide tube.

Page 18

❏ 3. Connect the threaded end of the pushrod to the throttle

servo with a clevis as shown. If the pushrod is not the correct length, make a new pushrod from the 14" [350mm] pushrod as shown:

❏ I. Make a 90° bend at the mark.

❏ II. Make a second 90° bend 3/32" [2mm] ahead of and

perpendicular to the ﬁ rst.

❏ A. With the servo arm and the carburetor arm centered,

use a ﬁ ne-point felt-tip pen to mark the pushrod wire where it crosses the holes in the carburetor arm.

❏ B. Disconnect the pushrod from the servo. Make a “Z-bend”

in the pushrod at the mark described as follows;

❏ III. Now twist the wire so the Z-bend is in one plane.

❏ IV. Cut off the excess wire.

❏ 4. Thread the clevis in or out on the threaded end of

the pushrod so that when the servo arm is centered, the carburetor arm will be too.

❏ 5. Use medium CA to glue the throttle guide tube into

the ﬁ rewall.

Page 19

VENT/OVERFLOW (CONNECT TO FITTING ON MUFFLER)

ONE LINE IS FOR FUELING/DEFUELING AND THE OTHER LINE GOES TO THE CARBURETOR (IT DOESN’T MATTER WHICH LINE GOES WHERE BECAUSE THEY ARE BOTH THE SAME INSIDE THE FUEL TANK).

❏ 7. Mount a balanced propeller and the spinner included

with this kit.

❏ 6. Mount the mufﬂ er to your engine and connect the fuel

lines to the fuel tank as shown in the diagram. Note that the O.S.® FL .70 has two fuel ﬁ ttings on the mufﬂ er. The ﬁ tting with the larger hole goes to the vent line on the fuel tank and the other ﬁ tting with the smaller hole goes to the crankcase vent in the backplate of the engine. The line with the fuel line plug goes to either of the “clunk” lines on the fuel tank that will be used for fueling and defueling the tank.

FINAL ASSEMBLY

Final Radio Installation

❏ 1. Wrap both the Rx battery and the receiver in 1/4" [6mm]

R/C foam rubber using tape to hold the halves together.

Page 20

Make another strap from more of the included hook-andloop material to mount the battery to the bottom of the serv o tray and mount the receiver to the top of the receiver tray.

2. Lower the canopy

1. Catch the dowels

in the holes

3. Pull back to lock

❏ 4. Install the canopy hatch to the fuselage and pull it

backwards into position, making sure the tabs lock it down and the magnets catch.

❏ 2. If using a 2.4GHz receiver, cut two 1" [25mm] antenna

guide tubes from the included 4" [100mm] guide tube. Glue the tubes into position so the antennas protrude through the holes in the formers as shown. If using a 72mHz receiver, guide the antenna down through the antenna tube already built into the fuselage.

❏ 3. Of the four switch mounting locations pre-cut into

the fuselage sides, determine which one you will use for mounting the on/off switch for the receiver (or, if none of these are suitable, use the switch mounting plate that came with your switch as a template for cutting new holes). Note: For glow engines the switch should be mounted on the side of the fuselage opposite the mufﬂ er. Cut the covering from the switch mount holes and mount the on/off switch. Then connect the switch to the radio and battery.

Apply the Decals

1. Use scissors or a sharp hobby knif e to cut the decals from the sheet.

2. Be certain the model is clean and free from oily ﬁ ngerprints and dust. Prepare a dishpan or small bucket with a mixture of liquid dish soap and warm water—about one teaspoon of soap per gallon of water. Submerse the decal in the soap and water and peel off the paper backing. Note: Ev en though the decals have a “sticky-back” and are not the water transfer type, submersing them in soap and water allows accurate positioning and reduces air bubbles underneath.

3. P osition decal on the model where desired. Holding the decal down, use a paper towel to wipe most of the water a w a y.

4. Use a piece of soft balsa or something similar to squeegee remaining water from under the decal. Apply the rest of the decals the same way.

