PlaneadrenalinRC Voodoo Mustang User manual

Voodoo Mustang
Manufactured by World Models Manufacturing Co., LTD.
Assembly Manual
www.planeadrenalinrc.com
Email: t[email protected]

Thank you for purchasing our product!
The Voodoo Mustang is a high-performance aircraft designed for RC pilots with intermediate to
advanced skill levels. Read carefully through this manual to ensure that the assembly process is
completed properly, resulting in a safe maiden flight. We have flight tested this model
extensively. We have made some modifications to this ARF kit, delivering a product that will
move from your workbench to the flying field in as fast as possible. We want you to be out
enjoying your product without being slowed down by the assembly process. For more tips,
tricks, and information, visit us at www.RCGroups.com.
Build Safely
The build process for this ARF kit will require the use of hobby adhesives and sharp knives.
Please exercise caution by working in a well-ventilated area with protective gloves when
working with adhesives such a CA glue or Epoxy. Be sure that all hobby related tools and
equipment are stored out of reach of children and that you have a first-aid kit readily available.
Take your time through the assembly process and read through the manual fully before you
begin. If any of the steps seem unclear, double-check this manual or send us an e-mail if you
have any further questions. Careful preparation is the key to a successful first flight. Please do
not rush through this process or skip important steps.
Fly Safely
We always advocate proper flight safety when operating any model aircraft. Always have
current AMA membership before operating any model aircraft. The Academy of Model
Aeronautics is the governing body for model aviation in the United States and membership is
required at any AMA chartered flying club. Membership is a real benefit as it provides members
with liability insurance as long as the AMA safety code is followed by the pilot. For more
information about AMA membership, visit www.modelaircraft.org.
We advocate safe operation of this aircraft because it is extremely fast and maneuverable.
This model is NOT A TOY, and should be operated only by experienced pilots under careful
supervision. Fly only at locations that are AMA sanctioned flying sites. Avoid flying near power
lines, trees, over streets, vehicles, people, or near full-scale aircraft. If your plane becomes
caught in a tree or power lines, DO NOT attempt to retrieve it yourself. Contact your local
authorities for assistance. Power lines are extremely dangerous, and falls from trees or ladders
can result in serious injury or death. When testing any electrical components of the aircraft
remove the propeller from the motor before you begin. Never operate a brushless motor
indoors with the propeller attached. Do not fly too close to yourself and spectators. Propellers
are very sharp and dangerous. Check your radio equipment and make sure that it is functioning
properly. Make sure to follow all of your manufacturer’s guidelines for your radio system.

Perform radio range checks before any maiden flight to help prevent a lost aircraft. When
operating this aircraft, avoid flying during inclement weather conditions. High heat can over-
stress the motor and speed controller. High winds can result in a loss of control of the aircraft.
Flying in heavy rain can damage electrical components. We want you to enjoy flying, not fixing.
Please take care during the build process and on your first flights with this aircraft.
Have Fun!
PlaneadrenalinRC is all about having fun! We are a group of die hard fly low and fast RC pilots.
We want to share our passion for this hobby with innovative products that are genuine high
performance packages without high cost and high confusion. We modify and test our airframes
and power packages extensively to ensure consistent reliability and long product life under
high-stress conditions. Our products will not only perform well, but will also have quality
components under the hood so you can do what you do best, FLY! We are constantly looking
for ways to better improve our products. Have questions or ideas? Let us know! We’d love to
hear from you. Now let’s get building!
Required Tools and Supplies
Thin CA glue
Medium CA glue
CA de-bonder (optional)
Hobby Knife
Paper Towels
Latex or Nitrile safety gloves
Power drill with a 1/16” (1.6mm) drill bit
Scissors
Side Cutters
Needle Nose Pliers
Measuring Tape
Masking tape
Electrical tape (optional)
Loctite 242
Before You Begin
Unpack the contents of your kit, review all parts and accessories and get them organized. If any
damage has occurred during shipping, contact us and we’ll come up with a solution. Make sure
that you have all of the tools that you need and prepare your workspace for assembly. There
may be some minor wrinkles in the covering, but they will not affect the flight performance of
this aircraft. You can remove some minor wrinkles with a covering iron or heat gun. Take care
when using these tools because excess heat can damage the covering and in some cases the
wood structure underneath.

