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3

2. You must assemble the model 

according to the instructions

Do not alter or modify the model, as doing so may result in an 
unsafe or unflyable model. In a few cases the instructions may 
differ slightly from the photos. In those instances the written 
instructions should be considered as correct.

3. You must take time to 

build straight, true

 and 

strong

.

4. You must use an R/C radio system that is in first-class 

condition, and a correctly sized engine and components 

(fuel tank, wheels, etc.) throughout the building process.

5. You must correctly install all R/C and other components 
so that the model operates correctly on the ground and in 
the air.

6. You must check the operation of the model before 

every

 

flight to ensure that all equipment is operating and that the 
model has remained structurally sound. Be sure to check 
clevises or other connectors often and replace them if they 
show any signs of wear or fatigue.

7. If you are not an experienced pilot or have not flown 

this type of model before, we recommend that you get 
the assistance of an experienced pilot in your R/C club for 
your first flights. If you’re not a member of a club, your local 
hobby shop has information about clubs in your area whose 
membership includes experienced pilots.

8. While this kit has been flight tested to exceed normal use, 
if the plane will be used for extremely high stress flying, such 
as racing, or if an engine larger than one in the recommended 
range is used, the modeler is responsible for taking steps to 
reinforce the high stress points and/or substituting hardware 
more suitable for the increased stress.

9. 

WARNING:

 The cowl, wheel pants, and landing gear 

included in this kit are made of fiberglass, the fibers of which 
may cause eye, skin and respiratory tract irritation. Never 
blow into a part to remove fiberglass dust, as the dust will 
blow back into your eyes. Always wear safety goggles, a 
particle mask and rubber gloves when grinding, drilling and 
sanding fiberglass parts. Vacuum the parts and the work 
area thoroughly after working with fiberglass parts.

We, as the kit manufacturer, provide you with a top quality, 

thoroughly tested kit and instructions, but ultimately the 
quality and fl yability of your fi nished model depends 
on how you build it; therefore, we cannot in any way 
guarantee the performance of your completed model, 
and no representations are expressed or implied as to the 
performance or safety of your completed model.

Remember:

 

Take your time and follow the instructions 

to end up with a well-built model that is straight and true.

DECISIONS YOU MUST MAKE

This is a partial list of items required to finish the Christen 

Eagle .46 ARF that may require planning or decision making 

before starting to build. Order numbers are provided in 
parentheses.

Radio Equipment

The Eagle requires a minimum 4-channel radio system with 

two 44 oz.-in. [3.2 kg-cm] minimum standard sized servos. 

Two micro servos are required for the ailerons in the bottom 

wing. Two more micro servos are required if you plan to 
have the top wing ailerons controlled by their own dedicated 
servos. If you are installing a glow engine, an additional 
standard servo is required for the throttle.

Two 12" [305mm] servo extensions are required for the bottom 

wing aileron servos. If you plan to install aileron servos in the 
top wing, you will need four more 12" [305mm] servo extensions 
for a total of six. If you are using a radio system that does not 
support mixing functions, a Y-harness (dual servo extension) 
will also be required to connect the bottom aileron servos to 
the receiver. If you have installed servos in the top wing, two 
additional Y-harnesses will also be needed for a total of three. A 
6" [152mm] servo extension is needed for the receiver pack if 
you plan to install a brushless motor.

Recommended part numbers for the radio components are 

provided below:

  

Futaba

®

 S3004 Standard Ball Bearing Servo 

(FUTM0004) -

OR- 

Futaba S9001 Servo Aircraft 

Coreless BB (FUTM0075)

  

Futaba S3115 Micro Precision Servo (FUTM0415) -

OR-

Futaba S3150 Slim Digital Servo (FUTM0303)

  

Hobbico

®

 6" Extension Futaba J (HCAM2000)

  

Hobbico 12" Extension Futaba J (HCAM2100)

  

Futaba Dual Servo Extension 6" J (FUTM4130)

  

Ernst Charge Receptacle Futaba J FM (ERNM3001)

Power System Recommendations

The recommended engine/motor size for the Eagle is a .46-.55 

cu in [7.5-9 cc] two-stroke engine, .72 cu in [12cc] four-stroke 
engine, or a RimFire .55 (42-60-480) brushless outrunner motor. 
Engine and motor order numbers are provided below:

  

O.S.

®

 .46AX ABL w/Muffler (OSMG0547)

  

O.S.

