Aeronca Champ 15e ARF Assembly Manual
Notice Table of Contents Notice.................................................................... 2 Meaning of Special Language.................................. 2 Introduction............................................................ 2 Important Information Regarding Warranty Information......................................... 2 Specifications.......................................................... 2 Using the Manual....................................................
Using the Manual Recommended Radio Equipment This manual is divided into sections to help make assembly easier to understand, and to provide breaks between each major section. In addition, check boxes have been placed next to each step to keep track of its completion. Steps with a single circle () are performed once, while steps with two circles ( ) indicate the step will require repeating, such as for a right or left wing panel, two servos, etc.
Flight Safety Precautions Fly only in open areas to ensure safety. It is recommended flying be done at AMA (Academy of Model Aeronautics) approved flying sites. Consult local laws and ordinances before choosing a location to fly your aircraft. Propeller • Check all control surfaces prior to each takeoff. • o not fly your model near spectators, parking areas D or any other area that could result in injury to people or damage of property. • o not fly during adverse weather conditions.
2. Connect a 6-inch (152mm) servo extension to 4. Use a pencil and ruler to mark the center of the the servo lead. Use scissors to cut a 3-inch (76mm) opening in the servo cover for the servo output shaft. piece of string. Use the string to secure the extension to the servo. If you are using a computer radio, select an unused model memory to begin the setup of your model. It is highly recommended to reset the model memory to make sure the programming is set to the default settings.
7. Position the servo on the cover, using the lines drawn in Step 5. Adjust the position of the servo so the servo horn is positioned center in the opening as shown. 8. Use a pencil to mark the position of the servo next to the brass eyelets. Make sure not to move the servo when marking the servo cover. 6 9. Position the block on the cover near the rear of the cover. It will be necessary to notch the block to fit over the tab that secures the rear of the cover.
13. Position the servo between the servo mounting blocks. Use a pencil to mark the block against the servo lead so it can be trimmed to provide clearance for the servo lead. 14. Use a razor saw and sanding block to trim the servo mounting block to allow clearance for the servo lead. E-flite Aeronca Champ 15e ARF Assembly Manual 15. Apply thin CA to the top of each servo 17. Use a pin vise and 1/16-inch (1.5mm) drill bit mounting block.
19. Use a #1 Phillips screwdriver and the screws provided with the servo to secure it to the servo mounting blocks. Use side cutters to remove the unused arm from the servo horn so it does not interfere with the operation of the servo. 20. Use a pin vise and 5/64-inch (2mm) drill bit to enlarge the hole on the servo horn that is 11/16inch (17.5mm) from the center of the servo horn. 21. Tie the end of the string in the servo opening to the end of the servo extension. 21.
24. Slide a silicone clevis retainer over a nylon clevis. Remove the tape holding the aileron centered to the wing. This is clear tape from the factory so it might be difficult to see. Connect the aileron servo to the receiver and use the radio system to keep the aileron servo centered. Thread the clevis on the pushrod wire and connect the clevis to the aileron control horn. Adjust the clevis so the aileron is aligned with the wing while the aileron servo is centered.
4. Attach the landing gear strut to the side landing 5. Secure the strut leg from the landing gear to the gear mount using two 2mm x 12mm machine bottom landing gear mount using a 2mm x 12mm screws and two 2mm locknuts. Make sure to place machine screw, two 2mm washers and a 2mm a 2mm washer on the screw, one under the head of locknut. Use hemostats to hold the locknut while the screw and one between the mount and locknut. tightening the screw using a #1 Phillips screwdriver.
Motor and Speed Control Installation 9. Place the hub cap back in position to complete the wheel installation. Required Parts Fuselage assembly Cowling Propeller Motor battery (charged) Speed control Hook and loop tape Transmitter Receiver #4 washer (4) Motor with accessories 4-40 x 1/2-inch socket head screw (4) 2mm x 8mm sheet metal screw (4) 2. Attach the motor to the firewall using four 4-40 x 1/2-inch socket head screws and four #4 washers. Use a 3/32-inch hex wrench to tighten the screws.
4. Connect the leads from the motor to the motor leads on the speed control. 6. Insert the speed control into the opening in the front of the fuselage. Use the hook and loop tape to secure the speed control inside the fuselage. 9. Slide the cowl in position on the front of the fuselage. Make sure the card stock is on the outside of the cowl. 7. Using the motor battery, receiver and transmitter, check the operation of the motor.
11. Use a pin vise and 1/16-inch (1.5mm) drill bit to drill the four holes for the cowl mounting screws. Use the card stock in locating these screws. 12. Remove the propeller adapter, cowling, card stock and tape from the fuselage. Apply 2–3 drops of thin CA in each of the holes drilled to harden the surrounding wood. This will help prevent the screws from vibrating loose in flight. Always balance your propeller.
