Sawn Craft Cherokee 24 User guide

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Cherokee 24
Assembly and Setup Manual
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Specifications Recommended Power System
Wingspan 24” ESC 10A Brushless
Overall Length 18.3” Motor 40 to 50 watt out runner (14g)
Wing Area 133.9 in2Servo 4x 3.6g Sub-Micro
Flying Weight 3.9oz / 111g RX 6-Channel (4-ch minimum)
Intended Use Indoor/Outdoor Battery 180 to 300mAh 2S 7.4V 25C LiPo (or similar)
Revised 2016-10-19
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ThankyoufromSawnCraft.
ThankyouforpurchasingtheSawnCraftCherokee24aircraftkit,thefourthmodelinourFrontYard
Fightersseries!ThismodelisaslightdeparturefromthewarbirdsthatmakeuptherestoftheFYFline,
butthebuildandperformanceareverymuchthesameastherestoftheseries.Likethefull‐scale
Cherokee,inyourhandsisaremarkablyversatileairplanedesignedtodeliverapleasurecruiserwithan
incrediblelookintheair.ThelightweightandresilientEPPandcarbonconstructionmakesitpossiblefor
youtoexperienceawideperformanceenvelope.Thismeansthatnomatterhowyouliketofly,you’ll
enjoybothstabilityandmaneuverabilitywithoutanysacrificeinprecisionorcontrolfeel.
YourSawnCraftCherokee24aircraftkitrepresentsthebenchmarkofindoorflightperformanceand
aerobaticversatility.Allyouhavetodonextisreadandapplytheinformationpresentedinthis
instructionmanual.
Isincerelyhopethatyouenjoyyourmodelasmuchaswedo!Ifyouhaveanytroubleswiththese
instructionsorinthesetupofyourmodelfeelfreetocontactusandwewillprovideyouwiththe
serviceyouexpectfromahobbyist‐ownedandoperatedbusiness.
JonathanSawn
Owner,SawnCraft
Jonathan@Sawn‐Craft.com

Table of Contents
1Introduction1
1.1StyleConventions1
1.2RequiredTools&Supplies1
1.3RequiredPartsforCompletion 2
1.4IncludedPartsDescription 3
2AssemblyInstructions4
2.1PartsSheetRemoval4
2.2CuttingControlSurfaceBevels5
2.3HorizontalComponentAssembly6
2.4VerticalComponentAssembly8
2.5LandingGearAssembly9
2.6ServoEZConnectorAssembly&Installation12
2.7WingServoInstallation13
2.8UpperVerticalFuselageInstallation14
2.9ElectronicsInstallation15
2.10GussetInstallation18
2.11Painting/Decorating19
3SetupandTuning20
3.1CenterofGravity20
3.2RadioSetupandMixing20
3.3ControlThrowsandExpo21
3.4Launching/Take‐Off21
3.5FlyingTips21
3.6Repairs&SpareParts22

SawnCraftCherokee24Manual 10/17/16
1 Introduction
Thecontentsofthismanualassumetheoperatorwillhavethefollowingprerequisites:
•Understandingofallappropriatesafetyproceduresandrequirements
•Theabilitytofollowwrittenproceduresandpossessbasichobbybuildingskills
1.1 Style Conventions
Belowaretheimportantstyleconventionsthatwillbeusedthroughouttheguide.
Note:Keypointsorhintsforsuccesswillbeformattedinthismanner.
Warning:Anyareathatposeseitheraphysicalhazardorthedangerwillbeformattedinthismanner.
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Arrowsinformwheretoclickortoperformthespecifiedoperation.
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1Circleditemsinformofitemsofinterestforthespecifiedoperation.Circleditemswilltypicallybe
accompaniedbytextfurtheridentifyingtheregionofinterest.
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1.2 Required Tools & Supplies
Thelistbelowcontainsalloftherequiredtoolsandsuppliesthatarerequiredfortheassemblyand
tuningofthismodel.
•Clean,flatworksurface(buildingboard)
•#11hobbyknifeorotherrazorknife
withspareblades
•2xMetalstraight‐edgeruler
•T‐Pins(1”–1.5”areideal)
•Scissors
•PermanentMarker
•Drillw/1/16”&5/64”bit
•BeaconFoam‐Tacfoam‐safeadhesive
•CAadhesive
•3MBlendermTape
•Maskingtape
•Waxpaper
•Solderingiron&solder
•Heatgun
•Wirecutters
•Needlenosepliers
SawnCraftrecommendstheuseofBeaconFoam‐Tacadhesiveand3MBlendermHingeTapefor
theconstructionofthismodelduetoitsstrength,lightweight,andeasyuse.BothBlenderm
andFoam‐TaccanbepurchasedbyvisitingtheBuildingSuppliestabonSawn‐Craft.com
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SawnCraftCherokee24Manual 10/17/16
1.3 Required Parts for Completion
Thelistbelowcontainsthetestedandrecommendedpartsforyourmodel:
•SawnCraftFYFCompletionKit
oTurnigyC18222100kvmotor
o10ABrushlessESC
o4x3.6gServos
o6‐ChannelReceiver(Optional)
o6”x3”ElectricProp
oJSTFemalePigtail
oShrinktube,etc.
