GREAT PLANES Super Sportster EP, Instruction Manual

Page 1: ...turn 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 address a detailed d...

Page 2: ... manual corrections to the Super Sportster EP ARF visit the Great Planes web site at www greatplanes com Open the Airplanes link then select the Super Sportster EP ARF If there is new technical information or changes to this model a tech notice box will appear in the upper left corner of the page We urge you to join the AMA Academy of Model Aeronautics and a local R C club The AMA is the governing...

Page 3: ...Using a peak detecting charger reduces the chances of damaging the batteries from over charging We recommend the Great Planes Triton DC Peak Charger GPMM3150 to keep your batteries in good condition 2 The second method of charging your motor batteries is to monitor the voltage of your battery pack with a voltmeter while charging This method is only recommended for NiCd batteries Your charger may h...

Page 4: ...tom fit the part as necessary for the best fit Whenever the term glue is written you should rely upon your experience to decide what type of glue to use When a specific type of adhesive works best for that step the instructions will make a recommendation Whenever just epoxy is specified you may use either 30 minute or 45 minute epoxy or 6 minute epoxy When 30 minute epoxy is specified it is highly...

Page 5: ...g Panel 3 Right Wing Panel 4 Stabilizer and Elevator 5 Fin and Rudder 6 Elevator Joiner Wire 7 Tail Gear Assembly 8 Wing Joiners 2 9 Cowl 10 Spinner 11 Prop 12 Electronic Speed Control 13 Main Landing Gear 14 Wheels 2 15 Wheel Pants 2 16 Motor Battery 17 Pushrods 2 Kit Contents Photographed Canopy 1 Control Horn 2 Collet Wire 1 3x10mm Sheet Metal Screw 4 Nylon Landing Gear Strap 2 Plywood Wheel Pa...

Page 6: ...idents will also be charged sales tax If ordering via fax include a Visa or MasterCard number and expiration date for payment Mail parts orders and payments by personal check to Hobby Services 3002 N Apollo Drive Suite 1 Champaign IL 61822 Be certain to specify the order number exactly as listed in the Replacement Parts List Payment by credit card or personal check only no C O D If additional assi...

Page 7: ...slots Hint If you have one use a high speed rotary tool to drill the holes 3 Use a sharp 11 blade to cut a strip of covering from all the hinge slots in the wing half and aileron 4 Test fit the ailerons to the wing with the hinges If the hinges don t stay centered stick a pin through the middle of the hinges to hold them in position 5 Clean the aileron torque rod with denatured alcohol to remove a...

Page 8: ...is acceptable If the wing doesn t fit well or if you can t get close enough to the dihedral specified there may be excess glue inside the wing or irregularities on the joiner Use coarse sandpaper to true the edges and bevel the corners of the joiner and or use a hobby knife to remove any glue from the joiner openings in the ribs on the end of the wing halves 3 Prepare 1 2 oz of 30 minute epoxy Wor...

Page 9: ...ge and bolt it into position with two 3x30mm machine screws and 3mm washers 1 Using a sharp hobby knife remove the covering from the stabilizer slot at the aft end of the fuselage Also remove the temporary balsa block 2 Mark the center of the trailing edge of the stabilizer Insert the stabilizer into the slot 3 Stick a T pin into the center of the top of the firewall Tie a small loop in one end of...

Page 10: ...1 hobby knife or the Expert Tip that follows to cut the covering from the stab just inside the lines you marked Use care to cut only the covering and not the wood Cutting the wood will weaken the stab and it may break in flight HOW TO CUT COVERING FROM BALSA Use a 25 watt soldering iron to cut the covering from the stab The tip of the soldering iron doesn t have to be sharp but a fine tip does wor...

Page 11: ...atured alcohol Masking tape can be used to hold the fin in position until the epoxy cures 13 Trim the covering from the elevator joiner wire slot in the leading edge of both elevator halves 14 Test fit the elevator joiner wire in both of the elevator halves Lay the elevator on a flat surface and check that both halves lay flat and that the leading edge is straight If they are not use pliers to mak...

