3DHobbyShop.com AJ Slick User manual

3DHobbyShop.com AJ Slick 89” Assembly Manual
Thank you for purchasing this 3DHobbyShop ARF RC aircraft. If you have any issues, questions,
concerns or problems during assembly, please contact our tech department at:
[email protected] or 1-830-990-6978 10am-5pm Central M-F
SAFETY in Assembly
During assembly of this aircraft, you will be asked to use sharp knives, hot irons, and hobby adhesives.
Please follow all safety procedures recommended by the manufacturers of the products you use, and
always follow these important guidelines:
ALWAYS protect your eyes when working with adhesives, knives, or tools, especially power tools. Safety
glasses are the best way to protect your eyes.
ALWAYS protect your body, especially your hands and fingers when using adhesives, knives, or tools,
especially power tools. Do not cut toward exposed skin with hobby knives. Do not place hobby knives on
tables or benches where they can roll off or be knocked off.
ALWAYS have a first-aid kit handy when working with adhesives, knives, or tools, especially power tools.
ALWAYS keep hobby equipment and supplies out of the reach of children.
SAFETY in Flying
ALWAYS fly your aircraft in a safe area, away from spectators.
ALWAYS fly your aircraft in a safe manner, within your control.
NEVER fly too close to yourself.
ALWAYS wear eye protection while operating your model aircraft.
ALWAYS keep your hands and body clear of propellers.
ALWAYS observe lipoly battery safety procedures.
ALWAYS handle gasoline in a safe manner.
ALWAYS perform a ground test and range check of your radio system before flying.
REQUIRED ITEMS
Drill and drill bits
30 Minute Epoxy Glue (NOT 5-minute Epoxy)
Hobby Knife
Phillips Screwdriver
Set Metric Allen Wrenches
Small Pliers
Wire Cutters
Rubbing Alcohol
Paper Towels
Blue Loctite thread-locking adhesive
Dremel-type rotary tool
Small adjustable wrench or wrench set

IMPORTANT NOTE: 3DHS Recommends ONLY High-Torque, Digital, Metal-gear Servos for this
aircraft. Suitable part numbers include Hitec HS-7955TG, JR 8611A, and JR 8711A. DO NOT
attempt to use nylon-geared servos on this airplane.
THIS AIRCRAFT IS NOT A TOY! IT IS A HIGH PERFORMANCE AEROBATIC AIRCRAFT AND
IMPROPER SETUP AND/OR USE COULD RESULT INJURY OR DEATH.
Assembly Instructions
UNPACK
Unpack your airplane and examine the components. Check for damage of any kind. If you find any
damage, contact 3DHobbyShop and report the damage.
COVERING SEAMS
There are many seams in the covering on this aircraft where one color meets another. We recommend
using a covering iron or trim sealing tool to go over all of the covering seams on your Extra. This will help
to prevent any peeling of the covering. Repeat this periodically.
WRINKLES
Your Slick was packed at the factory without any wrinkles in the covering. You may notice some wrinkles
now; more likely, you will notice a few in a day or two or the first time you take the plane out to the flying
field. These wrinkles are the result of wood shrinkage and/or expansion. Balsa wood changes size and
shape slightly as it is exposed to varying humidity in the air. This is a natural property of balsa wood. As
your airplane adjusts to the weather in your part of the world, wrinkles may appear and disappear.
Wrinkles may be removed with the gentle application of heat to the covering material on your airplane,
using an iron and/or heat gun. Apply the heat gently: the covering material will shrink as you apply the
heat, and this will remove the wrinkles. BE CAREFUL! Too much heat applied too quickly can damage
the covering, either by causing it to pull away from the wood at seams and corners or even by melting it.
Wrinkles do not affect flight performance.
COVERING MATERIAL
Your Slick is covered with genuine OraCover material, and we have included repair sections in your kit. If
you need to repair larger sections, matching covering is sold at most hobby stores under the “UltraCote”
brand.
Hinging the Rudder
Your Slick uses hinge-point type hinges. The aileron and elevator hinging is done for you already. You
will need to hinge the rudder.
The hinging procedure is illustrated below using a typical surface, in this case a horizontal stab, but your
rudder uses the same procedure.
Apply the Vaseline only to the center of the hinge point where the two halves hinge together. We have
also used oil applied with a syringe, but the Vaseline stays in the center of the hinge point better than oil.