GET THE MODEL READY TO FLY

Battery Precautions

Note: This section is provided for those modelers who will be powering their Escapade with an electric motor.

Although a single, 4S (4-cells connected in series) battery is recommended for powering the Escapade, some modelers may come up with different battery conﬁ gurations and end up connecting two 2S (2-cell) batteries to achieve the required

Page 21

Voltage. Although the following information does not apply to modelers using a single battery as recommended, it is still educational. But modelers using more than one battery to ﬂ y their Escapade should read and know the following battery precautions.

There are two ways to connect multiple battery packs: In Series and in Parallel.

❏ 1. Connecting batteries in “Series” means to connect

the +’s to the –’s and the –’s to the +’s. This combines the battery’s Voltages, but the capacity remains the same.

These are two 3200mAh batteries (one 11.1V and the other 7.4V). When joined in SERIES, the result will be an 18.5V, 3200 mAh battery.

11.1V (3-Cell) GPMP0613

OKAY

Check the Control Directions

❏ 1. The servos were already centered during assembly, but

now is a good time to do a ﬁ nal check. Turn on the transmitter and receiver and center the trims. If necessary, remove the servo arms from the servos and reposition them so they are centered. Reinstall the screws that hold on the servo arms.

7.2V (2-Cell) GPMP0613

This is a SERIES battery adapter (GPMM3143) that connects two batteries in series.

It’s okay to connect batteries with different voltages in series to achieve the new, desired voltage.

❏ 2. Connecting batteries in “Parallel” means to connect

the +’s to the +’s and the -’s to the -’s. This combines the battery’s capacities, but the Voltage remains the same.

These two 1500mAh batteries (both 11.1V) are being joined in PARALLEL. The result will be one 11.1V, 3000mAh battery.

OKAY

11.1V (3-Cell) GPMP0613

This is a PARALLEL battery adapter (GPMM3142) that connects two batteries in parallel.

NEVER connect battery packs with different Voltages in Parallel–only combine in Series. Otherwise, the batteries

will try to “equalize” with the larger one trying to “charge” the smaller one, thus causing heat and likely a ﬁ re.

❏ 2. With the transmitter and receiver still on, check all the

control surfaces to see if they are centered. If necessary , adjust the clevises on the pushrods to center the control surfaces .

❏ 3. Make certain that the control surfaces and the carburetor

respond in the correct direction as shown in the diagram. If any of the controls respond in the wrong direction, use the servo reversing in the transmitter to reverse the servos connected to those controls. Be certain the control surfaces have remained centered. Adjust if necessary.

Also NEVER connect battery packs with different capacities in Series or in Parallel.

Page 22

Set the Control Throws

To ensure a successful ﬁ rst ﬂ ight, ﬂ y your Escapade set up according to the C.G. and control surface throws speciﬁ ed in this manual. The throws and C.G. are not arbitrary, but have been determined through extensive testing and accurate record-keeping. They will provide you with the best chance for success and an enjoyable ﬁ rst ﬂ ight that should be surprise-free. Additionally, the throws and C.G. shown are true, real data which will allow the model to perform in the manner in which it was intended when ﬂ own by a pilot of the skill level for which it was designed. DO NOT OVERLOOK THESE IMPORTANT PROCEDURES. A model that is not properly set up may be unstable and possibly unﬂ yable.

The throws are also provided in degrees should you ha v e an instrument capable of measuring the throws in that way.

Note: The throws are measured at the widest part of the elevators and rudder.

❏ B. T ak e the reading of the surface y ou are measuring at the

widest part of the control surface at the trailing edge.

Using the method for measuring the throws illustrated as follows, adjust the locations of the pushrods in the control horns and/or in the servo arms (or use the programming in your radio) to set the control throws according to the measurements provided in the Control Thro ws Chart.

❏ A. Use a small box or something similar to prop up the

fuselage until the wings and horizontal stab are level.

