Maxford USA WWI NEUPORT 17 User manual

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ELECTRIC 60-INCH WINGSPAN
NEUP ORT 17
I N S T R U C T I O N M A N UA L
E n t i r e c o n t e n t s C o p y r i g h t 2 0 1 4 M a x f o r d U S A
Congratulations on your purchase o f M axfo rd U SA’ s scal e WWI Ni eup ort 17 !
We invite you to enjoy the pride of ownership and the joy of flying this high
quality balsa, composite, and light-ply Almost-Ready-to-Fly aircraft.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
History of the Nieuport 17 ............ .........................2
Important safety precautions .................................. 2
Warranty, liability waiver, and return policy ......... 4
Special features of this Nieuport 17 ARF .............. 5
Specifications ......................................................... 5
Parts List ............................................................ 5
Assembly instructions ...................................... 6
Setup and adjustments .................................... 16
Preflight checks ............................................. 17

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HISTORY
The Nieuport 17 was a French biplane fighter aircraft of World War I, manufactured by
the Nieuport company. It had outstanding maneuverability, and an excellent rate of
climb. Initially, the Nieuport 17 retained the above wing mounted Lewis gun of the "11",
but in French service this was soon replaced by a synchronized Vickers gun. In the Royal
Flying Corps, the wing mounted Lewis was usually retained, by now on the improved
Foster mounting, a curved metal rail which allowed the pilot to bring the gun down in
order to change drums or clear jams. A few individual aircraft were fitted with both guns
- but in practice this reduced performance unacceptably, and a single machine gun
remained standard.
The type reached the French front in March 1916, and quickly began to replace the
smaller Nieuport 11 and 16 in French service. The type went into service with Escadrille
N.57 on May 2, 1916. With the British DH.2 the Nieuports were responsible for ending
the reign of the Fokker Eindecker - the so-called 'Fokker scourge' period, proving a
severe shock to German aviation high command. Most French aces used the nimble
Nieuport during their career including Georges Guynemer, Charles Nungesser, Maurice
Boyau, Armand Pinsard, Réné Dorne, Gabriel Guerin, Alfred Duellin and Jean Navarre.
The type was also used by American volunteers of the Escadrille Lafayette when they
replaced their earlier Nieuports.
The Maxford USA version of the
Nieuport-17 has a 60” wingspan which
is roughly 1/5 scale. The color scheme
of this model is a replica of Réné
Dorne’s Nieuport-17. M. Dorne was
one of the French aces in WWI.
These references provide more
information on the Nieuport-17 and
Réné Dorne.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nieuport_17
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ren%C3%A9_Dorme

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IMPORTANT SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
TO PROTECT YOUR MODEL, YOURSELF & OTHERS
1. This product should not be considered a toy, but rather a sophisticated, working model that
functions much like a full-scale airplane. Because of its performance capabilities, this
product, if not assembled and operated correctly, could cause injury to you or spectators and
damage to property. Maxford USA provides you with a high-quality, thoroughly tested model
airplane kit with assembly instructions. However, the quality and capabilities of your finished
model airplane depend on how you build it, and your safety depends on how you use and fly
it. Any testing or flying of this model airplane is done entirely at your own risk.
2. Assemble the model airplane according to these instructions. We recommend that you do
not alter or modify the model, as doing so may result in an unsafe or unworkable model. In a
few cases the instructions may differ slightly from the photos; in those instances the written
instructions should be considered as correct. If you have any question or concern about
these instructions, before you proceed with assembly of this product, contact us at (562)
529-3988, Monday through Friday, except national holidays, between 8:30AM to 5 PM
Pacific time.
3. It is your responsibility to install the R/C system and other components in such a way that
this model airplane passes all applicable safety/range tests and that the power system and
controls operate smoothly and correctly.
4. Recheck the operation of this model airplane before every flight to ensure that all equipment
is still operating correctly and that the model has remained structurally sound. Also, before
every flight check all clevises and other connectors; do not fly without replacing any that you
find damaged or defective.
5. If you are not an experienced R/C pilot or have not flown this type of model before, we
recommend that you get the assistance of an experienced R/C pilot.
6. Throughout the lifetime of this model, use only the Maxford USA-recommended or same-
sized engine or equivalent electric power system and a new or well-maintained R/C radio
system and batteries recommended by the maker of the engine (or motor) and radio system.
7. LITHIUM BATTERY HANDLING & USAGE: WARNING!! If you use LiPo batteries, read the
battery’s instruction sheet or on-line information. Failure to follow all instructions could result
in permanent damage to the battery, its surroundings, and bodily harm! If you crash this
model airplane, check for battery damage. Do NOT use or charge a damaged Li-Po battery.
ONLY use a LiPo approved charger. (NEVER use a NiCd/NiMH charger!)
ALWAYS set the charger’s output to match the battery’s voltage and mAh ratings.
ALWAYS charge through the battery’s “charge” connector. (NEVER charge through the
“discharge” leads.)
ALWAYS charge in a fireproof location.
NEVER place on combustible materials or leave unattended during charge or discharge.
NEVER charge a LiPo battery in excess of 4.2V per cell.
NEVER discharge a LiPo battery below 2.5V per cell.
NEVER allow battery temp. to exceed 150° F (65° C).
NEVER charge at a current greater than 1C (for example, in the case of a 900 mAh battery,
that’s 0.9 amps).
NEVER trickle charge.
NEVER disassemble or modify pack wiring in any way or puncture cells.
KEEP BATTERIES OUT OF CHILDREN’S REACH

