Read this instruction manual fully so as to become completely familiar with the features of this product before operating. Failure to operate this product correctly could result in damage to the product, personal property and cause serious injury. This is a sophisticated hobby product and is NOT a toy. It must always be operated with caution, common sense and some basic mechanical ability. This manual provides instructions as the the assembly, safe operation and maintainence of this hobby product.
Contents Introduction 1 Specifications 1 Contents of box 2 Required to complete 2 Assembly 3-7 Receiver and battery installation 7 Setting up your model 8-11 Model flying precautions 12 Pre-flight checks 13 Flying the Durafly Me-163 14 Dolly take-off guidelines 15 Hand Launching guidelines 15 Rocket Motor Use 16 Me-163 General Tips 17 Spare Parts/Optional Parts Listing 18 Trouble shooting 19 Contact information 20
INTRODUCTION: The Durafly Me-163 is truly a ground breaking model. Not only does this Komet feature a fully working scale 'dolly' style undercarriage and blistering performance, it can also carry a model rocket engine! As a 'PnF' model, all electronics come pre-installed and ready to hook up to your choice of 6ch receiver.
CONTENTS OF BOX: 1 8 3 5 7 2 4 1. Fuselage/Wing/Canopy Hatch. 3. Dolly (Undercaridge) 5. Control Accessories/Velcro 7. Spinner 6 2. Vertical Stab/Rudder 4. Propeller (2pc) 6. Scale Aerial/Wing Tube 8. Manual REQUIRED TO COMPLETE MODEL: In its ‘Plug n Fly’ format the Durafly Me-163 requires some additional electronic components to get it flight ready. Durafly recommends the products below for optimum performance and great value. Available at hobbyking.com OrangeRx T-SIX 2.
ASSEMBLY: 1. Out of the box your Me-163 comes with reinforced foam hinges. However before assembly can begin, each hinge line must be flexed back and forth 6-8 times to reduce tension, and load on the servo. Do this for all control surfaces before continuing. 2. Locate the bag marked ‘Aileron’ and install aileron control horns and rods for each side of the wing as shown. Ensure the servo horn is at 90 degrees to the wing when installing the control rod and connect to the outer hole on the servo arm.
3. Following the illustration below, screw the remaining control horn to the rudder control surface. Again, with the servo at 90 degree’s (neutral), connect the push rod to the servo arm (outer hole) then to the control horn and clip the clevis in place. PB1.7X12mm Note: Your Me-163 comes supplied with two optional Swastikas (each in two parts). You may apply to both sides of the vertical tail now if you wish. 4.
5. With the glue still fresh you will need to check the alignment of the vertical tail to the wing to ensure it is straight and true. Looking from the rear of the fuselage, check that the vertical tail is at 90 degree’s fuselage center section. If not, adjust the vertical tail accordingly and if necessary temporarily secure in place until the glue begins to take hold. 90 degree 6. Slide one of the supplied propellers onto the motor shaft and tighten down firmly the washer and nut.
7. Locate the scale plastic aerial mast and wing pitot tube and glue each in place on the model one at a time as shown below. Do NOT use an excessive amount of glue but DO allow the glue to become tacky before gluing these parts in place. 8. The final stage of assembly is to test fit the Me-163 droppable dolly (landing gear) to the fuselage.
Assembly of your Durafly Me-163 is now complete. Before you move onto the final set-up of the model, we suggest you perform a quick check on all screws, bolts and components to ensure all are secure and firmly in place. RECEIVER AND BATTERY INSTALLATION. 1. Use the below image as a guide to install your receiver and flight battery. When using the recommended 2200mah 3S battery, these positions should make your model balance at the approximate CG mark covered in the next stage of this manual.
SETTING UP YOUR MODEL: 1. With your receiver installed and all servos plugged into their corresponding channels (see instructions provided by your receiver manufacturer for ‘Delta’ or ‘Elevons’ set-up procedures), connect the flight battery to the ESC to power up the electronics. With the model now armed, ensure all servo’s are centered and the rudder control surface is neutral as shown. If not, adjust by turning the control clevis’s by hand accordingly.
