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ASSEMBLY GUIDE
Royal Aircraft Factory
SE5a
Version 2
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Introduction
Thank you for purchasing this Microaces Aero Kit. Designed using innovative ideas,
advanced materials and detailed aircraft illustrations, this 1/24th scale aircraft will bring
you hours of building enjoyment and many more exciting ying hours too. Please take
your time to familiarise yourself with these instructions as the aircraft assembles in a
very unique way, following a sequence of steps that should be adhered too to ensure a
satisfactory and yable model.
Safety
Assembly
Warranty
Key
It is extremely important to us that you and those around you remain safe while building
and ying Microaces kits. Please take note of the following notices of safety. Microaces
Aero kits contain parts and packaging unsuitable for handling by small children. Please
ensure that children under the age of 6 years are prevented from handling the component
parts or packaging of this kit. Although the resulting model is lightweight, we DON’T
recommend that you y it near or over others where there is a danger of striking someone.
We DO recommend that the maiden ight is performed over long grass in calm weather
away from others.
Read all the instructions carefully before starting assembly.
It is important to use the recommended glues or an equivalent with similar properties.
Foam parts must be glued with a foam safe cement or permanent damage can result to
components. Ensure your knife has a fresh or sharp blade installed to ensure a clean cut.
Microaces warranties this kit is supplied with all components present and that those
components are free from cosmetic or structural damage to an extent that would impair
the assembly of the kit, alter the aesthetics of the built model and/or the ight performance
of the resulting model. If any parts are missing or damaged please contact us via email at:
[email protected]
Note (Information)
Attention
P01
Part Number
Contact Adhesive (Foam Safe)
Alphatic Resin (or Foam Safe CA)
Paint
Area of adhesion for glue
2
Do Not Glue
Score before assembly
Cut
Sanding Required
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KIT PARTS
Sheet Parts 1 x 2mm Laser cut foam airframe
1 x 1mm printed & laser cut foam fuselage
1 x 1mm printed & laser cut foam ight surfaces
1 x laser cut polypropylene parts sheet
1 x polyester sticker sheet
1 x 0.8mm laser cut plywood motor mount
Loose Parts
RECOMMENDED TOOLS/GLUES
2 x rubber tyres
1 x 4mm Ø plastic tube
6 x 3mm Ø x 1mm neodymium magnets
1 x 140mm x 0.4mm x 1mm carbon bre strip
2 x 500mm x 0.4mm x 1mm carbon bre strip
1 x 80mm x 1mm Ø carbon bre rod
1 x piano wire elevator control rod
1 x piano wire rudder control rod
1 x prole pilot gure
1 x Spectra rigging wire
Knife or Scalpel with fresh blade
Steel Rule or straight edge
Sanding Stick or sand paper (180 grit recommended)
Tweezers
Needle nose pliers
UHU por foam safe adhesive (For foam & plastic)
Aliphatic Resin or Foam safe cyano glue (for rigging & re-inforcement)
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2mm FOAM
4
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1mm FOAM
1mm FOAM
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PLASTIC PARTS
0.8mm PLYWOOD
PILOT
6
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STICKERS
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SCORING & BEVELING GUIDE #1
Method for scoring 1mm Foam
Using a straight edge as a
guide, score the foam with the
reverse side of a craft knife or a
ball point pen.
If you haven’t used this
technique before it is essential
that you practice using a scrap
or spare piece of 1mm Foam
prior to processing any kit
components.
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SCORING & BEVELING GUIDE #2
Method for scoring 1mm Foam
Using a straight edge as a guide, score the Foam with the reverse side of a craft knife or a ball point pen.
If you haven’t used this technique before it is essential that you practice using a scrap or spare piece of 1mm Foam
prior to processing any kit components.
Always score on the UNPRINTED side of
the Depron unless otherwise directed
!
SCORE
Z3
SCORE
Z8
evel 45°
B
Bevel 45°
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STAGE 1 AIRFRAME
The plastic parts used in the airframe are there to increase the strength of the structure in vital areas
whilst still providing some exibility.