(MOVE THE RULER FORW ARD)

❏ C. Move the control surface and move y our ruler f orw ard.

Read the measurement to get the throw.

CONTROL SURFACESERVO

PUSHROD

FARTHER OUT;

MORE THROW

PUSHROD

CLOSER IN;

LESS THROW

Note the effect pushrod location has on the throws. If using programming in your transmitter to adjust the throws , note that the pushrods should be connected so that with the ATVs (or endpoints) at or near 100%, you can get the throws speciﬁ ed. In other words, with the ATVs at 100%, FIRST change the pushrod location to get the correct throws as close as possible, THEN use the programming for ﬁ ne-tuning.

PUSHROD FARTHER OUT;

LESS THROW

PUSHROD CLOSER IN;

MORE THROW

Page 23

These are the recommended control surface throws:

HIGH RATE

ELEVATOR: 1-1/4" [32mm], 25° up

1-1/4" [32mm], 25° down RUDDER: 2" [51mm], 26° up

2" [51mm], 26° down AILERONS: 1/2" [13mm], 22° up

1/2" [13mm], 22° down

This is where your Escapade should balance for ﬁ rst ﬂ ights. Later though, you may wish to experiment by shifting the C.G. up to 1/2" [12mm] f orward or 1/2" [12mm] back to change the ﬂ ying characteristics. Moving the C.G. forward will improve the smoothness and stability, but the Escapade will then be less aerobatic (which is ﬁ ne for less-experienced pilots). Moving the C.G. aft makes the Escapade more maneuverable and aerobatic for experienced pilots. In any case, start at the recommended balance point and do not at any time balance the model outside the speciﬁ ed range.

LOW RATE

ELEVATOR: 3/4" [19mm], 15° up

3/4" [19mm], 15° down RUDDER: 1-1/4" [32mm], 17° up

1-1/4" [32mm], 17° down AILERONS: 1/4" [6mm], 11° up

1/4" [6mm], 11° down

Balance the Model (C.G.)

More than any other factor, the C.G. (balance point) can have the greatest effect on how a model ﬂ ies, and may determine whether or not your ﬁ rst ﬂ ight will be successful. If y ou v alue this model and wish to enjo y it for many ﬂ ights, DO NOT OVERLOOK THIS IMPORTANT PROCEDURE. A model that is not properly balanced will be unstable and possibly unﬂ yable.

At this stage the model should be in ready-to-ﬂ y condition with all of the systems in place including the complete radio system, engine, mufﬂ er, propeller, spinner and landing gear. If you’ve built the electric version, install the motor battery. If you’ve built the glow version, the fuel tank should be empty.

❏ 2. Cut 1/2" [13mm] from both nylon wing bolts (this will

keep them from interfering with the elevator and rudder servos inside the fuselage). Bolt the wing to the fuselage. Place the model upside-down on the C.G. Machine or lift it by your ﬁ ngers at the marks you made.

2-1/2" [63mm]

GREAT PLANES C.G. MACHINE

❏ 3. With the wing attached to the fuselage, all parts of the

model installed (ready to ﬂ y as previously described), place the model upside-down on a Great Planes C.G. Machine, or lift it upside-down at the balance point you marked.

❏ 4. If the tail drops, the model is “tail heavy” and weight

must be added to the nose to balance. If the nose drops, the model is “nose heavy” and weight must be added to the tail to balance. If additional weight is required, nose weight may be easily added by using a “spinner weight” (GPMQ4645 for the 1 oz. [28g] weight, or GPMQ4646 for the 2 oz. [57g] weight). If spinner weight is not practical or is not enough, use Great Planes (GPMQ4485) “stick-on” lead. A good place to add stick-on nose weight is to the front or back of the ﬁ rewall (don’t attach weight to the fuselage sides forward of the ﬁ rewall—it is not intended to support weight). Begin b y placing incrementally increasing amounts of weight on the bottom of the fuselage over the ﬁ rewall until the model balances. Once you have determined the amount of weight required, it can be permanently attached. If required, tail weight may be added by removing the stab and ﬁ n and permanently gluing it to the bottom of the stab between the fuselage sides.

