Hobbico starfire 40 User manual

STARFIRE 40
Almost-ready-to-flyRadioControlledModel Airplane
•Superior quality in anAlmost-Ready-to-Fly model
•80%complete out ofthe box - No Sanding,Painting, orFinishing required.
•Beautiful sporty appearance.
•Superacrobatic aircraft for experienced pilots
•All wood construction with sheeted wings
•FuelTank, Spinner,Wheels, LandingGear,EngineMount, andHardware areincluded.
WINGSPAN: 551/2in.
LENGTH: 49 3/4in.
WING AREA: 534sq.in.
WEIGHT: 5 1/2pounds
ENTIRE CONTENTS© 1991,HOBBICO , INC.V1.0
RADIO: 4 channel(notincluded)
ENGINE:.40 Performance2-cycle (not included)
or .61-.914-cycle (notincluded)
ACCESSORIES: Standardfieldequipment(not included)

IMPORTANT: BEFORE YOU BEGIN.
Congratulations on your choice ofan AWARF kit.BEFORE you begin assembly, carefullylook through the box and
thoroughly read theinstruction manual.Check theparts listagainsttheitemsinthe box to be sure you haveeverythingthatis
on thepartslist.Althoughwe have taken great painsto simplifythebuildingprocess, there are no shortcuts to safety. These
instructionsare yourguideto safeandsuccessfulflying.
Onlyafteryou are thoroughlyfamiliarwiththeconstructionprocess shouldyou proceed withassembly. Remember! Under
nocircumstances willa dealer accept a kitbackforreturn ifassembly has alreadybegun.
If theStarfireis not quitewhatyouexpected, returnit to yourdealer inNew and Unused condition.However, we think you
willagree withus thattheStarfirekitis one of thefinestmodels of itstype andwillofferyou manyhoursof enjoyment.
BEFORE ASSEMBLY
CONSTRUCTION HINTS:
1.IMPORTANT! Trial fiteach part before gluing.
Becertain thatthe parts fitproperly.
2.Use PlastiZapor a thintypeCyanoacrylate glue for
installingtheplasticparts.Do not use too much,as it
may run and spoil the appearance.
3.It is best to use 30minute(orlonger)epoxy for
assembly.This will allow time to position the parts
before theepoxy cures.
4. Before assembly, place your radio system on charge.
5.There is a metricruleron page 3 to aid in findingthe
correct screw or partsizes.
ADDITIONALITEMS
The followingitems are needed for completing the
Starfirekit:
MediumFuel Tubing (12") .................................................1
.40 Sized 2-Cycle Engine....................................................1
OR
.61- .70 Sized 4-Cycle Engine............................................1
4- ChannelRadioSystem.................................................1
Pacer PlastiZapCA Glue....................................................1
Goldberg #481 Foam Rubber.............................................1
Hobbico(HCAR3950) 30-Minute Epoxy............................1
Silicone Sealer.....................................................................1
Dubro 121E-Z Connects (Optional)...................................2
Hobbico (HCAR3760)Threadlock......................................1
Dubro340 inlineFuel Filter.............................................1
Propeller (Sizedependson the engine) .............................1
Starter
12V Battery
Glow Driver
Standard fieldequipmentisrequiredforrunningtheengine:
Starter, 12VBattery,Hot Shot Glow Plug Driver and compatible
glow enginefuel.
O.S. 70Surpass
4-cycle
O.S. .40 SF
2-cycle
Glow Fuel
lSeeEngines
Recommendations)
REQUIREDFOR RUNNINGTHEENGINE
TOOLS
You willneedthefollowingbasictools to assemblethekit.Hobby
knife.Phillipsscrewdriver(smallandmedium),needlenose pliers,
drill,drillbits, sanding block, ruler,andstring.
Aqualitybrandenginewillbe needed. We recommend the O.S.
.40SF2-Cycle engineor theO.S. 70 Surpass4-cycleengine.
RADIOSYSTEM
Afour-channel radio control system with4 servos isrequired for
the Starfire 40.
2.

