SIG RASCAL ARF, Assembly Manual, Page: 1 / 18

RASCAL ARF ASSEMBLY MANUAL
INTRODUCTION:
Congratulations on your purchase of the SIG Rascal ARF kit! The
R/C Rascal kit quickly became very popular with modelers
because of its great looks and truly classic flying characteristics.
SIG is pleased to now be able to offer this fine design in an Almost
Ready to Fly format! The ARF version not only retains all of the
same great characteristics of the original but also offers superb
workmanship in its construction and a beautifully unique covering
job. The covering material used on your Rascal ARF is Oracover®.
This means that it is easily repairable and easy to work with.
Assembly is quick and simple when following the detailed
instructions contained in this manual.
The Rascal ARF is very light and therefore well matched to the
included geared electric Speed 400 power system. This motor and
gear drive system allows you to swing the recommended APC
8 x 6E propeller - a very efficient and powerful combination!
Also included with your Rascal ARF is the new SIG 20 Amp
proportional electronic speed controller (ESC). Read on for further
information on this unit.
We suggest using a 7-cell battery pack for this model. We have
used the Sanyo KR-600AE 1.2 volt Nickel-Cadmium (Ni-Cad) cells
for our battery packs, with good results. These cells deliver great
power and are both small enough and light enough to work well
with the Rascal design.
8-cell battery packs (9.6 volts) will
certainly fit in the model and will provide good power. However, be
aware 8-cell flight packs provide more power than the motor is
rated for. Because of this, 8-cell packs will likely burn out the
motors' brushes within 15 to 30 flights. To get the most out of your
flight packs, we suggest using a good quality AC/DC "Peak Delta"
charger, such as the Astro Flight #115D charger.
The assembly and flying of this model will only be successful if you
follow these instructions carefully.
Deviating from these
instructions has the potential to cause problems later in the
assembly process or during flight. The successful assembly and
flying of this model is your responsibility so take your time and
enjoy the process.
RADIO EQUIPMENT:
The Rascal ARF derives its performance from several factors. Two
of these are its light weight and generous wing area.
This
combination makes for a very favorable wing loading that allows
the airplane to perform nicely with Speed 400 power. Since the
Rascal ARF is factory built, you can only control the final ready to
fly weight by choosing the most appropriate airborne radio
equipment. In short, the performance of this model will be great
with the right equipment but will be less so by choosing
inappropriate, oversize and/or unnecessarily heavy airborne radio
equipment. This is a simple reality that has to be addressed.
Fortunately, after-market receivers and servos, appropriate for this
model, are not only readily available and of very good quality,
they're now very reasonably priced.
In flight testing our Rascal ARF models, we've used a wide variety
of airborne radio equipment. For servos, we have used and can
highly recommend Hitec #HS-55 servos and the Maxx Products
MX-50 units. Similar servos are also usable, provided they are the
right dimensions and can deliver between 14 to 18 in/oz of torque.
One of the most appropriate receivers for this model would be the
great little Hitec Micro 555 unit.
Again, other receivers are
certainly usable but make sure they are small enough and light
enough! For best performance, avoid excess weight.
The Electronic Speed Controller (ESC), included with your Rascal
ARF kit (SIG Part Number SIGESC20), has been specifically
designed for use in Speed 400 powered electric models. This unit
is quite sophisticated for its small size and light weight of only 12
grams. Its solid state integrated circuitry is capable of supplying up
to 20 amps of continuous current to the motor.
It is fully
proportional and features a Battery Elimination Circuit (BEC) and
an effective propeller brake. In addition, the SIG ESC features
automatic temperature shut-off and an integrated safety feature
that prevents accidental motor start-ups when initially powering up
the airborne system.
Note that this ESC is supplied with a
receiver connector that is compatible with Hitec, Airtronics
(Z-connector only), Futaba, and JR equipment. Specifications are
as follows:
WORKING VOLTAGE: 5-10 1.2V NiCad Cells
CONTINOUS LOAD CURRENT: 20 Amps
SURGE CURRENT: 200 Amps
WEIGHT: 12 Grams
BEC: 5V/1Amp
LOW BATTERY CUT-OFF: 5V
DIMENSIONS: 1" x 5/8" x 1/4"
COVERING MATERIAL:
Your Rascal ARF has been professionally covered using
Oracover®.
This material is world famous for its ease of
application, light weight, and consistency of color. If you live in a
dry climate, you may notice that some wrinkles might develop after
removing the covered parts from their plastic bags.
This is
perfectly normal in low humidity climates. The model was covered
in a part of the world with relatively high humidity and therefore the
balsawood was carrying a fair amount of moisture. When exposed
to drier air, the wood typically loses this moisture, dimensionally
"shrinking" in the process. This is what may cause some wrinkles.
However, wrinkles are easy to correct by simply using a heat iron.
We suggest covering the shoe of the iron with thin cotton cloth,
such as an old T-shirt, to prevent scratching. The iron should be
set to about 280° - 300° F. Use the heated iron over the wrinkle to
lightly shrink the material - do not press on it. Then lightly iron the
material back down to the wood. You can also use a hobby-type
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