WWW.SEAGULLMODELS.COM A S S E M B LY M A N UA L “ Graphics and specifications may change without notice “ . Code: SEA249 (SEA249M) Specifications: Wingspan---------------70.9 in (180 cm). Wing area---------------992 sq.in (64 sq.dm). Weight-------------------11 lbs (5.0 kg). Length-------------------58 in (147.3 cm). Gas Engine--------------20cc Glow Engine------------.91 cu.in Electric Motor----------1500-2000 watt ( Power 60-110) Radio--------------------6 channels with 8 servos.
Instruction Manual. Van’s RV- 8 INTRODUCTION. Thank you for choosing the VAN’S RV- 8 ARTF by SEAGULL MODELS COMPANY LTD,. The VAN’S RV- 8 was designed with the intermediate/advanced sport flyer in mind. It is a semi scale airplane which is easy to fly and quick to assemble. The airframe is conventionally built using balsa, plywood to make it stronger than the average ARTF, yet the design allows the aeroplane to be kept light. You will find that most of the work has been done for you already.
WWW.SEAGULLMODELS.COM KIT CONTENTS. SEA249 VAN’S RV- 8 SEA24901 Fuselage SEA24902 Wing set SEA24903 Tail set SEA24904 Canopy SEA24905 Cowling SEA24906 Pilot SEA24907 Aluminum wing tube HINGING THE FLAP. Note : The control surfaces, including the ailerons, elevators, and rudder, are prehinged with hinges installed, but the hinges are not glued in place. It is imperative that you properly adhere the hinges in place per the steps that follow using a high-quality thin C/A glue.
Instruction Manual. Van’s RV- 8 4) Deflect the aileron and completely saturate each hinge with thin C/A glue. The ailerons front surface should lightly contact the wing during this procedure. Ideally, when the hinges are glued in place, a 1/64” gap or less will be maintained throughout the lengh of the aileron to the wing panel hinge line. 8) After both ailerons are securely hinged, firmly grasp the wing panel and aileron to make sure the hinges are securely glued and cannot be pulled out.
WWW.SEAGULLMODELS.COM 5) Turn the wing panel over and deflect the aileron in the opposite direction from the opposite side. Apply thin C/A glue to each hinge, making sure that the C/A penetrates into both the aileron and wing panel. Hinge. 3) Slide the wing panel on the aileron until there is only a slight gap. The hinge is now centered on the wing panel and aileron. Remove the T-pins and snug the aileron against the wing panel.
Instruction Manual. Van’s RV- 8 HINGING THE RUDDER. INSTALL FLAP CONTROL HORN. Glue the rudder hinges in place using the same techniques used to hinge the ailerons. Install the flap control horn using the same method as same as the aileron control horns. Fiberglass control horn. INSTALL THE AILERONS CONTROL HORN. Epoxy. INSTALL ELEVATOR CONTROL HORN. Fiberglass control horn Epoxy. Fiberglass control horn. Aileron control horn. Epoxy. 6 Epoxy.
WWW.SEAGULLMODELS.COM INSTALLING THE FUSELAGE SERVOS. Epoxy. Because the size of servos differ, you may need to adjust the size of the precut . opening in the mount. The notch in the sides of the mount allow the servo lead to pass through. Elevator fiberglass control horn. 1) Install the rubber grommets and brass collets onto the throttle servo. Test fit the servo into the aileron servo mount. INSTALL RUDDER CONTROL HORN. 2) Secure the servos with the screws provided with your radio system.
Instruction Manual. Van’s RV- 8 INSTALLING THE RECEIVER SWITCH. Install the switch into the precut hole in the side, in the fuselage. 3/32” Hole. Switch. INSTALLING THE STOPPER ASSEMBLY. 1) Using a modeling knife, carefully cut off the rear portion of one of the 3 nylon tubes leaving 1/2” protruding from the rear of the stopper. This will be the fuel pick up tube. Trim and cut. 2) Using a modeling knife, cut one length of silicon fuel line.
WWW.SEAGULLMODELS.COM 7) Slide the fuel tank into the fuselage. Guide the lines from the tank through the hole in the firewall. 8) Use plywood template to hold in place the fuel tank with C/A glue to secure the fuel tank inside the fuselage. Vent tube. Fuel pick up tube. A Fuel fill tube. 3) Carefully bend the second nylon tube up at a 45º angle. This tube is the vent tube. C/A glue. 4) Test fit the stopper assembly into the tank.
Instruction Manual. Van’s RV- 8 MOUNTING THE ENGINE - 20CC GAS. 1) Position the engine with the drive washer (145mm) forward of the firewall as shown. Blow through one of the lines to ensure the fuel lines have not become kinked inside the fuel tank compartment. Air should flow through easily. 145mm ENGINE MOUNT INSTALLATION. 1) Locate the items necessary to install the engine mount included with your model.
