Extreme Flight MXS-EXP User manual

94" MXS-EXP ARF
Assembly Manual
Copyright 2 15 Extreme Flight
1

Please take a few moments to read this instruction manual before beginning assembly. We
have outlined a fast, clear and easy method to assemble this aircraft and familiarizing
yourself with this process will aid in a quick, easy build.
Please read the following paragraph before beginning assembly
of your aircraft!
THIS IS NOT A TOY! Serious injury, destruction of property, or even death may result
from the misuse of this product. Extreme Flight is providing you, the consumer, with a
very high quality model aircraft component kit, from which you, the consumer, will
assemble a flying model. It is beyond our control to monitor the finished aircraft you
produce. Extreme Flight RC will in no way accept or assume responsibility or liability for
damages resulting from the use of this user assembled product. This aircraft should be
flown in accordance with the AMA safety code. It is highly recommended that you join
the Academy of Model Aeronautics in order to be properly insured and operate your
model at AMA sanctioned flying fields only. If you are not willing to accept ALL liability
for the use of this product, please return it to the place of purchase immediately.
Extreme Flight RC, Ltd. guarantees this kit to be free of defects in materials and
workmanship for a period of 3 DAYS from the date of purchase. All warranty claims
must be accompanied by the original dated receipt. This warranty is extended to the
original purchaser of the aircraft kit only. Extreme Flight RC in no way warranties its
aircraft against flutter. We have put these aircraft through the most grueling flight tests
imaginable and have not experienced any control surface flutter. Proper servo selection
and linkage set-up is absolutely essential. Inadequate servos or improper linkage set up
may result in flutter and possibly the complete destruction of your aircraft. If you are not
experienced in this type of linkage set-up or have questions regarding servo choices, please
contact us at inf[email protected] or 77 -887-1794. It is your responsibility to
ensure the airworthiness of your model.
2

Congratulations on your purchase of the Extreme Flight RC 94 inch MXS-EXP ARF!
The MXS is loaded with unique features, including first rate hardware, components and
thorough instructions to ensure a trouble free assembly and set-up. Weight saving
components are used throughout, such as carbon fiber structural reinforcement, carbon
fiber wing and stab mounting tubes, carbon fiber landing gear, titanium pushrods and a
carbon fiber tail wheel assembly, all ensuring the lightest, most high performance aircraft
possible. You will notice there is a box built into the bottom of the MXS fuselage. This is a
pipe tunnel and will accommodate most canister mufflers and tuned pipes sold for the
current makes of 5 -7 cc gas engines.
The performance ability of the Extreme Flight RC MXS-EXP is phenomenal! This sleek,
fast and agile airframe is completely unlimited in its ability to perform the full range of
full stall high alpha maneuvers and aggressive gyroscopic tumbling maneuvers. The MXS
is rewriting the rule book on ultra-aggressive 3D maneuvers! Unrivaled in pitch and yaw
authority, the MXS will be the machine that introduces a whole new level of gyroscopic
gyrations and insane tumbles to the hardcore 3D masses. Rock solid in all aspects of
current 3D maneuvers, the MXS will give those that fly on the bleeding edge the
confidence and capability to push through and break new ground in expanding the
rapidly evolving 3D flight envelope. Utilizing the same lightweight interlocking laser cut
construction and carbon reinforcement as our Extra, the MXS is capable of handling the
most punishing maneuvers imaginable.
We have spent a great deal of time and effort to provide you, the discriminating aerobatic
enthusiast, with the highest quality, most complete package possible. We are very proud of
the end result of our labor and wish you great success with the assembly and flying of
your Extreme Flight RC 94 inch MXS!
3

