Hobby-Lobby Pilot-1 User manual

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1/4 scale Piper PA-12 “Super Cruiser”ARF
Wingspan: 106 in. (2700mm)
Length: 67 in. (1700mm)
Wing Area: 1581 in². (102dm²)
Weight (w/o battery): 12.7 lb. (5.8kg)
Weight (w/ PQ6000-8S): 15.5 lb. (7.0kg)

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Hobby-Lobby.com is pleased to announce the 1/4 scale Piper PA-12 “Super Cruiser” as
part of its Pilot-1 Golden Age Civilian Series. The Pilot-1 “Super Cruiser” encompasses
the same attributes in quality construction and handling that made the original a great
design. We know you will be pleased with your new model. Its’ beautiful looks, balanced
maneuverability, and docile flying characteristics make it a design that is truly at home
cruising the skies at a Pilot-1 Aerodrome near you!
Hobby Lobby International, Inc.
5614 Franklin Pike Circle
Brentwood, TN 37027
1-866-WE-FLY-RC
(1-866-933-5972)
www.hobby-lobby.com

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Introduction & History
“The end of World War II saw the resumption of private aircraft manufacture and the
Piper Aircraft Company, already well known for the J-3 Cub and the J-5 Cruiser, began
production of improved models of these aircraft. These were the Piper PA-11 Cub
Special and the Piper PA-12 Super Cruiser. Walter Jamoneau, who was head of the
engineering department at Piper for many years, modified the J-5 into the PA-12. Test
flights were made in December 1945, and the first production version of the aircraft
appeared in February 1946.”
“The original J-5 series were fabric-covered, three-place, high-wing monoplanes, initially
powered by 75-hp Lycoming engines, and later by 90-hp Lycomings. The PA-12 was
also fabric-covered, over a welded metal tubular frame and wooden wing spars, and
featured a Lycoming O-235-C engine, fully cowled. Later models of the PA-12 had as
optional equipment a slightly more powerful engine. Standard features on the PA-12
included an electric starter, navigation lights, and a cabin heater. The Piper PA-12
Super Cruiser was used in a number of roles, from private pleasure flying to light cargo
carrying and many are still flying. It was also successful in the export market.”
Manufacturer: Piper Aircraft Corp.
Date: 1946
Country of Origin: United States of America
Dimensions:
Wingspan: 10.8 m (35 ft 5 in)
Length: 6.86 m (22 ft 6 in)
Height: 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in)
Weight, empty: 454 kg (1,000 lb)
Weight, gross: 793 kg (1,750 lb)
Top Speed: 184 km/h (115 mph)
Engine: Lycoming O-235-C, 100 hp
Materials:
Fuselage: steel tube with fabric cover
Physical Description:
Single engine, two seat, high wing, monoplane, [cream] and red, first light aircraft to fly around the world
(Source: Online, NASM, http://www.nasm.si.edu/ , Jan 3, 2009) Search “Piper Super Cruiser” at the
following link: http://www.nasm.si.edu/

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Before starting, use the contents list to take an inventory and make sure it is complete.
If any parts are missing or are not of acceptable quality, contact Hobby-Lobby.com
support at 1-866-WE-FLY-RC (1-866-933-5972)
Contents List
Fuselage
Battery Hatch
Engine Cowl and Motor Mount
Landing Gear and Wheels
Windshield and Side Windows
Wings, Center Section, and Ailerons
Tube Wing Joiner, Wing Struts, Jury Struts, and covers
Horizontal Tail
Vertical Tail
Pushrods
Misc Hardware packs
Additional Items Required
4-channel Aircraft Radio w/ Receiver (minimum), Computer radio recommended.
(2) 6000 mah, 4-cell, 14.8 Lipo Batteries (5000-10000mah)
(4) Hitec HS-645MG Servos (107oz/in)
Deans Ultra plugs, (2) 24” HD servo extensions, (2) 12” HD servo extensions
77 amp Jeti SPIN Opto Brushless ESC
Duralite BEC and 2100mah 8.4v Lipo Receiver pack
AXI 5320/28 Brushless Motor
AXI 53 Series Radial Mount and Aluminum Motor Mount Spacer Kit
APC 20x12E Propeller or 20x10 Xoar Wood Propeller
Soldering Iron and Electrical Solder
5-minute Epoxy Glue
Thin CA Glue and Canopy Glue (craft glue)
Small Phillips Screwdriver
Needle Nose Pliers and Hobby Knife

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1. This manual will help you assemble your
Hobby-Lobby.com Pilot-1 airplane step-by-
step. It does assume that this is not your
first airplane. If you need assistance, please
ask a local flyer, visit www.rcgroups.com, or
call us here at Hobby-Lobby.com. Let’s start
by installing the aileron servos. Arrange the
servo as shown. Make sure the servo arm
is in the center of the slot.
2. Test fit the hardwood blocks. Glue blocks in
place with 5min epoxy. After glue is dry,
secure servos with screws.
3. Use heat shrink tubing or masking tape to
secure the 24” HD servo extension to the
servo wire.
4. Use needle nose pliers to break the pull
thread free from the aileron servo access
hole.

