background image

4

Before you begin assembling your 

Pitts ARF

, take some

time to read through this entire instruction book.  It is

designed to take you step-by-step through the process and

to give you added information on engine and radio selection

and set-up, balancing your aircraft, and flying your model.

The time you spend will speed the assembly process and

help you avoid problems.

PREPARING FOR ASSEMBLY

You will need a work area of approximately 24 x 70" which has been

covered to protect it from adhesive, as well as cuts and other

damage. Many people cover their work area with a sheet of

dry wall (sheet rock) and/or waxed paper t o prevent CA

Glue and Epoxy from ruining the work surface.

CONSTRUCTION TIPS

IMPORTANT: ALWAYS READ A FEW STEPS AHEAD.

This will alert you to coming instructions and will help you

plan accordingly.

Using the Parts Identification section, familiarize yourself

with the various items included in your kit box.
As you work, CHECK OFF EACH STEP in the box provid-

ed, so that you are sure you do not forget anything.
Do not hesitate to ask questions.  Your local hobby dealer

and area flyers will most likely be happy to help, as they

want you to have a successful flying experience.  You may

also receive technical assistance from Carl Goldberg

Products, Ltd.  by telephone 1-678-450-0085.

ADHESIVES & GLUING TECHNIQUES

CA adhesives are specially formulated to firmly glue the ply-

wood, hardwood, and balsa used in your model and to with-

stand the vibration and stresses of high performance flight.

However, there are times, such as when you are installing

the stabilizer and fin on the fuselage and want more set-

up time for careful alignment and positioning, then you

should use epoxy.. Occasionally, you also will want to use

thin CA, which "wicks" into the surrounding areas. Aliphatic

resin glue or similar water-based glues can also be used,

but they will add to the assembly time because they dry so

much more slowly than CA glue.  Remember,  when ever

using any CA, you must be careful to read instructions thor-

oughly, as you will have only seconds for positioning of

parts.  Be sure to trial fit parts together before gluing.  Also,

never use watery THIN type CA glue for gluing plywood and

hardwood parts.  Thin CA's do not adequately bond these

areas.

CAUTION

Some people may experience an allergic reaction when

exposed to fumes from CA glue or epoxy.  As with paints,

thinners, and solvents, it is always important to use glues

only where there is adequate ventilation to carry fumes

away.  A fan is recommended.  Also, special care must be

taken when using CA, as it will bond skin as well as other

surfaces.   Before using any CA, carefully read all label pre-

cautions. When using CA, protective eye-wear and care in

keeping the glue away from the face is highly recommend-

ed.  If CA does happen to get into the eye, hold lid open and

flush with water only.  Seek immediate medical attention.

COVERING

The Pitts ARF is covered in  a premium polyester film cho-

sen by many of the world's top flyers for its beauty, tough-

ness, and ease of application and repair.  It is not uncom-

mon for ARF's to develop a few wrinkles in transit.  If this is

true of your model, the situation is easily corrected. Before

you begin putting the pieces together, run over the surface

of each section with an iron (either specially designed for

airplane use or the more cumbersome household iron) or

use a modeling heat gun.   Apply the heat (set at about 350°

F), following along with a soft cloth and pressing down on

the covering as you go around.  This will more firmly set the

covering adhesive into the wood and keep your aircraft cov-

ering tight and smooth in the future.
One of the great advantages of polyester film is that it can

be applied over itself without causing gas bubbles.  This

allows you to repair your aircraft, as well as to customize it

in a number of ways.  If, due to a flight mishap, you get a

hole or similar covering damage, simply trim away the

ragged edges and then apply a patch, following the direc-

tions that come with your covering , which is available at

your hobby dealer. 

Important

Information

Covering coming loose is not 
COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.
Due to temperature changes the
plane may develop some wrinkles in
the covering that you will need to
remove with an iron. Be sure to seal
the edges down first so that you do
not cause the covering to shrink and
leave exposed areas of wood. Please
inspect the plane before beginning to
assemble to make sure you are
happy with it. After assembly has
begun you cannot return the kit. If
you find a problem before beginning
to assemble the plane you must con-
tact us, please do not return it to the
dealer.

