Table Of Contents; Introduction; Precautions - Top Flite P-47D Thunderbolt User Manual

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
PRECAUTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
DECISIONS YOU MUST MAKE . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Engine selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Radio system requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Landing gear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Cockpit & pilot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Trim scheme . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Razorback or bubble canopy . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
COMPETITION-MINDED MODELERS . . . . . . . .4
Scale documentation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
OTHER ITEMS REQUIRED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
BUILDING SUPPLIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Adhesives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
COVERING TOOLS & ACCESSORIES . . . . . . . .6
METRIC CONVERSIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
IMPORTANT BUILDING NOTES . . . . . . . . . . . .7
COMMON ABBREVIATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
TYPES OF WOOD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
DIE-CUT PATTERNS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 & 9
GET READY TO BUILD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
BUILD THE TAIL SURFACES . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Build the stabilizer and elevators . . . . . . . . . .10
Build the fin and rudder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Hinge the elevators and rudder . . . . . . . . . . .15
BUILD THE FUSELAGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Preparation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Build the fuse top . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Sheet the fuse top . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Build the fuse bottom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
Sheet the fuse bottom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
Build the dorsal fin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
Intercooler doors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
Mount the engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
Hook up the controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
Finish the cockpit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
BUILD THE WING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
Preparation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
Make the wing skins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
Build the wing panels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
Sheet the top of the wing panels . . . . . . . . . .34
Mount the landing gear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35
Join the wing panels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36
Sheet the bottom of the wing . . . . . . . . . . . . .37
Build the ailerons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38
Build the flaps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40
Make the servo hatches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42
Hook up the controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42
Finish the wheel wells . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
FINAL CONSTRUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45
Mount the wing to the fuse . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45
Build the wing fillets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46
Build the belly pan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47
Assemble the cowl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48
Balance the airplane laterally . . . . . . . . . . . . .51
FINISHING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51
Final preparations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51
Painting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52
Covering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53
Cover the fuse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53
Cover the wing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55
Apply the decals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55
Apply panel lines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55
FINAL ASSEMBLY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55
Join the control surfaces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55
Hook up the controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56
Scale details . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56
Mount the canopy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57
Static display propeller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57
GET YOUR MODEL READY TO FLY . . . . . . . .58
Balance your model . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58
Set the control surface throws . . . . . . . . . . . .59
PREFLIGHT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59
Identify your model . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59
Charge your batteries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59
Balance your propellers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59
Ground check your model . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59
Range check your radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59
ENGINE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS . . . . . . . . . .60
AMA SAFETY CODE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60
IMAA SAFETY CODE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60
CHECK LIST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62
FLYING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62
Takeoff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63
Flight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63
Landing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63
3-VIEW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .BACK COVER
- 2 -

INTRODUCTION

Congratulations and thank you for purchasing the
Top Flite Giant Scale Gold Edition P-47
Thunderbolt . We are pleased to bring you this 1/5th
scale P-47, an enlarged version of our highly
successful 1/8th scale P-47. Due to the popularity
and success of the smaller P-47, this may be our
most anticipated project yet. The P-47 has long been
recognized as an excellent modeling subject. The
large wing and tail area and long tail moment make
it an ideal flying airplane-especially for a warbird! In
addition to the favorable proportions of the P-47, the
kit's custom airfoils, built-in washout and right engine
thrust make this model a sweet flying plane.
Advanced 3-D computer
interlocking construction techniques combined with
wing sheeting jigs help you build a straight,
lightweight model.
With this kit you can achieve whatever level of detail
you like. Just by following the instructions and
finishing the plane in a scale-looking trim scheme,
beginning scale modelers will end up with a model
that very much represents a full-size P-47.
Experienced builders will find ways to add even more
detail, making the Top Flite Giant Scale Gold Edition
P-47 competitive in scale contests.
PROTECT YOUR MODEL,
YOURSELF & OTHERS
FOLLOW THESE IMPORTANT
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
Your P-47 is not a toy, but a sophisticated working
model that functions very much like an actual
airplane. Because of its realistic performance, if you
do not assemble and operate your P-47 correctly,
you could possibly injure yourself or spectators and
damage property.
engineering and