Top Flite TOPA0305 Part 1 - Manual (Page 8)

the bottom view so right thrust is viewed as an
offset to the left from the bottom.
When you get to each step, read that step
completely through to the end before you begin.
Frequently there is important information or a note
at the end of the step that you need to know before
you start.
Photos and sketches are placed ahead of the
step they refer to. Frequently you can study photos
in following steps to get another view of the same
parts.
COMMON ABBREVIATIONS USED IN
THIS BOOK AND ON THE PLANS:
Deg = Degrees
Fuse = Fuselage
LE = Leading Edge (front)
LG = Landing Gear
Lt = Left
Rt = Right
Stab = Stabilizer
TE = Trailing Edge (rear)
" = Inches
Elev = Elevator
Ply = Plywood
TYPES OF WOOD:
. , .... . ._..... . . .
Balsa Basswood Plywood
Inch Scale
0" 1
"
2" 3"
INCHES X 25.4 = MM (CONVERSION FACTOR)
1/64" = .4mm 3/4" = 19.0 mm
1/32" = .8 mm 1" = 25.4 mm
1 / 1 6 = 1.6rnm 2" = 50.8 mm
3/32" = 2.4 mm 3" = 76.2 mm
118" = 3.2 rnrn 6 = 152.4 mm
5/32" = 4.0 rnrn 12" = 304.8 mm
3/16 = 4.8 mrn 1 8 = 457.2 mm
114" = 6.4 mrn 21" = 533.4 mm
3 / 8 = 9.5rnm 24" = 609.6 mm
1/2" = 12.7rnrn 30" = 762.0 mm
5/8 = 15.9 rnrn 36" = 914.4 mm
NOTES FROM THE DESIGNER
Scale Accuracy: The Bonanza was designed using three
view drawings from Beechcraft dated 1969. In addition,
measurements of all aircraft components were taken from a
V35B Bonanza at a local airport.
Wing Design: The TF Bonanza was designed with an "1-
Beam" type of wing spar rather than the more traditional "D-
Tube" type construction. Actually, the design could be
called an "I-Tube". This simplifies construction and is
approximately 50% stronger than D-Tube designs. The
wing was designed with an absolute minimum number of
seams that must be sanded on the finished wing. The result
is a very smooth wing.
Flaps: Flaps on the full scale aircraft allow steeper
approaches and slower landing speeds. They do exactly the
same on this model. The improvement in performance is
well worth the effort.
Landing Gear: If you are installing fixed gear you will note
that the strut extends out from the center of the groved rail
instead of the end. This allows landing stresses to be
distributed across three ply reinforced ribs, rather than
being concentrated at the end of the rail. If you plan to
install retractable landing gear, I highly recommend the
Robart units especially designed for the Bonanza. They are
very robust and include shock absorbing struts. One of our
prototype models was built with Robart #606HD mains and
a #607 nose unit. Though adequate, they required a lot of
maintenance and occasional repair. Gear doors would look
great on this model but you will have t o do some
modifications if you want to install then. The mounting rails
4" 5" 6"
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150 160
Metric Scale - 7 -
are designed to minimize damage in the event of hard
landings or contact with obstacles.
Fuselage Design: The fuselage design is fairly
conventional. The cabin top is a LARGE ABS piece and it
drove many of the other design elements - such as how to
get it into the box! But it does simplify construction and
looks great. It is designed to be removable but if you are not
concerned with access to the fuel tank and cabin interior it
can be permanently glued in place, allowing the seams to
be filled in. We found that if you choose your trim design
carefully, the seams are pretty well hidden.
The cabin area is reinforced with 1 / 8 lite ply. While it is
more than strong enough, I would recommend that you
reinforce the area with some basswood rails along the
bottom of formers F2, F4 and F6 across the width of the
fuselage. We have included ample extra 1/4" x 3/8"
basswood material for this purpose.
V-Tail vs straight tail: I personally feel that a Bonanza is
not a Bonanza if it isn't a V-Tail. If you are intimidated by
rumors about V-Tails being hard
to build or difficult to fly,
you shouldn't be. The V-Tail is easier to build and just as
easy to fly.
I, on the other hand, was intimidated by the
V-Tail! Just kidding. It was designing the model to be either
a V-Tail or straight tail, using the same basic mounting
structure and pushrods and showing
it all on the plans that I
found intimidating.
Do You Need a Computer Radio? NO!! A computer radio
will simplify radio installation and allow full utilization of the
ruddervators but it is in no way required. Simply connect the
ruddervator servos together with a Y-cable and use them as
elevators. Or use one of the many mixers available to
obtain V-Tail mixing. Incidentally, this model duplicates
virtually all of the flight characteristics of the full size aircraft.
The rudders are somewhat ineffective and it has the
characteristic Bonanza tail wiggle. The full size aircraft has
differential throw when rudder is applied
- the ruddervator
having more up throw than down. This compensates for a
nose down tendency otherwise. Try to duplicate this if you
use a computer radio. We used a Futaba
radio and
did get the required compensation as you will note in the
recommended control throws section.
Will It Really Fly On a .60 Size Engine? YES!! And very
scale like as well. Our test flying was done with a new
Super Tigre .75 with a TF in-cowl muffler. It was during
winter and it was cold so we weren't able to dial in the
engine very well. It was turning a TF 12-8 Power Point prop
at 9,600 RPM and we never felt a need for more power.
It
flew in a very scale like manner.
Good luck and good flying. I hope you enjoy building and
flying your Bonanza as much as I did designing it.