Notice:

Before starting be sure all parts have not been damaged during shipping. Once

assembly has been started, all warrenty on parts are void.

Summary of Contents for Pitts Monster 12

Page 1: ... to immediately request a replacement of any parts he believes to be defective for their intended use The company warrants replacement of any such components provided the buyer requests such replacement with in a period of 90 days from the date of purchase and provided the defective part is returned if so requested by the company No other warranty expressed or implied is made by the company with r...

Page 2: ...erons PARTS LIST HARDWARE LIST Cabane Struts 4 pcs 12 4 40x1 2 socket head screws 4 4 flat washers I Struts 2 pcs 8 4 40x1 2 socket head screws 8 4 Flat washers 8 4 40 aircraft lock nuts 8 1 4 x20 eye bolts Landing gear 2pcs 6 6 32x3 4 socket head screws 6 6 Flat washers 2 4mm axles with lock nuts 2 4mm wheel collars with set screws 2 2 3 4 wheels 2 4 40 T nuts 2 4 40x1 2 socket head screws ...

Page 3: ...x 6 rod threaded one end elevator servo end 16 golden clevis 16 metal clevis clips 1 pushrod connector throttle 16 2 56 nuts Wing attachment 2 8mm x 1 1 2 wooden dowels 1 ply plate mounting bolt reinforcement 2 1 4 x 2 wing mount bolts 2 1 4 flat washers Tail Wheel 1 tail wheel bracket 1 1 1 4 tail wheel 2 6x 3 4 sheet metal screws 2 6 flat washers 2 springs 1 6 32 x 3 threaded rod 2 nylon adjusta...

Page 4: ...ergic reaction when exposed to fumes from CA glue or epoxy As with paints thinners and solvents it is always important to use glues only where there is adequate ventilation to carry fumes away A fan is recommended Also special care must be taken when using CA as it will bond skin as well as other surfaces Before using any CA carefully read all label pre cautions When using CA protective eye wear a...

Page 5: ...FOAM RUBBER OPTIONAL 1 1 5 PILOT FIGURE 1 Prop to fit your engine 1 Spinner 3 inch NOTE The Pitts ARF covering matches Yellow 885 Blue 872 Oracover TOOLS AND SUPPLIES FOR ASSEMBLY MODELING OR UTILITY KNIFE WORK SURFACE 24 X70 ELECTRIC DRILL 1 16 3 32 1 8 3 16 5 32 1 4 5 64 7 32 DRILL BITS SMALL STANDARD PHILLIPS SCREW DRIVERS MASKING TAPE NEEDLE NOSE PLIERS MOTO TOOL 24 RULER FLEXIBLE STRAIGHT EDG...

Page 6: ...the aileron slots 4 Select the aileron for the wing on which you are working and insert the exposed half of each hinge into the aileron slots Slide the aileron toward the wing until no gap remains between the aileron and the wing 5 Carefully check the alignment of the aileron It should be centered with about 1 32 on either end When satisfied with the alignment remove the straight pins being sure t...

Page 7: ...ires on the plug and taping with masking tape 5 Grasping the string SLOWLY pull until the end of the 6 extension comes out of the hole Tape the extension securely to the wing so that it will not slide back in while you are work ing Secure servo with the screws supplied with the radio Repeat for the other three wing servos AILERON CONTROL HORN INSTALLATION 1 Collect the following items 8 2 56 Golde...

Page 8: ... the clevis clip on to each of the Golden Clevis pins Repeat the above steps for the other three ailerons 7 You will need a Y connector for the top aileron servos It will exit the fuselage through a hole just to the inside of the front cabane strut Use cable ties to hold it to the cabane strut so the plug is at the top on each side You can then plug the ailerons in and attach the top wing aileron ...