PARTS LIST
Before assembly, match the parts in the photo on this page with
the parts inthekit.Check off each part as they are located. If
any parts are missing or damaged, consult yourhobby dealer.
()1 Fuselage.........................1
( ) 2 Right Wing.....................1
( ) 3 Left Wing.......................1
() 4 7mm Dowel Rod ............2
() 5 Wing Joiner ...................1
() 6 ReinforcingBlocks ........2
() 7 Wing Center Cover........1
() 8 Hinges............................13
() 9 Ailerons..........................2
() 10Aileron Servo Tray........1
() 11WingMountingBlocks..3
()12 Blind Nuts.....................2
()134 x 30mm Wing Screws.2
() 144mm Washers ................2
() 15 0-Rings..........................2
() 16MainGear Struts..........2
() 17Plastic Tree....................1
()183 x 15mm S/TScrews....8
() 19Bellcrank.......................1
()203 x 8mm Screw ..............1
() 21Front Gear Strut...........!
() 22 White Tube ....................2
() 23 450mm Rod....................2
() 24 Wheel Collars ...............7
() 25 3 x 5mm Screws ............7
() 26 Wheels ...........................3
() 27 MountingPlates............2
() 28 3 x 15mm Screws ..........8
() 29 Lockwashers..................8
() 303mm Nuts......................4
() 31 Wing Pad .......................1
()32Cowl Decal.....................1
() 33 Fuel Tank ......................1
() 34Rubber Cap....................1
() 35Fuel Tank Clunk...........1
() 36 Fuel Line .......................1
() 37 Fuel Pipes......................3
()383 x 18mmS/TScrew .....1
()39Large Disc......................1
() 40 Small Disc......................1
() 41 Neoprene Ring...............1
() 42 Clevis Retaining Tube...l
()43 Bent Rods ......................2
() 44 Short Rods.....................2
() 45 LongRods......................3
() 46 Wooden Push Rods........2
() 47 Shrink Tubing ...............4
() 48 Push Rod Exits..............3
() 49 Horizontal Stabilizer.....!
() 50Vertical Stabilizer .........1
() 51 Rudder............................1
() 52 Elevators.........................2
() 53Turtle Deck....................1
() 54Spinner...........................1
() 552 x 20mm Screws ..........6
() 56 Right Cowl.....................1
() 57 Left Cowl.......................1
() 58 Canopy...........................1
() 59Red Striping Decal........1
() 60Side Decal......................2
3.

WING ASSEMBLY
3Trialfitthe 7mm dowel rods intothe holes andbuttthemup
againstthe frontsparThey shouldbe positionedstraightinand
parallelto thewingroot Once satisfied withthe fit,epoxy them
inplace usingslow cure epoxy.
1.On both winghalves, make a mark exactly 1 from the wing root
on the leading edge
4.Next,usinga sandingblocksandthewingroots of bothwing
halves to ensurethatthey areperfectlyflatBe carefulnotto
change the dihedralangle of the root
2Drilla 7mmholeateachmarkMakesurethatyou drillstraight
in at thecenterofthemarkparallelto thewingroot
5Trim eachwinghalffortheaileronservo as shownIt's much
easier to do thisnow thanafterthe wingis assembled
4.

IMPORTANT! The following two steps are critical in the assembly
ofthiskit.Iftheyarenot donecorrectly,wingfailurecould result Be
sure to use plentyof slowcure(30 min) epoxy
6 Check the wing joiner to find the angledsides Place the joineron
aflatsurfaceandrock untilyouhaveidentifiedthetwo angled
sides The angled face side should point forward and the angled
narrow side shouldfacedownforproperdihedralUsingoneof
the wingpanelstrialfitthewingjoinerandcheck forproper
alignmentPosition the joinerso it will be centered when the two
winghalvesarejoinedtogether Once satisfiedwiththe fit,glue
thejoinerinplaceusingslow cure epoxy Let cure
7Trial fitthe two halvestogether and lineupthe leading and
trailingedges Check fora goodgap-free fitSand ifneeded
Once satisfied,gluethetwowinghalvestogether usingslow cure
epoxy You can tapethe winghalves together to hold them tight
whilethe glue cures
9Install the wingcenter cover usingPlastizapCA Glue Wipe
off anyexcessglue immediately Nexton the front ofthe
cover glue the wingpadon as shownusingPlaslizapCA Glue
10Installthesix aileron hingesintothe slots at the trailingedge of
the wingusingepoxy Onlya smallamountof glue isneeded
here Use too muchandit will seep into the hinge causing itto
lock upYou maywishto applya smallamountofvasilineto the
hingejointto pr otect itagainst epoxy If any glue does set up into
thejoint,removeitimmediatelyusinga softclothandrubbing
alcohol.
8Lineupthereinforcementblocks as shownsothatthesides angle
in Remove thewingcoveringunderneaththe blocks Next, glue
the blocks tothe wingusing epoxy
11Applyepoxy to thecontiolrodsandinthecontrolrodslotsof the
aileronsNextputa smallamountof epoxy onto the the hinges
and install both ailerons
5.