❏ 1. If using a Great Planes C.G. Machine to balance the

model, set the rulers to 2-1/2" [63mm]. If not using a C.G. Machine, join the wings and use a ﬁ ne-point felt tip pen to mark a line on the top of wings on both sides of the fuselage 2-1/2" [63mm] back from the leading edge.

Note: Do not rely upon the adhesiv e on the back of the lead weight to permanently hold it in place. Over time, fuel and exhaust residue may soften the adhesive and cause the weight to fall off . Use #2 sheet metal screws, R TV silicone or epoxy to permanently hold the weight in place.

❏ 5. IMPORTANT: If you found it necessary to add any weight,

recheck the C.G. after the weight has been installed.

Page 24

Balance the Model Laterally

❏ 1. With the wing le vel, lift the model by the engine propeller

shaft and the bottom of the fuselage under the trailing edge of the ﬁ n. Do this several times.

❏ 2. If one wing always drops when you lift the model, it means

that side is heavy . Balance the airplane by adding weight to the other wing tip. An airplane that has been laterall y balanced

will track better in loops and other maneuvers.

PREFLIGHT

Identify Y our Model

No matter if you ﬂ y at an AMA sanctioned R/C club site or if you ﬂ y somewhere on your own, you should always have your name, address, telephone number and AMA number on or inside your model. It is required at all AMA R/C club ﬂ ying sites and AMA sanctioned ﬂ ying events. Fill out the identiﬁ cation tag on the decal sheet and place it on or inside your model.

Balance Propellers

Carefully balance your propeller and spare propellers before you ﬂ y. An unbalanced prop can be the single most signiﬁ cant cause of vibration that can damage your model. Not only will engine mounting screws and bolts loosen, possibly with disastrous effect, but vibration may also damage your radio receiver and battery. Vibration can also cause your fuel to foam, which will, in turn, cause your engine to run hot or quit.

We use a Top Flite Precision Magnetic Prop Balancer (TOPQ5700) in the workshop and keep a Great Planes Fingertip Prop Balancer (GPMQ5000) in our ﬂ ight box.

Charge the Batteries

Follow the battery charging instructions that came with your radio control system to charge the batteries. You should always charge your transmitter and receiver batteries the night before you go ﬂ ying, and at other times as recommended by the radio manufacturer.

CAUTION: Unless the instructions that came with your radio system state differently, the initial charge on new transmitter and receiver batteries should be done for 15 hours using the slow-charger that came with the radio system. This will “condition” the batteries so that the next charge may be done using the fast-charger of y our choice . If the initial charge is done with a fast-charger the batteries may not reach their full capacity and you ma y be ﬂ ying with batteries that are only partially charged.

Ground Check & Range Check

If using a glow engine, run the engine for a few minutes to make sure it idles reliably, transitions smoothly and maintains full power indeﬁ nitely. If using an electric motor, make sure the motor runs smooth at all RPMs including full-throttle. Afterward, inspect the model closely, making sure all fasteners, pushrods and connections hav e remained tight and the hinges are secure. Always ground check the operational range of your radio before the ﬁ rst ﬂ ight of the day following the manufacturer’ s instructions that came with your radio . This should be done once with the engine off and once with the engine (or motor) running at various speeds. If the control surfaces do not respond correctly , do not ﬂ y! Find and correct the problem ﬁ rst. Look for loose servo connections or broken wires, corroded wires on old servo connectors, poor solder joints in your battery pack or a defective cell, or a damaged receiver crystal from a previous crash.

Page 25

ENGINE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

AMA SAFETY CODE (excerpts)

Failure to follow these safety precautions may result in severe injury to yourself and others.

