Top Flite TOPA0705 - Manual (Page 2)

2
INTRODUCTION
Top Flite is very proud to bring you the P-40 Warhawk
ARF. The Curtiss P-40 Warhawk became one of the
most important fi ghters of World War II, and was fl own
in every combat theatre. This legendary fi ghter is best
known for the Flying Tiger markings of the American
Fighter Group (AVG). This is a great fl ying model that
you will enjoy and will turn heads at the fl ying fi eld. We
have made a realistic airplane that has no bad fl ight
characteristics. We believe you will be thrilled with the
fi nal product.
For the latest technical updates or manual corrections
to the Giant Scale P-40 ARF visit the Top Flite web site
at www.top-fl ite.com. Open the “Airplanes” link, then
select the Giant Scale P-40 ARF. If there is new technical
information or changes to this model a “tech notice” box
will appear in the upper left corner of the page.
ACADEMY OF MODEL AERONAUTICS
If you are not already a member of the AMA, please
join! The AMA is the governing body of model aviation
and membership provides liability insurance coverage,
protects modelers’ rights and interests and is required
to fl y at most R/C sites.
Academy of Model Aeronautics
5151 East Memorial Drive
Muncie, IN 47302-9252
Ph. (800) 435-9262 Or via the Internet at:
Fax (765) 741-0057 http://www.modelaircraft.org
IMPORTANT!!! Two of the most important things you
can do to preserve the radio controlled aircraft hobby
are to avoid fl ying near full-scale aircraft and avoid
fl ying near or over groups of people.
IMAA
The Top Flite Giant Scale P-40 ARF is an excellent
sport-scale model and is eligible to fl y in IMAA events.
The IMAA (International Miniature Aircraft Association)
is an organization that promotes non-competitive fl ying
of giant-scale models. If you plan to attend an IMAA
INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Academy Of Model Aeronautics. . . . . . . . . . . . 2
IMAA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Scale Competition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
DECISIONS YOU MUST MAKE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Radio Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Engine Recommendations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
OPTIONAL ROBART RETRACTABLE
LANDING
GEAR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
ADDITIONAL ITEMS REQUIRED . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Required Hardware & Accessories . . . . . . . . . 4
Optional Supplies & Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
IMPORTANT BUILDING NOTES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
COMMON ABBREVIATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
KIT INSPECTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
KIT CONTENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
ORDERING REPLACEMENT PARTS . . . . . . . . . . 6
PREPARATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
ASSEMBLE THE WING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
INSTALL THE FIXED WIRE LANDING GEAR . . . 9
INSTALL THE RETRACTABLE
LANDING
GEAR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
MOUNT THE WING NACELLES . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
JOIN THE WING HALVES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
ASSEMBLE THE FUSELAGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Install The Stabilizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Install The Tail Gear Assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Mount The Fixed Tail Gear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Mount The Retractable Tail Gear . . . . . . . . . . 18
Install The Elevator & Rudder Servos . . . . . . 20
INSTALL THE ENGINE, MUFFLER, RADIO
AND REMAINING SERVOS . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
INSTALL THE COWL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
INSTALL THE COCKPIT, PILOT
AND
CANOPY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
APPLY THE DECALS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
GET THE MODEL READY TO FLY . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Check The Control Directions . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Set The Control Throws . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Check the Retract Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Balance The Model (C.G.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Balance The Model Laterally . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
PREFLIGHT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Identify Your Model . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Charge The Batteries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Balance Propellers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Ground Check And Range Check . . . . . . . . . 36
ENGINE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . 36
AMA SAFETY CODE (excerpts) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Radio Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
CHECK LIST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
FLYING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Fuel Mixture Adjustments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Takeoff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Flight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Landing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
TABLE OF CONTENTS