WattAge HAWK Instructions For Assembly

Wing Span: 30in.

Wing Area: 154sq.in.

Overall Length: 23.5in.

Flying Weight: 11.5oz.

Wing Loading: 10.25 - 11.25oz/ft

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INSTRUCTIONS FOR FINAL ASSEMBLY

Thank you for choosing the Wattage Hawk EP ARF. Whether you have built and flown other electric air­planes in the past, or if this is your first, you will appreciate the high quality, easy final assembly and excellent
flight characteristics of the Hawk EP.

The Hawk EP is a small electric-powered sport airplane built specifically for direct drive speed 380 motors
and micro servos. Features such as a blow-molded fuselage, molded foam wing panels and molded foam flying
surfaces add up to make a lightweight, yet durable structure. And because of its light weight, performance using
the included stock speed 380 motor is excellent. The airplane is quite fast, yet is very stable throughout the
entire speed range, making it a perfect choice for both the experienced pilot and for those just graduating from
their first airplane.

When you open the box, you will notice that you won't have much left to do or to purchase to finish your
new airplane. Included is a direct drive speed 380 motor, a propeller adapter and propeller, threaded wire
pushrods with clevises and control horns and a colorful decal sheet. The Hawk EP requires only minor gluing
to put together, so assembly will go very quickly.

We hope you enjoy your new Wattage Hawk EP ARF as much as we have enjoyed designing and building
it for you. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact us. We have also included a
product survey in the back of this manual. After you have finished building the Hawk EP, please take a minute
to fill it out and send it to us. We enjoy hearing any comments or suggestions that you may have.

The Wattage Hawk EP ARF is distributed exclusively by Global Hobby Distributors

All contents copyright © 2000, Global Hobby Distributors Version V1.0 10/00

18480 Bandilier Circle, Fountain V alley, CA 92728

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Safety Warning ............................................................... 2

Our Recommendations................................................... 3

Radio System ........................................................... 3

Electronic Speed Control......................................... 4

Flight Battery ........................................................... 4

Battery Charger ........................................................ 4

Additional Items Required ............................................. 4

Tools and Supplies Required ......................................... 4

Kit Contents....................................................................5

Motor Break-In...............................................................5

Breaking In the Motor ............................................. 5

Wing Assembly .............................................................. 6

Joining the Wing Panels .......................................... 6

Applying the Wing Reinforcement .......................... 6

Wing Mounting .............................................................. 7

Installing the Wing Tubes........................................7

Mounting the Wing.................................................. 7

Flying Surfaces ..............................................................7

Aligning the Horizontal Stabilizer .......................... 7

Mounting the Horizontal Stabilizer ......................... 8

Aligning the Vertical Stabilizer ............................... 9

Mounting the Vertical Stabilizer..............................9

Motor Installation........................................................... 9

Installing the Motor ................................................. 9

Installing the Propeller and Spinner ...................... 10

Servo Installation ......................................................... 10

Installing the Servo Tray ....................................... 10

Installing the Servos .............................................. 11

Pushrod Installation ..................................................... 11

Installing the Control Horns .................................. 11

Installing the Pushrods...........................................11

Final Assembly.............................................................12

Installing the Battery, Receiver & ESC.................12

Mounting the Canopy ............................................ 13

Applying the Decals .............................................. 13

Balancing......................................................................13

Balancing the Hawk EP .........................................13

Control Throws ............................................................ 1 3

Launching the Hawk EP .............................................. 14

Glossary of Terms ........................................................ 14

Product Evaluation Sheet............................................. 15

To make your modeling experience totally enjoyable, we recommend that you get experienced, knowledgeable help
with assembly and during your first flights. Your local hobby shop has information about flying clubs in your area
whose membership includes qualified instructors. W e also recommend that you contact the AMA at the address below.
They will be able to help you locate a flying field in your area also.

Academy of Model Aeronautics

5151 East Memorial Drive

Muncie IN 47302-9252

[phone]

www.modelaircraft.org

Wattage guarantees this kit to be free from defects in both material and workmanship, at the date of purchase. This
does not cover any component parts damaged by use, misuse or modification. In no case shall Wattage's liability

exceed the original cost of the purchased kit.

In that Wattage has no control over the final assembly or material used for final assembly, no liability shall be
assumed for any damage resulting from the use by the user of the final user-assembled product. By the act of using
the final user-assembled product, the user accepts all resulting liability.

SAFETY WARNING

This R/C airplane is not a toy! If misused, it can cause serious bodily injury and/or damage to property. Fly only in open
areas and preferably at a dedicated R/C flying site. We suggest having a qualified instructor carefully inspect your
airplane before its first flight. Please carefully read and follow all instructions included with this airplane, your radio
control system and electronic speed control.

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This instruction manual is designed to guide you through the entire final assembly process of your new Wattage
Hawk EP ARF in the least amount of time possible. Along the way you'll learn how to properly assemble your new
airplane and also learn many tips that will help you in the future. We have listed some of our recommendations
below. Please read through them before going any further.

