Electric-Powered Park-Flyer Pattern Plane INSTRUCTIONS FOR FINAL ASSEMBLY Specifications: The Wattage Tangent EP is distributed exclusively by Global Hobby Distributors 18480 Bandilier Circle, Fountain Valley, CA 92708 All contents copyright © 2002, Global Hobby Distributors Version V2.0 May 2002 ● Wing Span: 31.5 Inches ● Wing Area: 183 Square Inches ● Length: 31 Inches ● Weight RTF: 15 - 17 Ounces ● Functions: Ailerons, Elevator, Rudder and Throttle ● Power: 370 Motor w/3.67:1 Gear Box & 7.
TABLE OF CONTENTS Safety Warning ...................................................................................... 2 Introduction ............................................................................................ 3 Section 1: Our Recommendations .......................................... 4 Section 2: Tools and Supplies Required ................................ 5 Section 3: Kit Contents ........................................................... 6 Section 4: Replacement Parts .................
INTRODUCTION Thank you for purchasing the new Wattage Tangent EP pattern plane. Before completing the final assembly of your new airplane, please carefully read through this instruction manual in its entirety. Doing so will ensure your success the first time around! Wattage Tangent EP Features: ● 370 Size Motor w/3.67:1 Gear Box and 7.
SECTION 1: OUR RECOMMENDATIONS This section describes the items you will need to purchase for your new Tangent EP. These suggestions are not set in stone, but they should provide you with a good starting point. IMPORTANT When choosing accessories for your Tangent EP, such as servos, ESC, and receiver, it's very important to take the weight of these items into consideration. Remember, the lighter the overall weight of the finished airplane, the better the airplane will fly.
Here's What We Used to Finish Our Tangent EP Pattern Plane: P/N 759118 Hitec 555 Micro Receiver Hitec Dual Conversion FM RX Crystal Note: To minimize current loss, we suggest soldering the motor wires directly to the ESC.
SECTION 3: KIT CONTENTS We have organized the parts as they come out of the box for easier identification during assembly. Before you begin assembly, group the parts like we list them below. This will ensure that you have all of the parts before you begin assembly and it will also help you become familiar with each part.
WARNING The Tangent EP includes a foam wing, stabilizer and rudder. It is very important that you use no solvents, Cyanoacrylate (C/A) glue, or paint that can damage foam. If any of these chemicals comes in contact with the foam parts, the parts will be destroyed and will not be covered under warranty. Use only epoxy on the foam parts where glue is required. If you decide to add painted details to the airplane, use acrylic-based paints and always test the paint on a scrap piece first.
SECTION 6: WING ASSEMBLY & MOUNTING YOU'LL NEED THE FOLLOWING PARTS: ❑ (1) Fiberglass Fuselage ❑ (1) 3mm Plywood Plate - Rounded w/Cutout ❑ (1) Left & Right Wing Panels ❑ (3) 3mm x 15mmm x 20mm Plywood Plates ❑ (1) Center Section Reinforcement Board ❑ (2) 180mm Balsa Support Rails ❑ (1) Trailing Edge Reinforcement Board ❑ (1) 30mm Fiberglass Dowel ❑ (1) Fiberglass Belly Pan ❑ (1) 3mm x 18mm Wood Screw ❑ (1) 3mm Plywood Plate w/Tab ❑ (2) Prebent Aileron Torque Rods ❑ (1) 3mm Plywood Plate - Roun
Step 2: Joining the Wing Panels ❑ Test-fit the two wing panels together. They should fit together with few or no gaps between the two, and the leading and trailing edges should line up evenly. ❑ If the wing panels don't fit together properly, carefully sand the root ends of each wing panel straight using 220 grit sandpaper with a sanding block, being careful not to change the dihedral angle.
❑ Apply two long strips of clear plastic tape to the bottom of the wing. Apply the strips of tape down the middle of the wing, perpendicular to the center section joint, from wing tip to wing tip. ☞ These strips of tape help strengthen the wing. Do not omit this procedure. Step 3: Installing the Aileron Torque Rods ❑ Test-fit each prebent torque rod into the molded grooves in the top of each wing panel. The top of each torque rod should be even with the top of the wing.
Step 4: Installing the Wing Reinforcement Board ❑ Using a modeling knife and a ruler, cut a 1/4" x 7/8" hole, 1-3/16" up from the bottom of the trailing edge reinforcement board. ☞ This hole will prevent the reinforcement board from interfering with the aileron torque rods when it is installed. IMPORTANT Before installing the trailing edge reinforcement board in the next procedure, make sure that both aileron torque rods are completely down in the molded grooves.
