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SPECIFICATIONS
Wingspan:
68.5 in
[1740mm]
Wing Area:
1545 in
[99.7 dm
WARRANTY
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 buyer is not prepared to accept the liability associated
with the use of this product, the buyer is advised to return
READ THROUGH THIS MANUAL BEFORE STARTING CONSTRUCTION. IT CONTAINS IMPORTANT
INSTRUCTIONS AND WARNINGS CONCERNING THE ASSEMBLY AND USE OF THIS MODEL.
Entire Contents © Copyright 2009

INSTRUCTION MANUAL

Weight:
19– 20 lb
[8620 – 9070 g]
Wing
28– 30 oz/ft
2
Loading:
[85– 92 g /dm
2
]
Length:
Radio:
2
2
]
Engine:
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 description of
the problem and a photocopy of the purchase receipt. Upon
receipt of the package the problem will be evaluated as quickly
as possible.
Champaign, Illinois
(217) 398-8970, Ext 5
airsupport@greatplanes.com
80.5 in
[2045mm]
7-Channel minimum
3.0 cu in [50cc]
GPMA1421 Mnl

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Table of Contents
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Summary of Contents for GREAT PLANES Pitts M-12S

  • Page 1: Instruction Manual

    3002 N. Apollo Dr. Suite 1 Champaign IL 61822 USA In that Great Planes has no control over the final assembly or material used for final assembly, no liability shall be assumed nor Include a letter stating your name, return shipping address, as...
  • Page 2: Table Of Contents

    INTRODUCTION ....... .2 the Pitts M-12s visit the Great Planes web site at www.
  • Page 3: Safety Precautions

    1. Your Pitts M-12s should not be considered a toy, but rather a sophisticated, working model that functions very much like This is a partial list of items required to fi nish the Pitts M-12s a full-size airplane. Because of its performance capabilities,...
  • Page 4: Engine Recommendations

    Engine Recommendations Optional Supplies and Tools The recommended engine size for the Pitts M-12s is a 50cc Here is a list of optional tools mentioned in the manual that gasoline engine with 3" [76mm] stand-offs. We used the will help you build the Pitts M-12s.
  • Page 5: Ordering Replacement Parts

    The fastest, most economical service can be provided by Order No. Description your hobby dealer or mail-order company. GPMA4018 Bottom Wing Set To locate a hobby dealer, visit the Great Planes web site GPMA4019 Top Wing Set at www.greatplanes.com. Choose “Where to Buy” at the GPMA4020 Aluminum Spinner bottom of the menu on the left side of the page.
  • Page 6: Kit Inspection

    Product Support. When reporting defective or the photos. 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 61822 Telephone: (217) 398-8970, ext. 5 Fax: (217) 398-7721 E-mail: airsupport@greatplanes.com...
  • Page 7 ❏ ❏ ❏ ❏ 2. Install a 1" [25.4mm] servo arm onto your servo. It’s recommended that you use an aluminum servo arm. Many different brands are available but we used the Great Planes 1" [25.4mm] aluminum servo arm (GPMM1100). ❏...
  • Page 8 CORRECT INCORRECT Hinge Line Hinge Line ❏ ❏ ❏ ❏ 8. The parts shown are required for making the servo pushrod. Locate all the needed components. ❏ ❏ ❏ ❏ 9. Install the clevis to the servo arm and install the solder clevis to the aileron control horn.
  • Page 9: Join The Bottom Wing Panels

    3. Place the clevis on the end of the pushrod. Add another Join the Bottom Wing Panels drop of fl ux, and then heat and add solder. The same as before, the heat of the parts being soldered should melt the solder, thus allowing it to fl...
  • Page 10: Join Top Wing Panels W/Wing Center Section

    Join the Top Wing Panels with the Wing Center Section ❏ 3. Insert the 1/2" x 27-1/4" [12.7mm x 692mm] and the 1/4" x 25" [6.4mm x 635mm] composite tube into the holes in the center section of the top wing, centering the tubes. ❏...
  • Page 11: Install The Landing Gear