Items needed for completion:
Masking tape.
Hobby knife with #11 blades.
Thin and medium CA. We highly recommend Mercury M5T thin and M1 XF
medium formulas as well as the Mercury glue tips.
3 minute epoxy. Mercury Adhesives Epoxies have worked very well for us.
Blue and Red Loctite.
Electric drill with an assortment of small drill bits.
Small flat head and Phillips head screw drivers.
Standard and needle nose pliers.
Side cutters.
Metric ball driver or allen key set.
Sanding block and sandpaper.
5 x Hitec HS-938 TH, MKS HV-777, HBL-38 X8 or comparable servos.
1 x standard size servo for the throttle.
2 x 1.5” single aluminum Servo Arms for the ailerons
2 x 2” single aluminum arms for the elevators
1 x 4” double offset aluminum arm for the rudder.
2 x 6” Servos Extensions.
2 x 12” Servo Extensions.
1 24" Servo Extension.
2 x 36” Servo Extensions. If you need to remove the stabs for transport use 48"
extensions.
4” Spinner.
6 cc-7 cc gas engine.
Engine Manufacturer recommended prop.
The Ultracote colors used on the MXS are as follows:
Yellow/Blue/White color scheme: Bright Yellow, White, Midnight Blue
Red/White/Blue color scheme: True Red, White, Midnight Blue
4

Tips for Success:
1. Before starting assembly, take a few minutes to read the entire instruction manual
to familiarize yourself with the assembly process.
2. Go over all the seams on the aircraft with a covering iron on a medium heat setting.
Also, due to climate changes, wrinkles may develop in the covering. These are easily
removed with a little bit of heat. Use a 1 % cotton tee-shirt and your heat gun and
heat the covering while gently rubbing the covering onto the wood with the t-shirt.
Be careful not to use too much heat as the covering may shrink too much and begin
to lift at the edges. Take your time, and a beautiful, paint-like finish is attainable.
3. Apply CA to high stress areas such as servo mounting trays, landing gear mounts,
anti-rotation pins, wing and stab root ribs, and motor box joints etc.
4. By the time your aircraft arrives at your door step, it will have been handled by a lot
of people. Occasionally, there are small dings or imperfections on some of the
surfaces. An effective method to restore these imperfections to original condition is
to use a very fine tipped hypodermic needle and inject a drop of water under the
covering material and into the ding in the wood. Apply heat to the area with a
sealing iron and the imperfection will disappear. Deeper marks may require that
this process be repeated a couple of times to achieve the desired result, but you will
be surprised at how well this technique works.
5. Use a high quality epoxy for installing the composite control horns and hinges. We
highly recommend Mercury Adhesives 3 minute Epoxy as well as Pacer Hinge
Glue. We are very pleased with the results and ease of application and cleanup of
these products.
6. Take the time to properly balance and trim your aircraft and set up rates and
exponential values. Your flying experience will be greatly enhanced once your plane
is properly dialed in.
5

Let's begin!
Elevator Assembly
1. Locate the horizontal stabilizer/elevator assemblies as well as the composite
control horns and base plates from the elevator hardware package. Use a sharp
#11 blade or soldering iron to remove the covering over the 2 slots for the
elevator control horns on the bottom of the elevator surface.
2. Insert the 2 control horns into the base plate and trial fit the horns into the slot,
making sure they seat properly against the base and elevator surface.
6

3. Trace around the base plate with a felt tipped marker.
4. Remove the horn assembly and use a #11 blade to remove the covering from
inside the ink line you traced around the control horn base.
7

5. Wipe away the ink line with a cotton cloth or paper towel soaked in denatured
alcohol.
6. Use sandpaper to scuff the portion of the horns and base plate that will be
inserted into the elevator.
8

7. Apply 3 minute epoxy to the elevator slots using a zip tie to ensure the slots are
filled will epoxy.
8. Also, apply a generous amount of epoxy to the bottom of the G-1 control horns
and base plate.
9

9. Reinsert the assembly into the elevator and wipe away any excess epoxy with a
cloth and denatured alcohol. Place a 3mm bolt through the horns to help insure
proper alignment and set aside to dry. Repeat for the other elevator half.
1 . Next, remove the pin hinges from the horizontal stabs.
Note: There are several methods and adhesives that can be used for installing the
hinges. We will describe the way we do it as this method has proven itself over many
years of model building.
10

11. Use a cotton swab to apply petroleum jelly ONLY to the knuckle of the hinge.
This will keep the epoxy from getting into the hinge which can cause it to bind.
12. Mix a generous batch of 3 minute epoxy. Use a zip tie or an old pushrod to
thoroughly coat and fill the hinge holes on the stab with epoxy.
11

13. Next, coat one side of all 4 hinges with epoxy and push the hinges into the holes of
the horizontal stab.
14. Make sure the hinge pins are centered in the hinge gap and that they pivot 9
degrees to the stab.
12

15. Now coat the other side of the hinges as well as the hinge holes in the elevator
with epoxy and install the elevator onto the stab. Don’t forget to apply epoxy in
the hinge holes on the stab before installing the stab to the elevator.
13

16. Use denatured alcohol and a cloth to remove all excess epoxy, especially on the
hinge pin. Make sure you have full deflection in both directions – once satisfied
with the results, set the surface aside to dry. After the hinges have dried
thoroughly, pull on them to make sure they are properly installed.
Note: Before installing the servos, it’s a good time to seal the hinge gap with a strip
of Ultracote or Blenderm tape. Also, I recommend that you thin a small amount of
epoxy with a few drops of alcohol and apply a light coat to the inside of the stab and
to the servo mounting rib as well as to the root rib and mounting tabs to protect
against exhaust residue that can collect in these areas.
17. Before installing the elevator servos, temporarily install the servo arms and
electronically center the servos.
14

18. Using the manufacturer supplied mounting hardware, install the elevator servo
with the output shaft toward the rear of the stab and re-attach the servo arm.
15

19. Thread 2 of the heavy duty ball links onto one of the 2 longer titanium pushrods.
Remember that the ends of the pushrods are reverse-threaded so that they can be
adjusted like a turnbuckle without removing the linkage.
2 . As shown in the picture below, secure one end of the ball link to the servo arm
using a 3mm socket head cap screw, washer and nylon insert locknut. If using the
SWB arms, you will need to drill out the hole to accept the 3mm bolt. Secure the
other end of the ball link to the control arm with a 3mm bolt, 2 washers, and
nylon insert locknut being careful not to over-tighten and damage the control
arms.
16

21. With the servo arm centered (as described in Step 17), adjust the turnbuckle on
the control rod until the elevator is in the neutral position.
22. Set the servo endpoints to achieve maximum travel. You may need to enlarge the
size of the servo arm exit slot. Repeat these steps for the other stab assembly.
Note: Now is a good time to take a covering iron and go over all of the seams with a
medium heat setting, paying special attention to the ends of thin trim stripes. At this
point, clean the 2 elevator/stab assemblies with Windex and a soft cloth and put them
away in their protective bag.
17

Wing Assembly
23. Locate the wing/aileron assemblies as well as the composite control horns and
base plates from the elevator hardware package. Following the same procedure
as outlined with the elevator / stabs, install the control horns and hinges for both
wings. Each wing has 8 hinges so it’s best to install the hinges in the aileron first
then mix a second batch of epoxy to install the aileron hinges to the wing.
18

Note: Before moving to the next step – it would be a good time to seal the hinge gap
with a strip of Ultracote or Blenderm tape. Be sure to fully deflect the control
surface when sealing the gap to allow for full deflection once the gap is sealed.
Also, take a few minutes to go over the wings with a trim iron on a medium heat to
seal all the trim seams and remove any wrinkles in the covering. Use caution and
avoid excessive heat as this may cause the Ultracote to shrink too much and lift at
the seams.
24. Locate the aileron servo mount and remove the covering from this area. Use a
sealing iron to seal the edges of the covering to the sides of the servo opening.
Take a few minutes to apply some CA to the joints of the servo rails and the ribs.
19

25. Attach a 12” servo extension to your servo and secure with thread or heat shrink
tubing. Use the manufacturer supplied mounting hardware to install the servo
with the output shaft toward the trailing edge of the wing. Electronically center
the servo.
20