INSTRUCTION MANUAL Length: SPECIFICATIONS Wingspan: 72 in [1830mm] Weight: 12.75– 13.75 lb [5780– 6230 g] Wing Area: 1384 in2 [89.2 dm2] Wing Loading: 21– 23 oz/ft2 [64– 70 g /dm2] Radio: Engine: 56.5 in [1435mm] 4-Channel with 7 std servos .91 cu in [15cc] 2-stroke 1.20 cu in [20cc] 4-stroke 25-30cc gas WARRANTY Great Planes ® Model Manufacturing Co. guarantees this kit to be free from defects in both material and workmanship at the date of purchase.
TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 AMA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 SAFETY PRECAUTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 DECISIONS YOU MUST MAKE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Glow Engine Option & Required Parts. . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Gasoline Engine Option & Required Parts. . . . . . . . . .3 Radio System Recommendations . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4. You must use an R/C radio system that is in good condition, a correctly sized engine, and other components as specified in this instruction manual. All components must be correctly installed so that the model operates correctly on the ground and in the air. You must check the operation of the model and all components before every flight. Four-Stroke Option ❏ O.S. FS-120S-E Surpass™ Ringed 4-Stroke engine (OSMG0930) 5.
❏ 1 oz. [30g] Medium Pro™ CA+ (GPMR6008) ❏ 1 oz.
If additional assistance is required for any reason, contact Product Support by telephone at (217) 398-8970, or by e-mail at productsupport@greatplanes.com. ORDERING REPLACEMENT PARTS Replacement parts for the Waco YMF-5 ARF are available using the order numbers in the Replacement Parts List that follows. The fastest, most economical service can be provided by your hobby dealer or mail-order company. REPLACEMENT PARTS LIST Order No.
PREPARE FOR ASSEMBLY ❏ 2. Use a 5/64" [2mm] drill bit to drill the outermost servo arm hole on all four aileron servos. Before you begin assembling your model, use a covering iron set to a medium temperature (about 250° F [121° C]) to tack down any loose or wrinkled covering. Securely tack down the edges of trim and where seams are present and around the aileron servo hatch covers. We recommend using a Coverite™ (COVR2700) covering iron with a sock (COVR2702).
screw holes with thin CA. Let the CA cure and reinstall the screws. Remember that you are going to set up a left side servo and a right side servo. ❏ ❏ 6. Attach a 16" [405mm] servo lead extension to the ❏ ❏ 3. With the hardwood blocks attached and each servo arm still centered, position your servo on the aileron servo bay cover so that the servo arm is centered in the opening. Glue these in place and hold the blocks to the servo bay cover with two small clamps.
❏ ❏ 9. Using a 90° builder’s square or triangle, draw a 1/2" [12.7mm] long line on the aileron straight back from the servo arm. Take note of the hardwood block that is below the surface of the covering. You will drill into this block next. ❏ ❏ 13. Fit the clevis to the outer hole of the control horn. ❏ ❏ 10. ❏ ❏ 14. With the aileron servo and the aileron centered, mark the bend line at the outer hole in the servo arm. Bend the pushrod wire 90°.
cures. Use three rubber bands on the dowels to hold the L.E. together. Put two rubber bands on the top side of the wing and two on the bottom side with the bolts half way through the holes. ❏ 21. Use paper towels and some denatured alcohol to clean up any excess epoxy that is squeezed out of the joint. Allow the epoxy to fully cure. Top Wing Assembly ❏ 18. Identify the two 208mm x 15mm bottom wing L.E. joiners. One is made out of aluminum and one is wood. Identify the two 105mm x 12mm bottom wing T.E.
pushrod wire leaving 1/4" [6.4mm] of wire and fit the pushrod to the outer hole of the servo arm. Secure the pushrod at the servo arm with a nylon Faslink. Adjust the pushrod length at the clevis. Secure the clevis with the silicone retainer. 140° Top wing center section to cabane (x4) ❏ 4. Connect a 30" [760mm] servo lead extension to the right wing servo. Secure the connection with heat shrink tubing or tape. Route the servo lead through the wing and install the servo bay cover using four #2 x 3/8" [9.
