Instructions for Final Assembly The Wattage Whisper is a 2-meter electric powered glider utilizing all balsa and plywood built up construction techniques. The polyhedral wing design is a flat bottom, Phillips Entry style that is incredibly stable throughout the entire flight envelope and produces good lift. The wing is built of true D-Tube construction with balsa sheeting and shear webbing for great strength.
TABLE OF CONTENTS Our Recommendations....................................................2 Pushrod Installation.......................................................15 Metric Conversion Chart.................................................2 Kit Contents.....................................................................3 Installing the Pushrod Housings.............................15 Installing the Elevator Control Horn......................16 Additional Items Required.................................
OUR RECOMMENDATIONS The following items are our recommendations to help you in deciding which types of accessories to purchase for your new Whisper. We have tested all of these items, and many others with the Whisper, and found that these will offer the best in performance, reliability and economy. RADIO SYSTEM The Wattage Whisper will require a minimum 3 channel radio control system that includes two servos. For this we recommend the Hitec Focus 3 channel radio with two standard servos.
This instruction manual is designed to help you build a straight, great flying airplane. Please read this manual thoroughly before beginning assembly of your new Wattage Whisper ARF. Use the parts photos below to identify and separate all of the parts before beginning assembly. **KIT CONTENTS** We have organized the parts as they come out of the box for better identification during assembly. Each photo below represents parts that are required for each step in the assembly process.
MOLDED PLASTIC PARTS MAIN AIRFRAME ASSEMBLIES 33 38 41 32 34 39 40 36 40 39 37 35 32 33 34 35 36 37 q q q q q q 42 {1} Molded Plastic Canopy {2} Molded Plastic Cowl Halves, Right & Left {1} Trim Tape (1 White, 2 Blue, 1 Red & White) {1} 15mm x 100mm Plastic Strip {1} Molded Plastic Tail Fairing {1} Molded Landing Skid 38 39 40 41 42 q q q q q {1} {2} {2} {1} {1} Fuselage Inboard Wing Panels Outboard Wing Panels Horizontal Stabilizer w/Elevator &Hinges Vertical Stabilizer w/Rudder & Hinges ADD
FULL SIZE DRAWINGS Listed below are full size drawings of the hardware included with the Whisper. Use these drawings to familiarize yourself with each piece. Please refer back to this page to locate the proper hardware items when they are needed for a particular assembly step.
If you should find a part missing or have questions about assembly, please call or write to the address below: Wattage Customer Care 18480 Bandilier Circle Fountain Valley, CA. 92728 Phone: (714) 963-0329 Fax: (714) 964-6236 E-Mail: service@globalhobby.com **SUGGESTION** To avoid scratching your new airplane, do not unwrap the pieces until they are needed for assembly. Cover your workbench with an old towel or brown paper, both to protect the aircraft and to protect the table.
q 10) After the battery has discharged and the motor has stopped, spray motor spray through the motor opening until the fluid runs clear. Apply oil to both of the bushings and wipe away all of the excess using paper towels. q 3) Carefully place the brace, glue side down, onto the second brace. Line up the edges of the two braces and use clamps to hold them together tight. Use a paper towel and rubbing alcohol to remove any excess epoxy before it cures. See photo # 2 below.
q 8) Working with one outer wing panel and one outer dihedral brace for now, test fit the dihedral brace into the plywood box in the outer wing panel. The brace should slide into the wing panel up to the centerline. If it does not, remove the brace and lightly sand the edges and tips of the brace until the proper fit is obtained. See photo # 4 below.
q 18) Working with the right wing half for now, test fit the dihedral brace into the plywood box in the root rib. The brace should slide into the wing up to the centerline. If it does not, remove the brace and lightly sand the edges and tips until the proper fit is obtained. q 23) Mix a generous amount of Kwik Bond 5 Minute Epoxy. Apply a thin layer of epoxy to the exposed half of the dihedral brace, the inside of the plywood box in the root rib and the entire surface of both root ribs.
