Great Planes Piper J-3 Cub 40 Kit - GPMA0160 - Manual (Page 44)

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2. Adjust your pushrod hookups as necessary to provide
the proper control surface movements as listed on Page 38.
*NOTE: These control surface “throws” are approximate and
provide a good starting point for the first flights with your J-3
Cub. You may wish to change the throws slightly to provide
the smoothness or quickness that you prefer.
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3. Check for wing twist as follows:
NOTE: Even if you have built your wing on a perfectly
flat surface and used utmost care, it is possible that
your wing may have a twist due to uneven shrinking of
the covering material. You must check for this condition
and correct it before the first flight. Wing twist is the
most common cause of poor-flying airplanes.
If you do not own a wing incidence meter, we recommend
that you purchase one from your local hobby dealer or
borrow one from another modeler. With the wing mounted to
the fuselage, use the incidence meter to check the angle of
your wing at the root and at the tips. If the incidence meter
reveals a wing twist of more than 1/4 degree, you must grasp
the wing at the tip and twist it slightly, while reheating the
covering material. Keep checking, twisting and reheating
until the wing twist is removed. NOTE: If you have corrected
a wing twist by this method, you should periodically re-check
to make sure the correction has held. In addition, re-check for
wing twist with the wing struts installed. Make sure that the
struts do not introduce a wing twist.
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4. Following is a checklist of some other items you’ll want
to consider before your first flight with this model:
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Record weight
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Check all screws, use Loctite
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Adjust tailgear for straight roll
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Adjust throttle pushrod linkage
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Take photographs!
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Balance propeller & spinner
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Oil axles
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Place AMA I.D. sticker inside
Follow the battery charging procedures in your radio
instruction manual.You should always charge your transmitter
and receiver batteries the night before you go flying, and at
other times as recommended by the radio manufacturer.
The best place to fly your R/C model is an AMA (Academy of
Model Aeronautics) chartered club field. Ask your hobby
shop dealer if there is such a club in your area and join. Club
fields are set up for R/C flying which makes your outing safer
and more enjoyable. The AMA can also tell you the name of
a club in your area. We recommend that you join AMA and a
local club so you can have a safe place to fly and also have
insurance to cover you in case of a flying accident. (The AMA
address is listed near the front of this instruction book).
If a club and its flying site are not available, you need to find
a large, grassy area at least 6 miles away from any other
R/C radio operation like R/C boats and R/C cars and away
from houses, buildings and streets. A schoolyard may look
inviting but it is too close to people, power lines and possible
radio interference.
If you are not thoroughly familiar with the operation of R/C
models, ask an experienced modeler to check to see that
you have the radio installed correctly and that all the control
surfaces do what they are supposed to. The engine operation
must also be checked and the engine “broken in” on the
ground by running the engine for at least two tanks of fuel.
Follow the engine manufacturer’s recommendations for
break-in. Check to make sure all screws remain tight, that
the hinges are secure and that the prop is on tight.
Wherever you do fly, you need to check the operation of the
radio before every time you fly. This means with the transmitter
antenna collapsed and the receiver and transmitter on, you
should be able to walk at least 100 feet away from the model
and still have control. Have someone help you. Have them
stand by your model and, while you work the controls, tell you
what the various control surfaces are doing.
Repeat this test with the engine running at various speeds
with an assistant holding the model. If the control surfaces
are not acting correctly at all times, do not fly! Find and
correct the problem first.
NOTE: Failure to follow these safety precautions may
result in severe injury to yourself and others.
• Keep all engine fuel in a safe place, away from high heat,
sparks or flames, as fuel is very flammable. Do not smoke
Engine Safety Precautions
Range Check Your Radio
Ground Check the Model
Find a Safe Place to Fly
Charge the Batteries
PREFLIGHT
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