Top Flite TOPA0120 - Manual (Page 52)

represent the settings at which the P-40
flies best. Please set up your aircraft to
the specifications listed above. If, after
a few flights, you would like to adjust
the throws to suit your tastes, that is
fine. Most warbirds such as the P-40
have large elevators and do not require
much throw. Too much throw can force
the plane into a stall, so remember...
“More is not better.”
INSTALL RECEIVER, SWITCH
AND BATTERY
❑ 1. Wrap your receiver and battery in plastic
bags, then wrap with foam rubber.
❑ 2. Install the battery and receiver in the
fuselage. NOTE: The receiver was put through the
lightening hole in the crutch between formers F-3
and F-4. The battery position should be selected to
balance the aircraft.
❑ 3. Route the receiver antenna in one of the
following ways:
A. Route the antenna along the inside of the
fuselage side and out of the fuselage top,
just behind the canopy. Anchor the antenna
to the top of the fin with a rubber band.
B. Insert the antenna into a “pushrod guide
tube” (not included) and tape it securely at
the aft end. Install the tube and antenna into
the aft portion of the fuselage through the
lightening holes in the fuselage formers.
The entire length of the antenna should be
extended relatively straight.
BALANCE YOUR MODEL
NOTE: This section is VERY important
and must not be omitted! A model that
is not properly balanced will be
unstable and possibly unflyable.
❑ 1. Accurately mark the balance point on the
top of the wing on both sides of the fuselage. The
balance point is shown on the plan (CG), and is
located 3-1/4 inches back from the leading edge at
the location of rib #6 as shown in the sketch and
on the plans. Hint: Use the full-sized wing plan to
help you accurately locate the proper CG on the
wing. This is the balance point at which your
model should balance for your first flights. Later,
you may wish to experiment by shifting the balance
up to 1/4” forward or back to change the flying
characteristics. Moving the balance forward may
improve the smoothness and arrow-like tracking,
but it may then require more speed for takeoff and
make it more difficult to slow down for landing.
Moving the balance aft makes the model more
agile with a lighter and snappier “feel” and often
improves knife-edge capabilities. In any case,
please start at the location we recommend and
do not at any time balance your model outside
the recommended range.
❑ 2. With the wing attached to the fuselage, all
parts of the model installed (ready to fly), an empty
fuel tank, and the landing gear down (extended),
hold the model upside down with the stabilizer
level.
❑ 3. Lift the model at the CG marks. If the tail
drops when you lift, the model is “tail heavy” and
you must add weight* to the nose to balance. If
the nose drops, it is “nose heavy” and you must
add weight* to the tail to balance. NOTE: Nose
weight may be easily added by gluing strips of lead
into the engine compartment. Tail weight may be
added by using Great Planes (GPMQ4485) “stick-
on” lead weights, and, later, if the balance proves
to be OK you can open the fuse bottom and glue
these in permanently.
*If possible, first attempt to balance the model
by changing the position of the receiver battery
and receiver. If you are unable to obtain good
balance by doing so, then it will be necessary to
add weight to the nose or tail to achieve the proper
balance point.
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