Page 9: ...n the trailing edge of the wing and insert the wing bolts for alignment Use a pen and mark the outline of the plate on the covering 3 Remove the covering by cutting about 1 8 inside the line you just drew Be careful and do not cut into the wood 4 Use epoxy and glue the plate in place Insert the wing bolts to make sure the holes are aligned and clamp into place till dry 5 Set the wing in place with...

Page 10: ... wing Do not go any farther till the stab is level to the wing equal 3 When satisfied with the alignment mark the outline of the fuselage on the stab top and bottom 4 Using a sharp knife or razor blade remove the covering inside the lines you marked both top and bottom Cut 1 16 inside the lines so bare wood does not show when glued in place Be careful and do not cut into the wood as this will weak...

Page 11: ...rod rudder horn 2 6 32 x 2 bolts elevator horns 4 6 32 nuts 4 6 flat washers 6 adjustable horn brackets Rudder Elevator Control Horn 3 Locate the hole for the elevator horn and install the 6 32 x 2 bolt with a washer and nut on the bottom side Use locktite or CA to secure the nut Install a adjustable horn bracket on the end Repeat for other elevator 2 Install the 6 32 x 3 threaded rod in the predr...

Page 12: ...t washers 2 Wheel pants one left one right 2 4mm axles with lock nuts 4 4mm wheel collars 2 2 3 4 wheels 2 4 40 x t nuts 2 4 40 x 1 2 socket head bolts Landing Gear Installation 3 Install each axle using the locking nut Be careful not to over tighten the nut it looks like a large bolt but it has been drilled out for the axle and can be broken if too much torque is applied 4 Install one wheel colla...

Page 13: ...ough the predrilled hole on the landing gear leg 7 Remove the wheel pant and drill a 5 32 hole at the location you marked Insert the blind nut on the inside and pull it tight using the 4 40 mounting bolt Lock in place with CA glue being careful not to get it in the threads 8 Reinstall the wheel and wheel pant and retain with the other 4mm wheel collar Align the wheel pant on the gear leg with the ...

Page 14: ...ng 2 Screw the 6 32x3 threaded rod into the brass fitting on top of the tail wheel bracket Center it up and then screw the adjustable horn bracket on one on each end 3 Install one 1 8 wheel collar the tail wheel and then the other 1 8 wheel collar 4 Mount the tail wheel bracket to the fuselage using the two 6x3 4 sheet metal screws and two 6 flat washers Align the bend in the bracket with the back...

Page 15: ...cket Twist the wire so that it will stay hooked to the bracket 5 Remove from the tailwheel springs approxi mately 1 2 from the other side of the long wire On the side of the spring that you just cut off bend 2 or 3 coils of the spring out so that they can hook through the horn bracket 7 Repeat for other side ...

Page 16: ... in the hole and retain with two 4 40 x 5 8 socket head screws Use locktite to make sure they do not vibrate out Don t completely tighten the screws down until after you mount the top wing Leaving them loose until the top wing is in place with the top of the cabane struts in the pre cut notches will give them room to move around a little so they will line up perfectly Tighten after the top wing is...

Page 17: ...ws and four flat washers Get all the screws started but don t tighten them all the way down till after the I Struts are installed Reinstall the bottom wing as you did earlier 6 Fit the I Strut between the top and bottom wing with the lugs in the notches Secure with a 4 40 x 1 2 socket head bolt with washer and an air craft lock nut Get all the bolts on both sides started but not tightened all the ...

Page 18: ...ee angle 3 Use the three 2 56 x 1 2 screws with a washer under the head and mount the brackets to the fin and stab with the aircraft nut on the bottom The brackets go on each side of the fin and stab with one bolt holding two on There is a predrilled hole at each location Hold up to a light to help locate the hole under the covering 4 The other two brackets mount to the bottom of the fuselage usin...

Page 19: ...stab and back through the brass tube Pull the cable tight but be careful not to put pressure on the stab or fin we want the cable to just be snug at this point and we will adjust the tension after all four are in place Loop the cable back through the brass tube again and crimp Use pliers and crimp the brass tubing onto the cable to secure it 8 Pass the cable through the brass tube through the brac...

