Assembly Instructions

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1.        Break out all of the pieces (1) – (18).  First see Hint below.  Use a sharp hobby knife if you find where the LAZER is not completely cut through the foam.  Otherwise you can gently bend the foam parallel to the cut to release the parts.  (See image 1)

Hint: If you choose to paint your plane the pieces have been laid out in the foam to accommodate painting before breaking out the pieces.  Painting each side of the foam contrasting colors will enhance visibility when flying.  If you choose, you can break out the pieces before painting to achieve desired results.  Again, it is best to paint such that the top of the plane is easily differentiated from the bottom when in flight.  Colored tape can be added for accents as well.  Be careful when choosing paint as some may melt the foam.  We recommend Krylon H2O.  Do not apply the paint too thick as this tends to make the foam brittle.

Hint: The black printing on the secondary side of the foam can be painted over using H2O Paint or  using a mild cleaner such as Fantastic or Windex  you can remove most of the printing..  Allow the cleaner to sit for a couple of minutes then gently scrub off.  Repeat this process as needed.

                Image 1                                                                  Image 2

2.        Prepare the foam pieces.   Using sandpaper, create a radius by gently sanding away some of the foam material on the leading edges of the wings and each tail piece.  This will help to decrease wind resistance.  Also sand flat any edges that will be glued perpendicular to the wing (cockpit (2-3) and rudders (6-7).  (See image 2)

3.        Add wing support.  About one inch back from servo openings on the bottom side of each wing, attach a length of carbon fiber rod (K) or similar support.  This will provide added strength to the wing.  The rod should end about 1/2 inch short of the wing edge.  The rod can be pressed into the foam or you can create a shallow groove in the underside of the wing.  Glue the rod in place.  (See image 3)

Hint:  Hot-melt glue works well for gluing the foam pieces together.  It allows you to reposition the piece but also dries fast.  You can also reheat exposed glue for smoothing or removing excess.  Be careful not to touch the hot tip of the glue gun to the foam as it will melt the foam. 

 Image 3 

 Image 4

4.        Attach rudders (6&7).  Gently slide the rudder into the slot in the back of the wing until it stops.  Be sure that the servo notch in the rudder is lined up with the servo hole in the wing.  It is VERY important to be sure that the rudder is perpendicular to the wing and parallel with the centerline of the plane.  Once you have verified that the rudder is in the correct position glue all surfaces where the wing and the rudder meet.  Repeat this procedure for the other rudder. You should see an X looking at the rear of the rudder (See image 4)
Join Right and Left Cockpit (2&3).  Glue the right and left cockpit pieces together.

Image 5  

Image 6

5.              Attach Cockpit.  With the Cockpit (2&3) turned at a 45 degree angle to the wing, slide the cockpit into place.  Ensure that the tabs on the cockpit drop into the holes in the wing.  It is VERY important to be sure that the cockpit is perpendicular to the wing.  Glue the bottom wing side first by pulling the cockpit away from the wing and applying glue to the edge of the cockpit that will contact the bottom of the wing.  When this is dry do the same to the edge of the cockpit that contacts the top of the wing.  Place a bead of glue around the entire topside of the cockpit-wing joint.

Hint:  When gluing the cockpit to the bottom of the wing, be sure that no glue squeezes out of the joint.  Any glue that does will interfere with the attaching of the cockpit reinforcement pieces (4&5)

6.        Attach lower Cockpit Reinforcements (4&5).  Glue the right and left Cockpit Reinforcement pieces (4&5) onto the right and left sides of the lower cockpit.  Be sure that the battery slots line up.  Place a bead of glue around the entire bottom side of the cockpit-wing joint.

Optional.  Add additional reinforcement pieces.  There are certain places where it can help to have additional support.  This is especially true for the less experienced pilots who tend to inflict more damage while in a learning mode.  The extra foam material used can be hand-cut from the scrap foam that is left over once all of the precut pieces have been removed

Image 7    

7.              Attach Wooden Motor Mount (B).  Center the motor mount on the aft end of the fuselage where the fuselage and the wing intersect.  The bottom of the mount should be flush with the bottom of the wing.  Once the positioning is determined glue the mount to the plane.  After the glue has dried place layers of hot-melt glue where the mount is not contacting any foam surface.  This build-up of glue will help support the motor.  (See image 7&8)  On the underside of the wing near the motor mount, smear a thin layer of glue to reinforce the foam and prevent it from cracking.