•180mAhto300mAh2S25CLiPoBattery
•Velcro
Pleasenotethatotherpowersystemsandcomponentsmaybecompatibleandmaywork
withoutissue,butthelistedcomponentshavebeenusedsuccessfullybySawnCraft.
Optional Parts for Completion
Tomakeyourbuildeasierandensurethenicestlookingfinishedproduct,thefollowingproductsare
offeredonSawnCraft.com.SeetheBuildingSuppliestabfortheseproducts.
2
Theorderofassemblypresentedinthisinstructionhasbeentestedanditisrecommendedthat
youdonotdifferfromthemtoprovidethemostaccurateandeasiestassemblypossible.Also,
theconstructiontechniquesofmanyofouraircraftareextremelysimilar.Thoughwewilltryto
includeasmanyphotosofyourspecifickitinthisinstruction,otherkitassemblyphotosmaybe
usediftheinstructionand“look”oftheassemblyisthesame.
If you would like to view larger images or print out your own version
of this manual it is available 24/7 on Sawn Craft's website. Visit the
Support tab, or use this link to get there:
http://sawn-craft.com/p/support
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SawnCraftCherokee24Manual 10/17/16
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1.4 Included Parts Description
Pleaseinspectyourkitandensurethatalllistedpartsarepresentandundamaged.Ifyoufindmissing
partsorsignsofdamagepleasecontactSupport@Sawn‐Craft.comforassistance.
a) 22.75”CarbonStrip(NotPictured)
b) 3mm&6mmEPPMotorSpacers
c) Rudder
d) Elevator
e) Wing(2each)
f) Aileron(2each)
g) 3mmEPPGussets(2eachlong,2eachshort)
h) LowerVerticalFuselage
i) HorizontalFuselage
j) UpperVerticalFuselage
k) SmallPartsBag:(Picturedatright)
k.1 25mmWheel(3each)k.6 PlywoodMotorMount
k.2 8.5”CarbonStripk.7 PlywoodControlHorns(4each)
k.3 5”CarbonRod(2each)k.8 WireControlRods(4each)
k.4 5.5”CarbonRodk.9 MicroLinkageStoppers(4each)
k.10 24”LandingGearBindingThreadk.5 3.5”1/16”Wire
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b
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SawnCraftCherokee24Manual 10/17/16
2 Assembly Instructions
2.1 Parts Sheet Removal
•PartsRequired:
oKitPartsSheets
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1) Usingasharphobbyknifecarefullycutthefoampartsoutofthesheets.Thesmalltabsholding
thepartsintothesheetcansometimesbetrickytofindsoifyouhavetroubleremovingapart
fromthesheetkeeplookingforthatlasttab.Onceoutofthesheet,youmaychoosetocleanup
theremainingtabonthefoampieceswithahobbyknifeandsomesandpaper.
2) Findandmarkwithmaskingtapethebottomofthehorizontalfuselage,bottomofthewinghalves,
bottomoftheailerons,andbottomoftheelevator.Thebottomofthesecomponentswillhavea
slotmilledforcarbonstrips.FindandmarkwithmaskingtapetheLEFTsideoftherudderandthe
LEFTsideofuppercomponentoftheverticalfuselage.Theselabelswillhelptoassurethebeveled
hingecutsareonthecorrectsideofthefoam.
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Milledsparslot
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SawnCraftCherokee24Manual 10/17/16
2.2 Cutting Control Surface Bevels
•PartsRequired:
oHorizontalFuselage
oAileron(2x)
oRudder
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1) Bevelthehingedcontrolsurfaces,usingsteelrulersandfreshsingle‐edgerazorblades.Seta12‐
inchorlongermetalrulerbackingattheedgeofyourworkbench.Laythefoamparttobebeveled
ontheruler,aligningtheedgeoftheruledandtheedgeofthefoamnearesttoyou.Layasecond
steelrulerfacingdownfarenoughbacktoexposeenoughfoamtoallowa45degreeslicetobe
removed.Cutthefoamwiththesingle‐edgerazorbladeheldagainstbothrulers.Anglingtheblade
makesasmoothercut.