Step 5: Installing the Battery Tray & Belly Pan Support Rails ❑ Using a ruler and a pencil, measure back 3/16" from the leading edge of the wing, at the centerline, and draw a mark. ❑ Using 220 grit sandpaper with a sanding block, carefully sand the front of the wing straight across, back to the mark you drew. ❑ Using a modeling knife, cut a notch in the bottom leading edge of the wing and test-fit the 3mm plywood plate (rounded w/cutout) into place as shown.
❑ Test-fit the plywood plate (with tab) to the bottom of the wing. When aligned properly, the back of the plate (not the tab) should be even with the trailing edge of the wing and the plate should be centered over the wing's centerline. Notice that the tab hangs over the trailing edge. ☞ So that the belly pan will line up with the fuselage when the wing is mounted, it's important that the plywood plate be centered over the centerline of the wing.
❑ Test-fit the 30mm long fiberglass dowel into the hole. The dowel should be pushed into the hole deep enough so that 3/8" of it is beyond the leading edge. It is also important that the dowel be straight and not angled up, down or side to side. ❑ When satisfied with the alignment, glue the dowel into place using a generous amount of 5 minute epoxy. Remove any excess epoxy using a paper towel and rubbing alcohol, and hold the dowel in place and aligned until the epoxy sets up.
❑ While holding the wing firmly in place and aligned, drill a 5/64" diameter hole into the middle of the plywood plate, 1/4" in front of the trailing edge, and down through the wing screw plate glued inside the fuselage. ❑ Remove the wing from the fuselage and enlarge only the hole in the wing using a 1/8" drill bit. Step 7: Installing the Fiberglass Belly Pan ❑ Using a modeling knife, cut a 3/4" square piece of foam from the foam packing material included in your kit box.
❑ After the epoxy has cured, set the belly pan onto the wing and push it down firmly into place. ❑ Check the fit of the belly pan. To do this, align both the front and back of the belly pan with the sides and bottom of the fuselage. The sides and bottom of the fuselage and belly pan should be even with each other and there should be few or no gaps between the wing and the belly pan. ☞ There should be about a 1/16" gap between the belly pan and the front and back of the fuselage.
SECTION 7: STABILIZER ASSEMBLY & INSTALLATION YOU'LL NEED THE FOLLOWING PARTS: ❑ (1) Horizontal Stabilizer w/Elevator Halves ❑ (1) Prebent Elevator Joiner Wire ❑ (1) Carbon Fiber Dowel ❑ (1) Elevator Reinforcement Board - 2 Parts ❑ (1) Self-Adhesive White Tape ❑ (1) 150mm Balsa Rudder Post YOU'LL NEED THE FOLLOWING TOOLS AND SUPPLIES: ❑ Kwik Bond 5 Minute Epoxy ❑ 220 Grit Sandpaper w/Sanding Block ❑ Excel Modeling Knife ❑ Push-Pins ❑ Scissors ❑ Paper Towels ❑ Ruler ❑ Rubbing Alcohol ❑ Pencil
Step 2: Installing the Elevator Joiner Wire ❑ Place the prebent elevator joiner wire onto the bottom of the elevator halves. ❑ Center the wire over the middle of the elevator halves, making sure that the front of the wire is even with the beveled leading edges of the elevators. ❑ When satisfied with the alignment, push the wire down firmly to make an impression of the wire in the foam. ❑ Remove the joiner wire and set it aside.
Step 3: Installing the Balsa Rudder Post ❑ Using a pair of scissors, carefully cut out the stabilizer mounting slot, following the molded scribe line on each side of the fuselage. ☞ The fiberglass is lightweight, so a sharp pair of scissors will cut through it easily and will be more accurate than using a rotary tool with a cutting wheel. ❑ Test-fit the 150mm long balsa rudder post into the back of the fuselage.
❑ Using a ruler and a pencil, measure out 1/4" from the centerline mark at the leading edge and draw a mark. Do this on both sides of the centerline mark as shown. ❑ Slide the stabilizer into the mounting slot in the fuselage and temporarily align it. The mark you drew on the trailing edge of the stabilizer should be aligned with the centerline of the rudder post and the two marks you drew on top of the leading edge should be lined up with the sides of the fuselage.
❑ When satisfied with the alignment, carefully apply strips of masking tape to both sides of the fuselage (above and below the stabilizer) and to both sides of the top and bottom of the stabilizer, to prevent excess epoxy from getting onto the parts. ☞ Do not actually tape the stabilizer to the fuselage. You will need to be able to remove it to glue it into place.