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8. While this kit has been flight-tested to meet or exceed our rigid performance and reliability
standards in normal use, if you plan to perform any extremely high-stress flying, such as
racing or advanced aerobatics, or if you plan to install a larger engine (or motor) than
specified, you (the buyer or user of this product) are solely responsible for taking any and all
necessary steps to reinforce the high-stress points and/or substitute hardware that is more
suitable for such increased stresses.
9. This model may include fiberglass and/or carbon-fiber reinforced plastic parts that may
require some cutting or sanding. Carbon-fiber and fiberglass dust may cause eye, skin and
respiratory tract irritation. If you ever grind, drill or sand such parts, always wear safety
goggles, a particle mask and rubber gloves; never blow into such a part to remove fiberglass
or carbon-fiber dust, as the dust may blow back into your eyes.
WARRANTY, LIABILITY WAIVER, AND RETURN POLICY
Maxford USAguarantees this kit to be free from defects in material and workmanship at the time
of purchase. All of our products have been inspected in our factory and are checked again when
shipped from our warehouse.
However, Maxford USA cannot directly control the materials you may use nor your final-
assembly process. Therefore, Maxford USAcan NOT in any way guarantee the performance of
your finished model airplane. Furthermore, in purchasing this product, you (the buyer or user of
this product) exempt, waive, and relieve Maxford USAfrom all current or future liability for any
personal injury, property damage, or wrongful death, and if you (the buyer or user of this
product) are involved in any claim or suit, you will not sue Maxford USA or any of its
representatives.
If you do not fully accept the above liability and waiver, you may request a return merchandise
authorization number (RMA#) as explained in item 2, below.
If you think there is a missing part or any shipping damage, please read our after-sales service
and return policy as outlined below.
1. Inspect your order upon delivery for any shipping damage or missing part. If you find a
problem you must contact us within 10 days from receipt of your purchase by calling (562)
529-3988, Monday through Friday, except holidays, between the hours of 8:30 AM and 5 PM
Pacific time. During this telephone conversation, and with your support, we will determine
how to resolve your concern. (NOTE: Maxford USA Li-Po batteries are sold without warranty
and are not eligible for return or credit.)
2. To request an RMA#, call [phone], Monday through Friday, except holidays, between
the hours of 8:30 AM to 5 PM Pacific time. If we elect to issue you an RMA#, you must
clearly mark this RMA# on the outside of the package. (No return or exchange will be
authorized after 10 days from the date of your receipt of the product; any package delivered
to us without a Maxford USARMA# is subject to being returned to the sender, as received,
with return postage payable upon delivery.) Returned merchandise must be in its original
condition as received from Maxford USA, with no assembly or modification, in the original
packing materials, complete with all manuals and accessories. Return shipping and
insurance charges must be prepaid by you, the buyer.
3. Returned merchandise that is accepted by Maxford USA for credit is subject to a 10% to
20% restocking fee (the final amount will be determined by Maxford USAupon receipt and
examination of the returned merchandise).
Return Address:
Maxford USA Distribution Inc.
15939 Illinois Ave., #C
Paramount, CA 90723
IMPORTANT: Print the RMA# issued by Maxford USA on the package near the above
address.