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Bothaileronswillbebeveledontheirleadingedges,ensuringthattheyaremirrorimagesofeach
other.Therudderwillbebeveledonitsleadingedge,butthebevelshouldbecutoutoftheright
sideofthepart.Placetherudderwithitsleftsidedownonthetableandcutthebevelfromthe
rightside.Therearofthehorizontalfuselagewillbebeveledonthebottomsideofthepart.Place
thefuselagewithitstopsidedownonthetableandcutthebevelfromthebottomside.
EPPfoamdullsbladessurprisinglyfast,sobepreparedtochangetoafreshbladewhenyou
detectsnaggingorexcessdragasyoumakeyourcuts!
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SawnCraftCherokee24Manual 10/17/16
2.3 Horizontal Component Assembly
•PartsRequired:
oWing(2each)
oAileron(2each)
oHorizontalFuselage
oElevator
o8.5”CarbonStrip
o22.75”CarbonStrip
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1) Assembleandgluethehorizontalcomponents.Testfitallpartwithoutgluetocheckfitbefore
gluing.
Workoverwaxedpapertokeepfromgluingthemodeltothebuildingsurface.
‐Pinthehorizontalfuselagecomponenttothebuildingsurface.
‐Glueinthe8.5”carbonstripelevatorsparintotheelevator.
‐Gluethewinghalvesinplace.Wipeoffexcessglue.
‐Runabeadofgluealongthesparslotandpressthe22.75”carbonstripsparintoplace.Wipeoffany
gluethathassqueezedoutoftheslot.
Wipeoffallglueoutsideoffoamjoints.Thisgluedoesnotaddanystrength,butitdoesadd
weightwhichwillnegativelyaffecttheflightcharacteristicsofthemodel.
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SawnCraftCherokee24Manual 10/17/16
2) Measuretheleadingedgeoftheelevatorandmakeasmallmarkatthemidpoint.Dothesamefor
thetrailingedgeofthehorizontalfuselage.
3) Makegluehinges.Pintothebuildingboardeachofthehingedparts,withbevelcutdownagainst
thebuildingboard.Locatethepartswiththematingsurfacesgentlytouching,ensuringthatthe
partsarecenteredorotherwisealignedcorrectly,dependingonthesurface.Runthesmallest
possiblebeadoffoamgluealongeachseam.Runafingeralongeachseamtopushtheglue
betweenthematingparts.Blotupexcessgluewithapapertowel.Letdryatsufficientlyforthe
gluetofullycure.Leavingthepartsovernightisidealforthestrongestandmosttruebond.
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7
BUILDINGTIP:Ithelpstousesomeweighttoholdthepartsinalignmentwhiletheglueiscuring
ifyouchoosenottousepins.
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SawnCraftCherokee24Manual 10/17/16
2.4 Vertical Component Assembly
•PartsRequired:
oMainAssembly
oTopVerticalFuselage
oRudder
oBottomVerticalFuselage
oPlywoodFirewall
oPlywoodControlHorns
o3mm&6mmMotorSpacers
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1) Createagluehingebetweenthetopverticalfuselageandtherudder,justlikeyoudidwiththe
othercontrolsurfacesinthelaststep.Thereshouldbeabouta1/16”gapbetweenthetopofthe
verticalfuselageandthebottomoftherudder.Gluethecontrolhorntotheleftsideofthe
rudder.Setthisassemblyasidewhilethegluecures.
2) Flipthemainassemblysothatthebottomisfacingup.Runabeadofgluedownthecenterofthe
horizontalfuselageandattachthelowerverticalfuselage,ensuringthatallofthefrontofthe
pieceslineup.Applyglueintothecontrolhornslotsintheelevatorandaileronsandinsertthe
controlhornsallthewaysothatthebottomofthehorntouchesthetable.
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3) Whiletheglueiscuringonthatpart,takeyourchosenmotorandmountittotheplywoodfirewall
usingthescrewsthatcamewithyourservos.Next,usingtheincluded3mmand6mmmotor
spacers,determinehowmanyandwhatcombinationofspacersyouwillneedtoensurethatthe
propclearsthefrontofthemodel.Youcanusetheverticaltopfuselageforthisdetermination.
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IfyouareusingtheSawnCraftFYFCompletionkit,youwillonlyneedtouseoneofthe6mmmotor
spacers
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Onceyouknowhowmanyspacersyouneed,removethemotorfromthefirewallandgluethe
necessaryspacerstotherearofthefirewall,ensuringthattheholesinbothpartslineup.Setthis
partasidetocureaswe’llneeditinafuturestep.
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SawnCraftCherokee24Manual 10/17/16
2.5 Landing Gear Assembly
•PartsRequired:
oMainAssembly
o5”CarbonRod(2each)
o5.5”CarbonRod
o3.5”1/16”SteelRod
o25mmWheel(3each)
o24”Thread
oUnusedServoHorns
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1) Installtwo5”carbonfiberrodsforlandinggear,aligningoneendoftherodwiththemilledcircle
onthebottomofthehorizontalfuselagewhilebothrodscrossthroughtheslotinthebottom
verticalfuselage.Useplentyofgluetosecuretherodendsbothontheendsandintheslot.