Keep all engine fuel in a safe place, away from high heat, sparks or ﬂ ames, as fuel is very ﬂ ammable. Do not smoke near the engine or fuel; and remember that engine exhaust gives off a great deal of deadly carbon monoxide. Therefore , do not run the engine in a closed room or garage.

Get help from an experienced pilot when learning to operate engines.

Use safety glasses when starting or running engines. Do not run the engine in an area of loose gravel or sand; the

propeller may throw such material in your face or eyes. Keep your f ace and body as w ell as all spectators a wa y from

the plane of rotation of the propeller as you start and run the engine.

Keep these items away from the prop: loose clothing, shirt sleeves, ties, scarfs, long hair or loose objects such as pencils or screwdrivers that may fall out of shirt or jacket pockets into the prop.

Use a “chicken stick” or electric starter to start the engine. Do not use your ﬁ ngers to ﬂ ip the propeller. Mak e certain the glow plug clip or connector is secure so that it will not pop off or otherwise get into the running propeller.

Make all engine adjustments from behind the rotating propeller.

The engine gets hot! Do not touch it during or right after operation. Make sure fuel lines are in good condition so fuel will not leak onto a hot engine, causing a ﬁ re.

To stop a glow engine, cut off the fuel supply by closing off the fuel line or following the engine manufacturer’s recommendations. Do not use hands, ﬁ ngers or any other body part to try to stop the engine. To stop a gasoline powered engine an on/off switch should be connected to the engine coil. Do not throw anything into the propeller of a running engine.

Read and abide by the following excerpts from the Academy of Model Aeronautics Safety Code. For the complete Safety Code refer to Model A viation magazine, the AMA web site or the Code that came with your AMA license.

General

1) I will not ﬂ y my model aircraft in sanctioned ev ents, air shows, or model ﬂ ying demonstrations until it has been proven to be airworthy by having been pre viously, successfully ﬂ ight tested.

2) I will not ﬂ y my model aircraft higher than approximately 400 feet within 3 miles of an airport without notifying the airport operator. I will giv e right-of-wa y and av oid ﬂ ying in the proximity of full-scale aircraft. Where necessary , an observer shall be utilized to supervise ﬂ ying to avoid ha ving models ﬂ y in the proximity of full-scale aircraft.

3) Where established, I will abide by the safety rules for the ﬂ ying site I use, and I will not willfully and deliberately ﬂ y my models in a careless, reckless and/or dangerous manner.

5) I will not ﬂ y my model unless it is identiﬁ ed with my name and address or AMA number, on or in the model. Note: This does not apply to models while being ﬂ own indoors.

7) I will not operate models with pyrotechnics (any device that explodes, burns, or propels a projectile of any kind).

Radio Control

1) I will have completed a successful radio equipment ground check before the ﬁ rst ﬂ ight of a new or repaired model.

2) I will not ﬂ y my model aircraft in the presence of spectators until I become a qualiﬁ ed ﬂ ier, unless assisted by an experienced helper.

3) At all ﬂ ying sites a straight or curved line(s) must be established in front of which all ﬂ ying takes place with the other side for spectators. Only personnel involved with ﬂ ying the aircraft are allowed at or in the front of the ﬂ ight line. Intentional ﬂ ying behind the ﬂ ight line is prohibited.

4) I will operate my model using only radio control frequencies currently allowed by the F ederal Communications Commission.

5) I will not knowingly operate my model within three

miles of any pre-existing ﬂ ying site except in accordance with the frequency sharing agreement listed (in the

complete AMA Safety Code).

9) Under no circumstances may a pilot or other person touch a powered model in ﬂ ight; nor should any part of the

model other than the landing gear, intentionally touch the ground, except while landing.

Page 26

CHECK LIST

FLYING

During the last few moments of preparation your mind may be elsewhere anticipating the excitement of the ﬁ rst ﬂ ight. Because of this, you may be more likely to overlook certain checks and procedures that should be performed before the model is ﬂ own. To help avoid this, a check list is provided to make sure these important areas are not overlooked. Man y are covered in the instruction manual, so where appropriate, refer to the manual for complete instructions. Be sure to check the items off as they are completed.