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SPECIAL FEATURES OF THIS NIEUPORT 17
Fits full assembled in most vehicles.
All assemblies are precovered and required openings are predrilled and/or precut.
The cowl and wheels are prefinished.
Each aileron is separately operated by its own servo.
True to scale decals.
Optional scale machine guns and WW I pilot figure are available.
SPECIFICATIONS*
Wingspan ............................................................................................................ 60 inches
Wing Area .................................................................................................... 615 sq. inches
Overall Length ..................................................................................................... 40 inches
Flying weight ...................................................................................... 4 pounds 12 ounces
Wing Loading ................................................................................................ 17.8 oz/sq. ft.
Power System (Not included) .............. Maxford U35425 and U60 amp ESC or equivalent
Propeller (Not included) ................... 12x6e or 11x6e (or as-recommended for your motor)
Battery (Not included) ...........................................................3s or 4s, 3300-4000mAh LiPo
Radio system (Not included) ..... Minimum of 4 channels, 2 micro and 2 sub-micro servos
NOTE: You can fly this airplane with a basic 4 channel radio with no mixing capabilities,
but adding aileron differential and rudder-to-aileron mixing makes it a lot easier to fly. To
add those functions you will need a radio with 5 or more channels and channel mixing
capabilities. *(All dimensions and weights are approximate.)
PARTS LIST
1. Items you must supply to complete this Nieuport 17
5- and 30-minute epoxy glue, thin and thick Cyanoacrylate (CA) adhesives,
and a few common hand tools (such as long-nosed and diagonal or side-cutter
pliers, Phillips screwdriver, etc.).
A 600 to 750 watt brushless outrunner electric motor..
An Electronic Speed Control and propeller to suit your motor.
Two micro size servos, two sub-micro size servos, two 18-inch extensions, one
12" Y-connector (for 4 channel setup) or two 12-inch extensions (for 5 channel
setup) and a 4 or 5-channel radio control system.
A 3s or 4s LiPo battery. (Added nose weight will be needed if using a 3s LiPo.)
2. Items included with this Nieport 17
Precovered fuselage, wing panels, rudder, horizontal stabilizer and elevators.
Prepainted plastic cowl with dummy engine.
Fully assembled 5" diameter WW I style wheels.
Precut hinge openings and all needed CA hinges.
Aileron pushrods, rudder and elevator cables and related linkages.
Composite wing joiner tubes, all required control horns, and all related hardware
(except those items normally supplied with servos and the electric motor).
Flying wires and all related hardware.

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ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS
BEFORE YOU START:
Open the box and look over the parts. Check everything against the parts list and
make sure everything is there and undamaged. If anything is missing or broken,
contact Maxford USAat the address given on the last page of this manual within 10
days of receipt of the kit
Mark the top of the sliding motor mount box to make sure that you don't later put it in
upside down.
If necessary, use a covering iron to go over the covering material on all of the parts
to eliminate any loose edges or air bubbles, then re-shrink the covering over all the
open areas.
Check the wing panels,
ailerons, stabilizer, elevators
and rudder for warps or twists.
They should look like this
picture. If any of the flying
surfaces are twisted, contact Maxford customer service for instructions.
ATTACH THE CONTROL SURFACES:
The hinge slots are precut in the
leading edge of the control surfaces
and the trailing edge of the wing and
stab. Push the provided CAhinges into
the slots in the control surfaces so that
half of the hinge is exposed. DO NOT
GLUE THE HINGE IN YET.
Push a T-pin or straight pin through
each hinge right next to the front of the
control surface. Attach the ailerons by
pushing the hinges into the precut slots
in the trailing edge of the wing. Bend
the aileron down and hold it firmly
against the wing, then drip 3 drops of
thin CAonto each hinge. Remove the
pins, then turn the wing over and drip 3
more drops of thin CAonto each hinge.
Attach the elevators to the stabilizer
using the same procedure. Do not
attach the rudder yet.

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APPLY THE MARKINGS:
Trim off the flange on the front bottom of the
headrest, then use thick CA or contact cement to
glue it in place.
Carefully trim the decals (stickers) and apply them
as shown. Use dish washing soap and water on
the larger stickers to allow a little movement
before they stick permanently.