 Image 8                                                                                    

8.        Prepare the Elevons (8&9).  First, assemble the control horns (I) by knocking out the middle of the square piece and gluing the two pieces perpendicular to each other.  Once dry insert the control horn from the bottom of the elevons so the end with the holes protrudes up through the elevons.  Orient such that the horn angles toward the front of the plane and glue in place.  Be sure that the forward-most part of the horn is no farther forward than the leading edge of the elevon.  (See image 9)  Using sandpaper, create a 45 degree bevel on the leading edge of each elevon by sanding away the bottom leading edge of the elevator.  This allows the elevator to move in the down direction; ensure that this movement is unhindered.  You may need to trim part of the elevon away so that it does not contact the rudder at any point in its travel.  (See image 9)

            Image 9

Hint:  Wrap a piece of thin packing tape around the leading edge (in effect covering the 45 degree bevel) of each elevon where the elevon meets the wing.  Do the same on the trailing edge of the wing where the elevon attaches.  This gives the tape hinge some extra holding power and will help the joint last longer.  (It’s not a bad idea to do this on other edges where it’s likely to wear.)

9.         Attach the elevons.  Cut a piece of packing tape 1/4” shorter than the length of the elevon.  Center and stick half of the tape on the leading edge of the elevon such that there is 1/8” gap on each end.  Place the elevon into position and hold it in the DOWN position.  Now adhere the free side of the tape to the wing.  This creates a ‘tape hinge’.  (See image 9)  Repeat with the other elevon.   

 Image 10

10.     Mount Servos (E&F).  Press the servos into the knock-outs in the top of the wing.  The servo should be oriented so that the gear/servo arm should point away from the fuselage.  Once the servos are positioned squarely glue them in place on the underside of the wing.   (See image 10)

11.     Mount the motor.  Secure the aluminum motor mount (A) to the wooden motor mount (B) using three small wood screws.  Pilot holes are predrilled in the wooden motor mount.  Once secured mount the motor and tighten the setscrews.  (See image 7)  Solder push connectors onto the motor leads and the motor leads of the speed controller (C).  This will make it easy to change the rotation of the motor if necessary.  Be sure to use shrink tubing to insulate the motor connections from shorting together.  Solder the connector (male) onto the power connectors of the speed controller.  Also solder the connector (female) onto the battery leads.

12.     Connect other Electronics.  Connect the other electronic components in order to achieve best placement before gluing.  Make these connections:

a.        Motor to speed controller (see step 13)

b.       Speed controller to mixer

c.        Mixer to receiver

d.       Servos to receiver

 Image 11

                 Image 12 

13.     Power up.  Connect the battery (M) and power up the transmitter.  Center the sticks and fine adjustment sliders then unplug the battery.  The servos are now centered.  Install the servo arms so that they are pointing straight up – or as close to vertical as possible.  Be sure to secure with the screw. 

14.     Attach control rods (I).  Cut two control rods (I) slightly (about half inch) longer than the distance from the servo arm to the control horn (with elevon in the neutral position).  On one end, make two 90 degree bends and insert into the middle hole of the servo arms as shown.  (See image 12&14)  At the other end, make one 90 degree bend at a location that will allow the elevon to be at the neutral position.  This bend should be away from the rudder.  Insert into the middle hole of the control horn and secure with the control rod retainer clip.  (See image 13) Repeat for other control rod.

Image 13

Hint: It may be easier to install the control rods so that the elevons are slightly down.  You can then put bends in the rod to ‘take up’ the slack in the rod so the elevons are in the desired position.  (See image 14)

 15.     Fly.  Except for some minor ‘trimming’ your plane is ready to fly.  See the tips below to ‘dial in’ your plane.

     Image 14

Additional Information

ü       Be sure to balance your plane.  Support the plane with one finger next to the inside leading edge of each servo.  Your plane should balance when supported at these locations.  If it does not add some weight to the nose or rear of the plane.  First try to balance by sliding the battery forward or back.

Launch up watching not to catch yourself in the prop.

ü       Adjust elevon movement.  Beginners will want less movement in the elevons about ½” up and ½” Down.  You can add or remove movement by moving your control rods to other holes.  Moving the rods closer to the wing surface will lessen elevon movement while moving them away from the wing will increase movement.  The less the elevons travel the easier it will be to achieve in-flight control.

Have fun flying !

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