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Aerobatic flying just doesn't get any better than this Decathlon ARF.  Its clean lines, long tail moment, and
superb wing design will reward you with the maneuvers you love - knife edge, split S, lumcevac, torque rolls,
snaps, and ground-hugging inverted flight.  What's more, we've engineered this ARF to get you into the air with
a minimum of fuss.  So take a few minutes to carefully read the introductory material and then get to work.  You'll
soon be out at the field with a classic aerobatic champion!

WARNING

A radio-controlled model is not a toy and is not intended for persons under 16 years old.  Keep

this kit out of the reach of younger children, as it contains parts that could be dangerous.  A radio-
controlled model is capable of causing serious bodily injury and property damage.  It is the buyer's
responsibility to assemble this aircraft correctly and to properly install the motor, radio, and all other
equipment. Test and fly the finished model only in the presence and with the assistance of another
experienced R/C flyer.  The model must always be operated and flown using great care and common
sense, as well as in accordance with the Safety Code of the Academy of Model Aeronautics
(www.modelaircraft.org).  We suggest you join the AMA and become properly insured prior to flying this
model.  Also, consult with the AMA or your local hobby dealer to find an experienced instructor in your
area.  Per the Federal Communications Commission, you are required to use only those radio fre-
quencies specified "for Model Aircraft."

LIMITED WARRANTY

Carl Goldberg Products, Ltd. has inspected and certified the components of this aircraft.  The company urges the buyer to perform
his own inspection, prior to assembly, and to immediately request a replacement of any parts he believes to be defective for their
intended use.  The company warrants replacement of any such components, provided the buyer requests such replacement with-
in a period of one year from the date of purchase and provided the defective part is returned, if so requested by the company. 

No other warranty, expressed or implied, is made by the company with respect to this kit.  The buyer acknowledges and under-
stands that it is his responsibility to carefully assemble the finished flying model airplane and to fly it safely.  The buyer hereby
assumes full responsibility for the risk and all liability for personal or property damage or injury arising out of the buyer's use of the
components of this kit.

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Pt. #2017  3/01

CARL GOLDBERG PRODUCTS, LTD.

P.O. Box 818 Oakwood GA 30566  Phone #678-450-0085 Fax # 770-532-2163  www.carlgoldbergproducts.com

© Copyright 2001 Carl Goldberg Products LTD.

Summary of Contents for decathlon arf

Page 1: ... and become properly insured prior to flying this model Also consult with the AMA or your local hobby dealer to find an experienced instructor in your area Per the Federal Communications Commission you are required to use only those radio fre quencies specified for Model Aircraft LIMITED WARRANTY Carl Goldberg Products Ltd has inspected and certified the components of this aircraft The company urg...

Page 2: ...Yellow 884 Midnight Blue 885 and White 870 UltraCote UltraCote is a registered trademark of Horizon Hobby Distributors TOOLS AND SUPPLIES FOR ASSEMBLY MODELING OR UTILITY KNIFE WORK SURFACE 24 X70 ELECTRIC DRILL 1 16 3 32 1 8 3 16 5 32 1 4 5 64 7 32 DRILL BITS SMALL STANDARD PHILLIPS SCREW DRIVERS MASKING TAPE NEEDLE NOSE PLIERS MOTO TOOL 24 RULER FLEXIBLE STRAIGHT EDGE 30 60 90 x 6 TRIANGLE SOFT ...

Page 3: ...time because they dry so much more slowly than CA glue Remember whenerever using any CA you must be care ful to read instructions thoroughly as you will have only seconds for positioning of parts Be sure to trial fit parts together before gluing Also never use watery THIN type CA glue for gluing plywood and hardwood parts Thin CA s do not adequately bond these areas CAUTION Some people may experie...

Page 4: ...en the aileron and the wing 5 Carefully check the alignment of the aileron It should be centered with about 1 32 on either end When satisfied with the alignment remove the straight pins being sure to keep the aileron tight to the wing You may wish to apply a few pieces of masking tape to keep the pieces in place 6 Keeping the aileron and wing in position apply 3 or 4 drops of thin CA glue to the s...

Page 5: ... the servo as shown When the epoxy is dry drill 1 16 holes into the servo blocks and using the screws sup plied with the radio mount the servo onto the blocks 4 Place the servo door on the wing and drill a 1 16 hole on each corner Using the 2 x 3 8 screw and 2 washer supplied with this kit screw the door to the mounting plate 5 Repeat the above steps for the second aileron servo 5 3 Remove the ser...