INSTALLING THE WING HOLD DOWN STRIP q 30) Using a ruler and a pen, measure and mark the center of the 15mm x 100mm white plastic strip. q 31) Position the strip on top of the wing. The back edge of the strip should be flush with the trailing edge of the wing and the centerline of the strip should be lined up with the centerline of the wing. See photo # 5 below. q 2) Test fit one of the 6mm x 32mm front wing hold down dowels into the predrilled hole in one front wing hold down dowel mounting block.
q 5) Remove the assembly and mix a small amount of Kwik Bond 5 Minute Epoxy. Apply a thin layer of glue to the inside of the predrilled hole in the fuselage side and to the gluing surfaces of the block. Reinstall the block and remove any excess epoxy using a paper towel and rubbing alcohol. Allow the epoxy to fully cure before proceeding. q 6) Repeat steps # 2 - # 5 to assemble and install the second front wing hold down dowel assembly.
q 3) Using a ruler and a pen, locate and mark the centerline of the fuselage at both the front and the rear of the stabilizer mounting platform. See photo # 10 below. Photo # 10 MOUNTING THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER q 7) With the stabilizer held firmly in place, use a pen and draw lines onto the stabilizer where it and the fuselage sides meet. Do this on both the right and left sides on the bottom of the stabilizer.
q 11) Apply a couple of drops of lightweight machine oil to the pivot point of each hinge. See figure # 6 below. The top of the rudder should be as close to the tip of the vertical fin as possible without actually rubbing the bottom of the tip. Figure # 6 ALIGNING THE VERTICAL STABILIZER Apply Oil to Pivot Point Hinge Applying oil to the pivot point of the hinges will prevent the epoxy from gluing the hinges solid when they are installed. q 12) Mix a small amount of Kwik Bond 5 Minute Epoxy.
MOUNTING THE VERTICAL STABILIZER q 6) When you are sure that everything is aligned correctly, mix up a generous amount of Kwik Bond 5 Minute Epoxy. Apply a generous layer to the slot in the horizontal stabilizer and to the entire bottom surface of the vertical stabilizer. Set the stabilizer in place and realign. Double check all of your measurements once more before the epoxy cures. Hold the stabilizer in place with masking tape and remove any excess epoxy using a paper towel and rubbing alcohol.
SERVO INSTALLATION Photo # 18 PARTS REQUIRED Rudder Servo Elevator Servo q {1} Servo Tray q {1} Servo Tray Support Output Shaft INSTALLING THE SERVO TRAY q 1) Test fit the servo tray and the servo tray support into the fuselage. The support is installed into the two precut notches in the bottom of the fuselage sides. The servo tray fits into the corresponding notches in the support and the rear bulkhead. See photo # 17 below.
q 4) Pull the pushrod housings through the servo compartment until 1/4” of each housing extends beyond the outside of the pushrod exit slots. q 5) Mix a small amount of Kwik Bond 5 Minute Epoxy. Carefully apply a small amount to the ends of the pushrod housings where they exit the fuselage. Use enough epoxy to fill any gaps and remove any excess using a paper towel and rubbing alcohol. Allow the epoxy to fully cure before proceeding. See photo # 19 below.
q 13) Mount the control horn to the rudder by inserting the two 2mm x 15mm machine screws through the control horn mounting base, through the rudder, and into the backplate. Tighten the screws, but do not overtighten them. You do not want to crush the wood. See photo # 22 below. Photo # 22 q 18) Install one adjustable servo connector through the second hole out from the center of one servo arm. Enlarge the hole in the servo arm using a 5/64” drill bit to accommodate the servo connector.
INSTALLING THE RUDDER PUSHROD q 23) Slide the second threaded pushrod wire into the rudder pushrod housing from the top of the fuselage. Note that the wire has threads on one end of it. Slide the plain end of the wire into the housing. q 24) Slide the second 1/4” piece of clear vinyl tubing over the second metal clevis. q 25) Thread the metal clevis onto the threaded end of the pushrod wire. For security, thread the clevis on no less than 5/16”.
q 2) With the motor loosely in the motor mount, twist the motor so the wires on the back of the motor are perpendicular to the mounting tabs on the motor mount. Slide the motor back so the front edge of the motor is 3/4” in front of the motor mount halves. Tighten the two machine screws to hold the motor securely in place. See photo # 27 below. Photo # 27 Mounting Tab insert nut onto each screw. Tighten the screws completely to hold the motor mount securely in place.
q 5) Using a modeling knife, carefully cut out the two molded air ducts in the sides of the cowl. See photo # 30 below. q 10) Slide the hub assembly over the threaded adapter. Install the washer and the propeller nut. Tighten the nut snug, but do not overtighten it. Photo # 30 The threaded adapter is machined from lightweight aluminum. Overtightening the propeller nut can damage the adapter. q 11) Slide the spinner cone over the propeller blades and onto the hub.
