Using This Instruction Manual
Before you start gluing and sanding, take some time to look
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. Radio selection and installation, covering, and
balancing and flying the model are all covered. Also spend time
becoming familiar with the plans.
Like a full-size airplane, the Gentle Lady is built from basic
structures (stablizer, fin, wing, etc.), which are then assembled
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 require you to repeat them, 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
The plan shows 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 assembled,
but as a result, the areas inside or underneath are covered up,
making it hard to understand how these parts fit together.
Therefore, for clarity, some parts are drawn with hidden lines ,
others with breakway views, and some are entirely removed
from the structure and shown separately.
For example, on the fuselage, the left side of the completed
model has been removed to show the details inside. Sometimes
a surface is broken away to reveal the detail behind or under-
neath. 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.
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 or plastic kitchen wrap.
The paper the plan is printed on can expand or contract slight-
ly 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 perform-
ance.
Because the fuselage plugs together and is self-aligning, it is
not built directly over the plan. However, make sure the stabi-
lizer and fin are mounted square and true to the fuselage. As
you assemble the fuselage, you will find the plan helpful in
identifying parts and how things fit together.
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.
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.
Preparing For Assembly
Place 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 shim-
ming 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 lies flat and wrinkle free.
Place a sheet of waxed paper or plastic kitchen wrap over the work
area to prevent CA from sticking to your plan and ruining it.
Construction Tips
If you have never assembled a built-up model before, the follow-
ing tips will prove helpful.
IMPORTANT: ALWAYS READ A FEW STEPS AHEAD. This
will alert you to coming instructions and will help you plan accord-
ingly.
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.
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. CA is recommended for most parts of the assembly,
although epoxy may be used when more time is needed for careful
placement.
3
Introduction