The Voodoo Mustang is intended as a “Speed Trainer”, its larger size and forgiving nature
create a package which builds confidence while learning to fly faster RC airplanes. We have
designed the power system to be suit to each pilots’ flying capabilities. With a simple change of
the propeller, the Voodoo Mustang can be flown either on an 11.1 volt 3 cell, or 14.8 volt 4 cell
lithium-polymer batteries for more advanced pilots.
Notes on Landing Gear
This ARF kit includes factory pre-installed retractable landing gear, and an optional belly scoop.
We have performed extensive testing of this model, and have concluded that the retractable
landing gear and belly scoop should are not suitable for grass fields and should only be used
on paved runways. When flying at grass fields, we recommend not installing the belly scoop,
removing the retractable landing gear, and installing Hangar 9 Ultracote covering over the
wheel wells. Hangar 9 “Bright Yellow” Ultracote (HANU872), is a close match to the factory
covering, and is easily applied with a 21st Century covering iron. Here is an example of the
finished Voodoo Mustang, prepared for grass runways. Although the landing gear and belly
scoop provide excellent scale detail, we have found that this aircraft is unable to take off, or
land with the landing gear down on grass runways. If you choose leave the landing gear
installed, we recommend hand-launching the plane and ensure the landing gear is fully
retracted when landing on grass runways. Flying the Voodoo without the landing gear and
retract servo results in a significant reduction in the overall weight of the airplane. This simply
delivers more speed!

Assemble The Wing
Let’s begin by assembling the wing. The ailerons have CA hinges pre-installed inside the wing
from the factory. The wicking action of the thin CA will absorb into the hinges and wood fibers,
creating a very strong bond. Tilt the wing and move the control surface down, exposing the
hinges. Add 3 drops of thin CA to both sides of each hinge. Place the dropper next to the wood
and let gravity do the work, and the thin CA glue will penetrate the wood fibers and hinges. Be
careful not to use too much CA, it can easily over-flow and drip down the wing. If CA has
accidentally dripped on the covering, CA de-bonder and a paper towel can be used to remove
it. When using thin CA glue, always wear protective gloves to avoid skin contact. Use it in a well
ventilated area, the fumes can cause respiratory and eye irritation. Allow about a minute for
the thin CA glue to dry, pull gently on each aileron to ensure a strong fit. Check for full aileron
movement by hand once the CA glue has dried.

Next find the circular servo wire opening in the center portion on top of the wing. This will be
the exit point for your aileron servo cables. Use your fingers to search out the opening which is
underneath the covering. Use a hobby knife to cut away covering along those edges. Next flip
the wing over, so the bottom faces up. Use your hobby knife to remove covering and open up
the two small holes at the base of the wing which will house the nylon wing screws.
Install Aileron Servos
The Voodoo Mustang comes with pre-installed servo bays
on the underside of the wing for dual aileron servo
operation, and ease of installation. You’ll find that the
four mounting holes for each servo plate have been pre-
drilled from the factory. Simply add 2-3 drops of thin CA
glue to each hole on the wing and allow them to dry. This
will strengthen the wood fibers. The image below
illustrates the completed wing servo plate with the four
retaining screws installed.