Page 6: ...drill bit make a pilot hole in each screw location Mount the control horn with the 2 56 x 3 4 screws 5 Thread the 1 16 x 7 rod onto the snap link Make sure the rod shows in the center of the snap link Place the snap link in the second hole from the top on the control horn 6 Making sure the aileron is in neutral level position mark where the wire meets the hole on the servo arm Remove the wire and ...

Page 7: ... prodding the covering locate the hole next to the center of the of the wing close to the trailing edge Carefully remove the covering OVER THE HOLE in the wing on both the top and the bottom Next locate the holes in the wing bolt plate and again carefully remove the covering over the holes Do the same to the other wing panel 5 Insert the aluminum tube into one wing half and push the tube into the ...

Page 8: ... front of the strut should be parallel with the front of the wing In the above photo the short side is in front 5 Modify the small control horns by cutting as shown above 6 Thread the metal clevis onto the threaded wires at the outer end of the strut until the wire protrudes into the center of the clevis Install the modified control horns onto the clevis at the end of the strut Mark the modified c...

Page 9: ... 5 From the center point on the stab draw a ver tical line up to the top of the stab Place masking tape on the top of the fuse just in front of the stab Measure and mark the centerpoint on the tape Mark a centerline on the fuselage just behind the wing Place a piece of masking tape along the top of the fuselage as shown and draw a line from the center mark in front of the stab up to the center mar...

Page 10: ...ight by itself Enlarge the notch if necessary TAKING CARE NOT TO CUT INTO THE WOOD STRUCTURE UNDERNEATH and working inside the drawn lines carefully remove the covering where the fin mounts on the fuse and stab 4 When satisfied with the fit mark the location of the fin on the fuse and stab by drawing a line on both sides of the fin as shown REMOVE SHADED AREA 5 Remount the fin on the fuse and usin...

Page 11: ...the location of the screw hole and drill using a 3 32 bit Mount the control horn using the 2 56 x 3 4 phillips head screw RUDDER ELEVATOR INSTALLATION 1 Collect the following items 1 Fuselage Tail Assembly 2 Elevators 1 Rudder 12 Jet hinges 3 Remove the pins in each hinge and keeping the elevator stab assembly in position apply 3 or 4 drops of thin CA to each hinge on both the top and bottom sides...

Page 12: ...y be neces sary to open the end of the springs in order to connect them to the control horns and the bellcrank 4 Working on one landing gear leg at a time place the gear in the bottom of the fuselage as shown Align the holes in the landing gear and the fuselage 5 Inserta6 32x1 2 socketheadscrew withawash er into each hole With the screws and the washers through the gear reach inside the fuselage a...

Page 13: ...ly with soap and water 4 Install the cables by using the guide tubing and threading them through the fuselage as was done with the elevator pushrod 6 Connect two snap links to the center servo as shown and the other two snap links to the rudder control horn When the cables are connected test the tightness by moving the rudder by hand The rudder should have very little movement without moving the s...

Page 14: ...nd drill a 5 64 hole completely through both sides This hole will hold the elevator wires 4 Measure 1 from the other end of the pushrod and drill a 5 64 hole HALFWAY THROUGH the pushrod TAKE CARE TO DRILL ONLY THROUGH ONE SIDE 5 Using the 5 64 drill and holding a pushrod plug as shown drill out the center of the plug to form a tube Repeat for the other plug 6 Using the Elevator Wire Drawing place ...

Page 15: ...he wire after the bend so that it will fit in the pushrod 9 Insert the two wires into the double hole end of the pushrod until the bent ends slide into the holes Slide the plug as far as it will go down into the pushrod Then use medium CA to glue the plug to the pushrod 10 Using Drawing 2 as a template mark the location of the bend on the third threaded wire 14 When the nylon tubes have been pushe...

Page 16: ...rds the servo and snap onto the wire and around the servo arm 15 Once the wire has exited the fuselage remove the nylon tubing from the end of the wires Motor Mount Engine Installation 2 Using the alignment marks center the motor mount on the firewall and tack glue REMEMBER the following pictures and instruc tions may vary slightly depending on the equipment you are using 1 Collect the following i...

Page 17: ...l the holes using a 5 32 drill Using the 6 32 x 1 1 2 socket head screws and a 6 washers install the motor mount onto the firewall Check to see that all of the alignment marks on the motor mount match the marks on the firewall You may wish to put thread lock on the motor mount screws at this time 6 FROM FIREWALL 7 Place the engine on the motor mount mak ing sure the propeller drive plate is 6 away...

