INSTRUCTION MANUAL SPECIFICATIONS WARRANTY

Transcription

1 INSTRUCTION MANUAL SPECIFICATIONS Wingspan: 56.5 in [1435mm] Length: 46 in [1170 mm] Wing Area: 537in 2 [34.6dm 2 ] Weight: lbs [ g] Wing Loading: oz/ft 2 [64 76 g/dm 2 ] Radio: 4 5 Channel Engine: Electric: cu in (7 9 cc) 2-stroke or.70 cu in (11.5 cc) 4-stroke glow RimFire.32, 4S 3300 mah LiPo, 75 A ESC, 13 x 8 E propeller 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 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: Hobby Services 3002 N. Apollo Dr. Suite 1 Champaign IL USA Include a letter stating your name, return shipping address, as much contact information as possible (daytime telephone number, fax number, 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. READ THROUGH THIS MANUAL BEFORE STARTING CONSTRUCTION. IT CONTAINS IMPORTANT INSTRUCTIONS AND WARNINGS CONCERNING THE ASSEMBLY AND USE OF THIS MODEL. Champaign, Illinois (217) , Ext 5 airsupport@greatplanes.com 2016 Great Planes Model Mfg. A subsidiary of Hobbico, Inc. GPMA1209

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION Know Before You Fly ADDITIONAL ITEMS REQUIRED Radio / Servos Glow Engine Other Accessories for a Glow Engine Brushless Electric Motor LiPo Battery Charger ADHESIVES, HARDWARE AND OTHER ACCESSORIES KIT INSPECTION REPLACEMENT PARTS LIST KIT CONTENTS PREPARATIONS ASSEMBLE THE WING ASSEMBLE THE FUSELAGE Install the Electric Motor Mount the Glow Engine Hook Up the Throttle Mount the Cowl Install the Radio PREPARE THE MODEL FOR FLIGHT Set the Control Throws Check the C.G Balance the Model Laterally PREFLIGHT Engine/Motor Safety Precautions Battery Precautions Range Check AMA SAFETY CODE General Radio Control FLYING INTRODUCTION Congratulations and thank you for purchasing the Great Planes Zero Sport Fighter ARF. The Sport Fighter series is an easy start to scale modeling, but with practical, sport flying characteristics and the durability of an every-day sport flyer. For the latest technical updates or manual corrections find the Sport Fighter Zero ARF page on the Great Planes Model Manufacturing web site at If there is new technical information or changes to this model a tech notice box will appear on the page. Know Before You Fly As a new owner of an unmanned aircraft system (UAS), you are responsible for the operation of this vehicle and the safety of those around you. Please contact your local authorities to find out the latest rules and regulations. In the United States, please visit: knowbeforeyoufly.org faa.gov/uas ADDITIONAL ITEMS REQUIRED Radio / Servos A minimum of 4-channels is required to fly the Zero. The Tactic TTX650 is recommended because of its simple, flexible computer programming and multiple model memory: Tactic TR625 6-chanel receiver (TACL0625) HydriMax 4-cell 2000mAh NiMH receiver pack (HCAM6321)* On-off receiver switch (TACM2000)* *If powering your Zero with a brushless electric motor the BEC in the ESC may be used to power your receiver and servos, so no receiver battery or on/off receiver switch will be required. Servos nowadays are smaller and stronger, so we ve designed the servo mounts in the Zero to accommodate mini servos. Full-size servos may still be used simply by enlarging the mounts with a hobby knife. Four or 5 servos are required depending on whether your Zero is electric or glow-powered: Tactic TSX25 mini digital high-speed 2 ball bearing servo (TACM0225) OR Tactic TSX20 mini high-speed 2 ball bearing servo (TACM0220) OR Tactic TSX35 standard sport servo (TACM0235) If mixing the aileron servos through the radio electronically: (4) 6" [150mm] servo extensions (TACM2092) are required for the aileron servos. If mixing the servos with a Y-harness: (2) 6" [150mm] servo extensions (TACM2092) and a Y-harness (FUTM4130) are required for the aileron servos. Tactic TTX650 6-channel programmable radio (TACJ2650) 2

