Carf-Models Sukhoi SU-27 User manual

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Instruction Manual
V 1.2
Sukhoi SU-27 / 30

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Thank you very much for purchasing our SU-27/30 built with pride in our Total Area Vacuum
Sandwich technology ( TAVS).
Before you get started building and setting up your aircraft, please make sure you have read
this manual and understood it.
If you have any question, please don’t hesitate to contact your dealer, your Rep or CARF-
Models directly.
Email: [e-mail]
Telephone: Call you CARF Sales Rep - he will be there for you! A full list of dealers and reps
can be found on the CARF website: http://www.carf-models.com
Liability Exclusion and Damages
You have acquired a kit, which can be assembled into a fully working R/C model when fitted
out with suitable accessories, as described in the instruction manual with the kit.
However, as manufacturers, we at CARF-Models are not in a position to influence the way you
build and operate your model, and we have no control over the methods you use to install,
operate and maintain the radio control system components. For this reason we are obliged to
deny all liability's for loss, damage or cost which are incurred due to the incompetent or
incorrect application and operation of our products, or which are connected with such
operation in any way.
Unless otherwise prescribed by binding law, the obligation of CARF Models company to pay
compensation is excluded, regardless of the legal argument employed. This applies to
personal injury, death, damage to buildings, loss of turnover and business, interruption of
business or other direct and indirect consequent damages. In all circumstances our total
liability is limited to the amount which you actually paid for this model.
BY OPERATING THIS MODEL YOU ASSUME FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR ACTIONS!
It is important to understand that CARF Models is unable to monitor whether you follow the
instructions contained in this instruction manual regarding the construction, operating and
maintenance of the aircraft, nor whether you install and use the radio control system
correctly. For this reason we at CARF Models are unable to guarantee, or provide, a
contractual agreement with any individual or company that the model you have made,
functions correctly and safely. You, as operator of the model, must rely upon your own
expertise and judgement in acquiring and operating this model.

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Attention!
This jet aircraft is a high end product and can create an enormous risk for both pilot and
spectators. If not handled with care and use according to the instructions. Make sure that you
operate your SU-27/30 according to the laws and regulations governing model flying in the
country of use.
The engines, landing gear, servos, linkages and control surfaces have to be attached properly.
Please use only the recommended servos and accessories. Make sure that the Centre of
Gravity (CG) is located in the recommended place. Use the nose heavy end of the CG range
for your first flights. A tail heavy plane can be an enormous danger for you and all spectators.
Fix any weights and heavy items like batteries, very securely into the plane. Make sure that
the plane is secured properly when you start the engines. Have a helper hold your plane from
the nose before you start the engines. Make sure all spectators are far behind, or far in front
of the aircraft when running up the engines. Make sure that you range check your R/C system
thoroughly before the 1st flight. It is absolutely necessary to range check your complete R/C
installation first WITHOUT the engines running. Leave the transmitter antenna retracted or in
case of 2.4GHz depress the range check button and check the distance you can walk before
FAILSAVE occurs. Then start the engines, run at about half a throttle and repeat the range
check. Make sure that there is no range reduction before FAILSAVE occurs. If the range with
engine running is less then with the engine off, please don’t fly at that time. Check that the
wing and stab retaining bolts are tight and that all linkages are secured.
Please don’t ignore our warnings, or those provided by other manufactures. They refer to
things and processes which, if ignored could result in permanent damage or fatal injury.
Important/General Notes
Servo Choice
We strongly advise that you use the recommended servos and equipment listed in the
manual.
Servo Screws
Fix the all the servos into the milled plywood servo mounts using the 2.9x13mm or 16mm
sheet metal screws provided in the Kit, not the standard screws normally supplied with the
servos by the servo manufacturer. This because all the holes in our milled servo mounts are
2mm diameter, due to our CNC manufacturing process and this is too big for the normal
screws.
Building Sequence
The actual building sequence is your choice but it is usually most efficient to start as
suggested in this manual, which has been created by building several airplanes by several
experienced modellers.

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Adhesives and Solvents
Not all types of glue are suited to working with composite parts. Please don’t use inferior
quality glue you will end up with a inferior quality plane. That is not strong or save. Jet models
require good gluing techniques, due to the higher flying speeds, and hence higher loads on
many of the joints. We highly recommend that you use a slow curing epoxy such a 24hr resin
and fill it with cotton flock or thixo for gluing highly stressed joints.
We take great care during production at the factory to ensure that all joints are properly
glued but of course it is wise to check these yourself and regular any might just have been
missed. When sanding areas on the inside of the composite sandwich parts to prepare the
surface for gluing something onto it, do not sand trough the layer of lightweight glass cloth on
the inside foam sandwich. It is only necessary to rough up the surface, with 120grit and wipe
of any dust with acetone or de-natured alcohol before gluing to make a perfect joint. Of
course, you should always prepare both parts to be joined before gluing for the highest
quality joints. Don’t use ACETON for cleaning external painted surfaces as you will damage
the paint.
TIP:
For cleaning small spots or marks off the painted surface you can use liquid cigarette-lighter
fuel.
Tip:
Use only high quality 5 or 30 min epoxy, since the cheap brands of this kind of glue are not
moisture resistant like a proper resin. You will notice this as older bondings change their
color and get more and more soft until the bond eventually fails.
At CARF Models we try our best to offer you a high quality kit, with outstanding value-for-
money and as complete as possible. However, if you think that some additional or different
hardware should be included, please feel free to let us know.
Email us :[e-mail].
We know that even good things can be made better!