Page 18: ...lled for the throttle tubing Push the tubing in to the fuselage till only 1 8 is sticking out of the front of the firewall 5 Drill a 1 8 hole into the plywood pushrod support slide the pushrod support on to the end of the tubing 6 Install a pushrod connecter onto the throttle servo arm see above Mount the servo arm onto the servo like shown in the photo above Insert the 063 wire into the tubing st...

Page 19: ... length of fuel tubing 1 foam latex sheet Not Included CAUTION The white neprene stopper and the fuel tubing provided with this kit are FOR GLOW FUEL ONLY DO NOT USE THESE PARTS FOR GASO LINE 2 Insert both brass tubes through the wide end of the rubber stopper Leave 1 2 extending out the front of the tank Place the small nylon washer on both tubes as shown making sure that one of the tubes extends...

Page 20: ...ng though the firewall FUEL TUBING 10 Place the foam pad into the front of the fuse lage underneath the fuel tank Put the fuel tubing onto the fuel tank bass tubes HINT Keep track which tubing is on the vent tube of the fuel tank FOAM PAD 11 With the fuel line pull the fuel tank up into the fuselage till it stops at the firewall Cut the 3 16 x 1 2 x 7 3 4 balsa stick to fit across the fuselage Thi...

Page 21: ...NG THE COWL ALWAYS WEAR PROTECTIVE EYE GEAR AND A LONG SLEEVE SHIRT CHANGE CLOTHES AND WASH AFTER CUTTING 6 Securely tape the cowl to the fuselage mak ing sure that the cowl is 5 15 16 away from the firewall Once taped measure the cowl again to make certain its position has not shifted Trace the cut out on the clear plastic to the cowl 7 Remove the cowl and with a moto tool slowly remove the fiber...

Page 22: ...asher 1 3 8 2 1 2 RADIO SWITCH INSTALLATION 1 Collect the following items 1 Radio switch 1 Switch mount 1 Switch mount bolt 1 Switch cap 1 Switch push pull 2 2 washer 2 If your radio has a switch cover remove both the screw and the cover from the top of the switch Using the screw just removed as well as a 2 washer assemble the switch mount as shown 3 The switch mount has one slotted hole on one si...

Page 23: ...TION WHEEL WHEEL PANT INSTALLATION 1 Collect the following items 1 Windshield 1 Fuselage 2 Front side windows 2 Rear side windows 1 Glue the side windows starting at the rear then the front Glue the windows in place with CA glue Caution Use the glue sparingly and keep fingers clean 2 Place the front windsheild onto the fuselage as shown Push the windshield into place and draw a cut line around the...

Page 24: ...e wheel pant through this hole This will help support the wheel pant when fly ing off a grass or rough field 3 Slide the wheel pant over the axle and up against the landing gear Make a mark on the wheel pant where it hits the axle 5 When satisfied with the fit of all the compo nents mount the wheelpants wheels and the remaining outside wheel collars onto the axle Turn the aircraft right side up an...

Page 25: ... a 4 40 x 1 2 pan head screw through the eyelet on each wire Then insert the screw into the hole in the stab Do not put a nut on at this time Repeat the above steps for the other side of the stab 4 Turn the fuselage right side up and insert the 10 7 8 wire on to the screws on the stab Install the 4 40 locking nuts on the screws but do not tighten Bend the front wire towards the fin and mark the ho...

Page 26: ...always must be used when the engine is run ning IMPORTANT NEVER NEGLECT THIS STEP WITH ANY AIRPLANE If you try to fly a plane with the bal ance point behind the recommended range you run the risk of having an unstable aircraft and the strong likelihood of a crash TAKE THE TIME TO PROP ERLY BALANCE YOUR MODEL Referring to the recommended balance range for your model move the position of the plane o...

Page 27: ...eceiver switches set the model heading away from you and walk away while transmitting signals Watch to see that no signals are missed until you are at least 100 feet away Only if the equipment works per fectly should any flights be attempted Again be careful to not use your transmitter when anyone else at the field is flying or testing on the same fre quency After the range check stand behind the ...

Page 28: ...illingness to do and do it again Don t give up practice really does make perfect Which side is up Learning to recognize which side is up may sound foolish but many a plane has bitten the dust because the pilot lost track of the plane s position Other than learning to recognize the plane s silhouette at different angles and attitudes the best insurance is to force yourself to concentrate on each th...

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