Next we’ll install the servo on to the wing servo plate.
Connect the servo to your receiver and ESC to make sure
that the servo is properly centered. Make sure that your
propeller is not installed before performing any powered
tests on the electrical system. Use a 1/16” (1.6mm) drill bit
and drill the outer-most hole on your servo arm. This will
allow for proper clearance between the linkages and the
servo plate itself. Next, apply 4 drops of medium CA glue,
or 30 minute epoxy to anchor the servo on to the mounting
plate. Let the glue properly dry before moving on to the
next step.
Once the aileron servo is properly attached to the servo plate,
we’ll now assemble the aileron linkages. Begin by installing the
Dubro EZ link on to the aileron servo control horn. Install the
EZ link connector on the outer most hole of the aileron servo
arm. A 1/16” (1.6mm) drill bit may be needed to enlarge the
hole for the EZ link to pass through properly.
Next, route the aileron servo wires through the
wing, and out to the exit hole on the top side of
the wing. There are factory installed strings
inside the wing which will aide you in this
process. Simply tie a knot around the servo with
the string, and gently pull it through to the exit
point on the to side of the wing.

Install the aileron control horns on to the aileron. Attach the
pushrod to the aileron servo, and check for alignment with the
aileron control horn. Once the desired position is achieved, apply
2-3 drops of thin CA glue to hold the control horn in place. Use a
1.6mm or 1/16th drill bit to create pilot holes for the clamp screws
as shown here in the picture. Once the pilot holes have been
drilled, insert the screws into the control horn and pass them
through the pilot holes you’ve just drilled in to the backing plate.
With a small Philips head screwdriver, tighten the screws fully to
secure the control horn and backing plate.
Once both aileron servos have been installed and the linkages connected, make sure that your
servos and control surfaces are mechanically centered. This may require some manual
adjustment of the clevises that are threaded on to the linkage rods. Check to make sure that
each aileron is level with the wing as shown in the picture below.
Installing Tail Surfaces
Once the aileron setup is complete, locate to two nylon wing screws and attach the completed
wing to the fuselage. Next, locate the horizontal stabilizer and elevator. Remove the elevator
halves and CA hinges and set them aside. Remove covering if necessary from the slot on the
rear of the fuselage which houses the horizontal stabilizer. Slide the horizontal stabilizer into
place and check for proper alignment. Proper alignment is achieved by measuring the distance
of the stabilizer tip to the wing tip. Take measurements from the outside corner of the
horizontal stabilizer to the outside corner of the wing tip. Perform these measurements on both
left and right sides of the plane, and adjust the horizontal stabilizer until both measurements
are equal. The picture below illustrates this method of measurement. Also, double check your
horizontal alignment of the stabilizer by measuring from the fuselage to the outside edge of the
stabilizer on both sides. These measurements should also be equal (see illustration on next
page).

Once the horizontal stabilizer has been installed and properly aligned, apply thin CA glue to the
joint between the fuselage and the horizontal stabilizer. The thin CA glue will wick into the gap
and create a very strong bond between the two parts. When applying thin CA glue tilt the
stabilizer up, allowing gravity to facilitate the thin CA glue to soak into the joint.

Once the horizontal stabilizer has been
installed locate the white nylon elevator
joiner behind the horizontal stabilizer,
this will help later on when completing
the elevator installation. Next, apply a
few drops of medium CA glue into the
opening for the vertical stabilizer. Slide
the vertical stabilizer into the opening
and visually check for proper alignment
to the fuselage and horizontal stabilizer.
The rear edge of the vertical stabilizer
should be perpendicular to the
horizontal stabilizer.
Once the vertical stabilizer has been
installed, apply thin CA glue to the joint
of the vertical stabilizer and fuselage as
shown in the picture below. Allow the
thin CA glue to wick into the seam,
creating an instant bond between the
two parts.
Next, install the elevator halves and CA
hinges on to the horizontal stabilizer.
Before performing this step, make sure
that the nylon elevator joiner is in place
behind the horizontal stabilizer. Simply
slide the elevator halves on to the
horizontal stabilizer with the CA hinges
inserted into the slots. Do not apply glue during this step.