WWW.SEAGULLMODELS.COM 4) On the fire wall has the location for the throttle pusshrod tube (pre-drill). 5) Slide the pushrod tube in the firewall and guide it through the fuel tank mount. Use medium C/A to glue the tube to the firewall and the fuel tank mount. 6) Connect the Z-bend in the 450mm throttle pushrod to the outer hole of the carburetor arm. 7) Slide the throttle pushrod wire into the tube. Position the engine between the mounts.
Instruction Manual. Van’s RV- 8 COWLING. Please see these below pictures. Because of the size of the cowl, it may be necessary to use a needle valve extension for the high speed needle valve. Make this out of sufficient length 1.5mm wire and install it into the end of the needle valve. Secure the wire in place by tightening the set screw in the side of the needle valve. 1) Carefully align the cowling on the airplane.
WWW.SEAGULLMODELS.COM 5) Slide the pushrod tube in the firewall and guide it through the fuel tank mount. Use medium C/A to glue the tube to the firewall and the fuel tank mount. 6) Connect the Z-bend in the 450mm throttle pushrod to the outer hole of the carburetor arm. 7) Slide the throttle pushrod wire into the tube. Position the engine between the mounts. Use four M4x30mm machine screws to secure the engine to the mount as shown. 3x10mm MOUNTING THE ENGINE - 2 stroke.
Instruction Manual. Van’s RV- 8 Pushrod wire. COWLING. 1) Please see below pictures. Because of the size of the cowl, it may be necessary to use a needle valve extension for the high speed needle valve. Make this out of sufficient length 1.5mm wire and install it into the end of the needle valve. Secure the wire in place by tightening the set screw in the side of the needle valve. 2) Carefully align the cowling on the airplane.
WWW.SEAGULLMODELS.COM Needle valve. 3x10mm 3) Slide the cowl in position on the fuselage. Use M3x10mm screws to secure the cowling to the fuselage. 2) Note that there is no factory-made battery hatch in the RV-8 fuselage. If you use electric power you must design your own method to put the battery in and out. The easiest method is to install the battery from the front, at the bottom of the cowling. Make an opening in the plywood firewall right below the motor mounting box.
Instruction Manual. Van’s RV- 8 . Blind nut. M4x20mm 4) Attach the motor to the front of the electric motor box using four 4mm blind nut, four M3x12mm hex head bolts to secure the motor. Please see picture shown. 5) Attach the motor to the front of the electric motor box using four 4mm blind nut, four M3x12mm hex head bolts to secure the motor. Please see picture shown. M3x12mm Epoxy 145 mm 4 mm . Balsa stick.
WWW.SEAGULLMODELS.COM 6) Attach the speed control to the side of the motor box using two-sided tape and tie wraps. Connect the appropriate leads from the speed control to the motor. Make sure the leads will not interfere with the operation of the motor. Battery. The propeller should not touch any part of the spinner cone. If it does, use a sharp modeling knife and carefully trim away the spinner cone where the propeller comes in contact with it. INSTALLING THE AILERON SERVOS. Speed control Servos .
Instruction Manual. Van’s RV- 8 1) Using a small weight (Weighted fuel pick-up works well) and string, feed the string through the wing as indicated. 5) Use dental floss to secure the connection so they cannot become unplugged. 2) Place the servo between the mounting blocks and space it from the hatch. Use a pencil to mark the mounting hole locations on the blocks. 6) Secure the servo to the aileron hatch using Phillips screwdriver and the screws provided with the servo.
WWW.SEAGULLMODELS.COM 9) Set the aileron hatch in place and use a Phillips screw driver to install it with four wood screws. 2x10mm INSTALLING THE AILERON SERVO. Repeat the procedure for the aileron servo. INSTALLING THE FLAP SERVO. Repeat the procedure for the aileron servo. .
Instruction Manual. Van’s RV- 8 INSTALLING THE LIGHT COVER. Please see below pictures. Epoxy. AILERON PU SHROD HORN INSTALLATION. Please see below pictures. Cut. . Use a felt tip pen to mark the wire where it crosses the hole. Use a pair of pliers to put a shrp 90-degree bend in the wire at the mark. Mark.
WWW.SEAGULLMODELS.COM INSTALLING THE MAIN LANDING GEAR TO FUSELAGE. M2 lock nut. 8mm Snap keeper. Metal clevis. Servo arm. Snap keeper. 1) The blind nuts for securing the landing gear are already mounted inside the fuselage. Nylon Snap keeper. Hex Nut. Fuel tubing. INSTALLING THE FLAP PUSHROD. Repeat the procedure for the aileron pushrod. 2) Using the hardware provided, mount the main landing gear to the fuselage. 3) Place the fuselage inverted on the workbench in a suitable stand.
