Direct Connection RC Eclipse Manual

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©Direct Connection RC
Eclipse Build Manual
Thank-you for your purchase of the new Eclipse kit, the following instructions are meant
to guide you in assembling your plane.
Advanced builders may find they need to make slight deviations in order to better suite
their abilities and desired plane outcome.
As always due to the type of wood used slight bends or warping to the wood may occur
but should not affect the overall structure.
**This manual contains instructions for both electric and glow type builds. **

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Parts
•Leading Edge (2pcs)
•Battery Cover (3pcs)
•Fuselage bottom, left and right sides
(3pcs)
•Fin Triangles (2pcs)
•Elevons (2pcs)
•Main Spar (2pcs)
•Main Spar Brace (1pc)
•Wing tips (2pcs)
•Trailing edge; top and bottom (4pcs)
•Rib Set; Numbered 1 –7 (14pcs)
•Motor Mount (4pc)
•Center fuse former (1pc)
•Servo Tray Mount (1pc)
•Throttle Servo Mount Box Top (1pc)
•Throttle Servo Standoffs (6pcs)
•Leading edge Wing sheeting (4pcs)
•Trailing Edge Spacers (12pcs)
•Trailing edge wing tips (2pcs)
•Top wing sheeting (2pcs)
•Decals (2pcs: Graphic and logo)
Additional Requirements
•CA or Wood Glue
•CA Glue Accelerator (recommended)
•Hobby Square
•Pins
•Sanding Plane/block
•Airplane covering & necessary items to adhere
•Epoxy
Recommended Parts
•3S 2200mah Battery
•Turnigy SK3546-1400 408 watts 1500kv motor
For Glow a .15 or .25 Glow Engine
•HS85mg or HS82mg Servos
•Speed controller; 40-50amp ESC 2-4S cell
•Dubro hinges
•8x8 APC electric prop or a 9x6 Glow rated prop
•Glow Use - 120CC tank; 3 ½” x 2” x 1 ½”
•256 push rods with steel clevises and fuel line to hold the clevises closed.
•Dubro control surface horns

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Pre –Build
1. Align each set of the trailing edge pieces on a flat surface along a long straight edge. Glue
together each of the trailing edge sets at the zig-zag joint using your preferred glue (CA). Allow
to set. This will leave you with a top and bottom piece for the trailing edge. Set aside.
2. Lay the two main spar pieces flat, aligning along a straight edge. Recommended keeping the slot
end up and using small weights to keep the spar as flat as possible. Glue together the two main
spar pieces at the zig-zag joint using your preferred glue (CA); allow to set. Set aside.

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3. Assemble the 3 pieces of the battery cover. Glue and allow to set. Set aside.
4. Ensure you have a complete rib set with 2 ribs numbered 1 through 7.

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Build
1. Place the fuselage bottom on a flat surface. Identify the left (top circle; longer tab) and right
(bottom circle; shorter tab) sides of the fuselage; a thrust angle is built into the fuselage.

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2. Identify the two fuse formers; F1 center fuse former (electric planes) and F2 fuse former (glow
planes). Note the top and bottom of the formers as shown.
3. Option 1 Electric Plane:
Set the left and right fuselage sides upright inserting the F1 center fuse former; the F2 fuse
former is NOT required, and may be discarded. All the F1 former tabs should fit snugly inside
the fuselage. Glue the front tabs of the fuselage and the F1 former at this time. Leaving the back
portion of the fuselage open at this time.
F1
F2

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Option 2 Glow Plane:
For a Glow plane discard the F1 center fuse former. Set the left and right fuselage sides upright
and insert the F2 fuse former. The F2 fuse former is designed for a 4oz (120cc) 3 ½” x 2” x 1 ½”
fuel tank application. Ensure the F2 former is aligned appropriately before gluing along with the
front tabs of the fuselage. Leaving the back portion of the fuselage open at this time.
*Ensure the fuel tank is installed BEFORE the fuselage is glued to the wing.
You will want to build your throttle servo mount box. There are 3 sets of throttle servo mount
standoffs provided depending on the height option you desire for the servo. You can run the
throttle servo linkage through the center fuse former and drill your hole in the firewall as
required for your engine throttle linkage.

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Once you have selected your appropriate height, glue the standoff pieces to the top piece and
insert into the fuselage gluing into place as shown. Ensure your fuel tank is secured prior to
installing the throttle servo mount box. We recommend using foam around the fuel tank and
some kind of strap epoxied to the fuselage to hold the fuel tank in place and all other necessary
items.

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4. Identify the 2 motor mount pieces depending on your airplane type; glow or electric. The pre
drilled motor mounts are designed for electric and the solid motor mount pieces are designed
for glow application. In some instances, those with electric planes may wish to use the solid
motor mount pieces when using a custom motor. The extra motor mount pieces can be
discarded or saved for future use if desired.
5. Option 1 Electric Plane:
Insert the two pre-drilled motor mounts (or customed motor mounts) these will be stacked
against one another and should be epoxied and allowed to set before installing into the
fuselage.
Option 2 Glow Plane:
Using the undrilled motor mount set Epoxy the set together and allow to set before installing
into the fuselage. Once the mounts have set, we recommend you epoxy the mount into the
fuselage prior to drilling your required holes for the engine and throttle cable. You may wish to
take this time to install your blind nuts. You may also wish to brush coat a thin layer of epoxy on
the inside of the fuselage to protect the wood from fuel leaks.

