SlowBipe ARF Construction Manual

SlowBipe ARF Construction Manual
This manual will illustrate the construction of the SlowBipe airplane from kit to flight. Go to
www.slowbipe.com/products.asp
The kit as it arrives in a box at your door
All of the parts laid out on the table
The magnets are already installed. The plywood top and bottom rudder bearing plates are
already installed in the tail. This manual documents setting up the SlowBipe using the Power
Pack and Servo Pack from SlowBipe.com.
Warning: Do not use CA or Super Glue. Even some “foam safe” cyanoacrylate glues will
attack this foam.
Fuselage Construction
• Use Elmers Glue for the following steps
• Glue in front spars
•
•
o Spread glue on spars
o Press spars into slots in fuselage side
o Wipe off excess glue using damp cloth
Glue in rear spars
o Spread glue on spars
o Press spars into slots in fuselage side
o Wipe off excess glue using damp cloth
Glue in recessed foam side panel
o Apply bead of glue around perimeter of recess
o Press foam side panel into recess
o Place weight on recessed panel until dry
Paint Fuselage
•
Optionally paint the fuselage at this time. There are two paints that I have found work
well and don’t eat the foam. I have found both of these products locally at Michaels Craft
store as well as Hobby Lobby.
o Krylon Short Cuts
http://www.krylon.com/products/short_cuts_aerosol_paints/
o Krylon H2O
http://www.krylon.com/environment/h20/
o Spray one or two light coats and allow to dry over night
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Rudder Assembly
•
•
•
Using 5 minute epoxy glue rudder shaft into milled slot in foam rudder. 5 minute epoxy
is available at most home improvement stores and at Walmart.
o Rudder shaft is oriented so that the hole for retainer clip is at the bottom
Slide rudder control horn onto rudder shaft from bottom
o Rudder control horn is oriented so that it extends to the left of rudder when
viewed from behind
Using 5 minute epoxy glue rudder control horn to shaft and bottom of rudder
o See illustration for position of rudder control horn
o The control horn is not perpendicular to rudder since control rod crosses over
fuselage to connect to rudder
Elevator Control Horn Installation
•
Using Epoxy glue, glue the control horn into the two 1/16th inch holes on the bottom of
the horizontal stabilizer
o Secure by gluing the retainer on the other side.
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Windshield Installation
•
•
•
Remove backing from vinyl windshield
Apply vinyl windshield to fuselage as shown in
illustration
Press windshield sides around fuselage and
press firmly
Motor Installation and Nose Assembly
•
•
•
•
Use 5 minute epoxy or a hot glue gun for the following assembly steps. Hot glue is much
faster but both work well.
If you purchased a Power Pack then the plywood firewall comes assembled to the motor.
Otherwise drill firewall to fit your motor.
Glue firewall into fuselage
o Test fit motor mount firewall to foam fuselage
o Apply glue to back of firewall
o Press firewall into foam fuselage and hold until dry
o Route ESC (Electronic Speed Control) into slot designed for it and run wires
through fuselage into radio area on other side of foam panel
Glue plywood fuselage side doublers to fuselage
o Apply glue to side of fuselage side doublers
o Hold doublers in place till dry
Glue plywood top, bottom and front doublers to fuselage
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o
o
o
o
Apply glue to side of fuselage doublers
Hold doublers in place till dry
Repeat this for each of the 4 fuselage nose doublers
Be sure to use a generous amount of glue for a very strong nose
Battery Bar Installation
•
Using 5 minute epoxy or a hot glue gun, glue battery bars to side of battery compartment
per the illustrations.
Servo Installation
•
•
•
Feed servo wire through fuselage and into radio compartment
Press servo into servo holes by rocking the servo gently until seated. Be carful not to
crush the foam on either side when starting servo into hole.
Servo’s should be oriented per illustration
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Control Rod Installation
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•
•
•
•
•
Connect your receiver up to the ESC (Electronic Speed Control) and two servo’s.
o The top servo is for rudder and the bottom is for elevator
o Connect your battery pack to the ESC
o Test that your radio is functioning and allow servo’s to center
Install servo arms onto servo’s as shown in the
previous illustration
Slide horizontal stabilizer into slow in fuselage
tail until the magnets align and it snaps into
place
Insert control rod into rudder control horn as
you install the rudder. Retain rudder with
supplied body clip at bottom of fuselage.
Install wire rudder control rod as shown in the
illustration. (The wire goes across the fuselage)
Install Z bend wire in elevator control horn as shown in the illustration
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Prop Saver Installation
•
•
Assemble prop saver by inserting two
screw into prop adapter hub
Slide prop saver onto motor shaft per
illustration and tight screws with
Phillips head driver.
Wing Assembly
•
•
•
Drop top wing onto top of fuselage. It will snap into place from magnets.
Plug one of each lower wing into each side of fuselage lower wing slot. When both
wings are in place they will snap together from the magnets.
Carefully slide wing struts onto ends of wing panels.
Other Flight Items
•
•
CG location is about 1.5 inches behind the leading edge of the lower wing.
If you plan to fly dramatically, like pulling out of a dive very quickly, you may want to
apply a piece of masking tape (I use the blue painters tape) from the windshield up over
the front of the wing. The magnets are strong, but not that strong.
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