The Hawk EP is constructed of blow-molded plastic and foam. It is very important that you use

no solvents, Cyanoacrylate (C/A) glue, or paint that can damage foam. If any of these

chemicals come in contact with the foam parts, the parts will be destroyed and will not be

covered under warranty. Use only epoxy where glue is required. If you decide to paint the

Hawk EP, use a paint that will not attack foam and always test on a scrap piece first.

✔ Please read through each step before starting as­sembly . You should find the layout very complete and
simple. Our goal is to guide you through assembly
without any of the headaches and hassles you might
expect.

✔ There are check boxes next to each step. After you
complete a step, check off the box. This will help you
keep from losing your place.

✔ Cover your work table with brown paper or a soft
cloth, both to protect the table and to protect the indi­vidual parts.

If you should find a part missing or damaged, or have any questions about assembly, please

contact us at the address below:

Wattage Customer Care

18480 Bandilier Circle

Fountain Valley CA 92728

Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone] E-mail: [e-mail]

OUR RECOMMENDATIONS

✔ Keep a couple of small bowls or jars handy to put
the small parts in after you open the accessory bags.

✔ We have included a glossary of terms beginning
on page # 14. Check it out if you come across a term
that is unfamiliar to you.

✔ We're all excited to get a new airplane in the air,
but take your time. This will ensure you build a straight,
strong and great flying airplane.

✔ If you come across this symbol ☛, it means that
this is an important point or an assembly hint.

The following section describes our recommendations to help you in deciding which types of accessories to purchase for
your new Wattage Hawk EP ARF. We have tested all of these items with the airplane and found that these products will
offer the best in performance, reliability and economy.

RADIO SYSTEM

The Hawk EP will require a minimum 3 channel radio control system with two micro servos. The radio system we
recommend is the Hitec Focus 3 AM radio with 2 HS-81 Micro servos. This radio system includes two micro servos, a
three channel mini receiver, servo mounting hardware and a setup guide.

If you want to purchase a radio system that will be more upgradeable in the future, a four or more channel radio with
two micro servos and a mini or micro receiver will work well. If you decide to go this way, our recommendation would
be to use the Hitec Flash 4X Glider FM Computer radio with 2 HS-81 Micro servos. This is a very good radio system
that offers the capability to grow as your experience grows.

If you already have a standard radio system, you will need to purchase an after-market mini or micro receiver and two
micro servos. If you need to purchase these items we recommend the Hitec Micro 555 receiver (part # 759118) and two
Cirrus CS-21 Micro servos (part # 444227).

Our Recommendations Cont.

8

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ELECTRONIC SPEED CONTROL

To operate the motor, we suggest using a proportional electronic speed control (ESC) that features battery eliminator
circuitry (BEC) and auto-cutoff. BEC allows you to eliminate the receiver battery and uses the flight battery to control
both the motor and the radio system. Eliminating the receiver battery provides a great weight savings which effectively
increases performance. The auto-cutoff feature turns off the motor when the voltage in the battery drops too low to
operate the radio system safely. This guarantees safe operation throughout the entire flight. To obtain these features, we
suggest using the Wattage IC-380 ESC. You can also upgrade to the Wattage IC-14 ESC (part # 128484). This ESC is
smaller and lighter, and includes special tabs that hook directly to most speed 380 motors. This means there isn't any
soldering required and you won't experience current loss because of poor connectors. If you decide not to use a propor­tional electronic speed control, an electronic switch like the Hitec Motor Controller SP-1003 (part # 759850) is an
economical way to turn the motor on and off. This switch does not offer any proportional speed, only off or full power.

FLIGHT BATTERY

The battery you choose should be a 6 cell (7.2Volt) to 8 cell (9.6Volt) 650Mah Nickel Cadmium (NiCd) battery pack or a
6 cell to 8 cell 650Mah Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMh) battery pack. The 8 cell battery pack will provide more power,
resulting in higher speeds and better climb-out, but weigh more than the 6 cell battery pack. The Nickel Metal Hydride
battery pack will give you about 25% longer run-time, but not quite as much power.

BATTERY CHARGER

Because the flight battery is small and it powers both the motor and the radio system, we suggest using an Automatic Delta
Peak Charger such as the Promax Activator Digital Peak Charger (part # 885650) to charge the flight battery. It is vital to
the Hawk EP's flying performance that the battery pack be fully charged every flight, so using a peak charger is very
important.

ADDITIONAL ITEMS REQUIRED

❑ {1} Hitec Focus 3 AM Micro Radio System
❑ {1} Trinity AA Batteries - 8 pack # 837801
❑ {1} Wattage IC-380 ESC # 128471
❑ {1} Wattage 6C 650Mah Battery # 128526
❑ {1} Promax Activator Digital Charger # 885650
❑ {1} Heavy Duty Clear Scotch Tape # 105

The heavy duty Scotch tape can be purchased in any drug store or supermarket. You don't have to

use Scotch brand; however, because it helps strengthen the wing, it's important that the tape have

a high tensile strength. The 3M/Scotch part number is 105.

