RC Groups North American P-64 SEMFF Combat Plane User manual

North American P-64
SEMFF Combat Plane
Build Guide
28-MAR-2010

Materials used to Build
• One sheet of FFF for airframe parts
• 1/8” Lite Ply for firewall
• 1/16” Plywood or plastic for control horns
• .032”-.039” Music wire for pushrods
• Gorilla Glue white formula
• 1” painters tape to clamp and hold parts in place
• 2” wide packing tape – Wing leading edge reinf.
• ½” wide strapping tape – Wing spar top and bot.

Electronic Hardware used on this
build
• Motor – 1700Kv Blue Wonder
• ESC – 10A
• Servos – HXT 9g (2 minimum)
• Battery – 900 mAh 2s
• Receiver – Spektrum AR6100E
• Transmitter – Spektrum Dx6i
• Transmitter settings –
– Ailerons: 50% rate and 50% exponential
– Elevator: 100% rate and 0% exponential

Part Nomenclature
KF Step Panel
Wing Panel
Rear Fuselage
Horizontal Fuselage Doubler
Firewall – 1/8” Lite Ply
Fuselage Upper Panel Fuselage Lower Panel
Fuselage Upper Doublers
Ailerons
Fuselage Lower Doublers
Canopy Template
All airframe parts are Dow Protection
Board III unless specified otherwise
Elevator

Step 1. Cut out all your parts

Step 2. Chamfer elevator and
aileron hinge edges
On the prototype I chamfered the
leading edge of the control surface
only. 45°x foam thickness.
Shown bottom side up.

Step 3. Add control surfaces to
wing and horizontal stabilizer
I used 3m Nexcare®
plastic bandage tape.
Use your favorite
method.
Shown right side up.

Step 4. Glue Fuselage Rear to
Wing Center
Using Gorilla Glue
tape together with
painters tape to act
as a clamp and to
control foaming.
Wetting one side of
the joint will
accelerate the curing
of the glue.

Step 5. Add KF Step
Moisten wing and
apply glue to the KF
step. This assembly
will need to be taped
in place to prevent
shifting and allowed to
dry. Use weights on
top to keep panels
pressed together will
curing takes place.
The 9g servo may be
installed at this point. It
seats all the down
against the wing panel
and inside the KF step
panel.
Note: Servo helps to
keep other parts in
alignment.

Step 6. Add Strapping Tape
Add ½” wide strapping
tape to top and bottom
of wing spanwise for
reinforcement.
Set even with back
edge of KF step in
center section of wing.

Step 7a. Add Horizontal Fuselage
Doubler
Moisten Main
Assembly and
apply glue to the
Horizontal
Fuselage Doubler.
Tape in place
Note: All parts are
keyed together
and we will need to
assemble the
entire lower
fuselage at this
time. So have all
parts ready to
install. If you wait
too long, foaming
of glue may create
obstructions in
alignment slots.

Step 7b. Lower Fuselage Doublers
to the Lower Fuselage
First assemble the
Lower Fuselage
Doublers to the
Lower Fuselage.
Note: Make sure
cut outs for aileron
servo will fit the
servo.

Step 7c. Lower Fuselage Assembly
to Main Assembly
Apply glue to Lower
Fuselage Assembly
and insert into Main
Assembly. Tape
parts in place. Now
turn Main Assembly
over to top side up.
Note: Do not put glue
on the alignment
tabs of the Lower
Fuselage Panel in
the Assembly.
Expansion of glue
here could prevent
the installation of
Upper Fuselage
Assembly. Always
check for squareness
of assemblies.

Step 8a. Upper Fuselage Doublers
to the Upper Fuselage Panel
Assemble the
Upper Fuselage
Doublers to the
Upper Fuselage
Panel.

Step 8b. Upper Fuselage into Main
Assembly
Assemble the Upper
Fuselage Assembly
to the Main
Assembly. Be sure to
use sufficient glue on
the alignment tabs
here as we want to
glue to expand into
the corresponding
alignment tabs that
we were careful
about in step 6c.
Note: Make sure all
glue joints are taped
to control foaming.
Always check for
squareness of
assemblies.

Step 9. Attach Firewall to Main
Assembly
Glue and tape
Firewall in place.

Step 10. Install Elevator Servo
Install Elevator Servo.
Wire routings are left
up to the builder, but
here is a picture of my
installation.
Cutting a slot in the
doublers allows the
servo wires to set
flush. Then place
cellophane or packing
tape over the wires.
This makes for a very
neat installation.

Step 11. Sand top leading edge of
KF step
Leading edge shown
chamfered back ½” on
KF Step Panel. The
LE is then rounded
smooth along with KF
Step Panel.
Blank contour
Chamfer line
Finished contour
Note: add a strip of
2” wide packing tape
balanced top to
bottom on the straight
section of the leading
edge of the wing
panels after finish
contour is achieved.

Hardware Installation
• Make up or install purchased control horns in elevator
and ailerons
• Make up pushrods and install
• Mount motor
• Position Rx and ESC
• Locate battery position for correct CG. See next page for
CG location.
• Then remove battery, ESC, motor, and Rx to paint if so
desired. A template has been provided in the plans for
the canopy lines.
• Additional panel lines were obtained from a 3-view
available online. Though not needed they do add a level
of detail that gives an extra special touch.

Step 12. Locate battery to obtain
proper center of gravity
Center of Gravity is 2” from the leading edge of the
wing at the root of the leading edge taper.