Tower Hobbies F6F Hellcat Instruction Manual

INSTRUCTION MANUAL

®

Tower
Hobbies®
guarantees
this kit to be
free from defects
in both material and
workmanship at the

WARRANTY

date of purchase. This
warranty does not cover any
component parts damaged by
use or modification. In no case
shall Tower Hobbies’ liability exceed
the original cost of the purchased kit.
Further, Tower Hobbies reserves the right to
change or modify this warranty without notice.

In that Tower Hobbies 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 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:

(OBBY3ERVICESs.!POLLO$R3UITEs#HAMPAIGN),s53!

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5PON RECEIPT OFTHE PACKAGE THE

problem will be evaluated as quickly as possible.

WINGSPAN

39 in [990 mm]

28 – 31.6 oz [795 – 895 g]

LENGTH

31.5 in [ 8 00m m]

WING AREA

272 sq in [17.5 dm2]

WEIGHT

READ THROUGH THIS MANUAL

BEFORE STARTING CONSTRUCTION.

IT CONTAINS IMPORTANT INSTRUCTIONS

AND WARNINGS CONCERNING THE

ASSEMBLY AND USE OF THIS MODEL.

WING LOADING

14.8 – 16.7 oz/ft2 [45 – 51 g/dm2]

RADIO

4-Channel

MOTOR

1000kV outrunner, 30A ESC,

10 x 6 3-blade propeller

TOWER HOBBIES

#HAMPAIGN)LLINOIS

EXT

[e-mail]

Entire Contents

© 2012 Tower Hobbies

TOWA20 04

®

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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

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

REQUIRED FOR COMPLETION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

LiPo Battery Charger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

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

ORDERING REPLACEMENT PARTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

CONTENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

MAIN ASSEMBLY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

FINAL ASSEMBLY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Hook Up the Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Check the Control Throws . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Check the C.G.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

MOTOR SAFETY PRECAUTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

MOTOR/ESC OPERATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

FLYING. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

REPAIRS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

INTRODUCTION

Thank you for purchasing the Tower Hobbies EP Hellcat. Not

quite as much the “household” name as your Mustangs or Corsairs,
the Hellcat is every bit as impactful when you see it in person—

whether it’s the model or the real thing! But hey, what to say about

this Tower Hobbies Hellcat? There’s not really much to it other
than an economical, durable and simple model with considerable
surface and scale detail and it fl ies great! Get it together, head to

your fl ying site, get it into the air and have fun!

For the latest technical updates or manual corrections to the
Hellcat, visit the Tower Hobbies web site at www.towerhobbies.

com. Open the “Airplanes” link, then select the EP Hellcat 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.

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

2. You must assemble the Hellcat 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 use an R/C radio system that is in good condition.

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.

4. 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.

5. 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 a motor or battery larger than ones 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.

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.

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. [phone]
Fax [phone]

Or via the Internet at: 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 EP Hellcat 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

2

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REMEMBER: Take your time and follow the instructions to
end up with a well-built model.

REQUIRED FOR COMPLETION

No extraordinary tools or building supplies are required to
fi nish the EP Hellcat—just a Phillips screwdriver. The Hellcat
is already equipped with servos, ESC and motor, so the only
other components you have to supply are as follows:

■ Minimum 4-channel transmitter and receiver

■ 3S 11.1V 1800mAh  2200mAh LiPo battery:

Electrifl y 2200mAh 30C (GPMP0681)
FlightPower 2100mAh 25C (FPWP4196)
FlightPower 2200mAh 30C (FPWP6198)
Flyzone 2100mAh 20C (FLZA6173)

(See page 6 for more about batteries.)

■ LiPo battery charger

NOTE: If using a battery with a Deans® Ultra Plug® connector,
a Deans Ultra Male-to-SuperTigre ESC adapter (SUPM0040)
will also be required (or the connector on the ESC may simply
be replaced with a Deans Ultra Male connector).

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LiPo Battery Charger

Most modelers may already have a suitable LiPo charger, but for
those that do not, the Duratrax Onyx 235 AC/DC Advance Peak
Charger (DTXP4235) is one of the suitable chargers recommended.
The Onyx charger is perfect for 3S batteries used with the Hellcat
and may be powered either by an external DC power source
(such as a 12 battery), or a 110V AC outlet. The Onyx also has
an adjustable charge rate to charge your batteries in as little as a
half-hour or less (depending on the condition of your batteries
and the manufacturer’s specifi ed charge rate). The Onyx can also
charge larger batteries and batteries other than LiPos, so it is a
versatile charger you can grow into. The 235 also has an LCD
digital display screen, so you can see how much capacity it took
to recharge the battery (required for monitoring the condition of
your batteries and calculating how long you can fl y).

NOTE: For use with the Onyx 235, LiPo batteries that come
with a SuperTigre connector (such as the Flyzone batteries
recommended) require a banana plugs-to-SuperTigre charge
lead (SUPM0070). And batteries that come with a Deans Ultra
connector require a Charge Lead with banana plugs/Deans Ultra
Male charge lead (GPMM3148).

KIT INSPECTION

Before assembly, 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 Pr oduct Support.

When reporting defective or missing parts, use the part names

exactly as they are written in the Kit Contents list.

Hobbico Product Support Ph: [phone] ext. 5

3002 N Apollo Drive Suite 1 Fax: [phone]
Champaign, IL 61822

E-mail: [e-mail]

ORDERING REPLACEMENT PARTS

Replacement parts for the Tower Hobbies EP Hellcat 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.

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––––

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.

Parts may 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, include a Visa® or MasterCard® number 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 [e-mail], or by

telephone at [phone].

REPLACEMENT PARTS LIST

Order No. Description

TOWA6095
TOWA6096
TOWA6097
TOWA6098
TOWA6099
TOWA6100
TOWA6101
TOWA6102
TOWA6103
GPMQ1888
TOWA6092
TOWM5500
SUPM1030
TOWG2000

Wing
Fuselage
Horizontal Stabilizer
Vertical Stabilizer
Cowl
Canopy/Hatch
Wing Bolt ( 2 pcs. )
Landing Gear
10x6 3 Blade Propeller
Tail Gear
Spinner Hub
Servo
30A Brushless ESC
1000kV Outrunner Motor

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1

2

8

7

6

5

CONTENTS

3

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1. Fuselage, Cowl, Canopy Hatch

2. Wing

3. Vertical Stabilizer

4. Horizontal Stabilizer

5. Hardware Bag

6. Main Landing Gear

4

7. Propeller Hub

8. Propeller

3