❑ {1} Hitec Flash 4X FM Micro Radio System
❑ {1} Wattage 8C 650Mah Battery # 128528
❑ {1} Wattage IC-14 ESC # 128484

OPTIONAL ITEMS

TOOLS AND SUPPLIES REQUIRED

❑ Kwik Bond 5 Minute Epoxy # 887560
❑ # 0 Phillips Head Screwdriver
❑ Excel Modeling Knife # 692801
❑ Adjustable Wrench
❑ Needle Nose Pliers
❑ Wire Cutters
❑ Magnum Z-Bend Pliers # 237473
❑ Electric or Hand Drill
❑ 1/16" Drill Bit
❑ 5/64" Drill Bit
❑ 1/8" Drill Bit
❑ Straight Edge Ruler
❑ Builder's Triangle

❑ 220 Grit Sandpaper w/Sanding Block
❑ Pen or Pencil
❑ Scissors
❑ Masking Tape
❑ Rubbing Alcohol
❑ Trinity Break-In Drops # 840365
❑ Performance Plus Motor Spray # 340186
❑ Paper Towels
❑ NHP Epoxy Mixing Sticks # 864204
❑ NHP Epoxy Mixing Cups # 864205
❑ Soldering Iron
❑ Solder

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KIT CONTENTS

We have organized the parts as they come out of the box for easier identification during assembly. Before you begin
assembly, group the parts like we list them. This will ensure that you have all of the parts before you begin assembly and
it will also help you become familiar with each part.

AIRFRAME ASSEMBLIES

❑ {1} Molded Plastic Fuselage
❑ {1} Right Wing Panel
❑ {1} Left Wing Panel
❑ {1} Horizontal Stabilizer w/Elevator
❑ {1} Vertical Stabilizer w/Rudder
❑ {1} Molded Clear Canopy

MOTOR ASSEMBLY

❑ {1} Speed 380 Motor
❑ {1} 5 x 2.5 Nylon Propeller
❑ {1} Propeller Adapter Set
❑ {1} Aluminum Motor Plate
❑ {1} Spinner Assembly
❑ {2} 2.5mm x 4mm Machine Screws
❑ {1} Velcro Strip

MOTOR BREAK-IN

TOOLS AND SUPPLIES REQUIRED

❑ Needle Nose Pliers
❑ Trinity Break-In Drops
❑ Performance Plus Motor Spray
❑ Paper Towels

BREAKING IN THE MOTOR

CONTROL ASSEMBLIES

❑ {2} Threaded Pushrod Wires
❑ {2} Nylon Control Horns w/Backplates
❑ {2} Nylon Clevises
❑ {1} Foam Servo Tray
❑ {1} Servo Tray Reinforcement Board

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS

❑ {1} 4mm x 60mm Aluminum Tube
❑ {1} 4mm x 70mm Aluminum Tube
❑ {4} 4mm Nylon Sleeves
❑ {1} Wing Center Section Reinforcement Board
❑ {1} Wing Trailing Edge Reinforcement Board
❑ {1} Stabilizer Reinforcement Board
❑ {4} Rubber Bands
❑ {1} Decal Sheet
❑ {2} 2mm x 5mm Wood Screws
❑ {12}1mm x 4mm Wood Screws

You will still be able to install the motor into the air-

☛

plane even with the ESC soldered in place. If you are
using the Wattage IC-14 ESC, soldering is not required.

❑ 4) Set the motor between the handles of a pair of
needle nose pliers and secure the motor to the handles
using a couple of small rubber bands. This will keep the
motor secure enough for the break-in procedure. See

photo # 1 below.

Before beginning assembly, we recommend that you

☛

first break in the motor. Taking the time to do this now
will do a couple of things. First, it will improve the per­formance and life of the motor and, second, it will give
you a chance to test your radio system, ESC and flight
battery before installing them into the airplane.

❑ 1) Lay the motor, flight battery, charger, radio sys­tem and electronic speed control onto your work table.

❑ 2) Charge the flight battery using your peak charger,
following the instructions that were provided with the
charger . Install 8 AA batteries into the Focus 3 transmitter .

❑ 3) Plug the two servo leads and the ESC lead into
their proper slots in the receiver. Carefully solder the ESC
motor leads to the back of the motor. The mounting tab
with the red dot next to it is the positive tab.

Photo # 1

Don't use the rubber bands included with the kit. They

☛

are used to hold the wing in place and you don't want
them to be damaged by any solvents used for break-in.

❑ 5) Turn on the transmitter and plug the flight bat­tery into the speed control. Make sure the throttle is at
idle and the motor is turned off.

5

❑ 6) With the motor turned off, test the operation of
the two servos. Both servos should move when you move
the control stick.

❑ 7) Carefully spray a couple of light sprays of Per­formance Plus Motor Spray inside the motor openings and
apply a small drop of Trinity Break-In Drops onto each of
the two motor bushings. See photo # 2 below.

Photo # 2

❑ 8) Using a couple of paper towels, wipe off the ex­cess motor spray and oil.

JOINING THE WING PANELS

❑ 1) Test fit the wing panels together. They should
fit together with few or no gaps between the two, and the
leading edges and trailing edges should line up evenly.

If the wing panels don't fit together properly, care-

☛

fully sand the ends of the wing panels straight using 220
grit sandpaper with a sanding block. Be careful not to
change the dihedral angle.

❑ 2) Mix a generous amount of Kwik Bond 5 Minute
Epoxy. Apply a thin layer to the ends of both wing pan­els, making sure that you cover all of the gluing surfaces.