®

 .55AX ABL w/Muffler (OSMG0556)

  

O.S.

®

 .72FS-a Ringed 4-stroke (OSMG0877)

  

Great Planes RimFire .55 (42-60-480) Outrunner 

Brushless (GPMG4715)

If using the recommended brushless motor, a 60A brushless 
ESC and motor mount are required:

  

Great Planes Silver Series 60A Brushless ESC High Volt 
(GPMM1850)

  

Great Planes Brushless Motor Mount Medium (GPMG1255)

Summary of Contents for Christen Eagle .46

Page 1: ...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 61822 USA Include a letter stating your name return shipping address as much contact information as possible daytime telephone number fax number e mail addr...

Page 2: ...great flying characteristics of its larger counterpart that helped make the 1 3 scale successful In addition a brushless power system option is detailed in this manual and accommodations have been provided in the fuselage structure for electric components A wingspan of only 42 5 1080mm allows the plane to be transported fully assembled with ease If you do need to remove the wings they disconnect f...

Page 3: ...r completed model and no representations are expressed or implied as to the performance or safety of your completed model Remember Take your time and follow the instructions to end up with a well built model that is straight and true DECISIONS YOU MUST MAKE This is a partial list of items required to finish the Christen Eagle 46 ARF that may require planning or decision making before starting to b...

Page 4: ...re required to finish the Christen Eagle 46 ARF 1 2 oz 15g Thin Pro CA GPMR6001 1 2 oz 15g Medium Pro CA GPMR6007 Pro 30 minute epoxy GPMR6047 Threadlocker thread locking cement GPMR6060 Denatured alcohol for epoxy clean up Drill bits 1 16 1 6mm 5 64 2mm 11 64 4 4mm Great Planes Tap Drill Set 6 32 GPMR8102 Glow engine installation only Tap handle GPMR8120 Glow engine installation only Dead Center ...

Page 5: ...slight deviations between your model and the published values ORDERING REPLACEMENT PARTS Replacement parts for the Christen Eagle are available using the order numbers in the Replacement Parts List that follows The fastest most economical service can be provided by your hobby dealer or mail order company To locate a hobby dealer visit the Great Planes web site at greatplanes com Choose Where to Bu...

Page 6: ...o 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 Champaign IL 6...

Page 7: ...h covers using a sharp hobby knife If you plan to connect the upper and lower ailerons with pushrods and have all four ailerons controlled by the two servos in the bottom wing then do not trim the covering from the top wing hatch covers Skip to step 9 After step 9 complete the bottom wing servo installation as described in step 14 CUT OFF UNUSED ARMS 2 Cut three arms from a four armed servo arm fo...

Page 8: ... from vibration a business card folded in thirds works well for this Drill 1 16 1 6mm holes through the mounting tabs on the servo case into the blocks Thread a servo mounting screw included with the servos into each hole and back it out Apply a drop of thin CA to each hole to harden the wood When the CA has dried install the servos onto the hatch covers using the hardware supplied with the servos...

Page 9: ... made through the plywood plates Apply a couple drops of thin CA glue to each hole to harden the wood When the glue has dried install the control horns onto the ailerons using four 2 56 x 1 2 13mm machine screws and the control horn backplates Servo Horn 1 16 2 56 074 Pushrod Wire FasLink 13 Use tape or a small clamp to hold the ailerons in the neutral position Make a mark on the pushrods where th...

Page 10: ...he lines you drew or use CA debonder See the following Expert Tip for an alternative method for removing covering HOW TO CUT COVERING FROM BALSA Use a soldering iron to cut the covering from the area beneath the belly pan The tip of the soldering iron doesn t have to be sharp but a fine tip does work best Allow the iron to heat fully Use a straightedge to guide the soldering iron at a rate that wi...

Page 11: ...Before gluing the stab test fit the vertical fin part way into the fuse and confirm the fuse sides fit snugly against the fin If the fit is loose leave the fin in place while gluing the stab into the slot and use small clamps to hold the fuse sides against the fin 4 When satisfied with the fit coat the exposed wood of the stabilizer with 30 minute epoxy For a stronger joint we recommend also coati...