With the elevator halves positioned, attach them to the
nylon elevator joiner before gluing the hinges. Use either a
hobby knife or a power drill with a 1/16” (1.6mm) drill bit to
open up the holes for the attachment screws.
Fasten the elevator joiner screws with a small Philips
head screwdriver. Once the elevator halves are properly
fastened to the nylon joiner, make sure that the
elevator halves are properly aligned and all CA hinges
are installed. Apply three to four drops of thin CA glue
to each elevator hinge on both sides. Once the glue has
dried, check for proper movement of the elevator by
rotating it up and down by hand.
Once the elevator assembly is complete, install the
rudder and CA hinges on to the vertical stabilizer. The
CA hinge slots may need to be opened up prior to
installation. Check the hinge slot openings with a hobby
knife.

Slide the rudder and CA hinges into place in the
vertical stabilizer. Apply three to four drops of thin
CA glue to both sides of each hinge. Once the glue
has dried, check for proper movement of the rudder
by rotating it left and right by hand.
Locate the two long pushrods for the elevator and
rudder servos. Slide each pushrod through the
nylon guide tubes inside the fuselage to their exit
points on the rear end of the fuselage. You may
need to use a hobby knife to remove covering at
each exit point. Install the rudder control horn on
the left side of the rudder as shown here in the
picture. Once the control horn has been properly
aligned, apply 2 drops of thin CA glue to the base
to hold it in position. Next use a power drill with a
1/16” (1.6mm) drill bit and create mounting holes
for the rudder control horn.
Pass the two mounting screws through each hole
and fasten them to the mounting plate on the
opposite side of the rudder. Next, attach the
nylon clevis and rubber retaining ring to both
elevator and rudder pushrods once they have
been installed in the fuselage.

Install Rudder and Elevator Servos
Make sure the wing has been removed and view
the underside of the fuselage. Locate the
rectangular servo mounting tray. This tray will
need to be widened a little bit in order to
properly fit the HXT900 sub micro servos. Widen
the opening by approximately 2-3mm by using a
hobby knife to carefully remove material. Work
by removing small amounts of wood, and test fit
the servos until they slide into the mounting
position.
Place the servos in the center position of the servo mounting
tray. Use a Power drill with a 1/16” (1.6mm) drill bit to
create mounting holes for each servo. Apply 2-3 drops of
thin CA glue to each hole, and allow the glue to dry for a few
minutes. Make sure to remove the servos before applying
the thin CA glue, this will prevent the servos from being
glued to the battery tray. This will strengthen the wood in
preparation for the servo mounting screws.
Once the thin CA glue has dried, use a small Philips head
screwdriver to fasten the mounting screws and servos to the
mounting tray. Next, center both servos by connecting them
to your receiver, and powering up the system with your
radio turned on. Make sure the propeller is not installed on
the motor before performing any powered tests! Once the
elevator and rudder servos are centered, attach control arms
to each servo and fasten them down with the appropriate
mounting screws. Install the DuBro EZ link connectors to the
outer-most hole on each control arm. A power drill with a
1/16” (1.6mm) drill bit may be needed to enlarge each
opening in order to properly install the DuBro EZ link connectors.

Once the Dubro EZ link connectors have
been installed on the elevator and rudder
servos, slide both pushrods through each
connector and begin centering the control
surfaces. This operation is best performed
while your power system and radio are
turned on, in order to maintain proper
centering for each servo. Make sure the
propeller is not installed in order to
prevent accidental prop strikes. Adjust the
control clevises on each pushrod to
achieve a properly centered position.
Once the desired position has been achieved, slide the rubber ring over each control clevis to
prevent it from detaching during flight.
Mounting the Motor and ESC
The custom firewall has been pre-installed, and the mounting
holes have been pre-drilled for ease of installation. Locate the
mounting hardware and threaded standoffs for the brushless
motor. Use a small Philips head screwdriver and pass each of
the four screws through the back side of the firewall. Pass the
longer screws through the top and right mounting holes as
you face the firewall. Two washers (4 total), must be added
to both top and right standoffs in order to achieve the
appropriate thrust angle. Once all four screws and thrust
washers have been installed, tighten one threaded standoff
on to each screw against the firewall with a small adjustable
wrench. The finished product will look like the picture shown
on the right.
Once the standoff installation is complete, assemble the back-
plate on to the brushless motor. Locate the four small
countersunk machine screws included with the brushless
motor. Apply 2-3 drops of Loctite 242 to each screw to
prevent them from un-threading during flight. Secure the
backplate to the motor using a small Philips head screwdriver.

