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Sturdy

Birdy

INSTRUCTION BOOK

WARNING! THIS IS NOT A TOY!

Assembly and operation of this aircraft must be done by or under the direct

supervision of a responsible adult. If not handled correctly, this model is capable of
inflicting serious bodily harm. It is your responsibility and yours alone to assemble this
model correctly, properly install all R/C components, and to test and operate it in a safe
and responsible manner.

Copyright 1994

Summary of Contents for Sturdy Birdy

Page 1: ...der the direct supervision of a responsible adult If not handled correctly this model is capable of inflicting serious bodily harm It is your responsibility and yours alone to assemble this model corr...

Page 2: ...atter how long it may take The first thing you should do after reading this paragraph is check the parts in this kit against the parts list on the next page to make sure everything is here We strongly...

Page 3: ...RF1R02 Shaped Fin 1 ARF1R03 Rudder 1 ARF1A03 Small Wood Parts Sub Pack ARF1F03 Firewall Doubler 1 ARF1F04 Firewall 1 Stock Description Qty ARF1F05 Landing Gear Strips 2 ARF1S04 1 16 Ply Stab Doubler 1...

Page 4: ...slow speeds The Great Planes adjustable engine mount provided with the STURDY BIRDY will fit most 20 30 engines RADIO The STURDY BIRDY requires 3 channels to fly but there are not many 3 channel radio...

Page 5: ...r A sheet of wood or anything 1 8 thick laid down next to the piece makes it easy to do this Transfer the hinge locating marks from the side to the edges as shown above D 5 Use your hobby knife with a...

Page 6: ...e 1 64 plywood doubler to ONE side of the fin gluing it to the balsa doubler Check the fit again and if it is still a little loose add a plywood doubler to the other side If you need to you can sand t...

Page 7: ...s after the parts are covered Cut the slots for the hinges and test fit the stabilizer and the elevator together to check for proper alignment between the two parts STABILIZER D 14 The stabilizer and...

Page 8: ...g D 23 Lay some waxed paper down on the work surface and mix up another ounce or so of epoxy Spread the epoxy throughout the slot and on the root middle end of the other wing panel Slide the two wing...

Page 9: ...urface to loosen it up D 25 Trim the plastic center section protector to size by using either scissors or your hobby knife to cut along the scribe lines Use some coarse grit sandpaper to scratch up th...

Page 10: ...d into the nylon nutplate on the opposite side of the rudder Although not necessary you may use some wire cutters or an abrasive cutoff wheel to cut the screws off even with the plate D 33 The other c...

Page 11: ...t with four 4 x 1 2 sheet metal screws D 38 Test fit your engine to the mount Adjust the width of the rails to fit the engine Tighten the mounting screws securely Apply a couple of strips of masking t...

Page 12: ...ap the servo mounting lugs the front two servos should be mounted with their servo output shafts towards the back of the plane and the back servo should have its output shaft towards the front of the...

Page 13: ...threaded end of the 2 pieces D 52 Install the link rods in the 2nd hole from the outer end of each control horn With the control surfaces and the servo horns in their neutral positions cut the inner p...

Page 14: ...a good idea to use some medium strength thread locking cement on these bolts D 58 Drill a 1 8 diameter hole in each support using the attached landing gear as a guide Remove the supports from the fus...

Page 15: ...hes D 62 Cut the inner pushrod to length then cut and install the remaining 12 threaded link rod to hook up the throttle control Make sure you can achieve both full throttle and idle without binding o...

Page 16: ...ylon propeller for your first flights since it will not break as easily as wood Sand the edges of the prop before you use it The edges of nylon props are very sharp and should be dulled before use If...

Page 17: ...and be patient The STURDY BIRDY will lose altitude fairly quickly and you can resume control When preparing to land it is a good idea to make several practice passes from a safe altitude and graduall...

Page 18: ...PilotsLog Use this to record your flights it s fun to look back on Date Flight Time Conditions Comments 18...

Page 19: ...Date Flight Time Conditions Comments Engine Mount Template for 20 48 Adjustable Mount 19...

Page 20: ...he Sub T E against the trailing edge ofeach wing half The Sub T E should be oriented as shown in the sketch with the 90 degree corners along the bottom of the wing Epoxy the Sub T E to the trailing ed...

Page 21: ...s the top and mark the lop side of each piece Make another mark 7 16 from the inboard end ofeach piece Notch each piece to make a slot for the torque rod Note the threaded portion ofeach torque rod sh...

Page 22: ...poxy from seeping in Spread some epoxy in the slot and on the leading edge of the center trailing edge pieces Do notapplyanyepoxywithin 1 4 ofthenotchoryoumayglue thetorque rod Insert the torque rods...

Page 23: ...4 Epoxy the two 11 32 x 2 x 1 5 8 Tapered T E Supports to the inboard bottom of each center trailing edge as shown in the photo...

Page 24: ...ock with 150 grit sandpaper to sand the inner ends of the sub trailing edge center trailing edge and the tapered trailing edge to match the angle ofthe foam wing end Be careful not to change the angle...

Page 25: ...x 1 1 4 x 22 1 4 Ailerons in place against the sub trailing edge and under the torque rods Mark the location where the torque rods will enter the ailerons Drill a 3 32 hole in each aileron to accept t...

Page 26: ...7 Cut a groove in the leading edge of the aileron to allow clearance for the torque rods Trial fit the ailerons in place and cut as necessary until they fit...

Page 27: ...inge slots in each aileron The hinge slots should be approximately 1 1 2 10 and 18 from the wing tip Place the ailerons against the sub trailing edge and mark the hinge locations on the wing Draw a ce...

Page 28: ...9 Using a sanding block sand the leading edge of each aileron to a V shape as shown in the photo above...

Page 29: ...the wing Do not glue the hinges until after you have covered the wing Sand the outboard edge of the sub trailing edges and the ailerons to match the foam wing tips Now skip to step 21 on page 8 WING...

Page 30: ...uts in the Plastic Center Section Protector Therearescribelinesonthebottomsurfaceoftheprotector to help guide you Trial fit the aileron servo in place and trim as necessary to make it fit properly Use...

Page 31: ...Remove the protector and carve out a hole in the foam wing to fit your servo Carve out an extra 1 4 square groove in front and behind the servo cut out for the servo rails Drill a 1 2 diameter hole f...

Page 32: ...the front and back edges ofthe servo cut out Put the aileron servo in place and mark on the plastic protector where the servo mounting screws should be Drill 1 16 diameter holes on the marks you just...

Page 33: ...he cutouts in the foam wing if necessary to make the protector lie flat againstthewing Whensatisfiedwiththefit removetheservoanduse coarse sandpaper to scratch up the bottom of the wing protector so t...

Page 34: ...ers to make the Z bends and attach them to the servo horn Turn on your radio plug in your aileron servo and adjust the centering of the servohornuntil it is centered and therightaileronmoves up whenyo...

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