GREAT PLANES Spitfire 40 Instruction Manual
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GREAT PLANES Spitfire 40 Instruction Manual

GREAT PLANES Spitfire 40 Instruction Manual

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Wing Span - 54.75 in
Wing Area - 526 sq in
Weight - 5 - 6 lbs
Wing Loading - 22 - 26 oz/sq ft
Fuse Length - 48 in
Great Planes
®
Model Manufacturing Co. guarantees this kit to be free from defects in both material and workmanship at the
date of purchase. This warranty does not cover any component parts damaged by use or modification. In no case shall Great
Planes' liability exceed the original cost of the purchased kit. Further, Great Planes reserves the right to change or modify
this warranty without notice.
In that Great Planes has no control over the final assembly or material used for final assembly, no liability shall be assumed nor
accepted for any damage resulting from the use by the user of the final user-assembled product. By the act of using the user-
assembled product, the user accepts all resulting liability.
If the buyers are not prepared to accept the liability associated with the use of this product, they are advised to return
this kit immediately in new and unused condition to the place of purchase.
While this kit has been flight tested to exceed normal use, if the plane will be used for extremely high stress flying, the modeler
is responsible for taking steps to reinforce the high stress points.
READ THROUGH THIS INSTRUCTION BOOK
FIRST. IT CONTAINS IMPORTANT INSTRUCTIONS
AND WARNINGS CONCERNING THE ASSEMBLY
AND USE OF THIS MODEL.
© Copyright 2000

INSTRUCTION MANUAL

WARRANTY
P.O. Box 788
Urbana, IL 61803
WWW.GREATPLANES.COM
(217) 398-8970
SPF4P03 for GPMA0179 V1.0

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  • Page 1: Instruction Manual

    In that Great Planes has no control over the final assembly or material used for final assembly, no liability shall be assumed nor accepted for any damage resulting from the use by the user of the final user-assembled product. By the act of using the user- assembled product, the user accepts all resulting liability.

  • Page 2: Table Of Contents

    Accessories Required to Complete Your Spitfire .......3 Suggested Building Supplies.............4 Part Numbers for Other Tools or Accessories You May Require ..4 Your Great Planes Spitfire is not a toy, but rather a sophisticated, Building Notes..................5 working model that functions very much like an actual airplane.

  • Page 3: Introduction

    (OSMG2691), O.S. Type-F for most 4-stroke engines, without sacrificing strength to offer optimum performance with (OSMG2629)] ❏ most sport engines. The Great Planes Spitfire has enlarged tail ® Propeller (Top Flite Power Point ); Refer to your surfaces and flat sides for better sport performance and easy engine’s instructions for proper size...

  • Page 4: Suggested Building Supplies

    ® or other non-adhesive backed hook and loop material In our busy workshop we use the Great Planes Easy- Touch Bar Sanders equipped with Great Planes #80, #150 and #220-grit Easy-Touch Adhesive-Backed Sandpaper. Great Planes Easy-Touch Bar Sanders are made from light weight, rigid, extruded aluminum and can be found at most hobby shops.

  • Page 5: Building Notes

    Building Notes Common Abbreviations • There are two types of screws used in this kit: Fuse = Fuselage Stab = Horizontal Stabilizer Sheet metal screws are designated by a number and Fin = Vertical Fin a length. LE = Leading Edge (front) TE = Trailing Edge (rear) LG = Landing Gear Ply = Plywood...

  • Page 6: Build The Tail Surfaces

    BUILD THE TAIL SURFACES Don’t forget to cover the plan with Great Planes Plan Protector so the glue won’t stick to the plan. ❏ 4. From the 1/4" x 1/4" x 18" sticks, cut and glue the stab trailing edge to the stab spar. Cut the stab trailing edge angles, elevator leading edge, and elevator leading edge angles.

  • Page 7: Build The Fin/Rudder

    Sand the outer frame smooth. Build the Fin/Rudder Don’t forget to cover the fin area of the plan with Great Planes ❏ ❏ Plan Protector so the glue won’t stick to the plan. DO NOT cut 8.

  • Page 8: Join, Bevel & Hinge The Tail Surfaces

    We have simplified the task of cutting hinge slots with the Join, Bevel & Hinge the Tail Surfaces ™ introduction of the Great Planes Slot Machine . This simple electric tool cuts a perfect width slot for use with CA hinges.

  • Page 9: Build The Wing

    ❏ ❏ 6. ( Complete step 6 only if you will not be using the Great Planes Slot Machine to cut the hinge slots.) Cut the hinge slots in the elevator and stabilizer using a #11 blade. Begin by carefully cutting a very shallow slit at the hinge location to accurately establish the hinge slot.