❏ 1. Be certain you have checked and set the C .G. according

to the measurements provided in the manual.

❏ 2. Be certain the battery and receiver are securely

mounted. Simply stufﬁ ng them into place with foam rubber is not sufﬁ cient.

❏ 3. If using a radio on 72MHz, extend the receiver

antenna down through the antenna tube inside the fuselage. If using a radio on 2.4GHz, make sure the antenna(s) are mounted and oriented as suggested in the instructions that came with the radio system.

❏ 4. Make sure the model has been balanced laterally as

explained in the instructions.

❏. 5. Use threadlocking compound to secure critical

fasteners such as the screws that hold the wheel collars to the axles, screws that hold the carburetor arm (if applicable), motor/engine mount bolts, etc.

❏ 6. Add a drop of oil to the axles so the wheels will

turn freely.

❏ 7. Make sure all hinges are securely glued in place by

tugging on the control surfaces.

❏ 8. Reinforce holes for wood screws with thin CA

where appropriate (servo mounting screws, aileron control horns).

❏ 9. Conﬁ rm that all controls operate in the correct direction

and the throws are set up according to the manual.

❏ 10. Make sure there are silicone retainers on all the

clevises and that all servo arms are secured to the servos with the screws included with your radio.

❏ 11. Secure connections between servo wires and

Y-connectors or servo extensions, and the connection between your battery pack and the on/off switch with vinyl tape, heat shrink tubing or special clips suitable for that purpose.

❏ 12. Make sure any servo extension cords you may have

used do not interfere with other systems (servo arms, pushrods, etc.).

❏ 13. Make sure the fuel lines are connected and are

not kinked.

❏ 14. Balance your propeller (and spare propellers). ❏ 15. Tighten the propeller nut and spinner. ❏ 16. Place your name, address, AMA number and telephone

number on or inside your model.

❏ 17. Make sure your receiver battery pack is fully charged. ❏ 18. If you wish to photograph your model, do so before

your ﬁ rst ﬂ ight.

❏19. Range check your radio when you get to the

ﬂ ying ﬁ eld.

The Escapade is a great-ﬂ ying model that ﬂ ies smoothly and predictably. The Escapade does not, however, possess the same self-recovery characteristics of a primary R/C trainer and should be ﬂ own only by pilots who have at least been checked out on a high-wing trainer.

CAUTION (THIS APPLIES TO ALL R/C AIRPLANES): If, while ﬂ ying, you notice an alarming or unusual sound such as a low-pitched “buzz,” this may indicate control surface ﬂ utter. Flutter occurs when a control surface (such as an aileron or elevator) or a ﬂ ying surface (such as a wing or stab) rapidly vibrates up and down (thus causing the noise). In extreme cases, if not detected immediately, ﬂ utter can actually cause the control surface to detach or the ﬂ ying surface to fail, thus causing loss of control followed by an impending crash. The best thing to do when ﬂ utter is detected is to slo w the model immediately by reducing power , then land as soon as saf ely possible. Identify which surface ﬂ uttered (so the problem may be resolved) by checking all the servo grommets for deterioration or signs of vibration. Make certain all pushrod linkages are secure and free of play. If it ﬂ uttered once, under similar circumstances it will probably ﬂ utter again unless the problem is ﬁ xed. Some things which can cause ﬂ utter are; Excessive hinge gap; Not mounting control horns solidly; Poor ﬁ t of clevis pin in horn; Side-play of wire pushrods caused by large bends; Excessiv e free play in servo gears; Insecure servo mounting; and one of the most prevalent causes of ﬂ utter; Flying an o ver-powered model at excessiv e speeds .