12.Check the ailerons for smooth operation. By exercising the
aileronsaftertheglue is cured,you can loosen anyof the stiffness
thatmighthave been created by glueseeping intothe hinges.
15.Glue the three wing mountingblocks together using slowcure
epoxy. Center the threeblocks together by liningupthe holes.
The larger block shouldbe at thebottom.
13.Align theaileronservo trayon thewingandtrace arounditusing
aballpointpen.Remove the covering materialthatwas outlined
underneath the tray.
16.Install the blindnutsto thelarger side of the mounting block.
These caneasilybe pressed inwitha pairof pliers.
14.Glue the tray tothe wing using slowcure epoxy.
17. Epoxy the mountingblock inside the fuselage. It is critical that
this joint is solid. Use plenty of epoxy. Let cure.
6.

18.Thread the wingscrews into the blocks sothat the heads are 3/8"
above the block.Applyinkor paintto theheads ofthe screws.
Proceed withthe next step immediatelybefore theinkor paint
dries.
21.Place the two 4mm washers onto the 4 x 30mm screws and push
themthroughthewingfrom the bottom side. Next, slide the
rubber 0-rings onto the screws.
19.Place thewingontothefuselage as shown.Put the frontinfirst
by insertingthe dowel rods intheholes. Itmaybe necessary to
roundthetipsofthe dowelrods andbevel theholes inorder to
alloweasier installation.Once inplace, centerandlowerthe
back onto the screwheads. This willmark where you need to
drill.
22. Trialfitthe wing onto the fuselage. Check for a solid fitthen
remove.
LANDING GEAR INSTALLATION
20.Drilltwo 3/16"holes 90°from the bottomwing surface using the
paintmarksas a guide.
7.

1.Feelalong the frontedge ofthe bluestripe untilyou findthe two
slotsunder the covering, trimout the covering over the slots.
4.Temporarily install the strut and mark the bottom ofthe fuselage
for the installationof the control rod Markthe hole about 1"
from the firewalland7/8fromtheleftbideof thefuselage.
2.Installthetwo maingear strutsintothewingandattachusing
the plasticretainingstrapsand3 x 10mm self-tappingscrews.
You maywithto drilleight1/16"holes toprevent the wood from
splittingwheninstallingthescrews.
5.Drill a 1/8"hole angling back at the mark.
Attach the bellcrankonto the front gear strut andsecurewith a
3x 8mm screw ontotheflat.6.Epoxy inthe whitetube sothatitonlyprotrudes 1/8"out ofthe
fuselageMakesureallexposed wood aroundthe tube iscovered
withglue inorder toseal against fuel.
8.

7.Make a Z-bendon one end ofthe450mm control rod. Install the
frontstrut with the rod and secure with a collar and a 3 x 5mm
screw.
1.Temporarily install thetwo mountingplates onto the mountso
the engine willangleslightlyto therightfor2 degrees. Tighten
the screws onlyuntiltheyseat sothatyou can still move the
plates.
8.Installthewheels usinga wheelcollaron each side ofthe wheel.
Fasten the collars with 3 x 5mm screws. 2.Settheengineon themountingplates sothatthecenter lineof
the engineis inlinewiththecenteroftheengine mount.Make
sure thatthe engine hasa slightrightthrustangleof 1 or 2
degrees andthatthefrontofthedrivewasher on theengine is
4-5/8"fromthefirewallNext,squeeze theplatesagainst the
engine and mark the mounting holes on the plates.
EngineInstallation
9
3.Remove the plates anddrill four1/8"holes at the marks.
Carefullyremove offanyburrswitha hobby knife.

4. Mount the engineto themountingplates usingfour3 x 15mm
screws, fourlock washers,andfour3mm nutsas shown.Note:
Usethread locking compound on the screws and nutsto
prevent them from loosening under vibration.
7.Install the throttle control rod on the throttle arm ofthe engine.
5.Epoxy the white tube into the fuselage sothat it sticksout I".
8.Slide thethrottlecontrolrod intothe whitetubeandattachthe
engine to themount.Use four3 x 15mm screws andfourlock
washers to holdtheengineinplace. Note:Usethread locking
compoundonthescrews.
Fuel tankAssembly
6.Make a Z-bend in the 450mm rodasshown
10.