❑ 3) Fit the wing panels back together and realign
them. Remove any excess epoxy using a paper towel and
rubbing alcohol. Hold the wing panels together firmly
until the epoxy cures.

APPLYING THE WING REINFORCEMENT

❑ 9) Slowly turn on the motor. Position the throttle
lever to about 1/3 throttle and let the motor run. While
the motor is running, apply a light spray of motor spray
inside the motor openings once every minute, followed
by a small drop of Break-In Drops on each of the bush­ings. Do this until the battery is fully discharged.

If you have chosen to use an on-off only motor con-

☛

troller, complete the same process but only run the motor
in two-minute intervals, letting the motor cool between
each interval.

❑ 10) After the battery has discharged and the motor
has stopped, spray motor spray through the motor open­ings until the fluid runs clear. Apply a couple of drops of
Break-In Drops to the bushings and wipe away all of the
excess using paper towels.

WING ASSEMBLY

ITEMS REQUIRED

❑ {1} Right Wing Panel
❑ {1} Left Wing Panel
❑ {1} Wing Center Section Reinforcement Board
❑ {1} Wing Trailing Edge Reinforcement Board

TOOLS AND SUPPLIES REQUIRED

❑ 4) After the epoxy has fully cured, apply a strip of
heavy duty Scotch tape to the bottom of the wing, over
the center section joint, from the leading edge to the trail­ing edge. See photo # 3 below.

Photo # 3

❑ 5) Apply one long strip of heavy duty Scotch tape
to the bottom of the wing. Apply the tape down the middle
of the wing, parallel with the trailing edge, from wing tip
to wing tip.

❑ 6) Fold the wing trailing edge reinforcement board
in half lengthwise. Remove it from its protective back­ing and carefully stick the reinforcement board over the
trailing edge of the wing at the center section. See photo

# 4 below.

Photo # 4

❑ Kwik Bond 5 Minute Epoxy
❑ Rubbing Alcohol
❑ Paper Towels
❑ NHP Epoxy Mixing Sticks
❑ NHP Epoxy Mixing Cups

6

❑ 7) Remove the wing center section reinforcement
board from its protective backing. Carefully stick the re­inforcement board to the top of the wing, making sure
that it's centered over the wing's center section. The back
edge should be just ahead of the trailing edge reinforce­ment board. See photo # 5 below.

Photo # 5

Because the two strips of tape and the two pieces of

☛

reinforcement board add a lot of strength to the wing, it is
important that they all be pressed firmly to the surface of
the wing.

❑ 4) Push one nylon sleeve into each of the four holes.
Slide the 4mm x 70mm aluminum tube through the two
front holes and slide the 4mm x 60mm aluminum tube
through the two rear holes. See photo # 6 below.

Photo # 6

❑ 5) Mix a small amount of Kwik Bond 5 Minute
Epoxy. Center both of the aluminum tubes and glue them
into place by applying a small dab of epoxy to the tube
and sleeve where they meet the fuselage sides. Apply the
epoxy from inside the fuselage. Allow the epoxy to fully
cure before proceeding.

WING MOUNTING

ITEMS REQUIRED

❑ {1} Molded Plastic Fuselage
❑ {1} 4mm x 60mm Aluminum Tube
❑ {1} 4mm x 70mm Aluminum Tube
❑ {4} Nylon Sleeves
❑ {4} Rubber Bands

TOOLS AND SUPPLIES REQUIRED

❑ Kwik Bond 5 Minute Epoxy
❑ Excel Modeling Knife
❑ Sanding Block w/220 Grit Sandpaper
❑ Rubbing Alcohol
❑ Paper Towels
❑ NHP Epoxy Mixing Sticks
❑ NHP Epoxy Mixing Cups

INSTALLING THE WING TUBES

❑ 1) Using a modeling knife, carefully cut out the parts
of the fuselage from over the cockpit area and the wing
saddle. Use the molded scribe lines as a guide.

❑ 2) Using a modeling knife, remove the plastic from
over the four molded wing mounting tube holes in the
fuselage sides.

❑ 3) Using 220 grit sandpaper, carefully roughen the
surface of the fuselage (on the inside) around the four
holes. Roughen both aluminum tubes and the outer sur­face of all four nylon sleeves. This will make the epoxy
adhere better to the parts when you glue them into place.

MOUNTING THE WING

❑ 6) Place the wing into the wing saddle, aligning the
centerline of the wing with the centerline of the fuselage.
Hold the wing securely in place using four rubber bands ­two per side.

FLYING SURFACES

ITEMS REQUIRED

❑ {1} Horizontal Stabilizer w/Elevator
❑ {1} Vertical Stabilizer w/Rudder
❑ {1} Stabilizer Reinforcement Board
❑ {12}1mm x 4mm Wood Screws

TOOLS AND SUPPLIES REQUIRED

❑ # 0 Phillips Head Screwdriver
❑ Excel Modeling Knife
❑ Electric or Hand Drill
❑ 1/16" Drill Bit
❑ Straight Edge Ruler
❑ Builder's Triangle
❑ 220 Grit Sandpaper w/Sanding Block
❑ Pen or Pencil
❑ Masking Tape

ALIGNING THE

HORIZONTAL STABILIZER

Do not epoxy the stabilizers into place. Because of

☛

the plastic that the fuselage is molded from, even rough­ening the surface will not allow the epoxy to adhere strong
enough to hold the stabilizers securely.