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5. Use masking tape to secure the aileron
servo extension wire to the pull thread
plywood block.
6. Use needle nose pliers to break pull thread
loose from the end of the wing. Pull aileron
extension wire through wing.
7. Install each aileron servo cover with four (4)
small sheet metal screws.
8. Bend CA hinges as shown. Flex hinges
completely back and forth several times to
loosen them before installation.

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9. Insert CA hinges and aileron into wing.
Make sure alignment is good with even
spaces at each end of aileron.
10.With aileron deflected downward and fitted
with no gap between the leading edge of
aileron and wing, CA each hinge. Use thin
CA, 2-3 drops per hinge, per side.
11.Locate the aileron horns and pushrod parts
as shown.
12.Use straight edge and pen to mark where
the aileron control horn will be attached.

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13.Using the line drawn in the step above,
measure 6mm (1/4”) from the beveled
leading edge of the aileron and mark with
pen.
14.Use a 3mm (1/8”) drill bit to drill hole
completely through aileron. Be careful to
keep drill straight and true.
15.Insert long aileron horn screw through
washer and aileron from the top surface.
Insert washer, nut, and nylon horn on
bottom surface as shown. Use threadlocker
on nut and secure nut (do not over tighten).
You may wish to also lightly bend screw
toward servo arm as shown.
16.Assemble aileron pushrod. Insert clevis into
outer hole of servo arm as shown. Don’t
forget to use blue thread lock on at least
one end of the pushrod and to use the fuel
tubing safety on the clevis.

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17.Adjust clevis to correct length and connect
to aileron horn. Slide fuel tubing safety onto
clevis to prevent accidental disconnect.
Tighten locknut.
18.Now prepare the Elevator pushrod system
for installation. Here are the parts you will
need for the next few steps.
19.Start by inserting the elevator pushrod,
aluminum end first, into the fuselage. In this
picture, the elevator is the top slot. The
rudder cable exit is the short exit
underneath. And the elevator pushrod
screw access hole is on the bottom. Note:
scrap covering is supplied to cover this hole
after installation.
20.Insert the aluminum crossover arm thru the
slots in the fuselage and into the slot in the
end of the pushrod. Use threadlocker on the
hex head screw and insert into hole in the
pushrod end as shown. You may find it
easier to temporarily tape (or lightly CA) the
screw head to the hex driver while getting
the screw started.

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21.Temporarily install the vertical stabilizer. Do
not glue anything in the next several steps.
Insert horizontal stabilizer into slot. Measure
each side of the horizontal stabilizer to
make sure it is centered. You can also see
the structure through the covering to help
you align.
22.Then align the horizontal stabilizer with a 90
degree triangle as shown. One side of the
triangle is touching the vertical stabilizer
and the other side is for aligning the
horizontal stabilizer.
23.Use a permanent pen to mark top and
bottom of the horizontal stabilizer as shown.
This mark can be removed later with
rubbing alcohol and a paper towel.
24.Remove the covering about 1/8” inside the
marks made in the previous step. Use a
solder iron to melt a line in the covering
while gently pulling up on the triangle to be
removed. Again, be very careful not to
damage the wood. Do not use a knife of
any kind as it could damage the wood
underneath and cause structural failure of
the tail.

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25.Use rubbing alcohol and a paper towel to
remove the marks. Insert the horizontal into
the slot. Repeat the measurements in steps
21 & 22.
26.Use thin CA to glue horizontal stabilizer to
the fuselage. Make sure to glue all four (4)
joints thoroughly. *Do not use accelerator
as it tends to fog the covering.
27.Use the same technique used with the
aileron CA hinges to install the elevator CA
hinges. There should be very little or no
gap. Deflect elevator downward and use 2-
3 drops of thin CA, per hinge, per side.
28.Place the fuselage upside down. Install the
elevator control horns and pushrods as
shown. Use thread lock glue on at least one
end of each short pushrod. Adjust the
length of each short pushrod so that the “T”
is in the center of the slot and the elevators
are level. Tighten the locknuts and slide the
fuel tubing scraps over the clevises as
shown.

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29.Repeat the technique used with the
horizontal stabilizer with the vertical
stabilizer shown here. Use pen to mark
covering, remove covering 1/8” (3mm)
inside line with soldering iron, and remove
marks with alcohol or fingernail polish
remover.
30.Now it is ready for installation.
31.Use thick CA or 5min Epoxy to install
vertical stabilizer into slot. Use a 90 degree
triangle to square vertical with horizontal
stabilizer while glue dries.
32.Remove covering from lower front edge of
rudder to gain access to predrilled hole for
tailwheel. Test fit tailwheel, then glue wire
into rudder with 5min epoxy. Install
tailwheel and wheel collar. Prepare rudder
CA hinges as you did with the ailerons.