Once the brushless motor has been assembled, use
the remaining 4-40 Philips head screws and attach the
motor to the standoffs. The short screws should be
installed on the bottom and left standoffs (as you face
the firewall). The longer screws should be installed on
the top and right standoffs, where the thrust washers
have been previously installed. Appropriate
installation of these screws will ensure proper
compression and a secure fit. Make sure that the
screws do not bottom-out on the installed firewall
screws within the standoffs.
Next, open up the ventilation hole
on the underside of the fuselage
just behind the firewall. This will
provide necessary airflow over the
speed controller and the motor.
Install the speed controller in this
area and connect the three wires
to the corresponding motor wires.
Pass the throttle wire and the
battery connector wires through
the left and right openings on
either side of the wing attachment
slot as shown in the picture on the
right. If you use E-Flite EC3 or
Anderson Powerpole connectors,
you may need to use a Dremel
rotary tool to enlarge one of these
openings in order to properly pass
the battery wires through.

Now that your electronic speed controller and brushless
motor have been installed and connected, use a
programming card to enter the following settings into the
BEC. We recommend using only a Hobbywing or Turnigy
Plush programming card. These cards are guaranteed to
be compatible with the Turnigy Plush 60 amp speed
controller which is provided with our power system. We
do not recommend using other programming devices,
incompatibility may result in a failure of the BEC. The
recommended settings are as follows:
Motor Brake: ON
Battery Type: Li-xx
Cut Off Type: Soft-Cut
Cut Off Voltage: High
Start Mode: Normal
Timing Mode: Middle
Music/Li-po cells: all LEDS OFF = auto detect
Governor Mode: OFF
Once the settings are made, press the OK button to update the programming of the BEC.
Now that your Turnigy Plush 60 amp ESC has been programmed, connect the throttle wire to
your reciever and power up the system with your radio turned ON. Before performing this or
any other power system test, make sure the propeller is not installed. Failure to do so can
result in serious injury! Apply low throttle and visually check the motor rotation direction. The
motor should be rotating counter-clockwise as you face the motor. Unplug and switch any two
of the three motor wires until proper rotation direction is achieved.
Cowl and Canopy Installation
Locate the Canopy and place it on the
top side of the fueslage, checking for
proper alignment. Once the proper
placement of the canopy is achieved,
hold it in place with two to three pieces
of masking tape. Note that the canopy
has pre-drilled holes which aide in drilling
mounting holes for the canopy.

Use a power drill with a 1/16” (1.6mm) drill bit to create
pilot holes for each of the mounting screws. Once all of the
mounting holes are drilled, remove the canopy and apply
two to three drops of thin CA glue to each hole. Once the
thin CA glue has dried, install the canopy with the five small
2mm x 8mm wood screws provided in the kit using a small
Philip’s head screwdriver.
Begin preparations for mounting the cowl by
installing the collet prop adapter on the brushless
motor shaft. Leave the propeller and locking nut off
at this stage of the process. Slide the cowl over the
brushless motor and into place on the fuselage. Next,
locate the aluminum backplate for the spinner which
is provided in the kit. The backplate may require the
reaming in order to match the shaft size of the collet
prop adapter. Install the backplate, propeller, and
locknut to aide in proper alignment of the cowl.
Make sure the power system is OFF and the battery
is unplugged before installing the propeller.
With the spinner backplate and propeller installed,
check for proper alignment with the cowl. Make sure
the cowl lines up properly with the spinner
horizontally, vertically, and that there is about 2-
3mm of clearance between the front of the cowl and
the backside of the aluminum spinner backplate.
Once the desired placement is achieved, secure the
cowl with masking tape. Use a Power drill with a
1/16” (1.6mm) drill bit to create pilot holes for the
mounting screws. Remove the cowl after drilling and
apply two to three drops of thin CA glue to each hole
and allow it to dry. Re-install the cowl and secure it
with the 2mm x 8mm wood screws provided in the
kit and a small Philip’s head screwdriver.