7

❑ 1) Using a modeling knife, carefully cut out each
side of the horizontal stabilizer mounting slot in the back
of the fuselage. See photo # 7 below.

Photo # 7

❑ 2) Remove the two pieces of horizontal stabilizer
reinforcement board (tapered shape) and stick them to the
top and bottom of the horizontal stabilizer mounting area.
The back edge of each reinforcement board should be flush
with the back edge of the mounting area.

Notice how the shape of the reinforcement board

☛

matches the shape of the stabilizer mounting area. See
photo # 8 below.

Photo # 8

❑ 4) Using a modeling knife, carefully trim away the
extra plastic left over from drilling the holes.

❑ 5) Slide the horizontal stabilizer into place in the
fuselage. Push the stabilizer as far forward as possible,
aligning the outer edges of the reinforcement board with
the outer edges of the mounting flanges.

❑ 6) With the wing mounted to the fuselage and the
stabilizer in place, look carefully from the front of the
fuselage at both the wing and the stabilizer. When aligned
properly , the stabilizer should be level with the wing. If it
is not level, use a modeling knife and/or 220 grit sandpa­per and adjust the mounting flanges until the correct
alignment is achieved. See figure # 1 below.

Figure # 1

A=A-1

❑ 7) Now check to make sure that the tips of the sta­bilizer are equal distances from the tips of the wing. Use
a ruler and measure from one wing tip to the stabilizer tip
on the same side. Do this for both sides. When the stabi­lizer is aligned properly, both of these measurements
should be the same. See figure # 2 below.

❑ 3) Using a drill with a 1/16" drill bit, carefully drill
eight holes through the stabilizer mounting flanges on the
fuselage. Drill two holes through each flange, equally
spaced apart, on the top of the fuselage and two holes
through each flange on the bottom of the fuselage. See

photo # 9 below.

Photo # 9

Drill the eight holes at the inside edges of the flanges,

☛

up against the fuselage sides. This will ensure that the
wood screws won't miss the reinforcement board when
you install them later.

Figure # 2

B=B-1

MOUNTING THE

HORIZONTAL STABILIZER

❑ 8) When satisfied with the alignment, use a couple
of pieces of masking tape to hold the stabilizer in place.

❑ 9) Install and lightly tighten the eight 1mm x 4mm
wood screws to hold the stabilizer firmly in place. Make
sure that each wood screw threads into the reinforcement
board.

T o help start the screws, gently poke a pilot hole into

☛

the reinforcement board with the tip of a modeling knife.

8

ALIGNING THE

VERTICAL STABILIZER

❑ 10) Using a modeling knife, carefully cut out the
vertical stabilizer mounting slot in the top of the fuselage.

❑ 11) Remove the two pieces of vertical stabilizer re­inforcement board and stick them to the right and left sides
of the vertical stabilizer mounting area.

Notice how the shape of the reinforcement board

☛

matches the shape of the stabilizer mounting area. See
photo # 10 below.

Photo # 10

❑ 17) Slide the stabilizer back into place and realign
it. When satisfied with the alignment, use a couple pieces
of masking tape to hold the stabilizer in place.

❑ 18) Install and lightly tighten the four 1mm x 4mm
wood screws to hold the stabilizer firmly in place. Make
sure that each wood screw threads into the reinforcement
board. See photo # 11 below.

Photo # 11

MOTOR INSTALLATION

ITEMS REQUIRED

❑ 12) Slide the vertical stabilizer into place. Push the
stabilizer forward until its leading edge is even with the
molded leading edge in the fuselage.

❑ 13) Using a modeling knife, remove the 1/4" long
portion of the vertical stabilizer that hangs past the back
edge of the fuselage.

❑ 14) While holding the vertical stabilizer in place,
use a builder's triangle to check and ensure that it is aligned
90º to the horizontal stabilizer. If it does not line up, use
a modeling knife and/or 220 grit sandpaper and retrim the
mounting flanges until the correct alignment is achieved.

See figure # 3 below.

Figure # 3

❑ {1} Speed 380 Motor
❑ {1} 5 x 2.5 Nylon Propeller
❑ {1} Propeller Adapter Set
❑ {1} Aluminum Motor Plate
❑ {1} Spinner Assembly
❑ {1} 2.5mm x 4mm Machine Screws

TOOLS AND SUPPLIES REQUIRED

❑ # 0 Phillips Head Screwdriver
❑ Excel Modeling Knife
❑ Adjustable Wrench
❑ Electric or Hand Drill
❑ 1/8" Drill Bit
❑ Pen or Pencil

INSTALLING THE MOTOR

❑ 1) Using a modeling knife, remove the plastic flash­ing from the seam on the front of the fuselage.

❑ 2) Hold the aluminum motor plate against the front
of the fuselage, centering the outer edge of the plate with
the outer edge of the fuselage.