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6. Install the top motor box cover onto the fuselage. We recommend Epoxy.
7. Glue in the rear servo mount tray onto the rear back portion of the fuselage.

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8. Curve the fuselage bottom to the sides, holding firmly and glue to the sides with CA using
accelerant as required. Fuselage should be sanded to allow for covering to adhere later on. Set
the fuselage aside.
9. Set the main spar up on edge with the slots facing up, ensuring the longest edge of the zig zag
joint is on the left-hand side as shown.

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10. Set the main spar brace onto the front of the wing overlapping the zig zag joint before placing
the ribs into the main spar.

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11. Loosely set the ribs (1 - 7) within the main spar. Working from the center at the first main spar
brace slot with ribs #1 out to the edge to ribs #7 on each side. (The 3rd rib is a half rib and is
tucked beside Rib 2 making the numeric non visible in the photo.)

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12. Leave the main spar assembled without glue and push to the side to allow for working room for
the next step.
13. Pin one of the trailing edge sets to the mat or work surface (we’ve used such platforms as ½”
drywall, old ceiling tiles or thick foam board) to keep the pieces as flat as possible. To ensure the
best possible fit make sure the trailing edge piece has the 3 pieced zig zag joint aligning to the
left matching the main spar. Tips* Wax paper or Parchment paper before you pin the wing down
*

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14. Align the main spar and the tail ends of the ribs to the designated spots within the trailing edge.
You may wish to remove the #3 half rib at this time as the proximity to rib #2 can make gluing
difficult. Square the bottom trailing edge to the ribs and pin as necessary.
15. Once everything has been squared and fitment is snug glue each rib (less the half rib at this
time) with CA. Pressing each rib firmly into place while gluing.

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16. Replace both of the rib #3 (half rib) and glue the tail into place as best as possible. All ribs should
be glued to the bottom trailing edge while the center of the ribs remains unglued and loose in
the main spar.
17. This is the best time to insert the trailing edge spacers should be placed and glued flush as
shown. Each trailing edge spacer will have to be cut to size and sanded as required. Trailing edge
spacers provided are sent in a generic size to allow for size differences. There are 12 spacers
provided but only 11 should be required, the trailing spacers are imperative to being able to
ensure you have material to adhere your hinges to.
18. Locate your remaining trailing edge piece. Recheck the fitment for the top trailing edge piece
within the ribs as the zig zag should match the already glued trailing edge piece. Pieces may
require sanding for best fitment. Set the trailing edge aside and place glue (medium CA is
recommended without the use of an accelerator) on the top of each tail piece of the ribs and
the trailing edge spacers. Then insert the top trailing edge piece working from the center
outwards to adhere to the ribs and trailing spacers. You may require weights or additional pins
to hold the top trailing edge in place while the glue sets.

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19. Unpin the plane from the building board.
20. Using CA, glue the main spar brace flush to the main spar. This can be obtained by tilting the
plane up and pushing the brace from the bottom to align with the main spar.
If building for a higher torqued plane than specified a piece of 1”fiberglass cloth may be
wrapped around the main spar joint to provide additional strength, in extreme circumstances.
21. Re-pin the plane to your building board.

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22. Align the head of the ribs within the main spar and ensure each rib is sitting flush within the
spar. Some ribs may require more downward pressure than others to set appropriately. You
may wish to tack glue the ribs to start before adhering with CA or wood glue, using your
accelerator as needed to help the setting process. If the ribs are not sitting flush within the main
spar you will find your sheeting will be affected. Be careful not to add to much glue to rib #1 or
the fuselage may not fit on the inside portion of the ribs. Ribs #5 –7 (see 2nd photo) should be
aligned from the head of the rib to sit flush as the center portion of the main ribs after the spar
will sit slightly above to allow for the sheeting. Allow to set.
23. Unpin the plane from the building board. Turning the plane over glue the backside of the ribs to
the main spar using wood or white glue.
Note Ribs #5 - #7

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24. Test fit the fuselage to the wing. The fuselage cutouts along the sides should align with the main
ribs. You may be required to sand the fuselage again.
25. Place the supplied wing tips into the main spar ends, ensure wing tips are sitting flush before
gluing into place.

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26. With the fuselage Find the two leading edge pieces (¼” x ¼”x16⅝” hardwood) to the plane.
Leading edge pieces provided are slightly longer than required. Cut and sand the two leading
edge pieces to fit your plane accordingly.
27. Add a small amount of glue to the fuselage nose of the rib and the wing tip rib leaving the
center ribs open until fitted. Remove the fuselage.
28. Place the wing back on the building board. You may desire to re-pin the wing to the board. Using
your square to keep the nose of the ribs aligned with the leading edge as you glue each leading-
edge piece down into the ribs.
29. Repeat for both sides of the leading edge; top and bottom of the ribs.
30. Sand the inside pieces of the leading edge where the fuselage will sit.