Rudder and Elevator Installation 4. Slide the stabilizer tight against the fuselage. Required Parts Fuselage assembly Rudder Stabilizer/elevator assembly (2) CA hinge (3) Required Tools and Adhesives Square Ruler or straightedge 12-minute epoxy Mixing cup Mixing stick T-pins Rubbing alcohol Paper towels Toothpicks Low-tack tape Thin CA 1. Gently pull on the stabilizer and elevator to check that the hinges are glued securely.
6. Use a straight edge to check that the hinge lines between the right and left stabilizer are aligned with each other. You won’t be able to fit the straight edge right to the hinge line, but you can measure from the hinge line to the straight edge for alignment. 8. The final alignment check is to make sure the stabilizers are perpendicular to the fin. Use a square to check this on both the right and left stabilizer halves.
90 Degrees 11. Place the hinges in the slots in the fin. The hinge that does not have a T-pin is located at the top of the fin as it will only slide in partially due to the hardwood block installed in the fin for the tail rigging. 12. Position the rudder on the fuselage and fin. Remove the T-pins from the hinges. There should be no gap between the rudder and fin along the hinge line. 90 Degrees 10. Locate the CA hinges. Place a T-pin in the center of two of the hinges.
15. Gently pull on the fin and rudder to check that the hinges are glued securely. If you find any loose hinges, apply thin CA to the hinge to secure its location. Rudder and Elevator Servo Installation Required Parts Fuselage assembly Transmitter Receiver Receiver battery Nylon clevis (3) Servo with hardware (2) Elevator pushrod, dual soldered, 19-inch (482mm) Rudder pushrod, 197/8-inch (505mm) Silicone clevis retainer (3) 2mm x 8mm machine screw (6) Control horn with backplate (3) 2.
3. Repeat Step 2 to install control horns on the 4. Slide the 197/8-inch (505mm) rudder pushrod 5. Slide a silicone clevis retainer over a nylon clevis. rudder and remaining elevator. Note that the rudder into the guide tube in the fuselage. You may need to Thread the clevis 10-turns on the end of the rudder control horn is on the left side of the fuselage as if assist it exiting the rear of the fuselage so it doesn’t pushrod.
7. Locate the standard servo horn included with your servo. Use a pin vise and 5/64-inch (2mm) drill bit to enlarge the hole in the servo arm that is 3/8-inch (9.5mm) from the center of the horn. Use side cutters to remove any unused arm from the horn so they don’t interfere with the operation of the servo. 10. Slide the rudder servo into position. The rudder pushrod will align with the hole in the servo horn enlarged in Step 6.
12. Apply 2–3 drop of thin CA in each of the holes to harden the surrounding wood. This will help in preventing the screws from vibrating loose. 14. Disconnect the clevis at the rudder control horn. Insert the bend in the rudder pushrod in the hole enlarged in Step 6 for the servo horn. With the rudder servo centered, attach the servo horn on the servo so it is perpendicular to the servo centerline. Install the screw securing the horn to the servo using a #1 Phillips screwdriver. 13.
Tail Wheel Installation Required Parts Fuselage assembly Tail wheel assembly 2mm nut 2mm x 8mm machine screw 2mm x 8mm sheet metal screw (2) Rudder steering bracket (2) Tail wheel spring (2) Required Tools and Adhesives Side cutter Threadlock Nut driver: 4mm Needle nose pliers Ruler Phillips screwdriver: #1 Make sure to use threadlock on all metal-tometal fasteners so they don’t vibrate loose. 1. Attach the two rudder steering brackets to the rudder using a 2mm x 8mm machine screw and 2mm nut.
4. Make a second loop in the spring using pliers. The overall length of the spring will be 1-inch (25mm) as shown. Use side cutters to trim any excess wire. Receiver Installation Required Parts Fuselage assembly Hook and loop tape Receiver Servo extension, 9-inch (228mm) Servo extension, 12-inch (305mm) Y-harness (optional if not using a computer radio) Required Tools and Adhesives Scissors Medium CA Hemostat 2.
2. Use hemostats to retrieve the leads for the aileron servos and bring them up along side the rudder servo. Plug the 12-inch (305mm) extension into the aileron channel, the 9-inch (228mm) extension into the flap channel, and rudder, elevator and speed control into the correct ports of the receiver. Note: Use a Y-harness for both aileron leads when using a non-computer radio without the capability of individual aileron channels. Plug the Y-harness into the aileron port of the radio. 3.
Window Installation 2. Repeat Step 1 to secure the side windows in the fuselage. 3. (Optional) If you are installing the optional pilot, use medium CA to assemble the pilot. 5. (Optional) Use canopy to glue the pilot to the cockpit floor. Form a small fillet between the pilot and cockpit floor to secure the pilot. Allow the glue to cure before proceeding. 6. Test fit the front windscreen into position.
