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Sea"? As a kid, I thought that was just about the coolest flying machine ever conceived. No, the Wonder doesn't look exactly like the Flying Sub, but it had to be somewhere in the back of my mind when I was doodling the first Wonder years ago. I suppose there's a bit of old-time control line combat influence in the design as well.
The recommended engine range for the Wonder is .09 to .19 cu. in. There is a tremendous variety of engines available in this range. Remember that weight is the mortal enemy of small models like this Wonder, and as you go up in power you also wind up increasing the weight.
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CAUTION: Some people have experienced allergic reactions when exposed to epoxy or cyanoacrylate glues. This is very rare. However, it is always important that such glues, and also paints, thinners and solvents, be used with adequate ventilation to carry fumes away. YOU'LL NEED GOOD SANDING BLOCK An assortment of different size sanding blocks are indispensable tools for model construction.
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ABOUT THE BUILDING SEQUENCE The quickest and most efficient way to complete a model is to work on several pieces at the same time. While the glue is drying on one section, you can start on or proceed with another part. Keep in mind that the number sequence used in these instructions was chosen as the best way to explain the building of each major component and is not intended to be followed exact one-two-three fashion.
WING CONSTRUCTION The Wonder wing is designed to be built in one piece, flat on the building board (no dihedral or washout). Pin or tape the wing plan to your building board and protect the plan by covering it with wax paper or plastic wrap.
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Glue the wingtips to the end ribs. If one of the blocks happens to be heavier than the other, glue the heavy one to the left end of the wing to help offset the weight of the engine's muffler, which is generally on the right side. Sig-Bond is again recommended for easy sanding.
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Glue the wing hold-down The down-turned vortex wingtips used on the Standard version of the Wonder plate to the top of the wing so that it's were chosen more for their looks than any kind of aerodynamic reason.
a. Two pieces of 3/16"x1-1/4"x12" tapered balsa are provided for making the ailerons. Choose an aileron pattern, cut it from the plans, trace the outline onto both pieces of tapered balsa, then cut the ailerons to shape. b. Carefully block sand the top and bottom surface of each aileron equally so that the leading edge remains 3/16"...
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22. Re-install the engine mounts, bolt the engine in place, then install the pushrod connector (included in your kit) on your engine's carburettor control arm. Locate and mark the best spot on the firewall for the throttle pushrod to exit and line up with the pushrod connector.
29. Cut the 1/8"x3"x18" balsa fuselage bottom into four pieces as shown in the WONDER WHY... diagram. With the fuselage still pinned to ...there's a hatch way be there? the plan, glue on the bottom pieces in the order shown. Notice the grain direction of...
a. Remove the wing and insert the two 3/16"dia.x1-1/2" wing dowels into F-2 from the aft side so that they extend in front of F-2 about 1/16". Slide the wing into place to check that it seats properly on the fuselage. If not, slowly enlarge the holes in the wing until it does seat properly.
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...there's no landing gear on this design? Answer: Well, let's look at the pros and cons of going with a skid instead of wheels on the Wonder. On the positive side, without landing gear the Wonder is lighter, simpler, costs less, flies faster, performs better, and simply looks sleeker.
TAIL SURFACES a. Make the stabilizer by edge gluing two 3/16"x4"x12" balsa sheets (Sig-Bond is recommended). When dry, block sand the joint until it's smooth. b. The stabilizer must be accurately cut to it's proper width of 11-1/4". Start by drawing a centerline and two edge lines, each spaced 5-5/8"...
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All of the Wonder prototypes were covered with Sig Supercoat Iron-On Plastic Covering. Supercoat is ideal for sport models because it's lightweight and easy to apply. One roll is plenty for a Wonder, but most modelers will want two or more colors.
Allow several hours to dry. INSTALLING EASY HINGES Sig's famous Easy Hinges have been included with your kit to hinge all of the control surfaces. Each ultra-thin hinge is actually a three-part laminate - a tough plastic inner core sandwiched by an absorbant wicking material.
60. If you chose the one-piece Angel canopy, go ahead and round off the upper edge, cover it, and glue it to the top of the wing (after removing a strip of covering material to provide a wood-to-wood joint, of course). The other Wonder versions feature a two-piece canopy with the front portion glued to the wing and the rear portion glued to the stabilizer.
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Our prototypes all flew well with the balance point between 2-5/16" and 2-7/16" behind the leading edge. If the balance point is too far forward, the Wonder flies well under power but you can run out of "up" elevator during the landing flare.
High in the fuselage behind F-4 works well. Route the antenna through the inside of the fuselage, away from all the other wires, and out the rear opening. On very short models like the Wonder, all you can do is let the excess antenna wire dangle behind the airplane.
Wonder. Yes, with a throttle you can slow it down, but the temptation is to just let it rip! Remember, the faster a plane flies, the more sensitive it is to control inputs.
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The Russian flew extremely well with an Enya .15 IV TV. This is a crossflow, plain bearing engine that's ideal for sport models like the Wonder. It's not the most powerful .15 on the market, but it's built well, starts easy, and runs reliably flight after flight.
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Covering the "Angel" The Angel is the simplest Wonder to cover because it's basically all one color. The top of the plane is distinguished with some large decals and bright yellow stripes. To duplicate the Angel color scheme, you'll need the following materials: Dark Blue Supercoat Covering- Entire airframe.
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Now for the fun part! Cut 1-5/8" wide stripes of red trim material and adhere them over the white as shown in the photo. The center red stripe on the wing will have to be cut to leave room for the black "Wonder" decal. It would probably be best to do this before you apply it to the model.
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Grap a quick breath, then bank your Wonder into a gentle turn before it gets too small to see (which can happen fast!). At altitude, make a few passes, trimming as necessary for level flight. Now it's time to try some loops and rolls. The Wonder reacts instantly to any control input, so go gentle on the sticks.
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LIMIT OF LIABILITY: In use of our products, Sig Mfg. Co.'s only obligation shall be to replace such quantity of the product proven to be defective. User shall determine the suitability of the product for his or her intended use and shall assume all risk and liability in connection...
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