Vortex-RC VT-AllRounder Instructional Manual

Watch our build videos, now on Youtube.

From unboxing to the maiden flight, we have it all on videos for you to
see, learn and follow to ensure you get the most out of the Speedsters.

Search Vortex-RC on Youtube, or follow the link : http://goo.gl/GMhxgG
or scan the QR-code on the right.

The manual has QR codes in each of the sections linking to relevant
videos to help you easily find the videos.

Instructional Manual

REV 3.0

Congratulations on your purchase of the “ Vortex-RC VT-AllRounder” – An airplane

that excels as a 3 channel trainer for first time fliers,
introduces ailerons to intermediate fliers and also
provides a platform for fully aerobatic platform to
perform any pattern maneuver in the book. A
perfect Allrounder.

Please take time to read through this manual in
detail as well as watch our videos that illustrate the
build steps. We recommend that you read several
steps ahead and test fit parts without using glue and
once you double check everything then only use the
adhesive. Our precision laser cutting ensures you will need minimal or no modifications to parts for a
fit, and that all fits are tight and accurate. If you find any part that does not fit properly, please read
the instructions and see pictures again to reorient/align correctly before using any glue.

We have written this manual so that the kit can be built individually as well as by groups of
students/builders. Please follow the build in the order as written below.

Additionally we have given 2 check mark places besides each step.
Check mark the first box when you complete the step. Check mark the second one, after you double
check the step, or when doing group builds have your project coordinator inspect and check it for you.

www.Vortex-RC.com 1

Important Measurements/Specifications:

Wingspan: 1450mm
Wing-area: Trainer: 465 sq in. Intermediate: 465 sq in. Expert : 395 sq. inches
Recommended All out Flying weight: Trainer : ~650gms Int/Expert Wing : ~750 gms.
Wing loading: Trainer: ~7 Oz/Sq. ft. Int: ~8Oz/Sq. ft. Expert : ~9 Oz/Sq. ft.
CG Location: 65MM from Leading edge at Root. Spar location.

Aileron Dimensions:

● For Intermediate Wing: 10cm from root. 5 Cm From Tip. Aileron width 4 Cm.

For Expert Wing: 12cm from root. 0Cm from tip ( extends till edge ) Aileron Width : 4cm.

Control Throws:
Rudder: 2.5cm Left and Right
Elevator: 1.5cm Up and Down
Int Wing: 2cm Up / 1.5cm down
Expert Wing: 1cm Up / 1Cm down

*The above are all measurements that any flier should start at. Later they may change to achieve
their desired flight characteristics/performance.

Contents

o What's in the kit. Page 4
o What you need in order to complete the kit. Page 5
o Some basic stuff about materials used, and adhesives Page 6
o Build techniques - Hinging and Glueing. Page 8
o Building the Fuselage Page 10
o Building the Wing Page 22
o Installing the Electronics Page 34
o Appendix A Field packing checklist Page 38
o Appendix B – Preflight Page 38
o Appendix C – Trimming Guide Page 39

www.Vortex-RC.com 2

Electronics Package (Optional) includes:

o  9 gm Servos ( 2 Nos. for Trainer, 3 Nos for Intermediate

and 4 Nos for Expert )
o 1 Nos. 18Amp Brushless ESC ( Speed controller )
o 1 Nos 2822 1200KV Brushless Motor
o 3 Pair 3.5mm Bullet connector
o 1 XT60 Male Connector
o 1 Nos Balanced

Propellor 9x4.7
o 15cm Servo Extension wire ( 1 Nos. Trainer. 2 Nos
Intermediate and 4 Nos. Expert )
o 1 Nos Servo Y Cable (Only for Expert Wing)
o 1 Nos Prop Saver with Rubber Bands
o 8 Pcs Heat Shrink Tube Red and Black

What's in the kit.