Wing Installation Required Parts Fuselage assembly Wing strut (2) 2mm locknut (4) Wing strut support fitting (4) Wing panel assembly (right and left)) Aluminum wing tube 2mm x 5mm machine screw (4) 2mm x 8mm sheet metal screw (4) 2.6mm x 10mm sheet metal screw (2) Wing strut support, long (right and left)) Wing strut support, short (2) Wing strut support cross brace (2) Wing strut nylon fitting (4) 2. Slide a wing panel on the wing tube on the side without the tape.
6. Locate the long wing strut supports. Note that there is a right and left support, which are differentiated by the angled cut near the L-bend in the wire. Make sure to install these in the correct wing panel. Note that left and right are viewed as if sitting in the pilot seat. 9. Install the two wing strut support fittings in the struts using two 2mm locknuts. Use pliers to hold the fitting and a 4mm nut driver to hold the nut.
11. Thread the nylon strut fittings on the threaded rods of the wing struts. 13. Position the nylon strut fittings and check that they fall naturally over the holes in the wing. If not, readjust the fittings so they do. Use two 2mm x 8mm sheet metal screws and a #1 Phillips screwdriver to secure the strut fittings to the wing. 12. Remove the hardware from the rear landing gear strut mount. Use care not to lose the washer or nut when removing the hardware.
Tail Rigging Installation Required Parts Airframe Rigging line Rigging fittings (8) 2mm nut (3) 2mm x 6mm sheet metal screw (2) 2mm x 8mm machine screw (3) Required Tools and Adhesives Hemostat or tweezer Needle nose pliers Square Thin CA Phillips screwdriver: #1 Nut driver: 4mm Ruler Scissors CAUTION: The tail bracing is functional and must be used for proper support. 1. Locate the eight rigging fittings. Using needle nose pliers, make a slight bend (about 30 degrees) in each of the fittings as shown.
4. Install the last two fittings on the bottom of the fuselage using 2mm x 6mm sheet metal screws. Make sure the fittings are directed toward the fittings on the bottom of the stabilizer. Use a #1 Phillips screwdriver to tighten the screws. Do not fully tighten the screws fully at this time. 5. Tie the rigging line to the fitting on the fin. We recommend using tweezers or hemostats to hold onto the line while tying the knot. Once tied, place a drop of thin CA on the knot to keep it from coming loose.
Battery Installation and Center of Gravity 3. Replace the battery hatch on the fuselage. Required Parts Airframe assembly Hook and loop tape Motor battery (charged) Battery/radio cover 5. When balancing your model, support the plane upright at the marks made on the bottom of the wing with your fingers or a commercially available balancing stand. This is the correct balance point for your model. Make sure your model is assembled and ready for flight before balancing.
Control Throws 1. Turn on the transmitter and receiver of your model. Check the movement of the rudder using the transmitter. When the stick is moved right, the rudder should also move right. Reverse the direction of the servo at the transmitter if necessary. 2. Check the movement of the elevator with the radio system. Moving the elevator stick toward the bottom of the transmitter makes the airplane elevator move up. 3. Check the movement of the ailerons with the radio system.
Flying Your Aeronca Champ 15e ARF Flying the Aeronca Champ 15e is a bunch of fun and will be enjoyable for all skill levels. A very light wing loading and mild control throws make for some enjoyable evening flying. Verify that your CG is at the correct location as per the manual and that you have your rates set up to your liking. Verify all control throws are in the correct direction and the motor spins in the correct direction also.
Warranty and Repair Policy Warranty Period Exclusive Warranty- Horizon Hobby, Inc., (Horizon) warranties that the Products purchased (the “Product”) will be free from defects in materials and workmanship at the date of purchase by the Purchaser. Limited Warranty Horizon reserves the right to change or modify this warranty without notice and disclaims all other warranties, express or implied. (a) This warranty is limited to the original Purchaser (“Purchaser”) and is not transferable.
Warranty Inspection and Repairs Horizon Hobby Limited Units 1-4 Ployters Rd Staple Tye Harlow, Essex CM18 7NS United Kingdom sales@horizonhobby.co.uk +44 (0) 1279 641 097 To receive warranty service, you must include your original sales receipt verifying the proof-of-purchase date. Provided warranty conditions have been met, your Product will be repaired or replaced free of charge. Repair or replacement decisions are at the sole discretion of Horizon.
8. 9. I will not operate model aircraft carrying pyrotechnic devices which explode burn, or propel a projectile of any kind. Exceptions include Free Flight fuses or devices that burn producing smoke and are securely attached to the model aircraft during flight. Rocket motors up to a G-series size may be used, provided they remain firmly attached to the model aircraft during flight.
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