advanced scale models Pitts Special User manual

INSTRUCTION MANUAL
Asemi scale model of the
world’s leading competition
aerobatic and airshow
display aircraft.
Technical Specification
Span: 1588mm (62.5 in)
Length: 1372mm (54 in)
Engine: 1.20 cu in Four Stroke
Radio: 4 Channel with four high torque
and one standardservo
Pitts
Special
Historyof the Pitts Special
It is hard to believe that it was as long ago as 1943 when Curtis Pitts built the first of a series of aircraft
that would dominate competition aerobatics throughout the 70s and 80s. Christened the ‘Pitts Special’,
it went on to be the most successful and easily recognised American-built aerobatic design. It was
certainly evolutionary and because of its small size, light weight, short wingspan and extreme agility, it
remained unbeaten until it was finally toppled by the Russian Yak-50.
While there have been many versions of the Pitts Special - in both single and two seat versions - it is
widely accepted in the aviation community that the Pitts Special is THE standard by which all other
aerobatic planes are judged - and few have ever matched. The design has been continuously refined,
however,the current Pitts Specials still remain close to the original in concept and in actual design... a
testament to the genius of Pitts’ original concept.
Wingspan: 5.28 m (17 ft 4 in) • Length: 4.72 m (15 ft 6 in) • Weight: 290 kg (640 lb)
•Speed (max): 253 km/h (157 mph) at sea level • Power plant: 93.2-kW (125-hp) engine
Pitts
Special
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Additional Items Required to Complete the Pitts Special:
• 2 x Standard size high torque, metal geared servos for aileron control
•2 x Standard size high torque, metal geared servos for rudder and elevator
•1 x Standard servo for throttle
•High capacity receiver battery and heavy duty switch harness
• 5 and 30 Minute epoxy glue
• Medium and thin CA adhesive
• Masking and clear tape
• 1.20 cu in 4 stroke engine with flexible manifold and 16" x 8 " propeller
Safety Warning:
This R/C aircraft is not a toy. Serious injury or damage to property can result through misuse and abuse. It is
recommended that this aircraft is flown at a dedicated R/C flying site and that a qualified instructor thoroughly
checks over the model before its first flight.
Your local model shop should be able to assist you regarding flying clubs in your area.
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THE WINGS
STEP 1.
Glue each of the aileron hinges (four per aileron) half
way into the wing training edges using thin cyano
ensuring the glue soaks into the hinge and the
surrounding wood.
STEP 2.
Fit teh ailerons to the wings ensuring gap-free hinge
lines, making sure the ailerons are centred between the
root and tip, and that each is free to move through their
entire travel. Carefully add a couple of drops of thin
cyano to each hinge ensuring that the glue does not run
through the hinge line onto the bottom of the wing. Turn
the wing over and drop more cyano onto each hinge
from the other side. Repeat for both wings.
STEP 3.
Check the fit of your choice of aileron servos into the
pre-cut apertures in the underside of the lower wing.
Connect extension leads to the servos as necessary. Fit
the rubber grommets and brass ferrules supplied with
your servos, pilot drill then mount your servos as shown
using the screws supplied with your radio.
STEP 4.
Locate the aileron horns, pushrods and nylon clevises
and make up the linkages as shown. Position each horn
on its aileron - in line with the aileron pushrod and the
hinge line - then pilot drill the ailerons and mount the
horns with the screws and hornbacking plates
supplied.
STEP 5.
Locate the aileron connection horns, pushrods and
nylon clevises that will link the upper and lower ailerons.
Align the horns on the hinge lines as shown so that
each pushrod passes through the pre-cut holes in the
lower wing. Pilot drill the ailerons and mount the horns
with the screws and horn backing plates supplied.

STEP 6.
Turn the wing over and clip off any excess screw length
flush with the horn backing plates as shown. Ensure
that the extended aileron servo leads cannot fall back
into the wings.
UNDERCARRIAGE
STEP 7.
Roughen the inside of each wheel spat and glue the
plywood reinforcement squares in place as shown.
Make sure you make a left and right hand spat.
STEP 8.
Using the pre-drilled hole as a guide, drill right through
the spat and the reinforcement square using a
4mm drill.
STEP 9.
Assemble each wheel and spat to the pre-formed
aluminium undercarriage using the diagram as a a
guide. You will need to enlarge the outer hole to pass
the mounting bolt through. Apply thread lock to the
ends of the bolts before tightening the final nut.
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STEP 10.
Locate the tailwheel and the three self tapping
mounting screws. Pilot drill the holes, then attach to the
rear of the fuselage ensuring that the pivot point is in
line with the rudder hinge line.
STEP 11.
Mount the main undercarriage using the three cap head
screws supplied. Ensure that the spats are aligned
as shown.
STEP 12.
Now pilot drill through the undercarriage into each spat
as shown and use a self tapping screw to secure the
spat in position.
INSTALLING THE ENGINE
STEP 13.
Prepare the fuel tank bung as shown, ensuring that the
clunk is free to move around the tank once assembled.
Do not over-tighten the assembly screw.
STEP 14.