3 Glow Engine The Zero is suited for a stroke or.70 4-stroke. The O.S. Max.55AX (OSMG0557) is illustrated in this manual with a Bisson Pitts-style muffler (BISG4046). Other Accessories for a Glow Engine 1/4" [6.4mm] R/C foam rubber (HCAQ1000) Great Planes Dead Center Hole Locator (GPMR8130) 6-32 tap and drill set (DUBR0510) Suitable propeller for your engine Brushless Electric Motor The electric setup for the Zero is straightforward: a Great Planes ElectriFly RimFire.32 on a 13 x 8 E prop with a minimum 60A ESC powered by a 4S battery in the 3300 mah 4000 mah range*. A Castle Creations Edge Lite 75 was selected and is illustrated in the instruction manual because it is compact, easily programmable and features data logging RimFire.32 (GPMG4700) APC 13 x 8 thin E prop (APCQ3080) Castle Creations Edge Lite 75 (CSEM1200) FlightPower 4S 3300 mah 25C (FPWP2334) OR FlightPower 4S 4000 mah 25C (FPWP2404) 3/16" heat shrink tubing (GPMM1056) T-style Star connector (HCAM4001) * Other propeller options are noted on page 19. LiPo Battery Charger To charge a 4S 4000mAh LiPo at 1C, a charger capable of at least 70 watts is required (4S x 4.2V/cell = 16.8V x 4A = 67 watts). The Triton2 EQ is more than enough charger with 100 W output AC and 120 W output DC (GPMM3156). ADHESIVES, HARDWARE AND OTHER ACCESSORIES Other than common hobby tools here is a list of the rest of the items required: 30-minute epoxy (GPMR6043) Epoxy brushes (GPMR8060) Mixing cups (GPMR8056) Mixing sticks (GPMR8055) Threadlocker thread locking cement (GPMR6060) Thin CA (GPMR6001) Medium CA (GPMR6007) CA applicator tips (HCAR3780) Optional: Scale Military Pilot (GPMQ9117) A Robart Super Stand II (ROBP1402) is also indispensable for working on your Zero. A covering iron with a cover sock may be required for tightening and re bonding the covering to the model that may have loosened between the time the plane was manufactured and the time the model was removed from the box. The 21 st Century iron is preferred because of its long cord, contoured shoe and precisely adjustable temperature range: Coverite 21 st Century Sealing Iron (COVR2700) Coverite 21 st Century Cover Sock (COVR2702) KIT INSPECTION 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 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: (217) , ext. 5 Champaign, IL Fax: (217) airsupport@greatplanes.com GPMA5395 GPMA5396 GPMA5397 GPMA5398 GPMA5399 GPMA5400 GPMA5401 GPMA5402 GPMA5403 GPMA5404 GPMA5405 REPLACEMENT PARTS LIST Wing Fuselage Tail Surface Set Cowl Spinner Landing Gear Set Gear Covers Canopy Decals EP Motor Mount Parts Belly Pan 3

4 KIT CONTENTS 1. Fuselage w/ Canopy Hatch 2. Cowl 3. Engine Mount 4. Wings 1 5. Horizontal Stab 6. Vertical Stab Belly Pan 8. Main Wheels 9. Wheel Covers Main Landing Gear Wires 11. Hardware Nylon Hardware 13. Wing Joiner 14. Fuel Tank 15. EP Motor Mount Box 16. Tail Gear 17. Velcro Strap 18. Laser-cut Wood Parts PREPARATIONS Note: The covering on your Zero requires less heat than you may be used to if you re already familiar with iron-on coverings too much heat causes seams and edges to draw away from each other causing wavy, uneven edges or exposed balsa. 2. Give a generous tug on all control surfaces to check the hinges. Add thin CA where necessary to any loose hinges. Residual CA or CA fog is removable with a paper towel square dampened with CA debonder. 1. Use a covering iron with a cover sock to tighten any loose covering. Wherever the covering is over wood (especially on the sheet balsa tail surfaces) press down on the iron to make sure the covering is thoroughly bonded to the balsa underneath. The optimum temperature measured on the surface of the cover sock is about 280F [140C] which requires a dial setting of about 300F [150C] or medium heat on most covering irons. If the covering blisters up over balsa and cannot be pressed back down, the iron may be too hot or you are leaving it in one location for too long try reducing the heat or moving the iron a little faster. 3. If powering your Zero with a glow engine, apply a film of epoxy or CA to edges of the covering around the nose and firewall to seal from fuel and exhaust residue. 4