SECTION 8: RUDDER & TAIL WHEEL INSTALLATION YOU'LL NEED THE FOLLOWING PARTS: ❑ (1) Rudder ❑ (2) 2mm x 5mm Wood Screws ❑ (1) Tail Wheel Assembly ❑ (2) Nylon Hinges YOU'LL NEED THE FOLLOWING TOOLS AND SUPPLIES: ❑ Kwik Bond 5 Minute Epoxy ❑ Pencil ❑ Lightweight Oil or Vaseline ❑ 220 Grit Sandpaper w/Sanding Block ❑ # 0 Phillips Head Screwdriver ❑ Paper Towels ❑ Excel Modeling Knife ❑ Rubbing Alcohol ❑ 1/16" Drill Bit ❑ NHP Epoxy Mixing Sticks ❑ Ruler ❑ NHP Epoxy Mixing Cups Step 1: Hinging the
❑ Using a ruler and a pencil, measure down 1/2" from the top of the rudder, at the leading edge, and draw a mark, then measure down 3-1/4" from the top of the rudder, at the leading edge, and draw a second mark. ❑ Carefully hand-drill a 1/16" diameter hole into the rudder, for the hinges, at each of the two marks you drew. ☞ Be careful to drill the holes perpendicular to the leading edge and not at an angle. Also be careful that you don't drill out through the sides of the rudder.
❑ Place the tail wheel bracket onto the bottom of the fuselage. To align the assembly, the tail wheel tiller arm should fit down into the slot you cut in the rudder, the pivot point of the tiller arm should be even with the rudder hinge line and the bracket should be centered in the middle of the fuselage. ☞ You will need to cut a small notch in the leading edge of the rudder for the tiller arm boss.
❑ Using a ruler and a pencil, measure down 3/8" from the top of the motor plate and draw an intersecting mark on the vertical centerline. ❑ Measure down 1" from the intersecting mark you drew and drill a 5/16" diameter hole through the motor plate, on the centerline. ☞ This hole will allow the motor wires to pass through into the fuselage. ❑ Slide the motor wires into the hole and push the gear box assembly up against the motor plate.
❑ Slide the cowling onto the fuselage and check the fit. The top, bottom and sides of the cowling should be even with the top, bottom and sides of the fuselage, and the front of the cowling should not touch the gear box assembly. ❑ When satisfied with the alignment, secure the cowling into place using two 2.5mm x 12mm wood screws. One screw should be located on each side of the cowling and is threaded into the edge of the cowl mounting lip as shown.
❑ Place the radio tray into the fuselage and temporarily align it. To align it properly, the back edge of the radio tray should be even with, and 1-3/8" below, the back of the wing saddle opening. The radio tray should be flat and parallel to the centerline of the fuselage, too. ☞ If you push the radio tray any further up into the fuselage, the radio tray will cause the fuselage sides to bulge outward.
Step 3: Installing the Elevator Pushrod Assembly ❑ Using a rotary tool with a cutting wheel, carefully cut a 7/8" long by 1/8" wide slot in the right side of the fuselage for the elevator pushrod to exit. The middle of the slot should be 1/2" below the stabilizer and 2-5/8" in front of the rudder hinge line. ❑ Using a ruler and a pencil, measure out 3/8" from the inside edge of the right elevator half (at the hinge line) and draw a mark on the bottom of the elevator.
❑ Thread one nylon clevis onto one of the 1.5mm x 400mm threaded pushrod wires. Thread the clevis on far enough to leave room for adjustments later. ❑ Slide the plain end of the pushrod wire through the slot you cut in the fuselage side, then carefully snap the clevis into the elevator control horn. ☞ Before snapping the clevis into place, make sure the plain end of the pushrod wire is not below the radio tray.
Step 3: Installing the Rudder Pushrod Assembly ❑ The rudder pushrod assembly is installed in the same manner as the elevator pushrod assembly, although the rudder pushrod exit slot should be cut in the left side of the fuselage, 5/8" below the stabilizer and 2-3/4" in front of the rudder hinge line. Also, the rudder control horn should be installed 1-1/16" above the bottom of the rudder, perpendicular to the rudder hinge line as shown.
❑ Push the servo into the cutout making sure that the servo output shaft is toward the leading edge of the wing. ☞ You will need to cut a notch in the side of the cutout for the servo wire to exit the top of the wing. ❑ Install the servo using the mounting screws provided with your servo. ☞ To make it easier to install the screws, first punch a small pilot hole through the wing reinforcement board using the tip of your modeling knife.