Page 12: ... the mark Cut a slot in the leading edge of the rudder to clear the tail gear wire bushing 20 Once satisfied with the fit of the tail gear wire in the rudder apply epoxy in the tail gear wire hole in the leading edge of the rudder Join the rudder to the fin using two CA hinges Before the epoxy cures use thin CA to glue the CA hinges in the rudder and fin following the same procedure used for the a...

Page 13: ...screws and the nylon mounting plate on the top side of the elevator 4 Connect the pushrod wire to the control horn with a 1 7mm wheel collar and 2 5mm set screw 5 Install the rudder control horn following the same procedure Make sure that the control horn does not interfere with the elevator 1 Install servo arms on the rudder and elevator servos The pushrod mounting holes should be approximately 1...

Page 14: ... in the receiver Connect the red and black bullet connectors from the ESC to the connectors from the motor Remove the cover from the on off switch Mount the on off switch on the fuselage just behind the servo tray 5 Install the two pushrod connectors on the rudder and elevator servo horns by first inserting the connector through the horn then install a 2mm washer and an 2mm nut on the connector Ap...

Page 15: ...t the marks and cut the pushrods 3 8 10mm past the bend Attach the pushrods to the aileron servo arm with nylon snap keepers Cut off the excess threads on the aileron torque rods 1 Slide the cowl over the front of the fuselage 2 Slide the prop shaft and collet onto the output shaft of the gear drive The collet has a tapered hole through it The side with the larger hole goes on first 3 Install the ...

Page 16: ...ews 8 Remove the cowl once more Add a few drops of thin CA to the screw holes in the fuselage to harden the threads Allow the CA to fully harden then mount the cowl 1 Trim the covering from the main landing gear slot in the bottom of the fuselage 2 Insert the two main landing gear wires in the holes in the slot 3 Position two nylon landing gear straps over the landing gear Drill a 1 16 1 6mm hole ...

Page 17: ...the inside of the wheel pant and glue the wheel pant retainer to the wheel pant with epoxy 8 Install a 3x4mm machine screw in two 3mm wheel collars Remove one of the screws from the landing gear strap and install on the landing gear a wheel collar wheel and a second wheel collar Insert the landing gear in the wheel pant retainer and reinstall the landing gear strap Tighten the 3x4mm machine screws...

Page 18: ...the fuselage Note that it fits only one way The front is slightly narrower than the aft end 5 To make the battery strap overlap the two pieces of hook and loop material as shown 6 Insert the hook and loop strap through the slot in one side of the battery tray and bring it out the slot in the other side of the tray Adjust it so that the overlap is under the tray Install the battery in the battery c...

Page 19: ... the electronic speed control Move the throttle stick down to the off position Switch on the speed control and center the trims If necessary remove the servo arms from the servos and reposition them so they are centered Reinstall the screws that hold on the servo arms 2 With the transmitter and receiver still on check all the control surfaces to see if they are centered If necessary adjust the pus...

Page 20: ...e C G up to 1 4 6mm forward or 1 4 6mm back to change the flying characteristics Moving the C G forward may improve the smoothness and stability but the model may then require more speed for takeoff and make it more difficult to slow for landing Moving the C G aft makes the model more maneuverable but could also cause it to become too difficult to control In any case start at the recommended balan...

Page 21: ...ore you go flying and at other times as recommended by the radio manufacturer Carefully balance your propeller and spare propellers before you fly An unbalanced prop can be the single most significant cause of vibration that can damage your model Not only will motor mounting screws and bolts loosen possibly with disastrous effect but vibration may also damage your radio receiver and battery We use...

Page 22: ...oken wires corroded wires on old servo connectors poor solder joints in your battery pack or a defective cell or a damaged receiver crystal from a previous crash Use safety glasses when running the motor Do not run the motor 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...

Page 23: ...d spare propellers 13 Tighten the propeller nut and spinner 14 Place your name address AMA number and telephone number on or inside your model 15 If you wish to photograph your model do so before your first flight 16 Range check your radio when you get to the flying field The Super Sportster EP is a great flying model that flies smoothly and predictably The Super Sportster EP does not however poss...

Page 24: ...otes or having your assistant write them down of what trim or C G changes may be required to fine tune the model so it flies the way you like Mind your battery power but use this first flight to become familiar with your model before landing To initiate a landing approach lower the throttle while on the downwind leg Allow the nose of the model to pitch downward to gradually bleed off altitude Cont...