    Install the Landing Gear Install the Upper and Lower Wings ❏ ❏ 1. Look closely at the landing gear legs. You will notice one side is straight and the other is slightly angled. The straight side is the leading edge of the gear.
  • Page 12 ❏ ❏ 3. Using a sharp hobby knife or the method in the “Expert 4. Glue the belly pan to the lower wing. Once the glue Tip” that follows, cut 1/4" [6.4mm] of covering inside the line has dried you may wish to remove the lower wing if you have you have marked on the wing.
  • Page 13: Assemble And Install The Carry Handle

    on each of the wings. Secure them with 4-40 x 1/2" [12.7mm] socket head cap screws, #4 fl at washers and 4-40 lock nuts. Do this for both wings. Once you are satisfi ed everything fi ts well, remove the outer struts and the top wing. Leave the bottom wing on the airplane.
  • Page 14 ❏ ❏ 2. Place the side piece with the hole facing the bench. 4. Secure the handle to the cabane with a 4-40 x 1/2" Insert a 4-40 blind nut into each corner of the parts. [12.7mm] socket head cap screw and a #4 fl at washer. ❏...
  • Page 15: Assemble The Fuselage

    wing. If you fi nd that your stab is not aligned, adjust the ASSEMBLE THE FUSELAGE stab by removing small amounts of the stab saddle with 100 grit sandpaper. Install the Stab, Elevators, Fin and Rudder For the following steps you will need to have the bottom wing attached to the fuselage.
  • Page 16 ❏ 5. In a moment you will be instructed to install the hinges. These hinges have small fl anges on each side. When you install the hinges into the control surface the fl ange must be in line with the hinge line. And the center of the hinge should be in line with the end of the control surface.
  • Page 17: Install The Tail Braces

    ❏ 8. Install the rudder and the rudder hinges using the same technique used for the elevators. Install the Tail Braces ❏ 2. Install the brackets in the recesses in the stab and fi n. Secure the brackets with a 2-56 x 1/2" [12.7mm] machine screw.
  • Page 18: Install The Wheels, Pants, & Tail Wheel Assembly

    ❏ ❏ 4. Install the four-armed metal bracket to the bottom of the 8. Attach the long rods between the fi n and the top of the fuselage with two #4 x 1/2" [12.7mm] sheet metal screws. stab and install the shorter rods to the bottom of the stab and the bottom of the fuselage.
  • Page 19 and #4 fl at washer. If the wheel is not centered in the wheel pant, adjust the wheel collars to allow the wheel to spin free without touching the wheel pants. ❏ 4. Repeat these steps for the other wheel and wheel pant. ❏...
  • Page 20: Install The Elevator And Rudder Servos

    Install the Elevator and Rudder Servos The following instructions will cover installation of the rudder and elevator servos. For the elevator servos to work properly your radio system must have the ability to adjust the servo direction independently from each other. If your radio does not have this capability you will need to purchase an after market “in-line”...
  • Page 21 ❏ 7. Two of the large black control horns need to be modifi ed in order to get full rudder defl ection. Using a Dremel tool, modeling knife or other cutting tool, shape the control ❏ ❏ 4. Install the servo into the fuselage with the servo horn to match the one shown.
  • Page 22: Install The Engine And Throttle Servo

    brass crimp connector and a threaded brass coupler to each of the wires using the same technique used for the connections to the rudder. (Adjust the wire until both wires are tight before crimping the connector to the wire). Cut off any excess wire.
  • Page 23 ❏ ❏ 3. Mount the engine with the hardware that came with 5. Locate two plywood throttle pushrod supports. Glue the engine. the longest support to the former shown in the photograph, aligning it with the edge of the fuel tank tray. ❏...
  • Page 24 ❏ 9. Install the brass bushing into the nylon bellcrank. Screw the bellcrank assembly to the wood block with a #4 x 1/2" [12.7mm] screw. Be sure to orient the bellcrank arm as shown. Enlarge the outer hole in both ends of the bellcrank with a 5/64"...
  • Page 25 ❏ 13. Cut the 24" [610mm] white fl exible pushrod to a length of 16" [406mm]. Thread the 1" [25.4mm] thread (that you previously cut from the wire) into one end of the fl exible pushrod and screw a nylon ball link onto the end. From a 6"...
  • Page 26: Install The Fuel Tank