❏ 11. Two joiners are needed to join the top left wing to the center wing section and two joiners are needed to join the right wing to the center section. Scuff and clean the aluminum joiner the same as was done for the bottom wing. Mix up a batch of 30-minute epoxy and glue each 235mm x 15mm aluminum L.E. joiner to a matching ply joiner. Be careful when matching the dihedral angle of the joiners when you’re gluing them together because the angle is very shallow.
inside. With the fairings up against the fuselage, wrap some 1/8" EZ-Mask tape (GPMR1000) or a narrow strip of regular masking tape about 1/16" [1.6mm] above the bottom edge of each fairing. ASSEMBLE THE FUSELAGE Main Landing Gear Installation 4. Remove one gear fairing at a time and apply a 3/16" ❏ 1. Install the main landing gear onto the fuselage using five ❏ [4.8mm] bead of R/C-56 canopy glue around the base of 6-32 x 3/4" [19.1mm] SHCS, five #6 split lock washers, and five #6 flat washers.
Cabane Strut Installation ❏ 7. File a 1/4" [6.4mm] wide flat spot at a distance 3/16" [4.8mm] from the base of the axle. File another one that is 1-9/16" [40mm] from the base of the axle. ❏ 8. Install a 3-1/2" [89mm] wheel onto each axle using two 3/16" [4.8mm] wheel collars with two 6-32 x 1/4" [6.4mm] SHCS. Apply a drop of blue thread locking compound to the locking screw threads to prevent the screws from backing out. ❏ 1. Identify the eleven wood pieces that make up the carrying handle.
Horizontal Stabilizer, Tailwheel and Rudder Installation ❏ 1. Once again, you’ll need to have your epoxy supplies nearby and ready. Set the model down on its wheels. Fit the short 165mm x 10mm aluminum tube into the L.E. hole in the fuselage and the long 270mm x 10mm tube into the T.E. hole. ❏ 3. Identify the cabane bracket set for the fuselage. These four brackets are bent at 115° (the second flattest bend). Bolt these brackets to the fuselage using four 4-40 x 3/4" [19.
❏ 4. Remove the two 3mm wheel collars and the tailwheel from the tailwheel assembly. Grind two 1/8" [3.2mm] flat spots on the axle so that one is centered 1/8" [3.2mm] from the support arm and one is centered 7/8" [22.2mm] from the support arm. ❏ 5. Reinstall the wheel and the wheel collars. Apply one drop of thread locking compound to the locking screw threads and tighten the locking screws against the flat spots you created on the axle. ❏ 7.
Pushrod, Control Horn and Servo Installation ❏ 1. Turn the model over. Slide two 36" [914mm] pushrods into the left and right elevator pushrod guide tubes so that the unthreaded end goes to the servo tray inside of the fuse. ❏ 8. Remove the tailwheel assembly and add a few drops of lightweight machine oil to each hinge bushing. Clean the surface of the hinge straps with some alcohol. ❏ 2. Using the pushrods as a guide, mark the elevators where you will install the control horns.
❏ 5. Install a nylon clevis and a silicone retainer on each elevator pushrod. Be sure to screw the pushrod into the clevis far enough so that at least 1/8" [3.2mm] of the threaded end extends into the clevis barrel. If you removed the pushrods, slide them back into the pushrod guide tubes. Fit the clevises to the outer hole of the elevator horns. Slide the silicone retainer into position. ❏ 8.
❏ 11. Fit two 3/16" [4.8mm] wheel collars onto the elevator pushrod wires. Use a drop of thread locking compound on the screw threads and fit two 6-32 x 1/4" SHCS. With both elevators centered, tighten the collar locking screws to hold the two wires together securely. ❏ 15. Mark the rudder pushrod at the servo arm hole and make a 90° bend. Drill a 5/64" [2mm] hole. Install the pushrod on the servo arm and secure it with a nylon Faslink. Cut off the excess pushrod wire. Install the servo arm screw. ❏ 16.
❏ 2. Install the four 8-32 blind nuts on the firewall from the back side. Use four 8-32 x 1" [25.4mm] SHCS with four #8 flat washers to help draw the blind nuts into the holes. ❏ 6. Remove the engine from the mount. Remove the mounts from the model. Drill and tap the holes for 8-32 bolts using a tap and drill set (GPMR8103). ❏ 7. Mix up some 30-minute epoxy and thin it down with a little denatured alcohol. Glue the ply spacers together and coat them with epoxy to fuelproof them. ❏ 3.