Receiver Installation and Final Assembly
Install the receiver in the underside of the fuselage on the bottom of the battery tray. Use
adhesive backed hook and loop material on both the reciever and the fuselage for better
retention on the mounting surface. When installing hook and loop material on wooden
surfaces, apply three to four drops of medium CA glue before applying the hook and loop
material to the wood. This will strenghten the bond, ensurring that it will not fall off. A tie wrap
can also be utilized as an extra safety measure, ensuring that your reciever does not move
during flight. Check all of your servo connections and make sure that the servo wires and
antennas do not interfere with the servos or pushrods.
Turn the fuselage over and remove the
battery hatch. Apply adhesive backed
hook and loop material to this area for
battery retention. Be sure to apply
medium CA glue to the wood panels
before installing adhesive backed hook
and loop material. Locate the battery
retention strap which is provided in
the kit, and route it through the
slotted sides toward the center of the
battery bay as shown in the picture on
the right. Be sure to apply the hook
and loop material to your flight batteries as well.

When operating the Voodoo Mustang on a 4
cell power system, the larger 4 cell 2200mah
battery packs will sit higher inside the
battery bay. Slight modification to the
battery hatch may be reqiured for proper
clearence and fit. Use a hobby knife to
remove material from the fore and aft
sections of the battery hatch. The sides can
be left alone, as they do not contact the
flight battery. Make slight adjustments and
continually test fit the battery hatch until it
closes without obstruction.
Control Throws
Now that all of the electronics and components are in place, check the control throws for all of
the flight surfaces. The control throws we’ve listed here are recommendations based on our
numerous flight tests that have been performed. We recommend setting up dual rates in your
radio system when flying this plane. The expo adjustment will soften the feel of the servo
movement around the center of both stick positions. After your first few successful flights, feel
free to adjust the control throws and Expo to your personal flying style.
Ailerons: Low Rates: 8mm/15% Expo High rates: 10mm/25% Expo
Elevator: Low Rates: 8mm/15% Expo High Rates: 10mm/25% Expo
Rudder: Low Rates: 20mm/15% Expo High Rates: As much as possible/30% Expo
Measure control throws in millimeters on the widest sections, closest to the fuselage. Measure
the control throws in both directions; up and down for each surface.

Set your servo travel adjustment first. This will limit the maximum deflection of each servo.
Measure the control surface deflection on both sides. Direction specific adjustments may need
to be made to achieve even servo travel. Notice how my elevator rates differ slightly in
downward travel compared to upward travel.
Next, perform your dual rate and expo adjustments. Always use expo to soften the control
movement. Once again, directional adjustments may need to be made on the low rate setting
when low rates are switched on.
Finally, set up your flight timer. 5 minutes is recommended as a starting point which will allow
for plenty of spare time to land. Having a flight timer will help prevent unwanted dead-sticks
from occurring due to low battery voltage.
Center of Gravity
Locate the center of gravity by measuring at the root of the wing at the fuselage joint. With
your measuring tape, the proper balance point will be located 8cm or 80mm back from the
leading edge of the wing. Measure both sides of the fuselage and mark the center of gravity
with a felt tipped pen. Make sure the propeller is not installed, and place your fingers on the CG
marks on the top side of the wing. Balance the Voodoo Mustang upside down using your CG
marks as the balancing point. Use your battery as ballast, move it forward or backward inside
the plane to achieve the desired center of gravity.