QuiQue's Aircraft Semi Scale Yak-54 User manual

Semi Scale Yak-54, ARF 69”
ASSEMBLY MANUAL
Specifications
Wingspan: 69 in
Wing Area: 950 sq in
Weight (RTF): 8.5-9 lb
Radio: 4-6 Channel W/5 Servos
Recommended Engines:
2-Stroke 1.20
4-Stroke 1.10-1.25
1

Table of Contents
Quique’s Aircraft Company 3
Covering Colors 4
Going Over the Covering 4
Hardware Supplied 5
Additional Required Tools and Adhesives 6
Servo Selection 7
Using the Manual 7
Warning 7
Warranty Information 7
Section 1-Preparing Fuselage 8
Section 2-Horizontal Stab And Elevator Installation 9
Section 3-Vertical Fin Installation 13
Section 4-Preparation and Installation of Aileron Hinges 15
Section 5-Elevator, Rudder and Aileron Control Horn Installation 17
Section 6-Hinging Rudder & Tail Wheel Installation 19
Section 7-Elevator Servo Installation 21
Section 8-Rudder Servo and Pull/Pull Installation 23
Section 9-Engine Mounting and Throttle Control Installation 26
Section 10-Landing Gear Installation 28
Section 11-Fuel Tank Installation and Engine Box Completion 31
Section 12-Engine Cowling 33
Section 13-Canopy Installation 35
Section 14-Wing Preparation and Aileron Servo Installation 37
Section 15-Radio Equipment 39
Balancing the Model 42
Side Force Generators (Optional) 43
Control Throws 44
Preflight at the Field 46
2

Quique’s Aircraft Company
3410 Saint Paris Pike
Springfield, OH 45504
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.Somenzini.com
www.QQAircraft.com
Online-Support:http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/forumid_437/tt.htm
Quique and I want to express our thanks to you for choosing our 69” Yak-54. We
think that you will enjoy one of the best flying model aerobatic airplanes
available. It is patterned after the 37% Yak-54 which took First Place honors at
2006 Don Lowe Masters Champion and 2006 Tucson Free Style Champion. The
2003 Free Style Championships in Lakeland Florida, First Place at the Don Lowe
Master competition 2003 & 2004, First Place Tucson Shoot Out 2004 Free Style,
First Place XFC 2004, precision and free-style and Third Place at the
Tournament of Championships in Las Vegas in 2002.
We have tried to prepare the best assembly manual possible along with best
support on our line of Aircraft. We are happy to announce that we have a support
forum on www.Rcuniverse.com that is being led by
Mr. Reza Gholamipour. Imagine, you are building your plane during the weekend
when we are closed and you desperately need to get an answer to your question
to continue building. Well we are happy to tell you that your question has most
likely already been asked and answered on the RC Universe forum “Quique’s
Aircraft Support.” If not, just post your question on the most appropriate thread
and have the answer in matter of hours.
Also we would like to ask you to check our support forum for any updates that
may pertain to your aircraft before starting your assembly process.
Good flying to you!
Quique, Sandra, Wayne, Molly and Reza
3

Covering Colors
Ultra-cote covering used on this 69” Yak-54 can be purchased from Horizon
Hobbies Website. The codes are as follows:
 Deep Blue Hanu873
 True Red Hanu866
 White Hanu870
 Bright Yellow Hanu872
Going Over the Covering
Before beginning the assembly of your Yak-54 , remove each part from its bag
for inspection. If you find any wrinkles in the covering, use a heat gun or covering
iron to remove them. Use caution while working around areas where the colors
overlap to prevent separating the colors. Make sure you go over the edges with
your iron as well.
4

Hardware Supplied
Wing Mounting Parts
Aileron-Hardware Pack
Elevator Hardware Pack
Engine Mount
Wheels
Rudder Hardware Pack
Canopy Hardware Pack Tail Wheel Fuel Tank
5

Additional Required Tools and Adhesives
• Covering/Trim iron
• Xacto knife, #11 blade
• Pacer hinge glue (PT-55)
• 5, 15 and 30-minute epoxy
• Petroleum jelly/Lithium grease
• Acetone/Alcohol swabs
• Felt-tip marker
• Pencil and Marker
• Ruler
• Drill
• Wire cutter
• Course and fine sandpaper
• Thin, medium and thick C/A
• Full threaded servo mounting screws
• Music wire/Dubro rod
• Pliers
• Masking tape
• Ultra fine point sharpie
• Double-sided tape
• Small sheet metal screws
• Rat-tail file
• Pin vise
• White glue such as Elmer’s Carpenter’s wood glue
• Round toothpick
• Velcro
Extensions:
• (2) 18” servo extensions for Ailerons
• (1) 18” or 24” servo extension for Elevators
• (1) 12” servo extension for throttle
6