❏ 3. Fit a screw-lock pushrod connector to the outermost hole on short servo arm. Choose the arm that is 90° to the servo case at 1/2 throttle. Clip off the unused servo arms. Use a nylon retainer to secure the pushrod connector to the servo arm. Place a drop of thread locking compound on the screw threads and fit a 4-40 x 1/8" [3.2mm] SHCS. Fit the servo arm onto the servo. Install the throttle servo in the servo tray so that the end of the servo arm is in line with the pushrod tube. ❏ 6.
Install the Fuel Tank ❏ 1. Cut two pieces of glow fuel line and attach to clunks. Make sure the fuel line isn’t so long that gets caught on the back of the tank. Build up the fuel tank as shown with the vent line pointing to the top of the tank. You may want to use a felt tip pen to mark which direction the vent line is pointed so that you know where the top of the tank is when you’re installing the tank. ❏ 3.
GASOLINE ENGINE INSTALLATION This section will cover the installation of a DL Engines DLE30cc gasoline engine. Other similarly sized gas engines can be used, but be careful to space the ignition equipment as far away as possible from the radio equipment. If you are installing a different engine, please respect the firewall to prop washer dimension of 6-11/16" [170mm]. Plywood spacers are included for the DLE-30 engine. This engine is best mounted with the cylinder inverted.
Hook Up the Throttle ❏ 4. Position the inside end of the pushrod tube about 4" [102mm] from the servo. Cut the pushrod tube 3/8" [9.5mm] forward of the firewall. Fit the wooden pushrod tube standoff inside the fuselage at the former that lines up with the leading edge of the lower wing. Remove the pushrod tube and sand the outside of the tube at the place that you marked and at the firewall end of the tube. ❏ 1. Using a long drill bit, drill a 3/16" [4.
Secure the lines and the clunks with four small 4" [102mm] tie wraps. Build up the fuel tank as shown with the vent line pointing to the top of the tank. You may want to use a felt tip pen to mark which direction the vent line is pointed so that you know where the top of the tank is when you’re installing the tank. ❏ 8. Dry fit the wooden pushrod tube standoff to the gray pushrod tube. With the throttle on the engine closed, set the servo to the idle cutoff position.
Install the Ignition Unit ❏ 1. Build the ignition unit and battery tray using a small builder’s square or triangle to set the upright pieces 90° to the base. Use 5-minute epoxy to assemble the tray. Fuelproof the tray with a mixture of epoxy and denatured alcohol. ❏ 6. Fit fuel lines to the tank and route the lines through the hole in the firewall as you fit the tank. Be careful to make sure that the vent line is pointed toward the top of the model.
❏ 4. Mix up a small batch of 5-minute epoxy and coat the ignition tray tabs and the corresponding slots at the top of the firewall. Install the tray. Use the two triangle stock pieces to help secure the tray. Glue the triangle stock to the outside of the tray between the tray and the firewall. ❏ 7. Connect the remaining wires for the ignition unit. Secure each connection with heat shrink tubing. Bundle the wires together and secure them using small tie wraps.
and charge lead in the front or rear cockpit floor. Be careful to choose a place where the switch will not interfere with the servos or pushrods underneath. Note: If you will be installing a pilot figure, temporarily fit the pilot figure to the cockpit so that you know where to position the switch and charge jack. ❏ 6. ❏ 3. Glue the switch mounting plate to the back side of the cockpit floor and install the switch and charge jack. ❏ 4. Install a 21" [533mm] Y-harness (HCAM2500) for the top wing ailerons.
Cowl and Propeller Installation The cowl installation shown here is for the DLE-30 gas engine. Other installations are similar. away the standard attachment point and use the alternate point. A typical glow engine installation should not require trimming of the cowl rings. Use a drop of thread locking compound on the screw threads. ❏ 4. Trim the cowl ring to match the mounting ring. ❏ 1. Connect the fuel lines to the engine. Connect an aluminum fuel line plug to the fill/drain line. Drill two 1/4" [6.
