Great Planes GPMA1272 User Manual

INSTRUCTION

MANUAL

™

SPECIFICATIONS

Wingspan:

Length:
Weight:

Wing Area:

Wing Loading:

59 in [1500mm]
58 in [1475mm]

6.5 – 7.25 lb [2950 – 3290 g]

2

912 in
16– 18 oz/ ft

[58.8 dm2]

2

[49– 55 g/dm2]

Radio: 4-channel minimum

with 5-6 servos
and standard size
receiver

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-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

Engine: .55-.65 [ 9-10.5 cc]

two-stroke glow engine or .82
[13.5 cc] four-stroke glow engine

Electric

Power:

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:

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.

RimFire™ .80, (50-55-500)
Outrunner Brushless

Hobby Services

READ THROUGH THIS MANUAL BEFORE STARTING CONSTRUCTION. IT CONTAINS IMPORTANT

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

Entire Contents © 2013 Hobbico,® Inc. All rights reserved.

Champaign, Illinois

[phone], Ext 5

[e-mail]

GPMA1272 Mnl

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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

Academy of Model Aeronautics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

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

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

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

Glow Engine Recommendations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Brushless Motor Recommendations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

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

Required Hardware & Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Adhesives and Building Supplies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

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

Building Stand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

IMPORTANT BUILDING NOTES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

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

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

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

PREPARATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

INSTALL THE AILERON SERVOS,

PUSHRODS AND BELLY PAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

INSTALL THE TAIL SECTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

INSTALL THE MAIN LANDING GEAR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

INSTALL THE POWER SYSTEM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Brushless Motor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Glow Engine. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

INSTALL THE RECEIVER, BATTERY, AND SWITCH. . . 20

FINISH THE MODEL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Optional Side Force Generators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Apply the Decals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

GET THE MODEL READY TO FLY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Check the Control Directions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Set the Control Throws. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Proper Pushrod Hookup; Avoiding Flutter,

Maximizing Servo Output Torque . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Balance the Model (C.G.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Balance the Model Laterally. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

PREFLIGHT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Identify Your Model. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Charge the Batteries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Balance Propellers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Ground Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Range Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

ENGINE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

AMA SAFETY CODE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Radio Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

CHECK LIST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

FLYING. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Fuel Mixture Adjustments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Takeoff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Flight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Landing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

3D Flying . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

INTRODUCTION

The U-Can-Do SF has the impressive fl ight characteristics

of the original version with a refi ned design to speed up
assembly, a fresh appearance with a new trim scheme, and
now the provisions for a brushless setup. Like all of the latest

Great Planes ARFs, many of the tasks typically required to

be done during assembly have already been completed for

you at the factory including pre-hinged ailerons and rudder,

pre-glued canopy, and trimmed covering.

For the latest technical updates or manual corrections to

the Great Planes U-Can-Do SF ARF visit the Great Planes

web site at www.greatplanes.com. Open the “Airplanes” link,

then select the U-Can-Do SF 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.

Academy of Model Aeronautics

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 fl y at AMA clubs.

Though joining the AMA provides many benefi ts, one of the

primary reasons to join is li abilit y protection. Coverage is not
limited to fl ying at contests or on the club fi eld . It even appli es
to fl ying 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 country. 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!!! 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.

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

Protect Your Model, Yourself & Others…

Follow These Important Safety Precautions

1. Your U-Can-Do SF 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 U-Can-Do SF, if not assembled and operated
cor rectly, could p o s sibly cause injury to yourself or s pec tators

and damage to property.

2

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 fi rst-class
condition, and a correctly sized engine and components (fuel
tank, wheels, etc.) throughout the building process.

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

fl ight to ensure 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 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.

8. 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.

9. 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 to
remove fi berglass dust, as the dust will blow back into your
eyes. Always wear safet y goggles, a par ticle mask an d 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 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.

DECISIONS YOU MUST MAKE

This is a partial list of items required to fi nish the U-Can-Do SF

that may require planning or decision making b efore star ting
to build. Order numbers are provided in parentheses.

standard sized servos and an additional standard torque servo
if you are installing a glow engine.

For maximum 3D performance, we recommend using digital

servos with at least 72 oz.-in. [5.2 kg-cm] of torque.

