Table Of Contents; Introduction - Top Flite Douglas DC-3 User Manual

TABLE OF CONTENTS

AND BUILDING SEQUENCE
INTRODUCTION...........................................................2
PRECAUTIONS ............................................................3
DECISIONS YOU MUST MAKE ...................................3
Engine selection.........................................................3
Retractable landing gear ............................................3
Flaps ..........................................................................3
Scale rudder...............................................................4
Propellers ...................................................................4
COMPETITION-MINDED MODELERS ........................4
DOCUMENTATION ......................................................4
DESIGNER NOTES ......................................................4
OTHER ITEMS REQUIRED..........................................5
DIE-CUT PATTERNS.............................................6 & 7
BUILDING SUPPLIES ..................................................8
Glue & Fillers..............................................................8
Tools ..........................................................................8
IMPORTANT BUILDING NOTES .................................8
GET READY TO BUILD ...............................................9
BUILD THE TAIL SURFACES .....................................9
Make the stab & fin skins ...........................................9
Build the stabilizer ....................................................11
Build the elevators....................................................12
Build the fin and rudder ............................................14
BUILD THE FUSELAGE ............................................20
Frame the fuselage top ............................................20
Mount the stab and fin..............................................22
Sheet the top of the fuselage ...................................24
Build the bottom of the fuselage...............................26
Install the pushrods ..................................................26
Finish the bottom of the fuselage .............................28
Mount the aft hatch ..................................................30
Fit the cabin top........................................................31
Build the dorsal fin and fit the tail cone ....................32
BUILD THE WING ......................................................33
Build the center section............................................33
Build the outer panels ..............................................36
Join the outer panels to the center section ..............37
Mount the engine nacelles .......................................37
Mount the retracts ....................................................38
Build the fixed landing gear......................................40
Prepare the bottom of the wing for sheeting ............42
Make the wing skins.................................................43
Sheet the bottom of the wing ...................................43
Build the flaps...........................................................44
Mount the servos in the wing ...................................45
Prepare the wing for the top sheeting ......................47
Sheet the top of the wing .........................................48
Build the ailerons......................................................48
Hookup the flaps and ailerons..................................50
Sheet the nacelles....................................................51
Mount the cowls .......................................................53
FINAL CONSTRUCTION............................................55
Mount the wing to the fuselage ................................55
Build the wing fillet ...................................................55
Mount the fuel tanks and receiver ............................56
Prepare the model for covering................................57
Balance the airplane laterally ...................................58
FINISHING ..................................................................58
Cover your model with MonoKote ®
Covering sequence ..................................................59
Painting ....................................................................59
Join the control surfaces ..........................................59
FINISHING TOUCHES ...............................................60
Decals ......................................................................60
Panel lines................................................................61
GET YOUR MODEL READY TO FLY ........................61
Check engine thrust angles......................................61
Balance your model .................................................61
Final hookups and checks........................................62
Control surface throws .............................................62
Setup your throttles ..................................................62
PREFLIGHT................................................................63
Identify your model...................................................63
Charge your batteries...............................................63
Balance your propellers ...........................................63
Synchronize your engines........................................63
Find a safe place to fly .............................................64
Ground check your model ........................................64
Range check your radio ...........................................64
Checklist...................................................................64
ENGINE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS ............................64
AMA SAFETY CODE .................................................65
FLYING .......................................................................65
Engine out ................................................................65
Pitch Trim Changes..................................................65
Takeoff .....................................................................65
Flight ........................................................................65
Landing ....................................................................66
TWO-VIEW DRAWING ................................Back Cover
PROTECT YOUR MODEL,
YOURSELF & OTHERS
FOLLOW THIS IMPORTANT
SAFETY PRECAUTION
Your DC-3 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 DC-3 correctly, you could
possibly injure yourself or spectators and damage property.
- 2 -
To make your R/C modeling experience totally
enjoyable, get assistance with assembly and your
first flights from an experienced, knowledgeable
modeler. You'll learn faster and avoid risking your model
before you're truly ready to solo. Your local hobby shop
has information about flying clubs in your area whose
membership includes qualified instructors.
...........................58
You can also contact the Academy of Model Aeronautics
(AMA), which has more than 2,500 chartered clubs
across the country. We recommend you join the AMA
which will insure you at AMA club sites and events. AMA
Membership is required at chartered club fields where
qualified flight instructors are available.
Contact the AMA at the address or toll-free phone
number below.
or via the Internet at: http://www.modelaircraft.org
Your Top Flite Gold Edition DC-3 is intended for
scale and general sport flying including mild
aerobatics such as loops, stall turns, rolls, etc. Its
structure is designed to withstand such stresses. If
you intend to use your DC-3 for more rigorous types
of flying such as aggressive aerobatics or flying from
rough fields, it is your responsibility to reinforce
areas of the model that will be subjected to the
resulting unusually high stresses.
Congratulations and thank you for purchasing the Top
Flite Gold Edition DC-3. We are sure you are eager to
build and fly your DC-3 just as we were eager to build
and fly our prototypes. Although this is a model of a
famous civilian transport, the Douglas DC-3, you can
easily build your model as the C-47 military version. If
this is your choice, all you really need to do is cover your
Academy of Model Aeronautics
5151 East Memorial Drive
Muncie, IN 47302
(800) 435-9262
Fax (765) 741-0057

INTRODUCTION