Apply 30 minute Epoxy glue to the inside of the holes in one surface. In the following photo, we are using
the end of a nylon zip-tie to apply the epoxy inside the hole.
Insert the hinge points into one side, and carefully align them so that they sit perfectly centered in their
holes.

Clean up any excess epoxy which comes out of the holes with a paper towel and rubbing alcohol.
Make sure the hinge points are properly centered and aligned, and set the surface aside to allow the glue
to cure.
Once the glue has cured, repeat the procedure to install the opposite surface. Push the other surface up
tight against the first one; they should almost touch. Please see photos. Use paper towel and rubbing
alcohol to clean up any excess epoxy. Allow to dry fully.

Landing gear
User blue loctite to lock all of the screws on the tailwheel assembly and re-tighten them.
Attach the tailwheel to the bottom of the fuse as shown with 3 x 3mm screws and washers. Use blue
loctite on these screws.
The main axles must be shortened .25” (6mm) with a dremel or similar tool or a hacksaw. WEAR EYE
PROTECTION when shortening the axles. Place one wheel collar over the axle, then the main wheel,
then the other collar and tighten as shown.
Note: the supplied wheels are lightweight models. If you fly from a rough field or like to do
harrier landings often, HD wheels are a good upgrade.

Insert the wheels and axles into the wheel pants and attach to the main landing gear with the nylock nuts.
Install two Phillips-head screws through the landing gear and into the pants as shown.
Tighten the 3mm hex screws inside the fuselage that hold the aluminum angle brackets to the tunnel
sides.

Attach the main gear to the fuselage using 4 x 4mm screws, washers, and locknuts.
Attach the cover plate over the landing gear screws using epoxy glue or silicone adhesive.
Elevator and Aileron Control Horns
Your Slick features phenolic control horns. The slots for the horns are pre-cut into all of the control
surfaces.
You will need to remove the covering over each of these locations. The best way to trim covering on this
aircraft is with a hot pencil-tip soldering iron. This method gives a clean cut and also seals the edges of
the covering at the cut line. You can also use a hobby knife if you cannot use a soldering iron for this job,
but the iron is recommended.
1. First, locate the control horn location in each control surface.
2. Cut away the covering over the two slots.
3. Assemble the control horns as shown, and temporarily push the horn into the slots in the control
surface (do not use glue at this time).

4. Using a pencil o marker, mark around the outside of the square base of the control horn.
5. Remove the horn and use the soldering iron to trim the covering just inside the square mark you made
with the pencil.

6. The control horns will need to be trimmed as shown. Use a dremel tool with a sanding drum
attachment. Do this work in a well-ventilated area and use eye protection!
7. Apply 30-minute epoxy liberally to the bottom of the horn and to the wood of the control surface.
Install the horn. Wipe up excess epoxy with a paper towel and alcohol. Temporarily install a 3mm bolt
through the bolt holes to ensure proper alignment of the two horn halves. Allow the epoxy to cure.

Rudder control horn
Your Slick is equipped with two rudder servo locations.
If you use a lightweight engine, such as most 50CC singles, use the forward rudder servo location
in the fuselage and the pull-pull cables. If you are using a larger engine such as 58-70CC you can
use the rear servo location and pushrod to move the CG back if required. Both positions are
illustrated below:
Pull-Pull style horn-
The rudder pull-pull control horn is installed in a similar fashion, except that it is double-sided. Remove
the covering on both sides of the rudder over the slots as you did for the elevators and ailerons, apply
epoxy to the center of the two horn pieces, and install into the rudder. Use alcohol to clean any excess
epoxy and temporarily insert two 3mm bolts through the holes in the horn to ensure alignment while the
glue cures.