Servo Selection
The servos used for the control surfaces of this Yak-54 must have a minimum of
130 ounce-inch of servo torque. In the prototype Yak-54 , we used JR8411 on all
control surfaces and on throttle we used one standard JR servo. Best results can
be obtained by using digital servos. Please do not risk your plane by using low
torque servos. This Yak-54 has large control surfaces and fully capable of any
maneuvers that a pilot is able to perform, therefore using weak servos will
increase chance of flutter and can cause you crash.
Using the Manual
This manual is divided into sections to help make assembly easier to understand
and to provide breaks between each major section. Remember to take your time
and follow the directions.
Warning
I am sure that for the most of you this is not your first venture into the World of
flying radio controlled aircraft. For those of you that may be entering this exciting
sport early on in your modeling experience and for you with vast experience, I
think we all need to be reminded of the possible dangers that are associated with
a high performance aircraft of this type. This is not a toy. This aircraft flying at a
typical weight of ten pounds and up to one hundred miles per hour will inflect
unbelievable damage to property, life and limb. This aircraft must be flown in a
safe manner at all times. You should always do a preflight check including control
surfaces hook-ups, radio operation, (please refer to your radio equipment
instruction manual for range checks and other pertinent related information) and
all other checks relating to the safe operation of this aircraft.
Warranty Information
Quique’s Aircraft Company guarantees this kit to be free from defects in both
material and workmanship at the date of purchase. This warranty does not cover
any parts damaged by use or modification. In no case shall QQAC’s liability
exceed the original cost of the purchased kit.
Customer is responsible to check all the components upon receiving of his
aircraft and notify QQAC in case of any visible damage to any parts. Customer
should not proceed with building the aircraft as some damages can compromise
the integrity of the structure of the aircraft, resulting in more damages. In no case
will such damages be covered by QQAC.
7

Section 1-Preparing Fuselage
Required Tools and Adhesive
• Xacto knife, #11 Blade
• Trim Iron
• White Glue
Step 1
Use a Xacto knife with a # 11 blade
and cut away the film covering on
both sides of the fuselage for the
wing openings, Figure 1.
Some modelers may want to overlap
the film covering down inside the
fuse in the opening for the wing. For
example this type of an opening for
the wing may be done as follows.
Simply cut the film about 1/8 of an
inch to the inside of the opening for
the wing. You may then bend this
extra 1/8 inch flap of film over ninety
degrees to the inside of the fuse
opening and iron it to the edge of the
balsa sheeting over the foam. Use
the trim iron for this application.
Figure 1
Figure 2
Step 2
Cut the film on the horizontal stab
openings, elevator servo opening
and the arch that is for joining the
elevator halves together. Please
note that the elevator servo opening
is on the left side of the fuse.
Figure 3
8

Section 2-Horizontal Stab And Elevator Installation
Required Tools and Adhesive
• Ultra fine point Sharpie
• Acetone
• Xacto knife, #11 Blade
• Felt tip marker
• Thin and thick C/A
Step 1
Center the H. Stab so that the left tip
and right tip are equal distance from
the fuselage sides. See Figure 4.
Figure 4
Step 2
Square up the H. Stab by measuring
the diagonal distance from the turtle
deck to the back corners (left and
right) of the H. Stab. They must be
the same distance. See Figure 5.
Depicted picture is not for this plane, however it’s
showing you how to ensure stab is perfectly
centered and lined up
Figure 5
Step 3
Mark lines on both sides of the H.
Stab top and bottom with a fine felt
tip black marker, an Ultra Fine Point
Sharpie ® works well in this
application. Later when you are
ready to remove the black lines,
acetone works best.
Figure 6
Step 4
Remove the H. Stab from the fuse.
Mark a line, measured 1 mm on the
inside of the two lines top and
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bottom that you marked along the
right and left sides of the fuse.
Step 5
Use a new # 11 blade and gently cut
through the ultra cote. See Figure 7.
There are two layers, cut through the
top layer first and remove it. You
have probably cut through the
second layer. If not you may cut
through the second layer. Be very
careful not to cut into the balsa
sheeting as this will weaken the
structure of the Horizontal Stab as
the skin sheeting is important to its
structural integrity.
Figure 7
Step 6
Use your iron to seal down the Ultra-
cote where you removed the center
section before you make the final
attachment.
Step 7
Re-insert the H. Stab into the
fuselage. IMPORTANT: Check the
measurements again, to make sure
the H. Stab is square. Before you
make the final attachment of the H.
stab to the fuse, you must check to
see that the H. stab is parallel with
the wing.
To do this, you may sight down the
fuselage from the rear.
See Figure 8. Make sure you are
looking straight down the middle of
the fuse.
Depicted picture is not representing production
plane color scheme
Figure 8
Step 8
Sight both sides of the H. stab and
compare with both sides of the wing.
If one side is lower and the other
higher, you will need to shim so both
the H. stab and the wing halves are
parallel. Now you are ready to glue
in place.
Step 9
Use thin CA and do this couple of
times. Position the plane in knife
edge attitude to make sure CA is
soaking into the slot. At the end, use
thick CA to fill up the gap. Try to
avoid accelerator until the last stage
that you are using thick CA.
Step 10
Now it’s time to do the elevators.
The elevator halves will be
connected via a CF tube.
10