CANOPY INSTALLATION PARTS REQUIRED q {1} Molded Plastic Canopy q {4} 2mm x 12mm Wood Screws ALIGNING THE CANOPY q 1) Using a modeling knife, carefully cut out the canopy along it's molded edges. Remove both of the ends of the canopy also. See photo # 34 below. q 7) Install the wing onto the fuselage and set the canopy back in place. Using a pen, mark where the canopy needs to be cut to clear the front radius of the wing. q 8) Using a modeling knife, cut the canopy at the mark made.
LANDING SKID INSTALLATION FINAL ASSEMBLY PARTS REQUIRED INSTALLING THE RECEIVER q {1} Molded Landing Skid INSTALLING THE LANDING SKID q 1) Using a modeling knife, carefully cut out the plastic landing skid. Leave about 1/8” of material around the base of the skid to use as a gluing surface. q 2) Test fit the skid onto the bottom of the fuselage. The skid should be centered from side to side and the front of it should fit just behind the back edge of the cowling.
BALANCING q 1) It is critical that the Whisper be balanced correctly. Improper balance will cause your plane to lose control and crash. The center of gravity is located 2-3/8” back from the leading edge of the wing, at the fuselage sides. This location is recommended for initial test flying and trimming. There is a 3/8” margin forward and aft, but it is not recommended that the center of gravity be located any further back than 2-3/4”. q 2) Turn on the radio system.
q C) Check the rudder. Looking from behind the airplane, move the rudder stick to the right. The rudder should move to the right. If it does not, flip the servo reversing switch on your transmitter to change the direction. q D) Check the throttle. Moving the throttle stick forward should turn on the motor. q 2) Check Control Surface Throw. q A) The Rudder should move 5/8” left and 5/8” right from center. If it moves too far, move the pushrod clevis to a hole in the rudder control horn away from the rudder.
If you decide you have no choice but to learn to fly on your own, choosing the right place to fly your Whisper is of the utmost importance. Select your potential flying field with the following considerations: Pi tch Yaw 1) Look for a site that has a soft landing area. The best sites are large grassy fields. 2) The fewer the ground obstructions the better. No trees, buildings or large rocks should be nearby. Ro ll 3) No people or houses should be nearby.
Fly the airplane level for about 30 feet and allow the speed to pick up. Use the rudder to keep the Whisper tracking straight. After the Whisper has picked up some speed, begin a shallow climb-out by applying a small amount of up elevator. Be gentle. You don't want to overcontrol the airplane. Allow the plane to climb on its own. Climbing too fast will cause the plane to pitch up and it will stop flying (this is called a stall).
3) Overcontrolling. Most new pilots try to fly like they are playing a video game. Most likely, you will never need full stick movement for any correction. Typically, you will need very little down elevator as well. Remember to move the stick in only small amounts at a time. The radio control system you are using is proportional, meaning the amount you move the stick is in direct proportion to the amount the control surface moves.
Watch the tail of the airplane bounce up to see if you are hitting lift. When you fly into a thermal it kicks the tail up and thus points the nose down. Despite this “dive” position your plane may actually be going up in the lift. It depends on the strength of the thermal. That “up tail” is a sign to watch for in thermal spotting. Use your visual keys and work on your skills so you can become accustomed to thermal flying. Don't forget to watch the birds too.
Polyhedral Wing: A wing that has dihedral in three different points on the wing. The Whisper utilizes a polyhedral wing. Vertical Stabilizer: Mounted on the rear of the airplane, it works with the rudder to turn the airplane. It also gives the airplane vertical stability. Pushrods: Connect between the control surface and the servo. Transfers the movement of the servo to the control surface.
PR ODUCT EV ALU ATION SHEET RODUCT EVA UA Telling us what you like and don't like determines what model kits we make and how we make them. We would appreciate it if you would take a few minutes of your time to answer the following questions about this kit. Simply fold this form on the dotted lines, seal with tape and mail it to us. Do not use staples and make sure our address faces out. 7) Was any of the assembly difficult for you? If yes, please explain.
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