Instruction Manual. Van’s RV- 8 Wheel collar. Washer. Axle. M3 Wheel. M4x20mm Wheel. Washer. WHEELS AND WHEEL PANTS. 1) Locate the items neccessary to install 2) Follow diagram below for wheel pant installation: Use a drill and 8mm drill bit to drill a hole in the wheel pants. nut.-Wheel Pant. C/A glue. M3 Wheel collar. Axle. M3. Lite-Plywood block. Drill a hole. 8mm . 14mm 3) Trim each axle to correct length, using a rotary tool with an abrasive cut-off wheel.
WWW.SEAGULLMODELS.COM 2) Slide the vertical stabilizer back inplace. Using a triangle, check to ensure that the vertical stabilizer is aligned 90º to the horizontal stabilizer. Horizontal Stabilizer. 90º Vertical Stabilizer. Repeat steps to install remaining wheel pants to the landing gear. INSTALLING VERTICAL STABILIZER 1) Using a modeling knife, remove the covering from over the precut hinge slot cut into the lower rear portion of the fuselage.
Instruction Manual. Van’s RV- 8 Fill epoxy. Fill epoxy. Epoxy M3x15mm INSTALLING THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER. Epoxy glue a control horn in the slot in bottom of each elevator. RUDDER PUSHROD INSTALLATION. 1) Locate items necessary to install rudder pushrod. Install the fiberglass rudder control horn in the same manner as the ailerons. M2 clevis. 24 M2 lock nut. Cut.
WWW.SEAGULLMODELS.COM Elevator control horn. Rudder servo. Rudder control horn. INSTALL DUAL ELEVATOR PUSHRODS. 1) Locate items necessary to install rudder pushrod. Install the fiberglass elevator control horn in the same manner as the ailerons. Rudder pushrod. M2 clevis. Cut. M2 lock nut. Elevator control horn. Elevator pushrod. M2 clevis. 8mm . Fuel tubing. Hex nut.
Instruction Manual. Van’s RV- 8 3x25mm. Aluminum tail landing gear. 3x20mm. Elevator servo. Elevator servo. TAILWHEEL INSTALLATION. Locate items necessaryto install tailwheel. 26 .
WWW.SEAGULLMODELS.COM INSTALLATION PILOT AND CANOPY. 1) . Locate items necessary to install pilot, seats. Epoxy. 150mm 2) A scale pilot is included with this ARF. The Seagull Pilot included fitting well to the cockpit. (or you can order others scale pilot figures made by Seagull factory. They are available at Seagull distributors.) 4) Position the canopy onto the fuselage. Trace around the canopy and onto the fu¬selage using a felt-tipped pen.
Instruction Manual. Van’s RV- 8 For the larger decals we recommend a “wet” application method - 1) Peel the paper backing sheet off the decal.; 2) Use a soapy water product (like window cleaner) to spray the adhesive side of the decal. Also spray the area of the model where the decal goes.; 3) Lightly place the decal onto the wet surface of the model. The liquid cleaner will keep the decal from sticking to the model, to give you time to shift it around into exact position.
WWW.SEAGULLMODELS.COM BALANCING. 1) It is critical that your airplane be balanced correctly. Improper balance will cause your plane to lose control and crash. THE CENTER OF GRAVITY IS LOCATED 88MM BACK FROM THE LEADING EDGE OF THE WING AT THE WING ROOT. 2) Mount the wing to the fuselage. Using a couple of pieces of masking tape, place them on the top side of the wing 88mm back from the leading edge of the wing at the wing root.
Van’s RV- 8 Instruction Manual. With the wing attached to the fuselage, all parts of the model installed ( ready to fly), and empty fuel tanks, hold the model at the marked balance point with the stabilizer level. Lift the model. If the tail drops when you lift, the model is “tail heavy” and you must add weight* to the nose. If the nose drops, it is “nose heavy” and you must add weight* to the tail to balance.
WWW.SEAGULLMODELS.COM FLIGHT PREPARATION. PREFLIGHT CHECK. Check the operation and direction of the elevator, rudder, ailerons and throttle. 1) Completely charge your transmitter and receiver batteries before your first day of flying. A) Plug in your radio system per the manufacturer’s instructions and turn everything on. 2) Check every bolt and every glue joint in the VAN’S RV-8 to ensure that everything is tight and well bonded. B) Check the elevator first. Pull back on the elevator stick.
