Top Flite TOPA0951 - Manual (Page 2)

2
INTRODUCTION
Thank you for purchasing the Top Flite Gold Edition
1/8 th -scale F4-U Corsair .60 ARF. In spite of the apparent
complication of the gull-wing design and the scale
appearance, you’ll fi nd that the Corsair assembles
more quickly than expected. The fl aps and ailerons
are pre-hinged and the outer fl aps join to the inner
fl aps with convenient tabs. Detailed instructions and
illustrations of various motor installations will get you
into the air in little time. Finally, the Corsair’s light
weight and generous wing area just about make it a
trainer. But we won’t tell if you won’t tell, and all the
spectators will think you’re a pro!
For the latest technical updates or manual corrections
to this model visit the Top Flite web site at www.top-fl ite.
com. Open the
“GOLD EDITION ARFS” link on the
left side of the page and click on image of the Corsair
that appears. If there is new technical information or
changes, you’ll see an
“Important! TECH NOTICE”
box on the upper left corner of the page. Click on the
Tech Notice box to read the info.
SCALE COMPETITION
The scale of this model is 1/8 th (or 13% – 1/7.7 to be
precise). These fi gures were derived from comparing
the wingspan of this model to the wingspan of the full-
size. Though the Top Flite F4-U Corsair is an ARF and
may not have the same level of detail as an “all-out”
scratch-built competition model, it is a scale model
nonetheless and is therefore eligible to compete in the
Fun Scale class in AMA competition (we receive many
favorable reports of our ARFs in scale competition!). In
Fun Scale, the “builder of the model” rule does not apply.
To receive the fi ve points for scale documentation, the
only proof required that a full size aircraft of this type in
this paint/markings scheme did exist is a single sheet
such as a kit box cover from a plastic model, a photo,
or a profi le painting, etc. If a black-and-white photo is
used, other written documentation of color must be
provided. Contact the AMA for a rule book with full
details. See page 3 for the AMA contact information.
INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Scale Competition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
AMA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
DECISIONS YOU MUST MAKE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Engine Recommendations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Retractable Landing Gear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Radio
Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
ADDITIONAL ITEMS REQUIRED . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Hardware and Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Adhesives and Building Supplies . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Optional Supplies and Tools. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Covering Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
KIT INSPECTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
ORDERING REPLACEMENT PARTS . . . . . . . . . . 5
KIT CONTENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
PREPARATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Prepare the Covering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
ASSEMBLE THE WING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Install the Belly Pan & Air Intakes . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Hook Up the Flaps and Ailerons . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Join the Wing Panels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Install the Retractable Landing Gear . . . . . . . . . . 11
Mount the Fixed Landing Gear. . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
ASSEMBLE THE FUSELAGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Install the Rudder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Mount the Horizontal Stabilizer . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Install the Elevators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Install the Tail Gear Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Mount the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Install the Fuel Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Mount the Cowl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Install the Replica Engine. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Final Radio/Retract Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Install the Cockpit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Apply the Decals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
GET THE MODEL READY TO FLY . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Balance the Model (C.G.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Balance the Model Laterally . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
PREFLIGHT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Check the Control Directions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Set the Control Throws. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Identify Your Model . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Charge the Batteries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Balance Propellers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Ground Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Fuel Mixture Adjustments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Range Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
ENGINE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . 30
AMA SAFETY CODE (excerpts) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Radio Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
CHECK LIST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
FLYING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
LANDING GEAR DIAGRAM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
THROTTLE PUSHROD HOLE TEMPLATE . . . . . 33
COWL HOLE TEMPLATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
TABLE OF CONTENTS