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Accessories:
This is a list of suggested accessories which will help you to complete your project:
1 9 x Standard size digital servos with at least 25 kg (JR 8911 or similar*)
2 2 x 10mm digital servos with at least 6 kg (Savöx 0211MG, MKS 6625,or similar)*
3 1 x Pneumatic pack for speed brake (130650)
4 1 x Cockpit (360104)
5 1 x Tank set (360106)
6 1 x Retract set for SU27 (360500)or Su30 (360510)
7 1 x Wheels and brakes set for SU27 (360550)or Su30 (360560)
8 2 x Receiver Batteries
9 1 x Powerbox receiver and power management system
10 2 x Turbine Jetcat P100 RX or similar
* use Aluminium servo horns only!!!

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Center of Gravity (CG) and rudder deflections:
The CG is located 10-20mm in front of the big wing tube.
Rudder deflections:
The SU-27/30 is flown with tailerons only. Thus you have to mix elevator and aileron function.
- Neutral position of the taileron is approximately 90-95mm from fuselage edge (see page 21)
- Elevator up: 50mm (measured at the leading edge of the taileron)
- Elevator down: 45mm (measured at the leading edge of the taileron)
- Aileron up: 40mm (measured at the leading edge of the taileron)
- Aileron down: 45mm (measured at the leading edge of the taileron)
- Rudder left/right: 30mm (measured at the bottom of the rudder)
- Flaps: 35mm for take off, 35-50mm (optionally up to max possible mechanical deflection)
for
landing (measured at the outside chord of the flap)
Please note:
The above values are suggestions based on the first flight tests. It is always possible to
adjust these values to your personal likings but it is advisable to start with the moderate
values given above!
10-20mm

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General information
The fuselage and the wings are made of total area sandwich technology (TAVS) and are
reinforced with carbon in the highly stressed areas. Carbon reinforced gear formers are
installed and alligned.

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Included hardware
Fin Pack Fuselage Pack
Gear door Pack Taileron Pack
Wing Pack Accessories

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Slat servo installation
Assemble the servo mount for the outer slat
servo. Mark the exact position of the linkage
on the outside of the servo cover. Then copy
the mark to the inside of the servo cover.
Glue the servo mount (with temporarily
installed servo) in correct and centered
position.
Important: After removal of the servo
reinforce the servo mount with Hysol and
fiberglass patches.
Enlarge the linkage hole as needed. Don’t
damage the carbon string.

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Prepare the servo horns for both slat
servos with a length of 14mm.
Mount the servo horns with a servo
tester right-angled. Then rotate both
servos in this position (slat –in).
Adjust the linkage for the outer servo to
approx. 92mm. Glue 1 of the 2 counter
nuts to the rod. Then remove the clevis
of that side.
Clip the removed clevis to the slat horn.
14mm
92mm
Slat servo installation

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Insert the linkage with a little Loctite
from the servo side and screw it into the
mounted clevis.
Clip the clevis into the servo horn. It
might be helpful to set the servo in a
right-angled position again, remove the
servo horn, connect it to the clevis and
then permanently install the servo horn
right-angled.
Tighten the center screw with Loctite.
Install the wiring for the Slat servo
through the wing root.
For the inner slat servo, adjust the
linkage for the inner servo like to approx.
108mm.
Then grind the linkage hole the bottom
of the rip. Don’t damage the CFK string.
108mm
Slat servo installation

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As already done for the outer slat
servo, glue 1 nut to the threaded rod
and remove the clevis from that side.
Mount the servo horn with a servo
tester right-angled.
Install the removed clevis to the inner
horn of the slat.
Mount the servo in the wing and
install the linkage analog to the outer
slat servo.
Now it is important to match both
servo connection extreme exact.
Modern radios will give you enough
channels, but it is recommended to
use a servo matching device such as a
PowerBox, JR Match Box or Futaba
MSA10.
Slat servo installation

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Flap servo installation
Assemble the servo mount for the flap
servo exactly like done for the outer slat
servo.
Mark the exact position of the linkage
on the outside of the servo cover,
carry over to the inside, glue the servo
mount with temporarily installed flap
servo to the correct position and
reinforce with epoxy and fiberglass
patches after removal of the servo.
Enlarge the linkage hole to both edges of
the spar. Don’t damage the carbon string.
30mm

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Prepare for the flap servos of both wing
halves the servo horns with a length of
14mm.
Mount the servo arms in center position
(servo tester).
Grind the corners of the servo mount for
easier installation.
Grind the lip-cover as shown on the photo
for easier installation of the clevis.
Note: Only grind away as much as
necessary...
Adjust the linkage like this for both servos
to 103mm.
Grind here
14mm
103mm
Flap servo installation

