Top Flite KittiWake - Manual (Page 14)

be covered separately (elevators, rudder, ailerons, wing,
fuselage, etc.). After covering, locate and open up all re-
quired access points; hinge slots, bolt holes, etc. For
seaplane operations there really isn't much difference
in covering methodology other than being careful of
each required opening in the airframe. A structure such
as the main float, for instance, has requirements for four
holes (the float leg attach points). Common sense dic-
tates that when the float legs are bolted in place to the
main float, the bolt threads should first be lightly coated
with a silicone sealer (best) or at least a coat of Vaseline.
While still on the subject of the main float, this particular
structure should be very carefully covered with the
overlapped seams measuring about 3/16" - 1/4". Addi-
tionally, these seams should be carefully worked over
with your MonoKote iron to be very sure they're in place
for good. It's taking the time to do these kinds of things
that has made MonoKote work so well for us on our pro-
totypes.
After covering, the elevators, rudder and ailerons can be
hinged in place. We've made it a practice to drill a few
3/32" dia. holes on each side of the hinges, before in-
stallation, to allow the epoxy to flow and act as "pins"
when cured. As you proceed, keep a small amount of
acetone handy to wipe-off any excess epoxy.
The tip floats and tip float braces can now be installed
on the bottom of each wing panel. The method that
we've used to do this is simple and fast. First, install the
formed main tip float wire into it's hole and slot and
secure with the wood screws and washers. The front and
rear tip float brace wire-forms have already been bent
and pre-fitted earlier. Apply a slow-setting CA adhesive
to the ends of the braces and main tip float wire that fit
into the tip float itself and insert the front and rear wire
ends into the tip float, in approximately the correct posi-
tions. Now apply just a little CA adhesive to the opposite
ends of the wire braces and press this assembly into
place in the holes. If you need to remove the tip floats
from the wing, all you need to do is to remove the screws
and washers, flex the brace wires a couple times and the
assembly will come out.
The nylon control horns can now be permanently
mounted to the rudder, elevators and ailerons. Again,
we'd suggest silicone adhesive on the threads.
As mentioned earlier, we suggest a coat or two (brushed
is fine) of epoxy paint (K&B or Hobby Poxy) for the engine
compartment. Flat or satin black is our favorite because
it's neutral and easy to see when brushing. Once this is
done, the motor-mount, engine, muffler, fuel tank and all
necessary plumbing can be installed. The water rudder
won't be attached until after the radio is installed and
the airplane is assembled.
RADIO INSTALLATION
If you have followed these instructions to this point, the
physical mounting of the four required servos should on-
ly be a matter of a few screws. This should be done now.
As mentioned earlier in the Wing Construction steps,
the aileron drive mechanism consists of the single
length of braided steel cable, driven at the center by the
aileron servo. Solder one of the threaded brass couplers
ononeendofthiscableand inserttheotherend intoone
of the openings at the aileron location on the bottom of
the wing. Feed the cable through and into the servo com-
partment, through the EZ connector on the servo's out-
put arm and then into the tubing opening for the other
wing panel. Continue feeding the cable through this
panel until it exits on the other side. Attach one of the
nylon clevises to the threaded coupler and attach the
clevis to the aileron control horn. Use scraps of tape to
hold the ailerons in neutral. Now measure how much
cable needs to be cut-off in order to solder the remaining
coupler in place with a clevis attached. Mark and cut-off
this length of cable with a carbide cut-off wheel, lightly
tin the cable end, and solder the coupler to it. Attach the
clevis to the coupler and make the connection to the
aileron control horn. The clevises can now be adjusted
to center the ailerons and once satisfied, the set screw
in the EZ connector can be tightened. Test the action of
this mechanism with your radio system and make any
adjustments required.
1/4" dowel stock has been provided for the rudder and el-
evator pushrods, make and install these now. We sug-
gest you use 3/32 "dia. wire at the servo end of these push-
rods with either DuBro EZ connectors or "Z"-bends.
Don't use threaded clevises.
Assuming the throttle linkage of your choice has been
installed and works, make that connection to the throt-
tle servo. The switch on our prototype was mounted in-
ternally (almost a "must" with seaplanes), against the
bottom of the fuselage top sheeting, just ahead of the
servo tray. A short length of wire through the fuselage
(use a close-fitting grommet of some sort; plastic tub-
ing, etc.) is then i nstal led to activate the switch external-
ly. If you look closely at the KittiWake on the box label, you
can see this on/off wire, just below the name on the
fuselage.
You should now make an exit for your receiver's anten-
na. We suggest that, like the switch, this exit be as high
up on the fuselage side as possible and that this exit
also be grommeted. Attach the other end of it to the top
of the fin with a wire hook and rubber band.
The only real water-proof ing measure that we took, other
than building the airplane tight to begin with, was wrap-
ping the battery pack in clear plastic. The receiver and
battery pack should now be installed, remembering that
their positions may have to be changed for Center of
Gravity needs.
Assemble your model completely and turn on the
switch. First make very sure that the ailerons, rudder and
elevators move in the correct directions by transmitter
command. Now you need to set-up your surface move-
ments for initial test flights. The following is what we
suggest for first flights:
E L E V A T O R S . . . . . . . . . . .5/16" from neutral 5/8" total
R U D D E R . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A l l available movement
A I L E R O N S . . . . . . . . . . . . 1/4" from neutral 1/2" total
The above movements provide crisp control of the
model. If you have dual rate capability on your transmit-
ter, you may wish to decrease these movements slightly.
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