Apply a thin layer of adhesive to the plastic part and attach immediately to allow some wiggle
time to get the parts lined up. Set aside to cure.
P2
P1
D9
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S1
D1
D3
P31
D8
D7
D6
D2
P32
D4
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STAGE 1 AIRFRAME
D10
D11
D5
Bevel & Score before installation See Scoring & Bevelling guide #1
P2
P2
Z2
P2
P2
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STAGE 1 AIRFRAME
Attach the fuselage skin in stages, checking at each stage that alignment is good.
Don’t forget, you can always dissolve UHU por with naphtha (lighter uid) applied to
joins with a small hobbyists paint brush if you want to start over!
Bevel & Score before installation See Scoring & Bevelling guide #1
Always Dry t before gluing
Z2
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STAGE 1 AIRFRAME
Score before installation See Scoring & Bevelling guide #2
Z3
Z8
Bevel & Score before installation See Scoring & Bevelling guide #2
S4s S5
S3p
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STAGE 2 TAIL
S6
Z4
Use existing score as cut guide.
140mm x 0.4mm x 1mm
carbon bre strip
S6
S6
S6
180°
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STAGE 2 TAIL
Z7
P3
Locate tab into slot
in fuselage
Z6
Z5
S7
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STAGE 3 DETAIL
==
Bevel & Score before installation See Scoring & Bevelling guide #2
Z12
P10
S35
17mm x 4mm Ø plastic tube
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STAGE 3 DETAIL
P25
S21
P26
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STAGE 4 LOWER WING
70mm x 0.4mm
x 1mm carbon
bre strip
Z11
D14
x2
D12
x2
D12
S11
S10
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STAGE 4 LOWER WING
D12
S9
D12
S42
S8
D12/S9
D12/S8
S43
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STAGE 4 LOWER WING
Bevel before installation See Scoring & Bevelling guide #2
Z13
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STAGE 5 UNDERCARRIAGE
S12
S14
53mm x 0.4mm x 1mm
carbon bre strip
33mm x 0.4mm
x 1mm carbon
bre strip
P6
S15
P4
S13
P5
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P7
Fold
Fold
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STAGE 5 UNDERCARRIAGE
S16
S25
Complex Stickers can
be applied by wetting
the adhesive side to aid
positioning
STAGE 6 STRUTS
P12
31mm x 0.4mm x 1mm
carbon bre strip
33mm x 0.4mm x 1mm
carbon bre strip
S23
S22
33mm x 0.4mm x 1mm
carbon bre strip
S25
P11
S24
31mm x 0.4mm x 1mm
carbon bre strip
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STAGE 6 STRUTS
S36
55mm x 0.4mm x 1mm
carbon bre strip
S35
P17
57mm x 0.4mm x 1mm
carbon bre strip
55mm x 0.4mm x 1mm
carbon bre strip
P16
57mm x 0.4mm x 1mm
carbon bre strip
S37
S38
P17
P16
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STAGE 7 RIGGING
Leave 70 - 100mm excess
to trim after tensioning
Leave 70 - 100mm excess
to trim after tensioning
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STAGE 8 UPPER WING
70mm x 0.4mm
x 1mm carbon
bre strip
Z16
D14
x2
D12
x2
D12
S27
S26
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STAGE 8 UPPER WING
D12
S29
D12
S28
D12/S29
S42
Z16a
D12/S28
S43
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STAGE 8 UPPER WING
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STAGE 9 RIGGING TENSION
Ensure correct alignment when tensioning the rigging
The rigging on the SE5a is functional. It strengthens and stabilises the wings to provide predictable ight
characteristics so is important to get right!
Tension the wire between struts. Because of the shape of the laser cut holes in the struts, you can lock the
thread at each point that it passes through a rigging hole.
Work on tensioning the wire on both sides of the aircraft simultaneously to help maintain symmetry.
Secure the end points of the rigging to the underside of the wing once happy with the tension using foam safe
CA or Aliphatic resin.
Check alignment visually then add a small amount of adhesive to each point where the rigging passes through
strut work.
Trim excess rigging with a fresh blade.
Glue bottom of both Interplane struts to lower wing ribs.