Page 12: ...atured alcohol 1 1 3 4 8 Cut the included 2 x 9 51mm x 229mm piece of CA hinge material into 3 4 x 1 19mm x 25mm individual hinges Use a hobby knife or scissors to trim the corners from each hinge to make them easier to insert into the hinge slots DRILL A 5 64 2mm HOLE 3 8 9 5mm DEEP IN CENTER OF HINGE SLOT CUT THE COVERING AWAY FROM THE SLOT 9 Drill a 5 64 2mm hole 3 8 9 5mm deep in the center of...

Page 13: ...vators to confirm that they are securely glued in place The hinges will hold the elevators in place while the epoxy cures 13 Apply a couple drops of oil to each end of the nylon tab on the tail wheel wire 14 Test fit the tail wheel wire into the hole in the rudder Test fit the rudder onto the fuselage with CA hinges but do not glue them yet 15 When satisfied with the fit remove the rudder from the...

Page 14: ... right side of the rudder in the same manner of the elevator using two 2 56 x 1 2 13mm machine screws and a backplate Be sure that the control horn is inline with the rudder pushrod exit slot 5 Install the elevator and rudder servos onto the servo tray in the orientation shown Be sure to harden the servo mount screw holes with CA Center the servos with the radio system and position the servo horns...

Page 15: ...4 x 5 32 32mm x 4mm axle into each main landing gear leg and tightly secure them using 5 16 24 nuts 3 Slide a 5 32 4mm wheel collar followed by a wheel and then another wheel collar onto each axle Mark the location of the screw holes in the wheel collars onto the axles 4 Remove the wheels and wheel collars from the axles and use a file or rotary tool to grind flat spots at the marks you made 5 App...

Page 16: ... stroke glow engine 72 four stroke glow engine or a brushless outrunner motor If you plan to install a brushless motor skip this section as it only contains information relevant to installing a glow engine The steps in this section show the installation of the stock engine muffler for a two stroke engine If you plan to use a Pitts style muffler use the other engine mounting holes that are not at a...

Page 17: ...ubes installed in the stopper fit the stopper plates loosely in place with the 3 x 25mm phillips screw to hold the assembly together Top of Tank Vent Fill and Carb Lines 4 Fit the stopper assembly into the tank with the vent line pointing toward the top of the tank but not touching The fuel tubing and clunks fuel pickup on the carb and fill lines should almost reach the back of the tank but not to...

Page 18: ...ws slightly loose Test fit your engine between the mount halves Slide the mount halves against the sides of the engine and finish tightening the mount screws 9 Position the front of the engine drive washer 4 13 16 122mm from the front of the firewall Mark the location of the engine mount holes onto the mount rails using a Dead Center Hole Locator Remove the engine from the mount and use a 6 32 tap...

Page 19: ... Center the servo with your radio system throttle stick positioned at 50 throttle and install the arm perpendicular to the servo case Install a screw lock pushrod connector into the outer hole in the remaining arm and secure it in place with a nylon screw lock connector retainer Loosely install a 4 40 x 1 4 SHCS set screw into the screw lock pushrod connector 14 Install the throttle servo onto the...

Page 20: ...f the pushrod should pass through the screw lock connector Adjust the pushrod position in the connector so that the throttle servo properly opens and closes the carburetor When satisfied tighten the SHCS in the connector against the pushrod and cut off the excess pushrod 1 4 6mm behind the connector Use the radio system to test the operation of the throttle 19 Sand the outer pushrod tube in the lo...

Page 21: ...ess motor mounting holes in the firewall Note that there are eight holes in the firewall The four hole pattern for the brushless motor mount is positioned as shown in the picture The other holes are used for a glow engine installation 2 Insert four 6 32 blind nuts into the back of the firewall Use a 6 32 x 1 2 13mm SHCS and a 6 flat washer to draw the blind nuts tight into the firewall 3 Open up t...

Page 22: ...m screw into each hole and back it out Apply a drop of thin CA glue to each hole When the glue is dry mount the ESC as shown using three 4 x 1 2 13mm self tapping screws and three 4 flat washers 7 Assemble the receiver battery tray as shown Use pieces of the included triangle stock to reinforce the glue joints 8 Make a strap from the included hook and loop material long enough to wrap around your ...

Page 23: ... hook side from some self adhesive hook and loop material not included to the battery tray The loop side should be attached to your battery pack use additional pieces to join LiPo packs together for a series configuration 12 Make a hook and loop strap approximately 10 254mm long and feed the strap through the slots in the battery tray 13 Test fit your batteries onto the tray Adjust the length of t...