MOUNTING THE

VERTICAL STABILIZER

❑ 15) Remove the vertical stabilizer. Using a drill with
a 1/16" drill bit, carefully drill four holes through the
mounting flanges, equally spaced apart, two on each side.

❑ 16) Using a modeling knife, carefully trim away the
extra plastic left over from drilling the holes.

❑ 3) While holding the motor plate in place, use a pen
and mark the locations of the two mounting holes onto
the fuselage.

❑ 4) Remove the motor plate. Using a drill with a
1/8" drill bit, drill two holes through the front of the fuse­lage at the marks you drew.

9

❑ 5) Mount the motor to the fuselage using the alu­minum motor plate and two 2.5mm x 4mm machine
screws. Tighten the machine screws firmly to hold the
motor securely in place. See photo # 12 below.

Photo # 12

Cutting open the hole in the air-scoop will allow air

☛

to flow through the fuselage, cooling the motor, ESC
and flight battery.

SERVO INSTALLATION

ITEMS REQUIRED

❑ {1} Foam Servo Tray
❑ {1} Servo Tray Reinforcement Board

TOOLS AND SUPPLIES REQUIRED

❑ # 0 Phillips Head Screwdriver
❑ Excel Modeling Knife
❑ Pen or Pencil

INSTALLING THE PROPELLER & SPINNER

❑ 6) Slide the propeller onto the propeller adapter,
followed by the rear half of the spinner assembly. Slide
the flat washer up against the spinner and install the hex
nut. Tighten the hex nut firmly to hold the propeller as­sembly in place. See photo # 13 below.

Photo # 13

When tightening the hex nut, make sure that the set

☛

screw in the side of the propeller adapter is accessible
through the spinner opening.

❑ 7) Firmly press the front section of the spinner as­sembly into place.

❑ 8) Mount the spinner assembly to the motor, mak­ing sure you tighten the set screw in the propeller adapter
securely. See photo # 14 below.

Photo # 14

INSTALLING THE SERVO TRAY

❑ 1) Carefully bend the sides of the servo tray rein­forcement board up at the two precut scribe lines. See

photo # 15 below.

Photo # 15

❑ 2) Punch out the die-cut piece of foam from the
middle of the servo tray.

❑ 3) Remove the protective backing from the rein­forcement board. Place the servo tray onto the board,
making sure that the servo tray is lined up with the edges
of the reinforcement board.

Notice that the reinforcement board is shaped at an

☛

angle just like the servo tray. Make sure the two match.
❑ 4) Press firmly to secure the servo tray into place.

Bend down both of the outer and inner tabs and press them
into place against the servo tray. See photo # 16 below.

❑ 9) Using a modeling knife, carefully cut out the front
of the air-scoop below the spinner assembly.

10

Photo # 16

❑ 5) Install the servo tray into the fuselage. To align
the servo tray properly, the back edges of the servo tray
mounting sides should be pushed up against the front of
the aluminum wing mounting tube, and the tops of the
servo tray mounting sides should be pushed up against
the bottom of the wing saddle. See photo # 17 below.

Photo # 17

❑ 6) When satisfied with the alignment, press the
servo tray sides firmly into place to secure the tray into
the fuselage.

INSTALLING THE SERVOS

TOOLS AND SUPPLIES REQUIRED

❑ # 0 Phillips Head Screwdriver
❑ Modeling Knife
❑ Wire Cutters
❑ Magnum Z-Bend Pliers
❑ Electric or Hand Drill
❑ 1/16" Drill Bit
❑ Straight Edge Ruler
❑ Pen or Pencil

INSTALLING THE CONTROL HORNS

❑ 1) Using a modeling knife, cut one thin slot through
the middle of each molded recess in both the elevator and
the rudder. Cut the slot large enough for the ends of the
control horns to pass through.

❑ 2) Push one control horn through each slot. The
end of the elevator control horn should be on the bottom
of the elevator and the end of the rudder control horn
should be on the left side of the rudder.

❑ 7) Install the rubber grommets and brass collets onto
each of the servo mounting lugs.

❑ 8) T est fit your two micro servos into the servo tray.
If necessary, use a modeling knife to enlarge the hole in
the servo tray to accommodate the two servos. The ser­vos should fit tightly in the servo tray.

Both of the servos' output shafts should face toward

☛

the front of the fuselage.
❑ 9) Mount the servos to the servo tray using the servo

mounting screws provided with your servos. Use the tip
of your modeling knife to make small pilot holes in the
reinforcement board. See photo # 18 below.

Photo # 18

❑ 3) Making sure the flat portion of the backplates
face away from the control surfaces, push the backplates
over the ends of the control horns until you hear them
"click" into place. See photo # 19 below.

Photo # 19

Don't push the backplates too far down over the con-

☛

trol horns or you might crush the foam.

INSTALLING THE PUSHRODS

❑ 4) Using a modeling knife, carefully cut out the rud­der pushrod exit hole (the back of the molded fairing) in
the top of the fuselage. Make the cutout large enough for
the pushrod wire to pass through easily.

PUSHROD INSTALLATION

ITEMS REQUIRED

❑ {2} Threaded Pushrod Wires
❑ {2} Nylon Control Horns w/Backplates
❑ {2} Nylon Clevises

❑ 5) Plug in your receiver, ESC, flight battery and
elevator and rudder servos. Turn on the radio system
and center both of the servos using the trim levers on the
transmitter.