In addition, two 12" [305mm] servo extensions are required
for the aileron servos and three 24" [610mm] servo extensions
are required for the tail servos. A 6" [152mm] servo extension

is required for the ESC if you are installing a brushless motor.
If you are using a radio system that does not support mixing
functions, a Y-harness will also be required to connect the
aileron servos to the receiver. You will also need a reversing

Y-harness to reverse the rotation of one of the elevator

servos in order for both elevator halves to move together in
the same direction.

Recommended part numbers for the radio components are

provided below:

❍ Futaba S3010 Standard High-Torque BB Servo

(FUTM0043)

❍ Futaba S3050 Digital Standard High Torque BB MG

Servo (FUTM0300)

❍ Futaba S3004 Standard Ball Bearing Servo

(FUTM0004)

❍ Hobbico 6" Extension Futaba J (HCAM2000)

❍ Hobbico 12" Extension Futaba J (HCAM2100)

❍ Hobbico 24" Extension Futaba J (HCAM2200)

❍ Futaba Dual Servo Extension 6" J (FUTM4130)

❍ EMS Servo Reverser Futaba J (EMOM0027)

❍ Ernst Charge Receptacle Futaba J FM (ERNM3001)

❍ Futaba SWH13 Switch Harness & Charge Cord Mini J

(FUTM4370)

❍ Great Planes Heat Shrink Tubing 3/8x3" (3)

(GPMM1060)

If you plan to install a brushless motor, the availability of space
on the battery tray will limit you to a standard 4.8V receiver

battery (larger batteries may fi t inside the fuselage but there
are no provisions for mounting them). If you installed a glow
engine, a standard 4.8V receiver battery or a high energy

6.6V LiFe battery can be used. The high energy density and

6.6V nominal voltage rating would be a good match for this
3D model. The installation of a LiFe battery is shown in the

manual. A charger capable of safely charging a LiFe battery

is also required. Recommended part numbers are provided:

❍ Hobbico HydriMax NiMH 4-Cell 4.8V 2000mAh Flat

AA Rx U (HCAM6321)

❍ Hobbico LiFeSource LiFe 6.6V 2100mAh 10C

Receiver U (HCAM6436)

❍ Hobbico LiFeSource AC/DC Balancing Charger 1S-

3S (HCAM6375)

Glow Engine Recommendations

Radio Equipment

The U-Can-Do SF requires a minimum 4-channel radio system

with a minimum of fi ve 72 oz.-in. [5.2 kg-cm] minimum torque

The recommended engine/motor size for the U-Can-Do SF is

a .55 –.65 cu in [ 9 –10.5cc] two-stroke engine or .82 [13.5cc]
four-stroke engine. Choose a propeller based on the engine

3

manufacturer’s recommendation. The order number for the
recommended engine is provided below. If you plan to install
the recommended O.S. engine, we found that the APC 13x6
propeller works well.

❍ O.S. 65AX ABL w/Muffl er (OSMG0558)
❍ APC 13x6 Sport Propeller (APCQ1306)

Brushless Motor Recommendations

If you are planning on using electric power, we recommend

the RimFire .80 brushless motor and a 60A ESC. A 15x6
electric propeller is a good choice with the recommended
motor. Many batter ies will work as a fl ight battery. We suggest
the 22.2V 3350mAh EON-X Flight Power pack. Part numbers
are provided below:

❍ Great Planes RimFire .80 50-55-500 Outrunner

Brushless (GPMG4740)

❍ Great Planes Silver Series 60A Brushless ESC High

Volt (GPMM1850 )

❍ APC 15x6 Thin Electric Propeller (APCQ1505)
❍ FlightPower LiPo EON-X 30 6S 22.2V 3350mAh 30C

(FPWP6358)

It is recommended to make a battery lead extension if

installing a brushless motor. Part numbers needed to make
the extension are as follows:

❍ W.S. Deans® Female Ultra Plug® w/Pigtail

(WSDM3010)

❍ W.S. Deans® Male Ultra Plug® (2) (WSDM1302)

If you need a charger for your fl ight b at ter y, we sugges t either

the Triton EQ or Triton 2 EQ. Both are very versatile chargers
that can charge virtually any hobby battery currently available.