There two methods that you can do
this.
Method 1
First you need to remove the dotted
line area of the tail with a sharp
xacto knife.
Figure 9
Figure 10
Figure 11
Step 10
Insert the tube in the elevator halves
so they are equal distance. Then
insert the elevator haves into the
hinges (Do not glue anything just
yet)
After moving the elevator halves
around until you achieve equal
distance from the stab, tape the stab
and elevators in the correct position
by masking tape and then CA the
tube to the elevator halves. Use thin
and medium CA and do this couple
of rounds. You do not need to use
epoxy if you let the CA dry. Make a
little fillet with medium CA around the
outside of the CF tube.
Figure 12
Figure 13
Do not glue the square pieces from
the tail section back until you have
completed the hinging for the
elevator halves to the stab.
11

There are two white stripes of
Ultracote provided in the kit that you
can use to cover the tail section of
the plane for best appearance.
Figure 14
Step 11
Go to section 4 for hinging
instructions.
Hinge the stabs first and then fit the
elevator halves.
Step 12
After your hinging is done, glue the
square pieces to the tail section and
cover them with white ultracote
provided.
You need to complete this step
before going to the next section.
Method 2
In this method you won’t need to cut
the fuse at the dotted line. Here’s
how you would attach the elevator
halves and tube.
Insert the elevators into the stab.
Move one half elevator full up and
the other full down. Now insert the
tube to one and push it in further into
one of the elevator halves.
Now level both elevators with stab
just like mentioned in step 10, Fig 12
and move the tube into the other
elevator half. Make sure that the
elevator half you are pushing the CF
in has more room to accept the tube.
If you can not push the tube in any of
the elevator halves enough to avoid
hitting the other elevator half when
lined up with stab, then you can not
use this method.
12

Section 3-Vertical Fin Installation
Required Tools and Adhesive
• Acetone
• Xacto knife, #11 Blade
• Felt tip marker
• 30-minute epoxy
• Alcohol Swab/Alcohol and
paper towel
• Round toothpick
Step 1
Insert the Vertical Fin in the fuse.
Mark a line along the V. Fin and
fuse.
Figure 15
Step 2
Mark another line about ¼” below
the first line that you drew.
Step 3
Remove the film covering as shown.
As with the Horizontal Stab there is
more than one layer of film. By
removing the film covering you will
have a stronger bond between the
Vertical Fin and the Fuse as shown.
Figure 16
Step 4
Be careful to make a very shallow
cut through the film on the V. Fin so
you do not cut too deeply into the V.
Fin sheeting. A very sharp # 11
blade is helpful. Remove the black
ink line with acetone.
Step 5
Glue in place with 15 to 30 minute
epoxy glue. Remove any excess
epoxy with alcohol and a paper
towel.
Figure 17
Step 6
Before epoxy hardens, check to
make sure the hinge slots between
13

the rudderpost and fuselage did not
fill up with epoxy. Before the epoxy
hardens, you might be able to clean
out most of the epoxy with a round
toothpick or thin piece of 1/64
plywood. The bottom hinge slots are
where the problem might occur. If
the epoxy hardens before you clean
out the hinge slots you will have a
problem. White glue could also be
used to attach the vertical fin and
clean up with water and a piece of
paper towel would be much easier.
Figure 18
Figure 19
14