5 ASSEMBLE THE WING 1. Attach a 6" [150mm] servo extension to each aileron servo and secure with the included 3" [75mm] shrink tubing cut into two 1-1/2" [40mm] pieces. 4. Drill 1/16" [1.6mm] holes for the servo mounting screws in the wing and for the control horn screws on the aileron (use care not to drill through the top of the aileron). Mount the servo and horn, make the pushrod and hook up the aileron using the hardware shown. 5. After mounting the aileron horns, remove the screws, harden the holes with a few drops of thin CA, allow to harden, and then reinstall the screws. 6. Hook up the aileron servo in the right wing the same way. 1/8" [ 3 mm] Refer to this image while mounting the aileron servos and hooking up the ailerons. 7. Use a flat landing gear strap as a guide to drill 3/32" [2.4 mm] holes into the landing gear block in the left wing angle the straps so the holes will be 1/8" [3mm] from the edge of the groove. Do the left wing first Cut out Enlarge the aileron servo mount as necessary to fit your servos. 2. If necessary, enlarge the servo cutout to fit your servo. 3. Use the string to pull the aileron servo wire through the wing (or just guide the servo wires down through the holes without using the string) and fit the servo into the servo openings Mount the main landing gear to the rails with two straps and four M3 x 10 screws.

6 9. Use two M2 x 8 machine-thread screws, washers, M2 nuts and a little threadlocker to loosely fasten two hump straps to the outside of one of the wheel covers. 12. Lightly wet the threads of four M3 set screws with threadlocker and mount the main wheels to the main landing gear wire with a wheel collar on both sides a 1.5mm machined hex driver is recommended for securely tightening the set screws (rather than a stamped L hex key wrench). 13. Glue together both pieces of the plywood wing joiner epoxy may be used to provide more working time for alignment, or CA may be used for faster assembly. 10. Fasten the cover to the landing gear wire with two more screws, washers, nuts and threadlocker and tighten all the screws. 11. Mount the other landing gear, wheel and cover to the right wing the same way. 14. Once the glue on the joiner halves has hardened, testfit the wings together with the joiner and the nylon alignment pin. Make any adjustments necessary for a good fit. 6

7 17. After the epoxy has hardened remove the clamps and tape. ASSEMBLE THE FUSELAGE 15. A few paper towels cut into small squares and denatured alcohol will be useful for cleaning off excess epoxy during the next step while gluing the wing halves together. 1. Cut and remove the spacer from the slot for the horizontal stabilizer at the back of the fuselage. 2. Mount the wing to the fuselage with two x 2" nylon wing bolts (for convenience, you may shorten the wing bolts by cutting them to a length of 1-1/2" [40 mm]). 16. Apply 30-minute epoxy to all joining surfaces including the root ribs and the Joiner Pockets inside the wings where the joiner goes. Securely hold the wing halves together with masking tape and small clamps or clips on the tabs. As you proceed, use paper towel squares dampened with denatured alcohol to wipe away excess epoxy. 7

8 5. Remove the stab and fi n from the fuselage. Use 30-minute epoxy to glue the tail gear wire into the rudder and glue the stab and fin into the fuselage. Use more paper towel squares dampened with denatured alcohol to wipe away residual epoxy. If any weight was required to level the stab with the wing don t forget to reposition the weight and double-check the alignment before the epoxy hardens. 3. Test fit the tail gear wire into the rudder and fit the vertical and horizontal stabilizers into the fuselage. 6. Use the holes in the tail gear bracket as a guide to drill 1/16" [1.6mm] holes into the bottom of the fuselage for the mounting screws. Screw three M2.5 x 8 screws into the holes, remove the screws, add a few drops of thin CA to the holes, allow to fully harden, then mount the gear bracket to the fuse with the screws. Mount the tail wheel with a small collar and a M3 set screw and threadlocker. 4. View the model from behind and check the alignment between the horizontal stabilizer and the wing. If necessary, adjust the slot in the fuselage to get the stab horizontally aligned with the wing in most cases, all that will be required is a small amount of weight on the high side of the stab. 7. Tighten the collar up against the tail gear bracket with an M3 set screw wetted with threadlocker. 8