❍ Great Planes ElectriFly Triton EQ AC/DC Charger

(GPMM3155)

❍ Great Planes ElectriFly Triton2 EQ AC/DC Charger

(GPMM3156)

ADDITIONAL ITEMS REQUIRED

Required Hardware & Accessories

This is the list of hardware and accessories required to fi nish

the U-Can-Do SF. Order numbers are provided in parentheses:

❍ R/C foam rubber 1/4" [6mm] (HCAQ1000)
❍ 3' [900mm] standard silicone fuel tubing (GPMQ4131)

(glow engine only)

Adhesives and Building Supplies

This is the list of Adhesives and Building Supplies that are

required to fi nish the U-Can-Do SF ARF:

❍ 1/2 oz. [15g] Thin Pro CA (GPMR6001)
❍ Pro 6-minute or 30-minute epoxy (GPMR6045 or

GPMR6047)

❍ Threadlocker thread locking cement (GPMR6060)
❍ Denatured alcohol (for epoxy clean up)

❍ Drill bits: 1/16" [1.6 mm], 5/64" [2 mm], 3/32" [2.4 mm],

1/8" [3.2 mm], 11/64" [4.4 mm ]

❍ Rotary tool with cutting bit
❍ Great Planes Heat Shrink Tubing 3/8x3" (3)

(GPMM1060)

❍ Revell Premium Soft Handle Knife w/Blades (5)

(RMXR6900)

❍ Top Flite MonoKote sealing iron (TOPR2100)
❍ Top Flite Hot Sock iron cover (TOPR2175)
❍ Panel Line Pen (TOPQ2510)
❍ Hobbico Steel T-Pins 1" (100) (HCAR5100)
❍ Small clamps
❍ Masking tape
❍ Household oil

Optional Supplies and Tools

Here is a list of optional tools that will help you build the
U-Can-Do SF ARF:

❍ 1/2 oz. [15g] Thick Pro CA- (GPMR6013)
❍ 1/2 oz. [15g] Medium Pro CA+ (GPMR6007)
❍ 2 oz. [57g] spray CA activator (GPMR6035)
❍ 4 oz. [113g] aerosol CA activator (GPMR6034)
❍ CA applicator tips (HCAR3780)
❍ CA debonder (GPMR6039)
❍ Epoxy brushes 6, (GPMR8060)
❍ Mixing sticks (GPMR8055)
❍ Mixing cups (GPMR8056)
❍ Pliers with wire cutter (HCAR0630)
❍ T.A. Emerald Performance Duster Compressed Air

(TAEC1060)

❍ Servo horn drill (HCAR0698)
❍ Hobby Heat micro torch II (HCAR0755)
❍ Dead Center™ Engine Mount Hole Locator

(GPMR8130)

❍ DuraTrax Ultimate Body Reamer (DTXR1157)
❍ Precision Magnetic Prop Balancer (TOPQ5700)
❍ AccuThrow Defl ection Gauge (GPMR2405)
❍ CG Machine (GPMR2400)
❍ Hobbico Flexible 18" Ruler Stainless Steel

(HCAR0460)

❍ Top Flite MonoKote trim seal iron (TOPR2200)
❍ Top Flite MonoKote heat gun (TOPR2000)
❍ Hobbico Pin Vise 1/16 Collet w/6 Bits (HCAR0696)
❍ Hobbico 8-Piece Ball Tip Hex L Wrench SAE

(HCAR0520)

❍ Hobbico 7-Piece Ball Tip Hex L Wrench Metric

(HCAR0521)

❍ Great Planes Clevis Installation Tool (GPMR8030)
❍ Great Planes Precision Prop Reamer Standard

(GPMQ5006)

❍ Great Planes Precision Prop Reamer Metric

(GPMQ5007)

4

Building Stand

A building stand or cradle comes in handy during the build.
We use the Robart Super Stand II (ROBP1402) for all our

projects in R&D, and it can be seen in pictures throughout
this manual.

IMPORTANT BUILDING NOTES

● When you see the term test fi t in the instructions, it means

that you should fi rst position the part on the assembly

without using any glue, then slightly modify or custom

fi t the part as necessary for the best fi t.

● Whenever the term glue is written you should rely upon

your experience to dec ide what type of glue to use. When
a specifi c type of adhesive works best for that step, the
instructions will make a recommendation.

● Whenever just epoxy is specifi ed you may use either

30-minute (or 45-minute) epoxy or 6-minu te epox y. When
30-minute epoxy is specifi ed it is highly recommended that
you use only 30-minute (or 45-minute) epoxy, 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 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.