❑ Attach the servo horn to the Z-Bends, then attach the servo horn to the servo, making sure that it's centered. ☞ You will have to enlarge the holes in the servo arms using a 1/16" drill bit so that you can attach the pushrods. ❑ Install and tighten the servo horn retaining screw, provided with your servo, to secure the servo horn into place.
Step 2: Aligning the Landing Gear Assemblies ❑ Using a ruler and a pencil, measure out 3" from the side of the belly pan and draw a mark on the bottom of the wing just behind the leading edge. ❑ Measure back 5/8" from the leading edge of the wing, at the first mark you drew, and draw a second, intersecting mark. ❑ Repeat the same procedures on the other half of the wing. ❑ Place one landing gear assembly onto the bottom of the wing.
Step 4: Installing the Wheels ❑ Wrap one rubber band over the center of each plastic wheel. ❑ Center each rubber band, then glue them to the wheels using a couple of drops of thin C/A. ❑ Push one nylon wheel retainer into the molded hole in the center of each nylon main gear wheel. ❑ Push one wheel retainer/wheel assembly firmly onto the end of each landing gear axle.
❑ Slide the back half of the spinner assembly onto the propeller shaft and up against the propeller. ❑ Slide the 3mm flat washer into place, then install and tighten the second 3mm hex nut, using an adjustable wrench. ❑ Firmly press the spinner cone onto the back half of the spinner assembly until it snaps into place. ☞ When necessary, the spinner cone can be removed using a small flat blade screwdriver.
Step 3: Installing the Receiver The locations of the radio equipment shown in the next few steps is only approximate. This is how our test airplanes were set up. The locations of your radio equipment could differ and should be dependent on what type of equipment you use and where you balance your airplane. Balancing will be done in the next section. ❑ Plug the elevator and rudder servo leads into their proper slots in the receiver.
❑ Feed your ESC's battery connector out through the hole you cut in the fuselage (from inside the fuselage) and mount the ESC to the radio tray, in front of the receiver. Use a small piece of double-sided tape to hold it in place. ☞ If you mounted your receiver farther back than we show, we suggest mounting your ESC as far forward in the fuselage as possible. This will help balance the airplane. ❑ If your ESC has an on/off switch, mount it to the fuselage side, across from the ESC.
SECTION 13: BALANCING THE TANGENT EP YOU'LL NEED THE FOLLOWING TOOLS AND SUPPLIES: ❑ Ruler ❑ Pencil IMPORTANT It is critical that your airplane be balanced correctly. Improper balance will cause your airplane to lose control and crash! Center of Gravity Location: 2-7/8" back from the leading edge of the wing, at the fuselage sides. WARNING This location is recommended for initial test flying. The C.G. can be moved forward or aft up to 1/4", but it is not recommended that the C.G.
SECTION 15: CONTROL THROWS We recommend setting up the Tangent EP using the control throws listed below. These control throws are suggested for initial test-flying because they will allow the airplane to fly smoother and make it easier to control. TEST-FLYING Ailerons: 1/4" Up 1/4" Down Elevator: 1/4" Up 1/4" Down Rudder: 1" Right 1" Left ☞ When measuring the control throws, measure from the widest point of the control surfaces.
● Check every glue joint in the airplane to ensure that everything is tight and well-bonded. ● Double-check the balance of the airplane. Do this with the flight battery installed. ● Check the control surfaces. They should move in the correct direction and not bind. ● Check to ensure that the control surfaces are moving the proper amount. ● Check the receiver antenna. It should be fully extended and not coiled up inside the fuselage.
SECTION 17: FLYING THE TANGENT EP The Tangent EP can take off from the ground or be hand-launched. We recommend ground take-offs only from hard smooth surfaces. Taking Off from the Ground With the airplane pointing into the wind, apply full power and feed in right rudder to keep the airplane tracking straight as it rolls down the runway. Once sufficient airspeed has been reached, gently apply up elevator to lift the airplane off the ground. Climb out straight ahead in a shallow climb to build up speed.
SECTION 18: TRIM CHART After you have test-flown and done the initial trim changes to the aircraft, use the Trim Chart below to begin trimming your airplane. Following and adhering to this chart will result in the ability to diagnose trim problems and correct those problems using the simple adjustments shown below. Making these observations and related corrections will result in a straighter and truer flying airplane.
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