o  1 Nos. Laser Cut Coro Sheet (A, B, C and D )

o 1 Nos. CNC cut Left Wing Airfoil Foam Panel in its
wing bed
o 1 Nos. CNC cut Right Wing Airfoil Foam Panel in its

wing bed
o 2 Nos CNC cut Foam wing adapters
o 2 Nos. Aluminium round spars ( For Expert Wing, 3 Pcs )
o 1 Nos. CA Adhesive
o 1 Nos. 5 minute Epoxy
o 2 Nos. Lamination sheets
o 1 Nos. Fiberglass adhesive sheet
o Control Horns ( 2 Nos. Trainer. 4 Nos. Intermediate and Expert )
o Clevis ( 4 Nos. Trainer. 8 Nos. Intermediate and Expert )
o Pushrods ( 2 Nos Trainer. 4 Nos. Intermediate and Expert )
o 4 Nos. Rubber Bands
o 3 Nos. Laser Cut Dihedral Brace
(Not included/required in Expert Wing)
o 2 Nos Wooden Spar Joiner Dowels
( Only for Expert Wing )
o 1 Nos Laser Cut Motor mount
o 2 Nos. Aluminium Wing Holding rods
o 1 Nos Battery Strap
o 1 Nos Pin and thread
o 4 Nos Machine Screws
o Velcro Hook and Loop Material
o 1 Nos. 320 Grit Sand Paper
o 1 nos. Hobby Knife
o 2 Nos. Decal Sheets

www.Vortex-RC.com 3

Laser cut precision Coroplast parts.

You will get all parts illustrated above but it may be oriented separately due to different sheet sizes available and
packaging constraints.

Laser Cut Plywood parts

www.Vortex-RC.com 4

In order to complete the kit you will need the following
( check mark against each once you collect the items ) :
o Screw Driver o Metal Ruler
o Marker Pen o 90 deg Set Square
o Hot Glue gun and glue stick o Clear Packing Tape

You also need a clear and a flat table/surface or floor to work with. This is very important.
Having a flat surface will ensure your build goes straight and true.

You will also need the following to fly :

o 1 Nos 2200mah 3S Lithium Polymer Battery
o 1 Nos Lithium Polymer Battery Charger.
o 4 Channel or above radio set ( Tx and Rx )

About Coroplast

Coroplast, or Coro, which is a name given to
Fluted PolyPropylene sheets, is a lightweight,
sturdy, resilient material. Coroplast sheets has
parallel flutes which make the sheets very light
and strong and crushes, instead of breaking upon
impact. Coro bonds extremely well with
CyanoAcrylate, and epoxy. These characteristics
make it suitable for RC applications.

Some building techniques and styles are unique to building RC planes using Coro and can impart
even greater strength when used properly. Please read below and understand :

● Coro has higher strength perpendicular to the Flutes than Parallel to the flutes. Try it on
a piece of scrap. Its easy to bend the material in the direction of the flutes than in the
other side.

● Coro, when crushed can reduce strength. Be careful to not crush the flutes when
building .

● When cutting coro, parallel to the flutes, always cut in between the flutes using a new,
sharp knife/blade. When cutting perpendicular to the flutes, cut in multiple passes
taking care to not crush the material.

www.Vortex-RC.com 5

About EPS Styrofoam

EPS, or Expanded Polystyrene , is commonly known as Thermocol and Styrofoam, is a closed cell
rigid and tough foam. EPS foam is available in various densities and we use a high density EPS
foam for CNC cutting our wing panels.
EPS foam is perfectly suited for hot wire CNC cutting, as it warps minimally and when cut the
material is absorbed in the outer layers of the foam and does not bead, like XPS foam, which is
prone to warping and beading.

EPS foam melts with CA adhesive, but Epoxy adhesives work great with it. Also, EPS foam can
be strengthening by laminating it . The Hot Wire process renders a layer of ‘foam-dust’ over the
panels. You need to gently sand that out before applying the lamination for best adhesion.
Sanding needed is super light and should be done carefully to avoid changing the airfoil shape
of the wing.
We ship the wing panels in their original wing beds. The wing beds not only provide protection
during shipping, but also should be used as jigs, when laminating and sparring to reduce the
chances of wing warping.

Hinging Technique.

Coro can be hinged easily. Just follow the steps below to create strong, clean and a flexible
hinge joint.

● Draw a line where the hinge has to be made, on the under side of the surface.

● Place a metal rule on the line, and adjust slightly so that the straight edge is in between

the flutes and not right over them.

● Using a sharp knife carefully cut only the upper surface of the Coro. Do NOT cut all the
way through. When cut, you should be able to bend the joint.

● Now we need
to clear the
hinge joint by
removing the
plastic material
. Bend the joint
all the way
through, and
tape it in place.
Carefully run a
sharp knife on
the edge and
slice of the

www.Vortex-RC.com 6

plastic slivers on the edge.