Page 24: ...lage and then the spinner backplate onto the motor Position the cowl 5 64 2mm behind the spinner backplate center the front of the cowl with the backplate align the colors on the cowl with the trim scheme on the fuselage and tape the cowl in position or have a helper hold it in place Measure along the lines on the tape 4 76mm and mark the cowl for the four mounting screws Drill 1 16 1 6mm holes th...

Page 25: ...mm servo leads through the holes that you trimmed the covering from if applicable and connect the leads to your receiver with a Y harness 4 Bolt the bottom wing to the fuselage Attach the interplane struts to the bottom wing by inserting the aluminum tabs into the slots Slide the struts aft until they are fully seated in the wing The strut ends that have a more curved end attach to the bottom wing...

Page 26: ...s in the ailerons in line with the trailing edge Attach the control horns with the 5 64 2mm holes onto the bottom ailerons using four 2 56 x 3 8 9 5mm machine screws and backplates Attach the other two control horns to the upper ailerons in the same manner 9 Thread a nylon clevis 20 turns onto each of the remaining 12 305mm pushrods Fit a silicone clevis retainer onto each clevis Attach the clevis...

Page 27: ... two 4 40 x 3 4 19mm SHCS you prepared in the previous step 14 This completes the assembly of the Christen Eagle 46 ARF Apply the Decals 1 Be certain the model is clean and free from oily fingerprints and dust Prepare a dishpan or small bucket with a mixture of liquid dish soap and warm water about one teaspoon of soap per gallon of water Submerse the decal in the soap and water and peel off the p...

Page 28: ...eries but the voltage remains the same PARALLEL adapter NO 11 1V 3 Cell 3350mAh 7 4V 2 Cell 3350mAh Different voltages NEVER connect battery packs with different voltages in parallel Only combine them in series Otherwise the batteries with lower voltage will try to equalize with the batteries that have a higher voltage Current will flow from the higher voltage battery into the lower one essentiall...

Page 29: ...alue this model and wish to enjoy it for many flights DO NOT OVERLOOK THIS IMPORTANT PROCEDURE A model that is not properly balanced will be unstable and possibly unflyable At this stage the model should be in ready to fly condition with all of the systems in place including the engine or brushless motor landing gear and the radio system and battery packs if applicable 3 15 16 100mm 1 Use a felt t...

Page 30: ... under the TE of the fin Do this several times 2 If one wing always drops when you lift the model it means that side is heavy Balance the airplane by adding weight to the other wing tip An airplane that has been laterally balanced will track better in loops and other maneuvers PREFLIGHT Identify Your Model No matter if you fly at an AMA sanctioned R C club site or if you fly somewhere on your own ...

Page 31: ...ves 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 r...

Page 32: ...ements provided in the manual 2 Be certain the battery and receiver are securely mounted in the fuse Simply stuffing them into place with foam rubber is not sufficient 3 Extend your receiver antenna 4 Balance your model laterally as explained in the instructions 5 Use threadlocking compound to secure critical fasteners such as the set screws that hold the wheel axles to the struts screws that hold...

Page 33: ...ith you Tell him to remind you to throttle back once the plane gets to a comfortable altitude While full throttle is usually desirable for takeoff most models fly more smoothly at reduced speeds Take it easy with the Eagle for the first few flights gradually getting acquainted with it as you gain confidence Adjust the trims to maintain straight and level flight After flying around for a while and ...

Page 34: ...glow or electric power The fiberglass cowl wheel pants and landing gear are painted to match the eye catching MonoKote trim scheme A pilot figure and aluminum spinner are included GPMA1019 Wingspan 70 in 1780 mm Wing Area 832 in 53 7 dm Weight 8 5 9 3 lb 3850 4190 g Wing Loading 24 26 oz ft 73 79 g dm Length 58 5 in 1460 mm Requires 4 channel radio w 5 servos 2 stroke 61 75 or 4 stroke 81 91 engin...

Page 35: ...ly selects the best reception between two antennas Equip your model with whatever Futaba servos it requires the 6EX 2 4GHz FASST system is compatible with them all FUTK6900 Futaba 6EX 2 4GHz Computer Radio O S Engine 72FS a 4 Stroke Superior full range capability comes to 2 4GHz technology It s a win win for any pilot a 4 stroke engine that fits in a 60 size space and offers the extra power needed...

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