❑ 6) Thread one nylon clevis onto each of the two
threaded pushrod wires. Thread the clevises on far enough
to leave room for adjustments later.

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❑ 7) Slide one of the pushrod wires up through the
back of the fuselage, making sure that the wire enters the
servo compartment above the servos. Snap the clevis into
the elevator control horn. See photo # 20 below.

Photo # 20

❑ 8) Place a "single arm" servo horn onto the eleva­tor servo, making sure that the servo horn is centered and
points toward the fuselage side. The arm should have at
least three holes in it.

❑ 9) With both the servo horn and the elevator cen­tered, use a pen and draw a mark on the pushrod wire
where it crosses the third hole out from the center of the
servo horn.

❑ 10) Unsnap the clevis and remove the pushrod wire
from the fuselage. Using Magnum Z-Bend Pliers, make a
Z-Bend in the pushrod wire at the mark you drew.

❑ 11) Slide the pushrod wire back into place and snap
the clevis into the control horn. Attach the servo horn to
the Z-Bend, then attach the servo horn to the servo, mak­ing sure it's centered. Install and tighten the servo horn
retaining screw, provided with your servo, to secure the
servo arm into place. See photo # 21 below.

Photo # 21

FINAL ASSEMBLY

ITEMS REQUIRED

❑ {1} Molded Clear Canopy
❑ {1} Velcro Strip
❑ {1} Decal Sheet
❑ {2} 2mm x 5mm Wood Screws

TOOLS AND SUPPLIES REQUIRED

❑ # 0 Phillips Head Screwdriver
❑ Modeling Knife
❑ Electric or Hand Drill
❑ 1/16" Drill Bit
❑ 5/64" Drill Bit
❑ Pen or Pencil
❑ Scissors

INSTALLING THE RECEIVER, FLIGHT

BATTERY AND ESC

❑ 1) Using a modeling knife, cut out the on-off switch
and arming switch holes in the left side of the fuselage.

❑ 2) Install the on-off switch and arming switch us­ing the hardware provided with your ESC.

If your ESC does not come with mounting screws,

☛

use # 2 sheet metal screws and # 2 flat washers to install
the switch.

❑ 3) Using a pair of scissors, cut the piece of Velcro
in half. Using one piece of Velcro, mount the receiver to
the fuselage floor in front of the servo tray. Uncoil the
antenna and feed it out the elevator pushrod exit hole in
the back of the fuselage. Use a piece of Scotch tape to
hold it in place.

You will have to enlarge the hole in the servo arm

☛

using a 1/16" drill bit, so that the pushrod wire will fit
through; and, depending on the length of the servo horn,
you may have to cut it shorter so that it doesn't hit the side
of the fuselage.

❑ 12) Install the rudder pushrod wire using the same
technique as with the elevator pushrod wire. The Z-Bend
should be installed into the third hole out from the center
of the servo horn as well.

12

❑ 4) If you haven't already done so, connect the mo­tor leads from your ESC to the tabs on the motor.

❑ 5) Mount the battery onto the fuselage floor, in front
of the receiver, using the second piece of Velcro. See

figure # 4 below.

Figure # 4

The location of the battery shown above is approxi-

☛

mate. You may have to move it fore or aft to balance the
airplane in the next section.

MOUNTING THE CANOPY

BALANCING

❑ 1) Using a pair of scissors, carefully cut out the clear
canopy along the molded scribe line.

❑ 2) Set the canopy into the molded recess in the fu­selage. Use a couple of pieces of masking tape to hold
the canopy in place.

❑ 3) Using a drill with a 1/16" drill bit, drill two pilot
holes through the canopy sides (one on each side) and
into the fuselage. Remove the canopy and enlarge only
the holes in the canopy using a 5/64" drill bit.

❑ 4) Set the canopy back into place and realign it.
Install and tighten the two 2.5mm x 5mm wood screws to
hold the canopy securely in place. See photo # 22 below.

Photo # 22

TOOLS AND SUPPLIES REQUIRED

❑ Straight Edge Ruler
❑ Masking Tape

BALANCING THE HAWK EP

❑ 1) It is critical that your airplane be balanced cor­rectly. Improper balance will cause your airplane to lose
control and crash.

The Center of Gravity is located 1-5/8" back

from the leading edge of the wing, at the

fuselage sides.

This location is recommended for initial test flying. The
C.G. can be moved aft up to 1/4", but it is not recom­mended that the C.G. be located any farther back than
1-7/8" behind the leading edge of the wing.

The Hawk EP should be balanced with the flight bat-

☛

tery mounted in the fuselage.
❑ 2) Install the wing onto the fuselage and place two

short pieces of masking tape on the bottom of the wing,
1-5/8" back from the leading edge, at the fuselage sides.

APPLYING THE DECALS

❑ 1) Working with one decal at time, use a pair of
scissors and carefully cut out the decal along its outer
edges.

Notice that next to each "feather" decal is printed its

☛

proper location on the airplane. This will help you place
them in the proper position on the airplane.