Takeoff

The Escapade is an ordinary low-wing trainer/sport model, so there is nothing particular you will have to be “on guard” for. But if you’re a relatively new R/C pilot here are a few suggestions for getting your Escapade “up” and “down” without any mishaps;

Make a few practice runs up and down the runway to see if the tail wheel is centered so the model will track straight on the ground—this is a little more important on paved runways where the steering is more sensitive than on grass. A slight amount of “veer” is okay because that can be controlled by the rudder, but if the model veers too far you should use pliers to bend the tail gear wire as necessary.

Remember to take off into the wind. Advance the throttle moderately, but smoothly. When the model reaches an acceptable ﬂ ying speed (which it will do in a matter of seconds) gently apply “up” elevator lifting the model into the air. During the takeoff run and initial climbout, the model may require a slight amount of right rudder to counter engine torque.

Allow the model to establish a safe , gentle climb—don’t “jerk” the model into the air and don’t make a steep climbout until you know how the model will react. Now is the time to be smooth and in control.

Page 27

Flight

Landing

For reassurance and to keep an eye on other trafﬁ c, it is a good idea to have an assistant on the ﬂ ight line with you. Tell him to remind you to throttle back once the plane gets to a comfortable altitude. While full throttle may be desirable for takeoff, most models ﬂ y more smoothly at reduced speeds.

If you’ re a less-experienced modeler , y our ﬁ rst priority will be to throttle back to reach a comfortable ﬂ ying speed where the model will react somewhat slower than it would at fullthrottle. The next priority will be to adjust the trims to get the model to ﬂ y straight-and-level.

Once the model has been trimmed, continue to ﬂ y around for a few minutes getting used to how the model performs. Test the model’s response to the high and low rate settings. After ﬂ ying around for a while (and while still at a saf e altitude with plenty of fuel) practice slow ﬂ ight and execute practice landing approaches by reducing the throttle to see how the model handles at slower speeds. Add power to see how the model climbs as well. Continue to ﬂ y around, executing various maneuvers and making mental notes (or having y our assistant write them down) of what trim or C.G. changes may be required to ﬁ ne tune the model so it ﬂ ies the way you like . Mind your fuel lev el, but use this ﬁ rst ﬂ ight to become familiar with your model before landing.

When you’re ready to land, lower the throttle while on the downwind leg. Allow the nose to pitch downward gradually bleeding off altitude but maintaining air speed. Make a 180° turn into the wind and line up with the runway keeping the nose down all the while maintaining airspeed and control. Level the attitude when the model reaches the runway adding power as necessary to maintain your glide path and airspeed. If you are going to overshoot, smoothly advance the throttle and climb out to make another attempt. When you’re ready to make your landing ﬂ are and the model is a foot or so off the deck, smoothly increase up elevator until it gently touches down. Once the model is on the runway and has lost ﬂ ying speed, hold up elev ator to place the tail on the ground, regaining tail wheel control.

One ﬁ nal note about ﬂ ying your Escapade. Have a goal or ﬂ ight plan in mind for every ﬂ ight. This can be learning a new maneuver(s), improving a maneuver(s) you already know, or learning how the model behaves in certain conditions (such as on high or low rates). This is not necessarily to improve your skills (though it is never a bad idea!), but more importantly so you do not surprise yourself by impulsively attempting a maneuver and suddenly ﬁ nding that you’ve run out of time, altitude or airspeed. Every maneuver should be deliberate, not impulsive. F or e xample, if y ou’ re going to do a loop, check y our altitude, mind the wind direction (anticipating rudder corrections that will be required to maintain heading), remember to throttle back at the top, and make certain you are on the desired rates (high/low rates). A ﬂ ight plan greatly reduces the chances of crashing your model just because of poor planning and impulsive moves. Remember to think.

Have a ball!

But always stay in control and ﬂ y in a safe manner.

GOOD LUCK AND GREAT FLYING!

Page 28

BUILDING NOTES

Kit Purchased Date: ___________________________

Where Purchased: ____________________________ Date Construction Started: _____________________

FLIGHT LOG

Date Construction Finished: _______________________

Finished Weight: _______________________________ Date of First Flight: ______________________________