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STAGE10 CHIN
D18
D17
D16
P8
P9
P9
3mm Ø x 1mm Magnet’s
S20
3mm Ø x 1mm
Magnet
S19
S18
S17
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STAGE 11 ACCESS HATCH
Z21
P19
D20
D23
D22
D21
P18
P20
S30
Bevel & Score before installation See Scoring & Bevelling guide #2
Z20
Ensure the magnets are
correctly oriented before
installation. Do this by
matching them to the
magnets installed in the
chin before installing it
here.
3mm Ø x 1mm Magnet’s
Ensure the magnet
is correctly oriented
before installation. Do
this by matching it to the
magnet installed in the
fuselage before installing
it here.
P33
S17
SHAPE! SHAPE!
D25
P18
3mm Ø x 1mm Magnet
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STAGE 11 ACCESS HATCH
D25/P33
Position of D25/P33
C
C
B
B
A
A
A
A
B
B
C
C
S31
S31
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STAGE 11 ACCESS HATCH
P22
Use remaining 0.4mm x 1mm
Carbon bre to reinforce.
P21
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STAGE 12 WEAPONS
S32
D29
S34
P24
P23
Z22
S33
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STAGE 13 WHEEL ASSEMBLY
Bevel & Score Z11 before installation See Scoring & Bevelling guide #2
P14
Z14
D15
D19
Z15
P13
Carbon Fibre
1mmØ x 70mm
DO NOT GLUE TO
AXLE AT THIS STAGE
Assemble each wheel onto the axle
temporarily to ensure good alignment.
Z15
P13
D19
P14
Z14
D15
Time
4 Hours
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STAGE 14 CONTROLS
Receiver Brick
Double Sided
Adhesive Pad
Suggested position of
receiver
P27
P29
P28
P30
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STAGE 15 CONTROL RODS
Insert individual control wire from the rear and attach to appropriate control horn. Set
control surface to neutral then, using slim or needle nose pliers, bend the end of the
control wire at the piont it will need to attach to the servo arm. Un-hook the control wire
from the control horn, pull out of the fuselage and complete the hook bend for the servo
arm. Trim hook to 4mm in length.
Microaces
AIO 5CH
Receiver
Control Wire
(Rudder)
View from Above
Control Wire
(Elevator)
View from Below
Control Wire
(Rudder)
Control Wire
(Elevator)
The Control Horns for the rudder and elevator are very exible. Install the control
wires for each and use tweezers to bend the horns to insert the ‘Z’ bend into the hole.
Use the outer hole of the control horns for more gentle control of your aircraft!
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38mm
STAGE 16 RIGGING - TAIL
2
3
2
3
STAGE 17 DETAIL
1
4
4
1
P35
P34
Pilot
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STAGE 18 MOTOR & PROPELLER
Prop
Sticker
Recommended
GWS4530
propeller
Complex Stickers can
be applied by wetting
the adhesive side to aid
positioning
Prop
Sticker
P50
Battery Mounting Plate
Plywood Motor
Mounting Plate
Motor Gearbox
Propeller
Prop Adapter
Spot glue only for
ease of removal for
maintenance
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P45
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STAGE 19 FINISHING TOUCHES
Centre of Gravity (CoG)
With all the electronics installed including the battery, the CoG should be around
the apex of the top wing as shown on the diagram below.
Balance on nger tips to see if the aircraft balances at this point. Before adding any weight it is advisable to perform a glide test. Add weight accordingly to
obtain a smooth glide.
Battery Position
Tail Heavy
Add weight to Nose!
Spot On!
Nose Heavy
Add weight to Tail!
Glide Test - How to!
Find a suitable test space with a forgiving landing area, e.g. over
long grass or onto soft furnishing. Ensure all control surfaces are
in the neutral position. Gently toss the model straight and level.
Observe the results and add balancing weight if required.
Radio Control Recommendations
The control surfaces are very eective on the SE5a.
Set your transmitter (Tx) control rates to low or if you have
a computerised Tx, set the expo to 50% for both the rudder
and the elevator.
Feel free to adjust these to suit your ying style after the
maiden ight!
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