Table Of Contents; Introduction; Safety Precautions - GREAT PLANES RV-4 Instruction Manual

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
DECISIONS YOU MUST MAKE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Radio Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Engine Recommendations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
ADDITIONAL ITEMS REQUIRED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Hardware and Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Adhesives and Building Supplies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Optional Supplies and Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
IMPORTANT BUILDING NOTES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Common Abbreviations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Types of Wood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Metric Conversions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
DIE-CUT PATTERNS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5, 6
BUILD THE TAIL SURFACES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Build the Stabilizer and Elevator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Build the Fin and Rudder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
BUILD THE WING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Build the Wing Panels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Build the Aileron and Flaps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Aileron Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Flap Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Join the Wing Halves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
BUILD THE FUSELAGE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Mount the Wing to the Fuselage. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Finish the Fuselage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Mount the Landing Gear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Mount the Engine. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Install the Fuselage Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Install the Fuel Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Finish the Radio Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Finish the Servo Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Assemble the Cowl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Assemble the Wheel Pants. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Install the Cowl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Install the Wheel Pants. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
PREPARE THE MODEL FOR COVERING . . . . . . . . . . 44
BALANCE THE MODEL LATERALLY . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
FINISH THE COCKPIT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
COVER THE MODEL WITH MONOKOTE
Covering Sequence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Install the Stab and Fin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
PAINTING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
JOIN THE CONTROL SURFACES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
CANOPY INSTALLATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
GET THE MODEL READY TO FLY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Check the Control Directions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Set the Control Throws. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Balance the Model (C.G.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
PREFLIGHT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Identify Your Model. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Charge the Batteries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Balance Propellers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Ground Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Range Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
ENGINE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
AMA SAFETY CODE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
CHECK LIST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
FLYING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
2-VIEW DRAWING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Back Cover
The RV-4 is a great flying semi-scale model that you will be
proud to take to the local flying field! This plane has great
ground handling characteristics, performs most aerobatic
maneuvers with ease and with the addition of the flap
option, crawls in very slowly on landing. Take your time and
enjoy the building process. You will be rewarded from the
very first flight!
PROTECT YOUR MODEL,YOURSELF
IMPORTANT SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
1. Your RV-4 should not be considered as a toy, but rather a
sophisticated, working model that functions very much like a
full-size airplane. Because of its performance capabilities, the
RV-4, if not assembled and operated correctly, could possibly
cause injury to yourself or spectators and damage property.
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.
® . . . . . . . . . . 44
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 properly install all R/C and other components so
that the model operates properly on the ground and in the air.
6. You must check the operation of the model before every
flight to insure 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 already an experienced R/C pilot, you
should fly the model only with the help of a competent,
experienced R/C pilot.
2
Fuel Mixture Adjustments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Takeoff. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Flight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Landing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

INTRODUCTION

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