❑ 2) Remove the protective backing from the decal
and stick the decal to the airplane. Lightly rub the decal
with your finger to remove any trapped air from beneath
it. See photo # 23 below.

Photo # 23

❑ 3) Place your fingers on the masking tape and care­fully lift the airplane. If the nose of the airplane falls,
the airplane is nose heavy. To correct this, move the
flight battery back just far enough to bring the airplane
into balance. If the tail of the airplane falls, the airplane
is tail heavy. To correct this, move the flight battery
forward only enough to bring the airplane into balance.
When balanced correctly, the airplane should sit level or
slightly nose down when you lift it up with your fingers.

Once you have flown and become familiar with the

☛

flight characteristics of the Hawk EP, the balance point
(C.G.) can be moved aft up to 1/4" to change the flight
performance. Moving the balance point back will cause
the airplane to be more responsive, but less stable. Do

not fly the Hawk EP beyond the recommended bal­ance range or an uncontrollable crash could result!

CONTROL THROWS

TEST FLYING

Elevator: 3/8 up 3/8 down

Rudder: 3/8 right 3/8 left

If any air bubbles form in the decal you can "prick"

☛

the bubble with a straight pin to release the air.

❑ 1) We recommend setting up the Hawk EP using
the control throws listed above. These control throws are
suggested for initial test flying.

13

❑ 2) After you have become familiar with the flying
characteristics of the Hawk EP, you may want to increase
the control throws to the settings listed below.

SPORT FLYING

Elevator: 1/2 up 1/2 down

Rudder: 1/2 right 1/2 left

❑ 3) Y ou can increase or decrease the control throws
by moving the pushrod wires in or out from the center of
the servo arm. Moving the pushrod wires out will in­crease the control throws. Moving the pushrod wires in
will decrease the control throws.

LAUNCHING THE HAWK EP

Epoxy: A two-part glue containing a resin and a hard­ener. Epoxy is available in several drying times and is
stronger than C/A glue. Epoxy is used in high stress ar­eas such as where wing halves are joined.

ESC: An acronym for Electronic Speed Control. See
Motor Controller below.

Horizontal Stabilizer: Mounted in the rear of the air­plane, the stabilizer works with the elevator to control
pitch.

Motor Controller: Usually called an electronic speed
control (ESC), the motor controller controls the speed of
the motor. Motor controllers can also be simple on and
off switches.

The Hawk EP is a gentle flyer; however, because of

its speed, it is not recommended for the beginning flier.

To hand-launch the hawk EP, gently grasp the fuse­lage between your thumb and forefingers at the C.G.
location. Hold the airplane above shoulder level and turn
on the motor to full power. W ith the motor running at full
power, gently toss the Hawk EP straight ahead. Do not
throw it up at an angle. Let the airplane fly straight and
level to pick up airspeed, then climb up to your desired
altitude. Be careful not to climb too steeply after hand­launching or you could stall the airplane.

GLOSSARY OF TERMS

Center of Gravity: Most commonly referred to as the
C.G. or balance point, it is the point at which the airplane
is in complete balance in all three axes.

Clevis: Part of the control system, either made out of
nylon or metal. It connects the pushrod wire to the con­trol horn mounted on the control surface.

Control Horn: Part of the control system, the control
horn is mounted to the control surface. It allows the push­rod to be connected to the control surface. Almost all
control horns are adjustable to allow for more or less con­trol surface movement.

Peak Charger: A type of battery charger that uses a mi­croprocessor to sense when the flight battery is fully
charged. Once peak charged, the charger shuts off so the
battery does not overcharge.

Pushrods: They connect between the control surface and
the servo, transferring the movement of the servo directly
to the control surface.

Receiver: The part of the radio system that receives the
signals from the transmitter.

Rudder: The rudder is the control surface on the back of
the airplane that moves right and left. This causes the
nose of the airplane to yaw right and left.

Servo: The part of the radio system that produces the
movement necessary to move the control surfaces. The
servo includes a small motor, gears and a circuit board.

Transmitter: The part of the radio system that you con­trol. It transmits the control inputs to the receiver, which
transfers that information to the servos.

Vertical Stabilizer: Mounted on the rear of the airplane,
it works with the rudder to turn the airplane. It also gives
the airplane vertical stability.

Cycling: The act of fully charging and discharging the
flight battery. Cycling the battery increases performance
and duration.

Dihedral: The upward angle of each wing half. Dihe­dral creates more stability which makes learning to fly
much easier.

Elevator: The elevator is the control surface on the back
of the airplane that moves up and down. This surface
controls pitch.

14

Wing Hold Down Dowel: A length of hardwood dowel
or aluminum inserted through the fuselage at the front and
back of the wing saddle. It is an anchor for the rubber
bands that hold the wing onto the fuselage.

Wing Saddle: The portion of the fuselage where the wing
mounts on to.

Z-Bend: This is a special bend made in the pushrod wire.
While it cannot improve your ability to make adjustments,
the Z-Bend is the most secure way to attach the pushrod
wire to the servo horn.

PRPR

PR

PRPR

PRPR

PR

PRPR

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1) Kit: Hawk EP ARF # 128415

2) Where did you learn about this kit?

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yes, please explain.
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no, please explain.
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