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ASSEMBLE THE WINGS:
Remove the aileron hatches from the
bottom of the upper wing panels and
install a sub-micro servo on the back of
each hatch using the hardware that
came with your servos.
Attach an 18 inch extension to the servo
wire and secure the connection by tying,
taping, or shrink tube so that it won't
come apart.
Use your transmitter to center the servo, Use a long servo arm so that the pushrod
will not hit the wing surface when it travels and BE SURE TO INSTALL THE SCREW
THAT HOLDS THEARM TO THE SERVO.
There is a string inside the
wing that is attached to the
frame of the servo hatch
and leads to the wire exit
hole near the root of the
wing. Tie the servo hatch
end of the string to the end
of the extension and then
pull the string and the wire
through the wing and out
the hole near the root.
Install the hatch in the wing
using the M 2x10 self-
tapping screws provided. Remove and discard the string, then temporarily tape the
end of the extension to the bottom of the wing.
Install the control horns using the
M2x18 machine screws provided. Put
the Z- bend of the pushrod through
the outer hole of the servo arm and
connect the clevis to the horn.
Re-center the aileron servo and then
slip the aileron pushrod through the
outer hole in the servo arm. Adjust the
length of the pushrod by screwing the
clevis in or out until the aileron trailing
edge is level with the wing trailing
edge.Tighten the locking nut against
the back of the clevis to lock in the
adjustment.
Install and adjust the aileron servo, horn and pushrod on the other wing as well.

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Locate the two metal interplane struts and four flying wire brackets. Mount the struts
and brackets to the wingtip side of the wooden tabs that protrude from the bottom of
the upper wings using the M3x12 machine screws and M3 locknuts provided.
Locate the fiberglass wing joiner tubes
for the upper and lower wings. Test fit
them into the wings and slide the
wings together to make sure the wing
tube sockets are not obstructed.
Slide the wing joiner tube into one
upper wing half. Put thick CA or
epoxy on the root end of the other
wing and slide the wing halves
together. Glue the lower wing halves
together as well.
Locate the metal rear cabane strut,
the two pre-covered wooden front
cabane struts and four flying wire brackets. Carefully center the rear cabane strut
over the rear mounting position on the bottom of the upper wing. Drill two 1/6" holes,
through the pre-drilled
holes in the strut, into the
wood for the mounting
screws.
Screw the rear cabane
strut in place with the
M3x10 self tapping screws
provided. Mount the front
cabane struts to the
wingtip side of the wooden
tabs that protrude from the
bottom of the wing using
the M3x10 machine
screws and M3 locknuts
provided. Put a flying wire
bracket on the wing tip
side of each strut.
INSTALL THE MOTOR AND ESC:
The twist-on "Max-Cowling" is a Maxford exclusive. Notice the four small holes near
the edge of the front of the fuselage. These are for the screws that hold the cowl in
place. Screw the four provided M2x12 self tapping screws into the holes. Do not
screw these screws all the way in. There should be a 3/32" gap between the screw
heads and the wood. Test fit the cowl by pushing it over the screw head and then
twisting the cowl a few degrees clockwise. If the cowl won't turn, loosen the screws.
If it goes on but is loose, tighten the screws.

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Remove the cowl and the sliding motor
mount box. Mount your motor onto the
box using the M3x20 socket head
machine screws and M3 blind nuts provided. Carefully measure back 3 3/4" from
the rear of the propeller and put a mark on the side of the box. Slip the box into the
fuselage but DO NOT GLUE IT IN YET.
Install the cowl and verify that the prop clears the cowl by about 1/2 inch and that the
prop shaft is near the center of the opening in the dummy engine. If you chose to
use a different motor and it is shorter than the Maxford U35425 that we used in the
prototypes, you can slide the motor box forward to make prop shaft come out nearer
the center of the hole. When you are happy with the fit go ahead and glue the box
into the fuselage.
The best place for the ESC is inside the small box that protrudes from the firewall
below the motor, but you can also mount it above or along side of the motor mount.
INSTALLTHE STABILIZER:
Locate the three wooden control
horns. Slide these into place through
the pre-cut slots in the elevators and
the rudder. Glue them in with thin
CA.
Attach the stabilizer to the top of the
fuselage using the M3x16 machine
screws provided. The short pre-
covered plywood bar that looks like a
front cabane strut is used to reinforce
this joint. Put the screws through the
bar first, then through the stab, then
into the blind nuts in the fuselage.
Use a threadlocking compound on these screws.