  • Page 10: Assemble The Wing

    ❏ ❏ will be installed. Carefully read and follow the instructions which 1. Cover the left wing panel plan with Great Planes Plan match your landing gear type. Protector.
  • Page 11 ❏ 5. Position the ribs/web assembly you began in step 3 upside-down on the plans, locking the spar into the ribs. Glue the spar to the web and ribs with thin CA. Pin along both sides ❏ ❏ 10. Select one each die-cut 3/32" balsa wing tip A and B. of the spar in at least 2 locations to make sure the spar stays straight.
  • Page 12 ❏ ❏ 14R. Position the retract body over the gear rails and against W4. Using a rotary tool or other cutting tool, cut a groove through W4 for the gear’s actuator so that the retract body sits flush on the retract rails tight against W4. ❏...
  • Page 13 trailing edge on the center of the main spar. Coat the forward half of the main spar with medium CA and press the LE sheet down firmly in place, holding in position until the CA cures. Carefully roll the sheeting back from the ribs and lay a bead of medium CA along the ribs and the sub LE.
  • Page 14 rubber grommets. Note: Provide approximately 1/16" of FIXED GEAR clearance between the servo and the sheeting. ❏ ❏ 27F. Turn the wing right side up. Using the torque block’s hole as a guide, drill a 5/32" hole through the bottom leading ❏...

  • Page 15: Join The Wing Panels

    another. Sand the joiner slightly as needed to gain a perfect fit. Join the Wing Panels Note: Be sure the joiner is right-side-up so your wing has dihedral, not anhedral. ❏ 1. Use epoxy to laminate the two die-cut 1/8" ply wing joiners WJ together.
  • Page 16 RETRACTS ❏ 7R. Cut openings in the top of both ribs W1 to fit the retract servo. If necessary, trim the bottom portion of the ribs as well to fit the servo. ❏ 11R. Use a straightedge to mark a line from the center of the ❏...

  • Page 17: Complete The Wing Panels

    Complete the Wing Panels ❏ 1. Fuelproof all wood between ribs 2 and 3 from the spars ❏ forward. Hint: Fuelproof paint or thinned epoxy works well for 14R. Cut a 1/4" deep slot between the marks on both ribs W2. this task.
  • Page 18 ❏ 5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 for the right wing half. ❏ 6. Cut the jig tabs off the top of the wing. ❏ 10. From a 3/32" x 3" x 30" balsa sheet cut four 3/32" x 1" x 11-1/4"...

  • Page 19: Build The Ailerons

    ❏ ❏ 2. Using leftover 3/32" balsa, fit and glue four aileron ribs in place. ❏ 15. Shape the TE of the cap strips on ribs W9 to match the shape of the wing tips. Sand the inboard edges of the cap strips in the aileron bays flush with ribs W9.

  • Page 20: Build The Fuselage

    9. Using the same techniques as the stab, hinge the ailerons. BUILD THE FUSELAGE Assemble the Fuselage Sides ❏ 1. Cover the fuselage side view of the plans with Great Planes ❏ 9. Trim the right-thrust notch from the right fuse side as shown Plan Protector.

  • Page 21: Mount The Wing To The Fuselage

    ❏ 10. Drill the four 11/64" (5/32" is OK) holes at the punch marks as shown in the photo for the included Great Planes Engine Mount. Press the four supplied 6-32 blind nuts into the holes on the back of the firewall. Gently tap the blind nuts with a hammer to fully seat them into the firewall, then add a few drops of thin CA around the blind nuts to secure them.
  • Page 22 ❏ 3. Using the hole in F2 as a guide, drill one 1/4" hole all the ❏ way through the leading edge and wing joiners, angling the drill 7. Stick a T-pin through the center of the aft end of the fuselage toward the bottom of the wing slightly to clear RB.

  • Page 23: Finish The Bottom Of The Fuselage

    ❏ 12. Harden the threads in the bolt block with thin CA, then re-tap the threads after the glue is completely dry. ❏ 13. Bolt the wing to the fuse with the 1/4-20 nylon wing bolts. Turn the airplane right-side-up. Cut both wing bolts off, leaving 1/4"...

  • Page 24: Build The Top Of The Fuselage

    Build the Top of the Fuselage ❏ ❏ 1. Fit the die-cut 3/32" balsa turtle deck formers TD2, TD3, 4. From leftover 1/4" x 1/4" balsa, cut a 12-1/8" long front and TD4 perpendicular to the fuse top. Fit the die-cut 3/32" deck top gluing stringer.
  • Page 25 ❏ ❏ 12.Wet the outside of the sheeting liberally with a water/ammonia mix. Test wrap the sheet over the front deck formers until you can comfortably make contact with the center of the front deck center gluing stringer. Glue the sheet to the formers, turtle deck sheet, and cockpit side gluing stringers.