Section 4-Preparation and Installation of Aileron Hinges
Required Tools and Adhesive
• Xacto knife, #11 Blade
• Lithium grease/Petroleum
Jelly
• Toothpicks
• Pacer hinge glue (PT-55) or
30-minute epoxy
The hinge slots are already installed
in the balsa hinge locations on both
the fixed surfaces and the moveable
surfaces.
Step 1
Use a # 11 blade to clean the flat
hinge slot.
Step 2
Dry fit the control surfaces to ensure
there is no binding before you glue
them. The gap between the flying
surface and the control surface
needs to be at a minimum. However
we have to have enough of a gap so
full deflection is possible.
The gap should be somewhere
between 2 and 3 mm. This
procedure will take some time to do
all of the hinges but take your time
and do a nice job.
Step 3
Take some lithium grease or
Vaseline and apply a very small
amount on both sides of the hinge
point on the flat hinges. Quique used
a round toothpick. See Figure 21.
This will help prevent any glue in the
pivot point.
Be very careful not to get any grease
etc. on the flat part of the hinges.
Also remember that you always glue
the hinges in to the fixed surfaces
first, let the glue harden before you
glue in the control surfaces.
Remember to check for the correct
hinge gaps for rudder, elevators and
ailerons. You must have the correct
gap to insure the maximum control
deflection necessary for the best 3-D
aerobatics. For hinge attachment we
like to use Hinge Glue by Pacer.
You may use epoxy if you wish. If
you use epoxy, use an epoxy with a
curing time that will give you enough
time to work the hinges in place
before the epoxy hardens.
Make sure to clean the glue that
oozes out using alcohol swab or
acetone.
Figure 20
Figure 21
15

Figure 22
Figure 23
Figure 24
Figure 25
Step 4
Sealing the Control Surfaces
After you are done hinging the
ailerons and elevators, make sure
you seal the hinge line by using clear
ultracote. Unsealed control surfaces
may cause flutter like aileron flutter,
which may cause your plane to
crash, where sealed control surfaces
will give you better and crisper
response in flight.
For each aileron, cut ¾”x30” of clear
ultracote and seal the hinge line from
bottom using a straight edge and
trim iron.
For each half elevator, cut 3/8”x 9
3/4” of clear ultracote and seal the
hinge line from bottom same way as
you did your ailerons.
16

Section 5-Elevator, Rudder and Aileron Control Horn Installation
Required Tools and Adhesive
• Course sandpaper
• Xacto knife, #11 Blade
• 30-minute epoxy
• Alcohol Swab/Alcohol and
paper towel
Elevator Horn Installation
Step 1
Cut the slots in the bottom of the left
elevator to accept the two PC Board
elevator control horns. Again, rub
your finger over the approximate
location for the cut out to find it more
easily.
Rough up the surface of the P/C
board control horn with coarse
sandpaper only where it will be glued
into the elevator. Clean the PC
boards with alcohol or acetone.
Step 2
Glue in place with epoxy (15-30
Min). Be sure that the attachment
point on the control horn is
perpendicular to the hinge line.
Figure 26
Figure 27
Figure 28
You can do above steps before or
after gluing your stabs. It’s your
choice.
Rudder Control Horn Installation
Step 1
Find the location in the rudder where
the P/C Board rudder control horn is
to be inserted. Remove the film
covering. Rough up the P/C board a
little, clean using alcohol; swab and
glue with 30-minute epoxy.
Make sure that attachment point on
the horns are equal distance to the
hinge line.
17

Figure 29
Figure 30
Aileron Horn Installation
Step 1
Find the location for the aileron
servos in the bottom of each wing.
Note that there are two slots there.
Remove the covering.
Figure 31
Step 2
Cut out the film over the servo
location hole.
Figure 32
Step 3
Glue the control horns in place with 5
or 30-minute epoxy. If you work at a
slow pace, perhaps you should
choose the 30-minute.
Figure 33
Figure 34
18

Section 6-Hinging Rudder & Tail Wheel Installation
Required Tools and Adhesive
• Xacto knife, #11 Blade
• 30-minute epoxy
• Alcohol Swab/Alcohol and
paper towel
• Wire cutter
Step 1
First place the plastic tail wheel
bracket on the tail wheel wire.
Figure 35
Step 2
Bend a 90-degree angle in the
correct direction on the tail wheel
wire that will be inserted in to a hole,
which you will soon drill into the
rudder. See Figure 36 that shows a
20mm distance from the 90-degree
bend to the bottom of the plastic tail
wheel-mounting bracket.
Figure 36
Step 3
Cut the wire that will go into the
rudder to about one inch in length.
Step 4
Drill a hole in the rudder for the tail
wheel wire 13 mm from the bottom of
the rudder.
Figure 37
.
19

Step 6
Insert the tail wheel into rudder and
dry fit hinging to vertical fin and fuse.
Try to adjust your tail wheel bracket
to look like picture below.
Figure 38
Figure 39
Step 7
Now hinge the rudder to vertical fin
and fuse using same method in
section 4.
20