4
COVERING
The
Sr.Falcon ARF
is covered in a premium polyester film
chosen by many of the world's top flyers for its beauty,
toughness, and ease of application and repair. It is not
uncommon for ARF's to develop a few wrinkles in transit.
If this is true of your model, the situation is easily correct-
ed. Before you begin putting the pieces together, run over
out side edges of the covering with an iron. This is to make
sure that the surface of the edges are sealed and will not
move when heat is applied to the center of the covering.
Then go over the center of each section with the 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 covering 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.
RADIO EQUIPMENT & CARE
There are many fine radio systems on the market. Your
local hobby dealer and club members are good sources of
information on equipment and its suitability for various
projects. It is recommended that you speak to them before
making a final choice.
Today's RC systems are very well engineered and con-
structed. However, they will remain only as good as the
way in which they are USED. Always follow the rules of
proper usage and all manufacturer's instructions for your
particular piece of equipment.
TRANSMITTERS:
Keep your transmitter clean and free
from fuel residue and dirt. Battery condition and RF output
should be monitored, and the system should be aligned
and tuned annually. Do not transport under vibration (such
as on the floor of a car) without cushioning.
RECEIVERS:
Receivers must be vibration free. When
installing in the aircraft, wrap them in a minimum of ¼" soft
foam rubber (not plastic foam). Keep well clear of all
cables and batteries. Tune annually (or as recommended
by the manufacturer), as indicated below under "Check-
Ups."
SERVOS:
Servos are vibration prone. Be sure to mount
them with grommet shock mounts in servo trays which are
also shock mounted. Also be sure to keep them clean. If
the neutral position "drifts," this is a sign of change which
should not be ignored; find out WHY before flying again.
BATTERIES:
Nicads also can suffer from vibration, so they
too should be wrapped in soft foam rubber before
installing. Check their condition periodically by measuring
the voltage with a volt meter or battery tester. Charge the
batteries before EVERY flying session. When not used for
a period of time (such as during the winter months) the bat-
teries should be charged every 30 days. Never store bat-
teries in a discharged condition.
PUSHRODS:
Obviously, pushrods should be installed to
operate freely, so that they place no load on the servo.
Using a servo's power to move a tight rod or heavy surface
by force increases the battery drain, shortens the electron-
ic life, and can cause neutralizing problems. In addition, it
is important the pushrods do not flex or vibrate. Any vibra-
tion is transferred directly to the servo, and its gear, motor,
and pot. To avoid flexing and vibration, use guides and fair-
leads on the rods
.
CONNECTORS:
In using connectors, never pull on the
wires to disconnect; grasp the plugs instead. Clean them
by dunking in a solvent, such as dope thinner. Tape the
connectors together when installing and make sure there is
no strain on the cables.
CHECK-UPS:
A full check-up by the factory or an author-
ized service center should be done AT LEAST ONCE A
YEAR, as well as any time something unusual occurs dur-
ing usage. A malfunction or "glitch" is the first sign of an
impending failure; it should not be ignored. The checkup
should include tuning and alignment of the system, as well
as battery testing.
Important
Information
Covering coming loose is not
COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. Due to tem-
perature 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 contact us, please do
not return it to the dealer.
Caution:
Before starting, care-
fully go over all high
stress areas with an
epoxy or wood glue to
confirm all areas are
well glued.