9 8. Use medium-grit sandpaper to roughen the flange on the belly pan and remove any minute inconsistencies so glue will adhere. Test-fit the belly pan to the bottom of the wing and make any adjustments necessary for a good fit. 11. Carefully trim the corners of the belly pan that protrude beyond the fuselage and the wing. If installing a glow engine skip to Mount the Glow Engine on page 12. Install the Electric Motor 9. With the belly pan in position, tape one side down to the wing. Use thin CA dispensed through a fine tip to glue the other side of the belly pan to the wing little CA is required and use care not to apply too much CA at the front and back of the belly pan so excess will not glue the wing to the fuselage. 10. Remove the tape and glue the other side of the belly pan to the wing. After the CA has hardened, a paper towel square dampened with CA debonder may be used to wipe off any excess CA or CA fog. 1. Glue together both pieces of the front plate and the back plate for the EP motor mount box alternating the wood grain direction of each set. NOTE: These parts may already be glued together by the factory. 9

10 2. Press 4-40 blind nuts into the front plate and glue them in with CA. 5. Drill 1/16" [1.6mm] pilot holes through the O marks in the firewall, then enlarge the holes with a 5/32" [4mm] drill. Insert 6-32 blind nuts into the back of the holes. 3. With the blind nuts on the inside of the assembly, glue all the motor mount box parts together it s quick and easy just to hold the assembly together while gluing it with thin CA. 6. Cut the rest of the way through the partially cut air inlet in the firewall and remove the piece. 4. Glue the triangle stock reinforcements around the front and back plates it s easy to position them with a hobby blade and glue them down with medium CA Mount the motor mount box to the firewall with four 6-32 x 3/4" Phillips screws and #6 lock washers and flat washers and threadlocker.

11 8. Assemble the motor and mount it to the motor mount box with four 4-40 x 1/2" Phillips screws and #4 lock washers and flat washers and threadlocker notice that the motor wires are positioned on the left side for a smooth connection to the ESC. 11. Glue the two balsa sticks across the back of the firewall so the screws don t puncture the LiPo battery in the event of a crash. 9. Connect your ESC to the motor and mount the ESC to the bottom of the motor mount box for the Castle Creations Edge Lite 75 ESC we soldered the female bullet connectors that came with the motor to the three motor wires (protected with 3/16" heat shrink tubing) and a Star connector to the battery wires, then mounted the ESC to the box with a piece of foam rubber and nylon ties. 10. Power up the ESC and use the transmitter to run the motor to make sure it turns the correct direction. If the motor turns the wrong direction swap any two of the three motor wires. 12. Attach the rougher, hook side of the included adhesive-back Velcro strip to the battery mount plate and the other, softer loop side to your battery. 11

12 Skip to Install the Radio on page 15. Mount the Glow Engine The instructions illustrate installation of an O.S. Max.55 AX with a Bisson No Pitts-style muffler. If using a different engine and/or a different muffler, slight adjustments may be required in the way your engine is rotated on the firewall, but as long as you align the four engine mount screws with the circle inscribed on the firewall, the engine will be in the correct location. 13. Test-mount your battery with a battery strap made from the included Velcro strips. 1. Drill 1/16" [1.6 mm] pilot holes through the X marks in the firewall, then enlarge the holes with a 5/32" [4 mm] drill. If using an engine or muffler other than the O.S..55AX/Bisson Pitts-style muffler, the engine mount may need to be rotated differently around the circle embossed in the firewall. However you orient your engine, be sure to keep all four engine mount holes on the circle embossed in the firewall so your engine and mount will be positioned properly. 14. Mount the cowl with four 4-40 x 1/2" screws and #4 washers and lock washers the two screws in the top go in through the front of the cowl and the two screws in the bottom go in from the back inside the fuselage. For safety reasons, do not mount the propeller until instructed to do so after the radio has been set up and the control throws have been set. 2. Insert 6-32 blind nuts into the holes in the back of the firewall. 15. Cut the covering from the air passage slots in the bottom of the fuselage Cut the spreader bar from both halves of the included engine mount and trim off any remaining material so they fit together well. 4. Temporarily mount the engine mount with four 6-32 x 1" screws and lock washers and flat washers, but don t tighten the screws all the way yet.

13 Hook Up the Throttle 5. Place the back plate of the spinner on the engine and position the engine on the mount so the back plate will be 5" [125 mm] from the firewall. Tighten the engine mount screws and hold the engine in place with a clamp. Use a Great Planes Dead-Center Hole Locator or similar tool to mark the engine mount bolt hole locations onto the mount. 1. If necessary, enlarge the cutout in the throttle servo tray to fit your servo. Determine which side of the fuselage works best for the throttle servo to align with the arm on the carburetor, then glue the parts together to fit that side. 6. Remove the engine and drill #36 (.106" [2.7mm]) holes at the marks, then tap 6-32 threads into the holes if available, a drill press is preferred for drilling the holes and the tap may be chucked in a hand drill to tap the threads. 2. Mount the throttle servo in the servo tray. 3. Glue the throttle servo tray into the side of the fuselage that aligns with the carb arm. 7. Mount the engine to the mount with four 6-32 x 3/4" Phillips screws and #6 lock washers. 4. Use the pattern on page 20 to make the throttle pushrod from the 2-56 x 19-3/4 [500 mm] pushrod. 13

14 Mount the Cowl The following instructions illustrate how to mount the cowl and cut the muffler exhaust holes with the included template for the O.S. Max.55AX with the Bisson muffler. If using a different engine and/or muffl er, mount the muffl er to the engine first, then cut the cowl as necessary for the muffler and the exhaust opening. A No. 569 or 570 Dremel grout removal bit and a sanding drum are indispensable for accurately cutting a cowl. Always wear eye and breathing protection when cutting fiberglass. 5. Install the throttle pushrod and connect it to the throttle servo. Bend the front of the pushrod as necessary to connect to the screw-lock connector on the carburetor arm with a screw-lock retainer. 6. Make a fuel tank strap by cutting one of the Velcro strips to a length of 6" [150mm] and the other strip to 7-1/2" [190mm]. Hook the straps together overlapping 2" [50mm]. 7. Install the fuel tank with a 2-1/2" x 5" [60 x 125mm] sheet of foam rubber on top of the fuel tank plate and secure the tank with the strap Mount the cowl with four 4-40 x 1/2" [12mm] screws and #4 washers and lock washers the two top cowl mounting screws go into the front of the cowl ring and the bottom two screws go in from the back inside the fuselage.

15 4. Use compressed air or warm, soapy water to thoroughly clean all metal filings from the muffler. Mount the muffler to the engine and mount the cowl to the fuselage enlarging the exhaust cutouts as necessary to install the cowl over the muffler tubes. 5. Cut any more holes in the cowl necessary for the needle valve, fueling line, glow plug igniter, etc. 6. Once all the holes are cut in the cowl, smooth any rough edges and remove loose fibers with 320-grit, then 400-grit sandpaper. Install the Radio 1. Make the elevator and rudder pushrods as shown. 2. Cut the muffler cutout template for the Bisson muffler from the back of the manual and tape it into position as shown. Mark the exhaust tube holes on the cowl, remove the cowl and cut the holes. 3. Use a reinforced cutoff wheel (or other suitable tool for cutting aluminum) to cut the exhaust tubes to a length of 1-3/4" [45mm]. This length will allow the exhaust tubes to protrude from the cowl far enough to direct most of the exhaust away from the bottom of the model, but still allow the cowl to fit over the tubes. Deburr the ends of the tube with a metal file or sandpaper and a hobby knife. 2. Install the pushrods into the guide tubes in the fuselage. Drill 1/16" [1.6mm] holes into the rudder and through the elevator for the horn screws. Mount the rudder horn with two M2 x 10 screws and mount the elevator horn with two M2 x 12 machine-thread screws and the horn mount plate. 15

16 3. Remove the screws from the rudder horn, harden the screw holes with a few drops of thin CA, allow to harden, then reinstall the screws. 6. If using a receiver battery for a glow engine, the battery may be mounted on top of the optional battery tray. The tray is mounted with four M2.5 x 8 washer-head Phillips wood screws. 4. If necessary, enlarge the cutout in the servo tray to fit your servos, then install the servos in the tray but don t screw them down yet. Center the rudder and elevator and the servos. Mark the pushrods where they cross the holes in the servo arms. 7. Apply the decals the best way is to peel a decal from the sheet, spray the back with window cleaner, position the decal, then squeegee out the window cleaner with a small balsa sheet. This technique allows for precise positioning and eliminates air bubbles. Install a Pilot (Optional) A Great Planes 1/7-scale painted military pilot was used (GPMQ9117). 1/16" [1.5 mm] Servo Arm 5. Disconnect the clevises from the horns and remove the pushrods from the fuselage. Make a 90-degree bend in each wire at the marks. Fit each pushrod to a servo arm, install a 90-degree pushrod keeper, cut off the excess wire, then reinstall and connect the pushrods (this will require temporary removal of the clevises). 1. Cut and remove the pilot base from the cockpit floor. Place your pilot onto the base and test-fit inside the cockpit to make sure he fits. Trim the pilot as necessary Fasten the pilot to the base with CA or screws.

17 3. Glue strips of balsa to the base serving as tabs for alignment be certain the tabs do not interfere with the fit of the canopy hatch to the fuselage. Note: the throws are measured at the widest part of the aileron, elevator and rudder. These are the recommended control surface throws: ELEVATOR Up & Down AILERONS Up & Down RUDDER Right & Left LOW 3/8 in. [10 mm] 11 1/4 in. [6mm] 11 1 in. [25mm] 12 HIGH 5/8 in. [16mm] 19 1/2 in. [13 mm] /4 in. [44 mm] 21 Check the C.G. Same as the control throws, the C.G. has a great effect on how the model flies. If the C.G. is too far forward the model may be too stable and unresponsive to control inputs. If the C.G. is too far aft the model may be too responsive and instable. 4. Glue the pilot base back onto the cockpit floor. 1. The model should be completely ready to fly with all components installed (and an empty fuel tank if using a glow engine). PREPARE THE MODEL FOR FLIGHT Set the Control Throws In addition to the C.G., the control throws have a major effect on how the model flies and whether or not your first flight will be successful. Do not skip this important step and make sure the throws are within the specified range. If necessary, use programming in your transmitter and/or change the locations of the pushrods in the servo arms and/or control horns to adjust the throw. 2. If building the electric version, install the propeller and spinner and install the motor battery. Use a box or something similar to prop up the fuselage so the horizontal stabilizer will be level. Check and set the control throws according to the measurements on the next page: 17

18 Fuselage sides PREFLIGHT Engine/Motor Safety Precautions 75 mm 100 mm 3" 4" Failure to follow these safety precautions may result in severe injury to yourself and others. Keep all engine fuel in a safe place, away from high heat, sparks or flames, as fuel is very flammable. Do not smoke near the engine or fuel; and remember that engine exhaust gives off a great deal of deadly carbon monoxide. Therefore do not run the engine in a closed room or garage. The recommended C.G. is 3" 4" [75 mm 100 mm] back from the leading edge of the wing where it meets the fuselage. 3. Use a Great Planes C.G. Machine to balance the model according to the measurements specified in the illustration, or mark the balance range on the top of the wings and lift it upside-down with your fingertips. As long as the model balances anywhere within the specified range it is acceptable (but less-experienced pilots should perform first flights with the Zero balanced in the middle or forward half of the range, slightly nose heavy). 4. If the Zero doesn t balance where specified, move the receiver battery or motor battery or add stick-on lead ballast to the nose or tail to achieve the correct C.G. 5. If you ve made any adjustments by adding ballast or moving components, check the C.G. again before flying. Balance the Model Laterally 1. Lift the Zero several times by the propeller shaft and the tail to see if one wing drops. 2. If one wing drops consistently, add weight to the opposite tip by sticking it to the outside or strategically concealing it inside the balsa tip. An airplane that has been laterally balanced will track better in flight and maintain its heading better during maneuvers when the plane is climbing. Get help from an experienced pilot when learning to operate engines. Use safety glasses when starting or running engines. Do not run the engine in an area of loose gravel or sand; the propeller may throw such material in your face or eyes. Keep your face and body as well as all spectators away from the plane of rotation of the propeller as you start and run the engine. Keep these items away from the prop: loose clothing, shirt sleeves, ties, scarfs, long hair or loose objects such as pencils or screwdrivers that may fall out of shirt or jacket pockets into the prop. Use a chicken stick or electric starter to start the engine. Do not use your fingers to flip the propeller. Make certain the glow plug clip or connector is secure so that it will not pop off or otherwise get into the running propeller. Make all engine adjustments from behind the rotating propeller. The engine gets hot! Do not touch it during or right after operation. Make sure fuel lines are in good condition so fuel will not leak onto a hot engine, causing a fire. To stop a glow engine, cut off the fuel supply by closing off the fuel line or following the engine manufacturer s recommendations. Do not use hands, fingers or any other body part to try to stop the engine. To stop a gasoline powered engine an on/off switch should be connected to the engine coil. Do not throw anything into the propeller of a running engine. WARNING: For brushless electric motors, never have the motor battery connected to the ESC without the transmitter turned on after each flight (or any time after running the motor) always disconnect the battery before turning off the transmitter. And when ready to fly (or whenever running the motor for any reason), always turn on the transmitter first before connecting the motor battery. Also make certain your failsafe is programmed correctly so in the event the receiver ever loses signal (or, if you inadvertently turn off the transmitter before disconnecting the battery or vice-versa) the motor will not turn. Follow the instructions that came with your radio control system to check and set the failsafe. 18

19 The recommended RimFire.32 is rated for 50 A constant current and 80 A surge current, so you want to load (prop) the motor to operate within that range. The closer to 50 A the longer you can fly full-throttle and the closer to 80 A the less you can fly full-throttle until the motor gets too hot. For starters, an APC 13 x 8 E (on a 4S LiPo) draws about 58 A static and momentary, maximum peaks of about A in the air, but averages a little less than 20 A with normal throttle use. This is a suitable propeller choice and flies the Zero well it can be zoomed around boreing holes in the sky, or cruise at lower throttle settings for more scale-appearing flight and extended air time. We ve also flown the Zero with a 13 x 10E on 4S which peps up the Zero noticeably. Then, the static current rises to about 68 A with momentary, maximum in-flight peaks up to around 70 A and averages around 50 A with normal throttle use. The 13 x 10 E is another suitable propeller, but prudent throttle management must be used so as not to overheat the motor and if necessary, it may be a good idea to allow the motor to cool between flights. Battery Precautions Before mounting the motor and setting up the ESC and battery, read the following important battery precautions: IMPORTANT: If using multiple battery packs that are connected with an adapter, never charge the batteries together through the adapter. Always charge each battery pack separately. Charge the batteries, then read the following precautions on how to connect multiple packs for flying the model: Battery Precautions: There are two ways to connect multiple battery packs: In Series and in Parallel. These are two 3200 mah batteries (one 11.1V and the other 7.4 V). When joined in SERIES, the result will be a 18.5 V, 3200 mah battery. 11.1V (3-Cell) 3200 mah Finally, we flew the Zero on a 12 x 12 E prop. It produces about the same numbers as the 13 x 10 E, but the Zero flies a little faster and loses a little thrust. With all the props, flight time depends greatly on how you use the throttle. Average current draw can be as low as 13 Amps up to as high as 50 Amps if you re REALLY hard on the throttle. This is a SERIES battery adapter that connects two batteries in series. 7.4 V (2-Cell) 3200 mah 1. Connecting batteries in Series means to connect the + s to the s and the s to the + s. This combines the battery s Voltages, but the capacity remains the same. These two 1500 mah batteries (both 11.1V) are being joined in PARALLEL. The result will be one 11.1V, 3000 mah battery. In any case, use a flight timer initially set to a conservative time (4 minutes for example). When the timer sounds, land. Resting (unloaded) voltage should not be below 3.75V/cell measured with a volt meter after you land. When you charge the battery note how much capacity it took to recharge (indicating how much was used for the flight). Strive to use no more than 80% of the battery s capacity. Adjust your timer according to the voltage and capacity used for the flight. You can also use the worksheet on page 23 to determine optimum flight times based on your flying style and battery capacity. CAUTION: Never run the motor on the ground for more than a few seconds. Otherwise, you may overload the motor, battery or ESC. 11.1V (3-Cell) 1500 mah This is a PARALLEL battery adapter that connects two batteries in parallel. 11.1V (3-Cell) 1500 mah 2. Connecting batteries in Parallel means to connect the + s to the + s and the - s to the - s. This combines the battery s capacities, but the Voltage remains the same. 19

20 11.1V (3-Cell) PARALLEL adapter 7.4V (2-Cell) NEVER connect battery packs with different Voltages in Parallel only combine in Series. Otherwise, the batteries will try to equalize with the larger one trying to charge the smaller one, thus causing heat and likely a fire. 11.1V (3-Cell) 3200 mah General 1) I will not fl y my model aircraft in sanctioned events, air shows, or model flying demonstrations until it has been proven to be airworthy by having been previously, successfully flight tested. 2) I will not fly my model aircraft higher than approximately 400 feet within 3 miles of an airport without notifying the airport operator. I will give right-of-way and avoid flying in the proximity of full-scale aircraft. Where necessary, an observer shall be utilized to supervise flying to avoid having models fly in the proximity of full-scale aircraft. 3) Where established, I will abide by the safety rules for the flying site I use, and I will not willfully and deliberately fly my models in a careless, reckless and/or dangerous manner. 5) I will not fly my model unless it is identified with my name and address or AMA number, on or in the model. Note: This does not apply to models while being flown indoors. 7) I will not operate models with pyrotechnics (any device that explodes, burns, or propels a projectile of any kind). SERIES adapter 11.1V (3-Cell) 1250 mah Also NEVER connect battery packs with different capacities in Series or in Parallel. Range Check Don t forget to perform your usual ground range checks as written in the instruction manual that came with your radio system to be certain it is operating correctly. AMA SAFETY CODE Read and abide by the following excerpts from the Academy of Model Aeronautics Safety Code. For the complete Safety Code refer to Model Aviation magazine, the AMA web site or the Code that came with your AMA license. 20 Radio Control 1) I will have completed a successful radio equipment ground check before the first flight of a new or repaired model. 2) I will not fly my model aircraft in the presence of spectators until I become a qualifi ed fl ier, unless assisted by an experienced helper. 3) At all fl ying sites a straight or curved line(s) must be established in front of which all flying takes place with the other side for spectators. Only personnel involved with flying the aircraft are allowed at or in the front of the flight line. Intentional flying behind the flight line is prohibited. 4) I will operate my model using only radio control frequencies currently allowed by the Federal Communications Commission. 5) I will not knowingly operate my model within three miles of any pre-existing flying site except in accordance with the frequency sharing agreement listed [in the complete AMA Safety Code]. 9) Under no circumstances may a pilot or other person touch a powered model in flight; nor should any part of the model other than the landing gear, intentionally touch the ground, except while landing. FLYING It s well-known among scale pilots that a P-47 Thunderbolt is an excellent scale subject; its generous wing and tail area and long tail moment contribute to a sound model airplane design and it shows in the air. Unless the plane is improperly designed, heavily built or underpowered any P-47 is easy to fly. The Zero is the same way! In addition to being easy to fly, the Zero is also quite a true flying model with minimal coupling or adverse yaw problems almost like a pattern plane! This Zero

21 does behave differently to different C.G. locations. Balanced nearer the forward end of the C.G. range the Zero seems to ground handle a little better once the wheels touch the ground during a landing and is slightly less likely to bounce back into the air. The takeoff rollout is also a little easier once the tail rises the Zero can be steered all the way down the runway as long as you please until you bump the elevator to make the plane rise into the air. Balanced nearer the aft end of the C.G. range the Zero feels a little more nimble and is more agreeable to being thrashed around in the air. But at an aft C.G. you ll notice the Zero may float a little on landing. For windier days a farther forward C.G. may be preferred. Other than that, the Zero exhibits no unexpected tendencies. Because it is a slightly draggier type of model the Zero does benefit from a few clicks of throttle on final approach all the way until touchdown just to keep a little wind blasting over the elevator. Even with a little throttle the Zero will still bleed speed and establish a nose-down attitude until touchdown. Have a ball! But always stay in control and fly in a safe manner. GOOD LUCK AND GREAT FLYING! 21

22 To throttle servo Throttle pushrod (For O.S. Max.55AX) Exhaust tube template for O.S. Max.55AX with Bisson Pitts-style muffler This model belongs to: Name Address City, State, Zip Phone Number AMA Number I.D. Tag 22

23 A Flight Time (.10 ths ) FORMULAS B C D E F G B / A D x.8 E / C B/1000 /(A/60) Recharge Capacity mah/minute Battery Capacity Target Capacity to Use in Flight Recommended Flight Time Avg. In-Flight Current Notes: 23

24 Entire Contents 2016 Great Planes Model Mfg. A subsidiary of Hobbico, Inc. 24 GPMA1209