KIT INSPECTION

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 Ph: [phone], ext. 5
Champaign, IL 61822 Fax: [phone]

E-mail: [e-mail]

ORDERING REPLACEMENT PARTS

Replacement parts for the Great Planes U-Can-Do SF are
available using the order numbers 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.

hobbic o.com. Ch o ose “ W here to Buy” at th e b ottom of the me n u
on the left side of the page. Follow the instructions provided
on the page to locate a U.S., Canadian or International dealer.

Parts may also be ordered directly from Hobby Services by

calling [phone], or via facsimile at [phone], 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, in c lude a Visa or Master Card num b er and
expiration date for payment.

Mail parts orders Hobby Services
and payments by 3002 N Apollo Drive, Suite 1
personal check to: 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 [phone].

REPLACEMENT PARTS LIST

Order No. Description

GPMA4335
GPMA4336
GPMA4337
GPMA4338
GPMA4339
GPMA4340
GPMA4341
GPMA4342
GPMA4343
GPMA4344
GPMA4345
GPMA4346
GPMA4347

Fuselage
Wing / Ailerons
Horizontal Stabilizer / Elevators
Fin / Rudder
Cowl
Hatch
Landing Gear
Wheel Pants
Spinner
EP Motor Mount
Side Force Plates
Pushrods
Tail Wheel Assembly

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

5

CUT OFF

UNUSED

ARMS

KIT CONTENTS

3

1

89

10

13 13

12

11

4

2

7

6

5

Kit Contents

1.

Cowl

2.

Fuselage

3.

Canopy Hatch

4.

Wing / Ailerons

5.

Vertical Fin / Rudder

6.

Horizontal Stabilizer

7.

Elevator Halves

8.

Fuel Tank

9.

Spinner

10.

Engine Mount

11.

Landing Gear

12.

Wheels

13.

Side Force Generator

PREPARATIONS

1. If you have not done so already, remove the major parts

❏

of the kit from the box and inspect for damage. If any parts
are damaged or missing, contact Product Support at the
address or telephone number listed in the “Kit Inspection”
section on page 5.

INSTALL THE AILERON SERVOS,

PUSHRODS AND BELLY PAN

❏

Use a covering ir o n with a covering sock on high h eat to t i ghten

th e covering if ne c e s sar y. Apply pres sure over sheeted areas
to thoroughly bond the covering to the wood.

2. Remove the tape and separate all the control surfaces.

1. Center your aileron servos with your radio system.

❏

Test fi t four-armed servo arms onto the servos to determine

their best orientation so that the arms are closest to being

6

perpendicular with the servo case. Cut three arms from each

Hinge Line Hinge Line

Correct Incorrect

servo arm leaving one arm on each servo that matches
the photo. Enlarge the outer hole of each remaining arm

with a 5/64" [2mm] drill bit. Attach a 12" [305mm] servo

extension to each servo. Secure the connection using tape,
heat shrink tubing (not included) or special clips designed for
that purpose. Install the rubber grommets and eyelets onto
the servo mounting tabs.

4. Fit the servos into the servo openings and drill 1/16"

❏

[1.6mm] holes through the mounting tabs on the servo cases

into the rails. Thread a servo mounting screw (included with
th e servo) into each h ole and back it out. Apply a dro p of thin
CA to each hole to harden the surrounding wood. When the
CA has dried, install the servos into the openings as shown
using the screws supplied with the servos.

2. Tie the string ends that are taped inside the wings at

❏

the aileron servo bays to the servo extension connectors.

5. Thread a nylon clevis onto two 12" [305 mm] pushrods 20

❏

com p lete turns. At tac h each clev is to the middle hole of a large

control horn. Cut off the bottom corner of each control horn.

3. Reach into the hole in the center of the top of the wing

❏

with slender needle nose pliers and grab the string. Pull the

string through the hole. Use the string to pull the servo leads
through the wing and out the hole.

6. Position a control horn onto the aileron aligning the

❏

pushrod with the outer hole of the aileron servo arm. Position

7

the control horns over the hardwood blocks in the ailerons

Servo Horn

1/16" [1.6 mm]

Pushrod Wire

FasLink

(if you cannot see them, hold the aileron at a shallow angle

in good lighting or use a small pin to puncture the covering).

When satisfi ed, use a felt-tip pen to mark the location of the

control horn mounting holes onto the aileron. Repeat this
step for the other aileron.