Page 20: ...ove belly pan and cut the covering away 1 16 inside the line you drew Do not cut the wood 4 Glue the belly pan in place using epoxy Be careful not to get glue on the front or rear just glue to wing so the wing will come off remove covering 5 Remove the covering over the wing mount bolts access hole remove covering NO GLUE ...

Page 21: ...nd silicone tubing on the 4 40 bolts 4 Install the cowl with the 4 40 bolts and the predrilled holes in cowl The blind nut are already installed in the fuselage 5 Measure from the firewall to the front edge of the cowl It should be about 5 3 8 on the left side and 5 5 8 on the right side The difference is the off set for right thrust built into the firewall 6 Take your engine and clamp to one of t...

Page 22: ...ngine to the mounts using the four 8 32 x 1 1 4 socket head bolts with aircraft lock nuts and washers 6 10 The firewall has the thrust line marked on it The center line is off set to the left to compensate for the right thrust 11 Center the motor mounts on the thrust line and mark the location of the mounting holes Drill a 7 32 hole at the four places you marked The 7 32 hole will accept the shoul...

Page 23: ...tall the 4mm silicone tube to the short brass tube and install the clunk to the other end of the silicone tube This is the fuel pickup and must be free to flop around in the tank so it can pick up fuel in any attitude 5 Install the assembly into the tank so the vent tube is turned up to the top of the tank and is positioned on the right side of the tank Tighten the screw to expand the rubber cap D...

Page 24: ...ss the cap to make sure it does not blow out 8 Install the tank in the fuselage with the cap aligned in the hole in the firewall Use foam rubber not included around the tank to hold it in place 7 Before installing the tank drill a 1 4 hole in the firewall for the throttle pushrod to exit The posi tion of the hole will depend on the engine you use Align the hole with the throttle arm on your engine...

Page 25: ...s that you made on the fuselage Make a mark where the cut out is on the cowl remove the cowl and cut out the openings NOTE Start with small openings then slowly increase the size till the cowl fits 3 Use the same method to locate the holes for the needle valve and any other openings you need Servo Installation 1 Collect the following items 1 8mm x 17 wooden dowel 2 pieces of 1 2 shrink tubing 1 5 ...

Page 26: ... engine It does not matter if the elevator servo is on the right or left 2 Install the throttle EZ connector in one of the arms that came with your servo 3 Install a golden clevis on the end of the 2 56 x 20 pushrod Insert the pushrod in the hole in firewall that you drilled earlier Slip the 5 32 nylon tube over pushrod and cut to length It should extend out the hole in the firewall about 1 4 and ...

Page 27: ...ect the golden clevis to the rudder horn bracket Remember to insert the clevis clip on each of the clips 6 Repeat for the other rudder cable 7 Assemble the 2 56 cable end same as shown above 8 Place the cable ends on your servo arm and mount the servo arm on the rudder servo Tape your rudder with masking tape so that it will remain straight Place the brass tube on the cable then pull the cables th...

Page 28: ...aded end Make the bend about 1 2 long so you can get a good grip with the pliers Then cut the end off at 1 8 4 Take the shrink tubing and slide over the end of the dowel and wires Let the tubing extend past the end of the dowel about 1 4 Use a heat gun to shrink tight If you don t have a heat gun a match or lighter will work just be careful with the open flame 5 Lay the pushrod on the bottom of th...

Page 29: ...om between the servo tray and the tank so mount the receiver there Switch Receiver Battery Balance and Control Throws Throws We have provided two sets of throws Use the lower throws on the first flights then work your way up to the higher throws Do not use the higher throws till you are ready LOW HIGH Elevator 1 UP Down All you can get Ailerons 1 2 Up Down All you can get Rudder 1 1 2 Right Left A...

Page 30: ... the CG the more wild the aerobatics will become BUT the more unstable the Pitts will become The CG is measured on the top wing At the center of the wing measure back 5 and place a mark Measure back 6 2 and make another mark Using two fingers under the bottom side of the top wing lift the plane It should hang level or slightly nose down At the 5 in mark it will be nose heavy but will be really sta...

Reviews: