GREAT PLANES Viper 500 RTC Configuration guide

RT
C
3/4oz [21g] Fiberglass Cloth (HCAR5000)
8oz [236cc] Coverite™Balsarite™, film (COVR2515)
4oz [118cc] Top Flite®Trim Solvent (TOPR6020)
9oz [255cc] Great Planes®Finishing Resin (GPMR6049)
Epoxy brushes (GPMR8060)
Mixing sticks (GPMR8055)
Mixing cups (GPMR8056)
Vaseline®petroleum jelly
Great Planes Easy-Touch™hand sander 5.5" (GPMR6169)
220-grit Easy-Touch Sand Paper (GPMR6185)
400-grit sand paper
Tack cloth
Masking tape (TOPR8018)
Piece of 1/16" [1.6mm] scrap balsa sheet or an old credit
card for use as a squeegee
Plan Protector (GPMR6167) or waxed paper
Acetone (for clean-up)
Sharp scissors
Olfa®Rotary Cutter
Self-Healing Cutting Mat (HCAR0454)
HobbyLite™White-Colored Balsa Filler (HCAR3400)
BEFORE YOU PROCEED WITH THE INSTRUCTION MANUAL
This Ready-to-Cover (RTC) version of the Great Planes Viper 500 is supplied to you without the pre-applied fiberglass of the
ARF version. Fiberglassing the fuse and wing is necessary for safety so it must be done, but in this RTC version we allow
you the choice of how and where you want to glass. You can also, of course, glass and paint the whole airplane, but this is
not necessary.
Fiberglassing takes a certain amount of skill, so if you’ve never done it before we recommend that you seek the help of an
experienced modeler. When you’re done glassing and covering, please proceed with the included ARF instruction manual.
Please note that when cutting dry fiberglass cloth, the best tool to use is a rotary cutter with a cutting mat. These can be
found at most fabric supply and art/craft stores.
INSTRUCTION MANUAL SUPPLEMENT
ITEMS REQUIRED FOR COMPLETION
™

Fiberglass the Forward Fuselage
17" [432mm]
FIREWALL & FUSE SIDES PIECE (OUTER)
20" [508mm]
3-1/2"
[89mm]
Mark the center line
of the cloth.You will
center this on the firewall.
Cut the edges
like this. Up
3-1/2" [89mm]
9" [229mm]
FUSE BOTTOM PIECE
(OUTER)
FUEL TANK
COMPARTMENT
PIECE
FIREWALL PIECE
(FUEL TANK
COMPARTMENT,
INSIDE)
Fwd
Fwd
6-1/2" [165mm]
2" [51mm]
2" [51mm]
8" [203mm]
❏ 1. Cut out the following pieces for the fuselage from 3/4oz
[21g] fiberglass cloth:
A. One 3-1/2" x 20" [89 x 508mm] strip and trim the sides
as shown
B. One 3-1/2" x 9" [89 x 229mm] rectangular piece (for
the fwd fuse bottom)
C. One 6-1/2" x 8" [165 x 203mm] rectangular piece (for
the fuel tank compartment sides and bottom)
D. One 2" x 2" [51 x 51mm] square (for the back side of
the firewall)
❏2. Lightly sand the forward part of the fuselage where you
will apply the fiberglass. Round the edges of the fuse sides
slightly. Use compressed air or a tack cloth to clean any dust
from the fuse before you begin glassing.
❏3. Apply masking tape to the fuselage sides and bottom
about 1" [25.4mm] back from where you will be applying
fiberglass. See the sketches for more details.
❏4. Fill the threads of the blind nuts with petroleum jelly
using a toothpick.
APPLY THE 9" [229mm]
BOTTOM PIECE FIRST
MASKING TAPE HERE
❏5. Mix up about 3/4oz [22cc] of finishing resin. Brush on
a thin coat of resin to the bottom of the forward fuse. Apply
the 3-1/2" x 9" [89 x 229mm] rectangular piece of fiberglass
to the bottom of the forward fuse. Align the forward edge of
the glass with the edge of the firewall. Stipple the glass cloth
down to the fuse. Squeegee any excess resin out of the glass
so that the surface is smooth. Allow the resin to cure. Sand
the fiberglass smooth feathering the glass into the balsa.
CENTER THE GLASS
ON THE FIREWALL.
FIREWALL/FUSE SIDES PIECE WILL
WRAP AROUND THE FIREWALL LIKE THIS.
❏6. Mix up another batch of finishing resin and brush a
thin coat onto the firewall and forward fuse sides. Center
the 3-1/2" x 20" [89 x 508mm] piece of glass cloth on the
firewall and wrap it around to cover the fuse sides. Stipple
and squeegee the glass cloth smooth. Allow the resin to cure
and sand the fiberglass smooth.
❏7. Fiberglass the inside of the fuel tank compartment using
the 6-1/2" x 8" [165 x 203mm] rectangular piece for the fuse
bottom and sides, and the 2" x 2" [51 x 51mm] square piece
for the back side of the firewall. Allow the resin to cure. Use
your hobby knife to open up the front and back sides of the
blind nuts on the firewall. Clean out any remaining petroleum
jelly from the threads of the nuts.

Fiberglass the Wing Center Section
OUTER
LAYER
INNER
LAYER
Fold the cloth at
the LE of the wing
along this line. 9" [228mm]
16" [406mm]
4-1/2" [114mm] 11-1/2" [292mm]
10"
[254mm]
10"
[254mm]
❏1. Cut out the following pieces for the wing from 3/4oz
[21g] fiberglass cloth:
A. One 9" x 20" [229 x 508mm] piece (center wing,
inner layer)
B. One 16" x 20" [406 x 508mm] piece (center wing,
outer layer)
❏2. Study the sketch below. Notice that the smaller piece
of glass cloth (inner layer) is applied first. Lightly sand the
center section of the wing and dust it off. Apply masking
tape where shown. Mix up enough finishing resin to wet out
the inner layer shown in the sketch. If you are confident with
the working time of the resin, you may mix up enough to
laminate both the inner and outer layers simultaneously. If
not, apply only the inner layer now. Center the cloth on the
wing along the leading edge of the wing and fold it over so
that it covers the top and bottom surfaces of the wing. Stipple
and squeegee out the excess resin and allow the resin to
cure. Trim the excess fiberglass from the trailing edge of the
wing and sand the surface and edges of the glass smooth.
If you applied the inner layer only, go ahead and apply the
outer layer now.
❏3. Trim the wing bolt holes open. Sand the surface smooth
feathering the edges of the glass into the balsa sheeting. Use
HobbyLite™balsa filler (HCAR3400) to fill in any imperfections.
Finish-sand the model using 400-grit sandpaper.
❏4.Apply one or two coats of Coverite Balsarite (COVR2515)
per the manufacturer’s instructions.
❏5. Apply your choice of film covering to each part per the
manufacturer’s instructions.
16" [406mm]
OUTER LAYER
9" [228mm]
INNER LAYER
4-1/2" [114mm]
INNER LAYER
Masking tape here Masking tape here

Copyright © 2009 GPMA1267INSTR v1.0