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33.Install rudder and check for alignment.
Deflect rudder over to side and use 2-3
drops of thin CA, per hinge, per side.
34.Insert rudder and elevator servos as shown.
Note the position of the horns with the
servos in their neutral position.
35.Remove the rudder servo arm and insert
the rudder cable and crimp as shown. Pull
tight, compress crimp with pliers, and use
thin CA to add extra security to crimp.
Repeat for opposite side of arm.
36.Reinstall rudder servo arm. Thread rudder
cables through holes in the side of the
fuselage with a scrap piece of music wire.
Install clevis, locknut, and fuel tubing safety
to elevator servo arm as shown.

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37.Pull rudder cable straight. Mark where
rudder horn will go with pen.
38.Drill hole through rudder. Insert rudder
control horn as shown. The opposite side is
identical. Use blue thread lock to secure
horn in place.
39.Attach clevis, fuel tubing safety, lock nut,
and treaded coupler to rudder control horn.
Make sure rudder servo is centered and
rudder cannot move. Loop rudder cable as
shown, compress crimp with pliers, and use
thin CA to secure. Repeat for opposite side.
Note: when tensioning rudder cables, they
should have no slop, but they should still be
loose.
40.Locate all the parts necessary for the
landing gear installation.

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41.Install four (4) aluminum straps and eight
(8) sheet metal screws on each corner of
landing gear wire as shown.
42.Install wheels, wheel collars, and hubcaps.
We used UHUpor contact cement to glue
hubcaps in place. You could also use
canopy glue.
43.Locate the parts needed to create the tail
brace wires.
44.Use needle nose pliers to bend each of the
aluminum brackets to the shape shown in
this photo. Attach the braided cable to the
horizontal stabilizer with a crimp. Loop the
wire through the crimp twice then compress
the crimp with pliers. Use thin CA on each
crimp for extra security. NOTE: see optional
solid flying wire system at the end of this
manual (not included).

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45.Use a clevis and threaded adapter on the
vertical stabilizer. Double loop the wire and
compress crimp with pliers. Use thin CA on
crimp. Complete the remaining three (3)
wires in using the same technique.
Alternate method: You may wish to leave
the clevis off and attach exactly like the
previous step. These wires are primarily for
scale looks.
46.Install the motor mount with (4) bolts and
(4) washers as shown. Use thread lock glue
on the bolts.
47.Locate the Aluminum motor mount spacers
and bolts from the accessory pack p/n
AMM111 (not included in kit). This kit allows
you to install several different motors.
48.Insert the lock washers and the then regular
washers onto the bolts. Insert bolts through
firewall and aluminum spacers as shown.
Check your motor installation manual for
detail dimensions.

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49.Install motor.
50.Attach the ESC to the motor box with sheet
metal screws. Route wires as necessary to
receiver and battery. It is necessary to
reverse two of the motor wires in this
application. Black-Yellow, Red-Red- Yellow-
Black.
51.Install the four (4) cowling blocks with 5min
epoxy evenly spaced as shown. Cut four (4)
strips of paper approx. 1/2”wide and 3”
long. Use tape to install paper strips over
each cowling block. Mark the center of the
block. NOTE: Do not mount blocks on side
of fuselage because cowl does not touch
the sides. Mount at corners as shown.
52.Align cowl with propeller shaft face 5mm
(3/16”) in front of cowl. Use masking tape to
hold cowl in position for next few steps.

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53.Drill a 1mm (1/32”) pilot hole through the
paper strip, cowl, and wood mounting
blocks for each of the four (4) screws.
54.Fold paper strips out of the way and slightly
enlarge the hole in the fiberglass cowl only!
This is done to keep cowl from cracking
when inserting the cowl sheet metal screws.
55.Install four (4) sheet metal screws to hold
cowl in place. Remove all tape and paper
strips. Install the APC 20x12E propeller.
Note: The windshield is sitting in place in
this photo. It will be installed later.
56.Install receiver and hook up all servos and
wiring. A 2100mah Lipo battery is used
here, with a Duralite regulator w/ switch, to
power the 2.4GHz receiver and servos. If
you are using a 72MHz radio, route the
antenna though the bottom of plane, along
belly, and use clear tape to secure near
tailwheel, leaving any extra wire to trail
behind plane. *Note the two aileron 12” HD
servo extensions.

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57.This is looking in through the battery hatch
(airplane is upside down). Install the
Duralite Receiver regulator with switch. The
Deans Ultra connector for the receiver LiPo
is shown on the right side of the photo.
58.Install Velcro strips and straps for holding
the two “6000-4S” batteries. When you
determine the CG for your airplane, make a
mark on the battery tray so that you put the
batteries in the same place every time.
59.Install the Deans Ultra “Series Module” as
shown. Glue module in place, behind the
firewall, using PFM glue or 5min Epoxy.
60.Use canopy glue to install all four (4) side
windows. Use a wet paper towel to clean up
any mess before glue dries. Apply masking
tape to hold everything in place while the
glue dries.