● Once cleaned, bend the hinge joint completely, and put some packing tape on the hinge,
so that half of the tape is on one side and the other half is on other side as shown
below.

Glueing Technique - CA

Cyanoacrylate is a strong and fast adhesive that can bond Coro very well. However one has to
be extremely careful as once bonded it can be impossible to open the joint and will damage the
parts if attempted to be done. Please read below before using CA glue.

● Safety - CA can bond skin easily and instantly. Also CA fumes can irritate eyes and nose.
Try to build in an open space, and use ventilation.

● Coro flutes can drip CA . Be careful when glueing coro, as excess CA will drip out.

● Use very little CA. Only a drop or so is usually needed. Building light is very important.

Try to use as little glue as possible, yet ensure the joints are tight.

● There are two ways in which you can use CA :
A.Put a drop of CA on one part and then, immediately put the other part on it.
B. Hold the joint together and “flow “ the CA in place.

We prefer to Tack glue using one or two drops , and then flow a few drops through the joint.

Remember: Do NOT use CA on the Wing panels.

www.Vortex-RC.com 7

Building the Fuselage

Build Steps:

1. Cut out and label the parts

2. Glue the doublers - Assemble the Battery Tray, skids, battery hatch and fuse bottom

3. Prepare/Hinge the Tail surfaces

4. Assemble the Fuselage

5. Assemble the Wings

6. Install the electronics

7. Apply the decals

8. Measurement checks.

9. Go Fly !

Step 1: Cut out and label the parts. 20 mins

Cut out all of the coro parts from the laser cut sheets using the knife, taking

care not to damage the various notches built in. Use the metal ruler to help in
scoring the straight cuts.As you take out the parts, label them by writing out the
part names each as shown in the plans.

Note: We have intentionally kept the laser cut parts attached to the sheets so that
small parts are not lost when we put together the kits.

www.Vortex-RC.com 8

Step 2. Glue the doublers - Assemble the Battery Tray, Battery Hatch, skids, Former-A and the

Fuselage bottom 15 mins

In this step, we will glue the two parts of the battery tray, two parts of

Former-A and the two
parts of two skids
together. The battery
tray has notches and
alignment holes on
one side. Make sure to
align them properly.
Also make sure the cut outs match against

each other before glueing. Glue the battery
tray parts together using CA adhesive .
Make two skids by glueing the skid parts together. We provide 4 skids parts . The two skids are made
by doubling each of the two skid parts. Use CA to glue the
skid doublers. Again ensure the notches align with each
other as accurately as possible. Similarly, align and orient
the two parts of Former-A so that the holes, and the
notches align perfectly. Then glue in place.

Place the Fuselage bottom sheet on the table so that the small alignment hole is on the right
side. Place the Fuse bottom doubler and glue in place, making sure the notches and the cut
outs align properly.

www.Vortex-RC.com 9

Step 3. Prepare/Hinge the Tail surfaces. 30 mins

Prepare the Elevator by drawing a line 3cm from the trailing edge. You may

adjust the line so it comes in
between two flutes, which will
enable cutting . Refer to the
hinging technique explained
earlier in the manual. Use the
knife to cut out only one side

the coro material. The idea is to
create a hinge by cutting only one side of coroplast.
Flex the joint to one side, and clear out the protruding coroplast material carefully. Add packing tape
to the joint to reinforce. Test the elevator by moving it to both sides. It should be free to move.

of

Likewise prepare the rudder by scoring a line 3.5 cm

from the aft line. Follow the same technique as with the
elevator to create the Rudder hinge.

www.Vortex-RC.com 10

Step 4: Assemble the Fuselage 1 hour

Lay out the two fuselage sides as shown below. THIS IS IMPORTANT, as there

is a different left and a right side. You do NOT want to end up with 2 Left or 2
Right side fuselages. The Left side has the hatch cutout, and the right side has
the servo cutout.

Glue the Elevator Servo Doubler and the fuselage side doublers. The Fuse side doublers

must be aligned precisely with the notches, and the cutouts.There is a different Left and Right

Fuse doubler. The Right Fuse doubler has a hole.

Double check before adding glue. The Servo

doubler needs to be glued accurately too.

Lay out the Formers A,B,C,D and

E as illustrated below. Each former has
a top and a bottom side. Be sure to
align them properly as shown below.

www.Vortex-RC.com 11