USING THIS INSTRUCTION MANUAL
Before you start gluing and sanding, take some time
becoming familiar with the plans and looking through this
entire Instruction Booklet. It is designed to guide you through
the construction process step by step, so build in the order
given in this book. Building options, as well as balancing, set-
up, and flying the model are covered.
Like a full-size airplane, the
ELECTRA
is built from basic
structures (stabilizer, fin, wing, etc.), which are then assem-
bled into the complete airplane.
Special procedures or comments will usually be
explained before a step, so you will be prepared. If a step
begins with a statement like "Note," "Warning," or "Important,"
it is a good idea to read through the step before doing it.
A check-off box appears at the beginning of each step.
Check these boxes as you build, so you can tell at a glance
what steps you have completed. Some steps are repeated
and must be marked twice, as in the case of the left and right
wing panel.
Some of the instructions deal with general procedures.
Boxes are not needed for these sections.
HOW TO READ THE PLAN
There is one plan sheet in this kit, showing the Fuselage
(Body), the Wing, and the Tail Parts. Everything on the plan
is drawn to full-size and shape and shows how the finished
parts fit together.
The plan is drawn to show the model completely assem-
bled, but as a result, the areas inside or underneath are cov-
ered up, making it hard to understand how these parts fit
together. Therefore, for clarity, some parts are drawn with
hidden lines, others with breakaway views, and some are
entirely removed from the structure and shown separately.
For example, on the fuselage, the left side of the com-
pleted model has been removed to show the details inside.
Sometimes a surface is broken away to reveal the detail
behind or underneath. Dashed lines indicate details that are
hidden behind or under another part of the surface.
The model is made from four varieties of wood: balsa,
bass, birch, and various plywoods. Each kind of wood has its
own characteristic end grain pattern (as viewed from the end)
which has been drawn on the plan. You can easily use these
end grain patterns to identify what kind of wood is shown for
a part, if you are in doubt.
INTRODUCTION
HOW TO USE THE PLAN
The plan is used in several ways. The wings, stabilizer, and
fin are assembled directly over the plan. Each wood part is
matched over its corresponding location printed on the plan
and pinned in place. To prevent ruining your plan from gluing
your wings, etc. to it, cover the area you are working on with
waxed paper.
The paper the plan is printed on can expand or con-
tract slightly with changes in temperature or humidity.
Because of this, a preformed part such as the notched
wing trailing edge may not exactly match the plan
. This
is no problem, as slight deviations in the outline or size will not
noticeably affect flight performance.
Because the fuselage plugs together and is self-aligning,
it is not built directly over the plan. As you assemble the fuse-
lage, you will find the plan helpful in identifying parts and how
things fit together.
IDENTIFYING PARTS
Parts for the wing are bundled together; likewise, parts
for the tail assembly are also grouped. Die-cut plywood and
balsa sheets of common sizes are bundled together, so they
are less likely to be damaged during shipping and handling.
The various screws, hinges, and fittings are packaged in
plastic bags.
The plan also shows the installation of a typical radio,
battery and all remaining equipment and hardware needed to
complete the model. By referring to the examples shown, you
should be able to install your own radio, etc., even if it is not
the same as what is shown on the plan.
PREPARING FOR ASSEMBLY
Set a flat, warp-free pinning board on your work bench.
Any material that accepts pins, such as insulation board, soft
plywood, or dry-wall (sheet rock) will work. Important: any
warps or bends in the pinning board will result in wings or tail
surfaces that are also warped or bent, making your model
more difficult to fly. Make sure that the pinning board is flat by
laying a straight edge across it. You may be able to correct a
warped board by shimming its low areas.
Position the area of the plan (such as the stabilizer) on
which you are going to build over the pinning board and tape
it in place so the plan lays flat and wrinkle free.
Place a sheet of waxed paper or plastic kitchen wrap over
the work area to prevent Super Jet from sticking to your plan
and ruining it.
CONSTRUCTION TIPS
In assembling your model, the following tips will prove
helpful.
IMPORTANT: ALWAYS READ A FEW STEPS AHEAD.
This will alert you to coming instructions and will help you plan
accordingly.
You may find it convenient to empty all of the small parts
from the hardware bags into a common container, such as a
margarine tub. This will help you find items quickly.
When drilling any 1/16" holes in balsa, you may find it
easier to twist the drill between your thumb and index finger.
This procedure allows more control in positioning the drill on
the center mark.
Punch out only the die-cut (D/C) parts you need as you
proceed. This will help you keep track of parts, especially the
small ones.
Sometimes you will be asked to “tack cement” a piece of
wood that will later be taken apart. To provide for easy
removal without damage, use only a small drop of glue.
After completing each section of the aircraft, you may
want to go back and reglue the joints, just in case some area
has been missed. Be careful not to use too little glue, which
will leave the model weak, or too much glue, which can make
the model heavy. Properly glued joints are important to the
overall strength of the model. Super Jet™ is recommended
for most parts of the assembly, although Jet Epoxy may be
used when more time is needed for careful placement.
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