  • Page 26: Install The Pushrod Tubes

    ❏ 16. Select the two 5/8" x 1-3/8" x 5" balsa fillet blocks and the two 1/4" x 1-3/8" x 5" balsa false stab and fin. ❏ 17. Tack glue the false stab flat onto the aft fuse top and TD4. ❏...

  • Page 27: Mount The Fin

    Wipe away excess epoxy before it cures. ❏ Recheck alignment, then do not disturb the model until the 1. Cut the “spreader bars” from the supplied Great Planes epoxy cures. engine mount, then use a hobby knife to remove any flashing...

  • Page 28: Mount The Tailgear

    Mount the Tailgear ❏ ❏ 5. Use the Great Planes Dead Center ™ Engine Mount Hole 1. Temporarily mount the rudder to the fin with the hinges. DO NOT GLUE. Mark the location of the tailgear wire on the Locator (GPMP8130) to mark the locations of the bolt holes.

  • Page 29: Assemble The Cowl

    ❏ 2. Drill a 1/8" (or 7/64") hole 5/8" deep in the leading edge of the rudder at the mark you made for the tailgear wire. Cut a groove in the rudder for the nylon tailgear bearing (use a Great Planes Groove Tube tool or a 5/32"...

  • Page 30: Balance The Model Laterally

    ❏ ❏ 4. Cut the canopy along the outside cutlines. DO NOT cut 13. Remove the cowl and template, then remount the valve cover and/or needle valve, if necessary. Cut out the holes in the along the second set of lines, provided as “paint to here” locator cowl, then test fit it to the fuselage (you may have to temporarily lines to help you paint the canopy.

  • Page 31: Paint The Model

    1/4" holes through the firewall for the fuel lines. Fuelproof the openings. ❏ 2. Using the instructions provided, assemble a Great Planes CUT THE COVERING 10 oz. tank (not included). The vent line will attach to the nipple AWAY FROM THE SLOT on your muffler for pressure.

  • Page 32: Install The Servos & Make The Pushrods

    ❏ 5. Prepare the hinge slots for the rudder as you did the elevators. Join the rudder to the fin with the hinges and use 30-minute epoxy to simultaneously glue the tailgear wire in the rudder and the tailgear bearing in the fuse. Do not glue the nylon bearing to the rudder.

  • Page 33: Install The Landing Gear

    exiting the left side of the fuselage. Re-mount the rudder control excess pushrod as you did for the rudder. Mark the pushrod horn. Attach the clevis to the control horn. where it crosses the servo arm. Bend the pushrod and connect it to the center hole of the servo arm with a Faslink.

  • Page 34: Set The Control Throws

    above. If, after you become comfortable with your Spitfire, just opens completely, but does not bind (a buzzing sound of you would like to adjust the throws to suit your tastes, the servo trying to push the arm farther than wide open). that’s fine.

  • Page 35: Preflight

    ❏ ™ 5. Position the model on a Great Planes C.G. Machine , or Since you have chosen the Spitfire we assume that you are an manually lift the model at the balance point. If the tail drops experienced modeler.

  • Page 36: Range Check Your Radio

    Range Check Your Radio AMA SAFETY CODE (excerpt) Whenever you go to the flying field, check the operational range of the radio before the first flight of the day. First, make sure no Read and abide by the following Academy of Model one else is on your frequency (channel).

  • Page 37: Takeoff

    If further information is required, please contact your Takeoff on “high” rates if you have dual rates on your transmitter local hobby dealer, local flying club or call Great Planes at – even if you are taking off in a crosswind. For all models it is (217) 398-8970.

  • Page 38: Flight Trimming Chart

    One bump of the transmitter and you have lost everything. The trim must be repeatable, and the only sure way Reprinted in part by Great Planes Model Manufacturing to do this is to always start with the transmitter control trims at Company, courtesy of Scale R/C Modeler magazine, Pat the middle.
  • Page 39 TRIM FEATURE MANEUVERS OBSERVATIONS CORRECTIONS CONTROL Fly general circles and Try for hands off straight Readjust linkages so that CENTERING random maneuvers. and level flight. Tx trims are centered. CONTROL Random maneuvers A. Too sensitive, jerky If A, change linkages to THROWS controls.
  • Page 40 TWO VIEW DRAWING Use copies of this page to plan your trim scheme...
  • Page 41 DIE-CUT PATTERNS...

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