    we found that there was room at the front of the fuselage. We recommend that you use a heavy-duty switch such as the Futaba heavy-duty charge switch (FUTM4385) and the Ernst charge receptacle (ERNM3001). When determining a location for the switch make sure you keep it as close to the engine as possible to prevent any possible interference with your radio system.
  • Page 27 VENT/PRESSURE (OR OVERFLOW) ❏ One line is for 6. Inside of the fuselage you will fi nd two slots on both fueling/defueling sides of the fuel tank tray. Install a long tie wrap through the and the other is slots and then put the tank in position on the tray. (If you wish for fuel pickup to to put foam under the tank do this now).
  • Page 28 ❏ 10. Install an aluminum fuel plug into the fi ll line and then push the lines onto the holder. ❏ 8. Locate the 3mm plywood components that make up the fuel line holder. Glue the two matching parts to each other. Then slide the remaining part into the slots, gluing it to the ❏...
  • Page 29 ❏ 13. Using the line on the tape as your reference, measure forward from the end of the line 1" [25.4mm]. Make a mark on the cowl and do this for each of the lines you made. On the mark you made drill a 3/32" [2.3mm] hole through the cowl and into the cowl blocks.
  • Page 30: Completing The Radio Installation

    Great Planes (GPMA4020). This is a high-quality, turned aluminum spinner that has a scale shape and matching color to the airplane. Completing the Radio Installation At this point you should have all of the servos installed. All that remains is installing the receiver, battery, switch harness and two aileron extensions.
  • Page 31: Install The Cockpit And Pilot

    ❏ 6. Plug all of the servo leads into the appropriate channels in the receiver. Depending on your transmitter you may wish to use separate channels for each of the four ailerons. For our set up we used “Y” connectors to have the ailerons in two channels.
  • Page 32 ❏ 3. Included in the kit is a cockpit fl oor. To keep some of the weight down you might choose not to install it. Installation is completely optional. If you wish to install the fl oor, glue it in place on the bottom of the cockpit canopy.
  • Page 33: Apply The Decals

    Apply the Decals GET THE MODEL READY TO FLY Check the Control Directions ❏ 1. Turn on the transmitter and receiver 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.
  • Page 34: Set The Control Throws

    These are the recommended control surface throws: 3D RATE HIGH RATE LOW RATE To ensure a successful fi rst fl ight, set up your Pitts M-12s according to the control throws specifi ed in this manual. The throws have been determined through actual fl ight Down...
  • Page 35 Proper Pushrod Hookup; Avoiding Flutter, Maximizing Servo Output Torque Note: Your control horn may vary. CONTROL SERVO ARM Pivot point HORN OFFSET OFFSET When connecting pushrods and setting up your control throws, it is critically important to use proper pushrod geometry—that is the distance from the pushrod on the servo arm to the center of the output shaft (servo arm offset) compared to the distance from the pushrod on the control horn to the pivot point (control horn offset).
  • Page 36: Balance The Model (C.g.)

    If you value your model and wish to enjoy it added. Use Great Planes “stick-on” lead (GPMQ4485). To for many fl ights, DO NOT OVERLOOK THIS IMPORTANT fi...
  • Page 37: Preflight

    We use a Top Flite Precision Magnetic Prop Balancer (TOPQ5700) in the workshop and keep a Great Planes Fingertip Prop Balancer (GPMQ5000) in our fl ight box.
  • Page 38: Ama Safety Code

    AMA SAFETY CODE ( CHECK LIST EXCERPTS Read and abide by the following excerpts from the Academy During the last few moments of preparation your mind may of Model Aeronautics Safety Code. For the complete Safety be elsewhere anticipating the excitement of the fi rst fl ight. Code refer to Model Aviation magazine, the AMA web site or Because of this, you may be more likely to overlook certain the Code that came with your AMA license.
  • Page 39: Flying

    fl y more smoothly at reduced speeds. be richened so the engine runs at about 200 rpm below Take it easy with the Pitts M-12s for the fi rst few fl ights, peak speed. By running the engine slightly rich, you will help gradually getting acquainted with it as you gain confi...
  • Page 40 DA-50-R 50cc GASOLINE ENGINE W/REAR MOUNTED CARBURETOR 3/16" [4.8mm] THROTTLE PUSHROD 3/16" [4.8mm] CHOKE PUSHROD 66mm DRILL 1/4" [6.35mm] HOLES FOR MOUNTING BOLTS 78mm...

Table of Contents