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Mark the position of the linkage and grind
the wooden reinforcement frame for
maximum space as shown on the photo.
Protect the wing surface first and install the
servo as shown. Installing the flap servo is
a bit tricky because the linkage crosses
over from the bottom side of the wing to
the top. However, this is the best
geometrical way to do it.
Connect the clevis with the flap horn. Then
close the cover with 4 sheet metal screws.
Please note: The first kits manufactured in
2015 had the flap control horn installed
too deep inside the flap (too close to the
spar) so that the angles didn’t work
properly. We have a simple solution to
correct this and provide a short leaflet to
describe the fix. If your flap control horn
doesn’t look like on the photo on the
right, please contact us and we will email
this little instruction to you!
Flap servo installation

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Note: Even at the full scale version both
fins are identical and not in mirror!
Regular 15/16 mm servo:
Mark the exact position of the linkage to
the fin. If necessary mark areas which
have to be cut to fit the servo and cut
those areas out.
Glue the wooden framework into the fin.
Check your marks!
Install the servo horn (15 mm) and center
it with a servo tester! Use a little Loctite
for the center screw. Make sure it is
strong enough to transfer the torque
safely!
Apply some double sided tape to the top
side of the servo. This is not to “glue” the
hatch to the servo but to have a soft
cushion between hatch and servo to hold
it safely down.
Vertical fins / servo installation

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Then add some silicone to the servo and
permanently install it in its place.
Note: The silicone is very important as it
makes sure that the servo will not move
in the servo frame. You will always be
able to remove the servo by pulling it
gently. Not using Silicone can cause
rudder flutter!
Close the servo hatch with 4 sheet metal
screws and install the linkage. If necessary,
enlarge the slot in the servo hatch so that
the servo can move freely its full throw
without binding.
10 mm low profile servo:
Please note: Only the latest examples
of 10 mm HV servos with 70+ Newton
torque are allowed.
We show the installation of a MKS HV
Servo but there are others like Savöx or
Graupner or Hacker as well. The
installation is easier and self
explaining, matching wood frames are
included in the hardware bag.
Vertical fins / servo installation

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Vertical fins / fin installation
The fins are connected with the fuselage
by 2 solid carbon rods. For packing reasons
the rods are not yet glued into the
fuselage. Also because there are 2 different
fin options available, slight tolerances can
be caught and corrected in this work step.
However, it is absolutely necessary to glue
the rods into the fuselage.
Drill 2mm holes from below into the
fuselage in the center of the tube
positions. These will act as vent holes (see
picture above).
Grind both carbon rods in the gluing area.
Insert the carbon rods into the fins and
bolt them securely in place! Apply very
little Epoxy/Hysol on the lower part of the
rods and ample Epoxy/Hysol inside the
sleeves in the fuselage.
Then slide the fins slowly on to the
fuselage and remove the excess glue.
Removing the glue is important otherwise
you risk glueing the fin permanently to the
fuselage.
After the glue has set remove the fin
fixture bolts and remove the fins.

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Horizontal stab / servo installation
Neutral
15°
Neutral
15°
F
R
O
N
T
66mm
20mm
82mm
33mm
For redundancy and flight safety each
taileron should be controlled by 2 servos.
To make the installation of the rods and
the adjustments of the servos easy please
use the included mounting jig which has
the same dimension as the servo mounts
in the fuselage. It is important to match
both servos extremely exact. Either with
your transmitter or even better, with a
matching device like PowerBox, JR Match
Box or Futaba MSA10.
Note: The neutral position of the elevator
servo arms is 15 degree forward!
The connection linkage between the two
servos should be installed at the 20 mm
holes. Start with 66 mm length and fine
tune VERY precisely so that the servo arms
are exactly parallel.
The distance for the actual elevator
pushrod from center axis is 33-35mm.
The length of the actual taileron pushrod
connection is 82mm hole-to-hole.
Obviously strong aluminium servo arms
have to be used!

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The photo above shows how your dummy
servo installation should look like. To start
the fuselage installation remove the servos
from the jig but leave the linkages on the
servo arms, only disconnect the two servos
by removing the clevis from the REAR
servo.
Insert the rear elevator servo first with
taileron linkage attached and screw it
carefully into place by using the included
2.9 mm sheet metal screws. Then insert
the front elevator servo and screw it into
place. The connection linkage must stay on
the servo arm while inserting and installing
this front servo.
Through the access hatch clip the clevis of
the connection rod into the corresponding
hole of the rear servo using a screwdriver.
Note: Using spring steel clevises is the
only way to install and remove the servos
without great hassle. The included
clevises are of HIGHEST QUALITY and will
NEVER fail if they are not overstretched
during installation.
Note: The taileron control horns are
made from phenolic material because this
only won’t wear the steel pin of the main
clevis over time. Due to place constraints
a ball link cannot be used. DO NOT
CHANGE ANY COMPONENTS IN THIS
ASSEMBLY!!!
Horizontal stab / servo installation