7. Drill 5/64" [2mm] holes at the marks you made. Thread

❏

a #4 x 5/8" [16mm] self-tapping screw into each hole and
back it out. Apply a dro p of thin CA to each hole to harden the
surrounding wood. Install the control horns onto the ailerons
using eight #4 x 5/8" [16mm] screws.

8. With the ailerons in the neutral position (use tape or

❏

small clamps to hold them in place), mark the pushrod wires

where they cross the outer holes in the servo arms.

9. Clean the area of the pushrods between the marks

❏

you made and the threads with a paper towel dampened
with denatured alcohol. Apply a thin coating of epoxy onto

the pushrods from the end of the threads to approximately
3/4" [19mm] from your marks. Slide the two 4-1/8" [105mm]
carbon tubes over the pushrods up to the pushrod threads.

Wipe away any excess epoxy with denatured alcohol and

allow the epoxy to cure undisturbed.

10. Make a 90 degree bend at the mark on each pushrod

❏

and cut off the excess pushrod 1/4" [6mm] ends beyond the

bends. Attach the pushrods to the servo arms using nylon
FasLinks. Thread the clevises up or down on the pushrods
as necessary to center the ailerons with the servo arms still

perpendicular to the servo cases. When satisfi ed, slide silicone

clevis retainers onto the ends of the clevises to secure them.

8

11. Locate the two nylon wing dowels. Coat the grooved

❏

ends with epoxy and fi t the dowels into the holes at the leading
edge of the wing as far as they will fi t into the holes. Wipe
away any excess epoxy with denatured alcohol.

13. Remove the covering between the lines you drew.

❏

HOW TO CUT COVERING FROM BALSA

Use a soldering iron to cut the covering from the stab. The
tip of the soldering iron doesn’t have to be sharp, but a fi ne
tip does work best. Allow the iron to heat fully.

12. Mount the wing onto the fuselage using two 1/4-20 nylon

❏

wing bolts. Fit the belly pan onto the underside of the wing,

align it with the fuselage and temporarily tape it into place.

Use a felt-tip pen to trace around the belly pan onto the wing.

Use a straightedge to guide the soldering iron at a rate that
will just melt the covering and not burn into the wood. The
hotter the soldering iron, the faster it must travel to melt a
fi ne cut. Peel off the covering.

14. Use epoxy to glue the belly pan to the wing. Take care

❏

not to glue the belly pan to the fuselage. It is recommended
to separate the forward and aft ends of the belly pan and
fuselage with wax paper before gluing it in place.

9

INSTALL THE TAIL SECTION

C

C = D

D

Pull the stab from the fuselage and remove the covering 1/16"

[1.6mm] inside your lines using the same technique you used
on the wing.

3. Coat the exposed wood with 30-minute epoxy (although

❏

messy, a more reliable glue joint can be attained if you also

coat the inside edges of the stab pocket). Reinstall the stab and

properly posi tion it in t he pocket. Wipe away any exc ess epoxy
with denatured alcohol and let the epoxy cure undisturbed.
When cured, the wing can be removed from the fuselage
and set aside as it will not be needed until the fi nal set up
of the plane.

1. Insert the horizontal stabilizer into the stabilizer slot and

❏

center it left and right. Align the stab so the distance between
the wing tips and stab tips are equal on both sides. Now, with
the wing still in place, stand behind the model approximately

10 feet [3m] and confi rm that the stab sits parallel with the

wing. If not, weight can be added to to the high side while

gluing the stab in place, or the stab pocket can be lightly
sanded until the stab and wing sit parallel.

2. With the stab carefully aligned from the previous step,

❏

use a fi ne felt-tip pen to trace the outline of the fuselage onto
the stab. Mark the top and bottom of the stab.

4. Stick a T-pin or something simliar through the center of

❏

six CA hinges. Insert the hinges into the slots in the trailing
edge of the stab up to the pins. Install the elevator halves
onto the other ends of the hinges. Allow approximately 3/32"

[2.4mm] gap between the ends of the stab and the elevators.
Pull the p ins out, d e fl ect the elevator halves down and apply 6
to 7 drops of thin CA glue to the center of each hing e. Flip the

plane over and apply another 6 or 7 drops to the undersides
of the hinges. When the CA glue has dried, pull on each
elevator half to confi rm they are thoroughly glued in place.

10