Slide the fuel tank into its bay from the rear and pack
with dense foam to retain. Bolt the engine mount in
position using the cap head bolts and washers supplied
into the captive nuts already fitted in the bulkhead.
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STEP 15.
Clamp your engine to the mount ensuring that the front
of the prop driver is 130mm in front of the bulkhead.
Mark the engine mount though the engine’s mounting
lugs as shown and remove the engine.
STEP 16.
Drill clearance holes in the engine mount for the
mounting bolts supplied. Connect three lengths of fuel
tubing to the tank then mount the engine.
STEP 17.
Prepare the throttle linkage by drilling a hole through the
front bulkhead as shown and fitting a pushrod
connector to the throttle arm. Mount your throttle servo
in the front of the pre-cut servo tray and use a wire
pushrod and clevis to complete.
STEP 18.
Now screw the three captive cowl retainers as shown.
Pilot drill the mounting holes first and use the self
tapping screws supplied.
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UNDERWING FAIRING
STEP 19.
Temporarily bolt the lower wing in position and tape the
underwing fairing in place, ensuring that it is centred
and level with the fuselage at the front and rear. Mark
the fairing’s position on the wing using a felt tipped pen.
STEP 20.
Using a sharp knife, carefully cut through the film just
inside the lines you just marked. IMPORTANT: It is
essential that you do not cut into the surface of the wing
or it will be severely weakened. Attach the fairing using
medium cyano, taking care not glue the wing to
the fuselage!
TAILPLANE & RUDDER
STEP 21.
Slide the tailplane in position. Carefully centre it and
check it is true and square to both the wing and
fuselage. Mark both sides (top and bottom) of the tail
where it enters the fuselage then remove.
STEP 22.
Using a sharp knife, carefully cut through the film just
inside the lines you just marked. IMPORTANT: It is
essential that you do not cut into the surface of the
tailplane or it will be severely weakened. Ensuring the
tailplane is square and centred to the fuselage, glue it in
position using medium cyano.
STEP 23.
Hinge the elevators using three hinges per side and the
rudder using a further three hinges in exactly the same
way as the ailerons. Locate the steerable tailwheel wire
drive rod and after drilling a pilot hole in the rudder, glue
it in position as shown.
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STEP 24.
Use the closed loop components to complete the
rudder linkage as shown. The elevators use a pre-
formed Y shaped pushrod operated from a single servo
as shown. Test the free operation of the elevators and
rudder.
FINAL ASSEMBLY
STEP 25.
Tape the canopy in position on the fuselage, checking
that the canopy frame is centred. Pilot drill and screw
the canopy in position using the four small self tapping
screws supplied.
STEP 26.
Locate the undercarriage fairings and attach them to
the aluminium undercarriage legs using five minute
epoxy. Note that they are handed left and right.
STEP 27.
The most convenient way of mounting the silencer is
using a flexible manifold as shown here. Attach the
silence using a nylon mount screwed to the base of the
fuselage in front of the undercarriage or your
preferred method.
STEP 28.
Attach the cowl using the moulded captive cowl
retainers you fitted to the bulkhead earlier. Trim the cowl
as necessary to clear the engine’s cylinder head and for
access to the glowplug. Extend the needle valve
as required.
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STEP 29.
Mount the switch through the fuselage side and the
receiver on dense foam tie-wrapped to the mount
shown, which is screwed into place on the servo tray
after the fuel tank has been fitted. If fitting a high
capacity receiver battery (recommended), you will be
able to mount this in the bay behind the fuel tank.
STEP 30.
Rigging the model is best accomplished by fitting the
lower wing first, followed by the interplane struts and
then the top wing. Adjust the interconnecting pushrods
between the ailerons ensuring all four ailerons are level
at their neutral position.
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Distributed in the USA by:
Global Hobby
18480 Bandilier Circle,
Fountain Valley,
CA 92708. USA.
Distributed in Europe by:
Ripmax Ltd.,
241 Green Street, Enfield,
EN3 7SJ. UK.
Distributed in Australia by:
Model Engines (Aust.) Pty.Ltd.
P.O. 828, Noble Park,
VIC., 3174
www.modelengines.com.au
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Balancing the Model
Itis imperative that the model balances correctly before you
attempt to fly. The balance point should be 12mm ahead of the
upper wing’s rear mounting bolt. Adjust the position of the receiver
battery to achieve this balance point if necessary.
Guarantee
Advanced Scale Models guarantees this kit to be free from defects in both material and workmanship at the date of
purchase. This does not cover any component/parts damaged by use, misuse or modification. In no case shall
Advanced Scale Models’ liability exceed the original cost of the kit.
In that Advanced Scale Models has no control over the final assembly or the material used for final assembly, no
liability shall be assumed for any damage resulting from the use by the user of the final user-assembled product. By
the act of using the final user-assembled product, the user accepts all resulting liability.
Control Throws
Ailerons: 12mm Up 12mm Down
Elevator: 40mm Up 40mm Down
Rudder: 50mm Left 50mm Down
Flying Tips
Just like the full-size, the Pitts Special is a highly manoeuvrable and aerobatic biplane. As with any close coupled
biplane it should not be slowed too much on landing until familiar with the model’s characteristics.