❏ 7. Remove the muffler. Fit the cowl centering tool to the engine as shown. Use four metric M4 x 20mm screws (not supplied) to hold the tool up against the drive washer of the engine. Note: The cowl will not sit flat against the cowl centering tool flange because of the right thrust in the engine, but you should push the cowl back until it is firmly seated on the flange of the tool. ❏ 9. Remove the cowl and finish cutting access for the head and the muffler.
fiberglass. Apply a continuous bead of this on the front side of the joint between the cowl and the ring. This will reinforce the cowl ring. Note: You may apply epoxy to the rear side of the cowl ring, but this must be a very thin layer without much of a fillet at the joint of the cowl to ring. Otherwise, this would interfere with the aft cowl ring. ❏ 14. Install the muffler and choke linkage (if applicable). Install the cowl and make any additional holes to access the needle valves.
Install the Wheel Pants and Fairings ❏ 4. Using R/C-56, glue the wing bolt backing plate to the wing. Then, install the bottom wing using the two nylon wing bolts. Hold the top of the fillets in place up against the fuselage with tape until the glue dries. ❏ 1. Install the left and right wheel pants using four 4-40x1/2" [12.7mm] SHCS, #4 lock washers, and four #4 flat washers. ❏ 5. Install the belly fairing to the bottom wing using R/C-56 canopy glue. Tape it in place while the glue dries. ❏ 2.
Cockpit Options Pilot Installation (Optional) ❏ 1. To install a pilot figure, please purchase a Great Planes 1/5th scale pilot (GPMQ9115). Trim 3/8" off of the base of the pilot figure so the figure measures 4" for the rear pilot and 3-1/2" for the front. Several options are available for you to finish your Waco YMF-5. The most commonly seen model was the doublecockpit, 3-passenger version. You can install the front windscreen and two more pilot figures in the front cockpit.
Finishing the Model ❏ 3. Install the two interplane struts using eight 4-40 x 1/2" [12.7mm] SHCS, eight #4 flat washers, and eight #4 lock nuts. Note: Be careful not to install the struts upside down. The bolt holes on bottom side of the struts are spread farther apart than the top (from front to back). You may have to loosen the screws attaching the brackets to the wings slightly to get everything to align properly, so be sure to retighten all of the screws when you’re finished. ❏ 1.
Apply the Decals Set the Control Throws ❏ 1. Use scissors or a sharp hobby knife to cut the decals from the sheet. ❏ 2. Be certain the model is clean and free from oily fingerprints and dust. Prepare a dishpan or small bucket with a mixture of liquid dish soap and warm water—about one teaspoon of soap per gallon of water. Submerse the decal in the soap and water and peel off the paper backing.
Balance the Model (C.G.) At this stage the model should be in ready-to-fly condition with all of the systems in place including the prop, cowl, and pilot figure(s). ❏ 2. With all parts of the model installed (ready to fly) and an empty fuel tank, put your fingers on the balance points you just marked and suspend the model from these points. ❏ 1. Use a felt-tip pen or 1/8" [3mm]-wide tape to accurately mark the C.G. on the bottom of the top wing on both sides of the fuselage. The C.G.
Ground Check and Range Check PREFLIGHT Run the engine for a few minutes to make sure it idles reliably, transitions smoothly and maintains full power continuously. Afterward, shut the engine off and inspect the model closely, making sure all fasteners, pushrods and connections have remained tight and the hinges are secure. Always ground check the operational range of your radio before the first flight of the day following the manufacturer's instructions that came with your radio.
AMA SAFETY CODE (EXCERPTS) CHECK LIST Read and abide by the following excerpts from the Academy of Model Aeronautics Safety Code. For the complete Safety Code refer to Model Aviation magazine, the AMA web site or the Code that came with your AMA license. During the last few moments of preparation your mind may be elsewhere anticipating the excitement of the first flight. Because of this, you may be more likely to overlook certain checks and procedures that should be performed before the model is flown.
❏ 21. Cycle your receiver battery pack (if necessary) and make sure it is fully charged. ❏ 22. Range-check your radio at the field at the start of each flying day. Check it with the engine operating. Remember to takeoff into the wind. When you’re ready, point the model straight down the runway, hold a bit of up elevator to keep the tail on the ground to maintain tail wheel steering, then gradually advance the throttle.
One final note about flying your model. Have a goal or flight plan in mind for every flight. This can be learning a new maneuver(s), improving a maneuver(s) you already know, or learning how the model behaves in certain conditions (such as on high or low rates). This is not necessarily to improve your skills (though it is never a bad idea!), but more importantly so you do not surprise yourself by impulsively attempting a maneuver and suddenly finding that you’ve run out of time, altitude, or airspeed.