2. Check all control surfaces are moving in the correct direction with the applicable stick input (see below).
3. Your Komet's scale dolly operates via a 2 position gear/aux switch on your radio. With the dolly servo connected to the corresponding channel on your receiver, ensure that the dolly drops freely and that its held firm again once the switch is flicked back. SWITCH POSITION 1 SWITCH POSITION 2 4. The Durafly Me-163 handles very well in flight but requires setting up beforehand. Please follow the recommended settings below for good all round flight performance.
5. Suggested center of gravity (CG) for the Me-163 is approximately 205-213mm from the front of the fuselage/plastic cowl. With the recommended Turnigy A-SPEC 2200mah 65C 3S lipo installed at the position shown previously, the Me-163 should balance at this point. The C/G can be adjusted to suit your own flying style by moving the battery fore or aft of location shown.
MODEL FLYING PRECAUTIONS: crowded areas Remember to keep clear of the propeller at all times when your flight battery is connected.
PRE-FLIGHT CHECKS: 1. Always range check your model before any flight (especially when flying a new model for the first time). Follow your radio manufacturers guidelines for performing this check. 2. Check all screw/ bolts and mounting points are firmly secured, including control horns and clevises. 3. Only fly with fully charged batteries (both in your radio and model). Failure to do so could result in loss of control, damage to the model and/ or persons/ property around you.
FLYING THE Me-163: The Durafly Messerschmitt Me-163 is an exciting and enjoyable model to fly with blistering performance, incredible handling and many scale features. Due to the unique 'dolly' configuration of the Me-163, care must be taken when beginning each flight . Take off /launching is the only challenging part of flying your Me-163.
DOLLY TAKE OFF GUIDELINES: *Always follow these guidelines when using the scale dolly to take off. 1. Ensure that the CG is in the correct location before you attach the dolly. The correct CG is critical for a smooth take-off run. Too far forwards and the Me-163 will bounce hard along the grass before jumping into the air. Too far back and it will rotate off the ground too soon. 2.
ROCKET MOTOR USE: Your Durafly Me-163 can supports the use of a standard ‘18mm class’ model rocket engine if you wish. Sufficient space at the rear fuselage allows for both the mounting of the engine and the running of the switch wires internally beneath it. To prevent damage to the model, use only ‘capped’ type ‘single stage’ rocket engines and an RC switch that is rated to the required amount of voltage/ampage needed to ignite the fuse. R/C switches are available from hobbyking.
Me-163 GENERAL TIPS: * Correct CG is essential for a smooth take-off when using the dolly. If the CG is too far forwards, the Me-163 will bounce up and down before leaping into the air. If the CG is too far back, it will jump up into the air too soon. So please check! * Make sure you have read the ‘dolly take-off’ and ‘Hand Launching’ guidelines given on the previous pages of this manual. * For optimum flight performance and model longevity, it is highly recommend that you always fly with a balanced prop.
SPARE PARTS LISTING: Fuselage 9306000110-0 Plastic Cowl 9306000113-0 Sticker Set 9306000116-0 2200Kv Motor 9306000186-0 Canopy Wing set 9306000111-0 9306000112-0 Dolly/Undercarriage Spinner 9306000114-0 Vertical Tail 9306000115-0 Control Accessories 9306000185-0 9306000117-0 6x4 Props 9306000187-0 Scale Aerial/Wing tube 9306000184-0 OPTIONAL PARTS: Durafly ESC programing card 9164000024-0 Turnigy Receiver Controlled Switch 9107000266-0 18
TROUBLE SHOOTING: Problem Motor does not turn Model moves backwards Cause Solution 1. Battery is not fully charged. 2. Transmitter battery low. 1.Charge the batteries. 3. Motors not connected. 3. Check for connection between the ESC and motor. 4. The motor is damaged. 4. Replace motor. 5. Reciever is not bound to Tx. 5. Consult Radio manual and go through bind procedure again. 6. ESC in set-up mode. 6. Hold model and move throttle to full postion then back down to idle. 1.
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