Installthe5.5”axletocompletethelandinggear.Slidethewheelsontheremainingcarbonfiber
rodandmakesuretheyspinfreely.Iftoosnugfit,chamferorslightlytapertheaxelrodendswith
sandpapertoallowthewheelsandhubstogoeasilyontotheaxle.
Tapeoneendoftheaxleinplaceandbindtheothersidewiththeblackthreadprovidedinthekit.
Removethetapeandbindtheotherside.Notethattheaxleshouldbearrangedbetweenthe
angledcomponentstobeasparalleltothesparaspossible,tothattheplanerollsasstraightas
possiblewhentaxiing.Adjusttheaxleforevenoverhangoneachsideandforparalleltothewing
sothattheplanesitslevel.SecurethethreadbindingwithadropifCAglueoneachside.Trimany
excesscarbonrodfromthediagonalifnecessary.
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2) Slidethewheelsonandholdtheminplacewithaplastichubmadefromthecenterportionofa
servoarmfromamicroservo.Removethearmswithsidecutters,sandforsmoothness,drilloutto
5/64”ifnecessaryandslidethehubsontoholdthewheelsinplace.Allowalittleside‐to‐sideplay
foreasyrollingandsecurethehubswithadropoffoamglue.
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SawnCraftCherokee24Manual 10/17/16
10
3) Bendthe3.5”1/16”steelrodaccordingtothefigurebelow.Notethatthisdiagram,whenprinted
inbookletformasincludedinyourkit,shouldbeverycloseto1:1scale.
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SawnCraftCherokee24Manual 10/17/16
4) Applyagenerousbeadofglueintothenosegearslotthatismilledinthebottomverticalfuselage.
Insertthebentwirelandinggearstrutintotheslotfullyandalignsuchthattheaxleportionofthe
strutisparalleltothewingspar.Ifthisisnotparallel,thefrontwheelwillnotbepointingstraight
andtheaircraftwillturnwhiletaxiing.Whenthegluehascuredabit,addadditionalgluetothe
outsideofbothsidesoftheslotandwipeintothefoamwithyourfingertostrengthenthearea.It
issuggestedtoallowthegluetofullycurebeforeproceedingtothenextstep.
5) Slidethewheelonandholditinplacewithaplastichubmadefromthecenterportionofaservo
armfromamicroservo.Allowalittleside‐to‐sideplayforeasyrollingandsecurethehubswitha
dropoffoamglue.
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SawnCraftCherokee24Manual 10/17/16
2.6 Servo EZ Connector Assembly & Installation
•PartsRequired:
o4x3.6gServos
o4xDubroEZConnectorPieces(Disk,Connector,&Screw)
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1) Usingyourreceiveroraservotester,electronicallycenteralloftheservos.Oncecentered,
disconnectthemfromthepower.Selecttheservohornsthatyouplantouseandassemblethe
DubroEZConnectorsoneachhornasshowninthephotobelow.Thecorrectorderofcomponents
forallservoswhenassembledis(fromthetopoftheservo):Screw,Connector,ServoHorn,&Disk.
Formorecontrolsurfacethrowyouwillwanttousethefurthestholeontheservohornfromthe
servo.YoumayneedtoopentheholeintheservohorntoallowtheEZconnectortopassthrough.
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2) Installtheservohornsontotheservosandsecurewiththeincludedscrews.Notethattwoofthe
servoswillbeinstalledwiththehornfacingupwhentheservolabelisshowingasitsitsonthe
tableandtwowillbeinstalledwiththehornfacingupwhentheservolabelisnotshowing.
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SawnCraftCherokee24Manual 10/17/16
2.7 Wing Servo Installation
•PartsRequired:
oMainAssembly
o2xServoAssembly
o2xWireControlRods
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1) UsingFoam‐Tac,gluethewingservostothewingbetweenthesparandleadingedgeensuringto
aligntheholeintheEZConnectorwiththecontrolhornontheailerons.Makesurethattheservo
ismountedsuchthatthehornrotatesasclosetoperfectlystraightinthefront/backdirectionas
possible.
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2) Oncethegluehascured,runthewirefromtherightaileronservothroughtheholeinthelower
verticalfuselage.
3) InstalltheZ‐bendendofeachcontrolrodintotheholeinthecontrolhorn.Gentlydeflectthe
aileronstowardthetopoftheairframeandinsertthestraightendofthecontrolrodintothehole
thatisintheEZConnector.LeavetheEZConnectorscrewloosefornow.
BUILDER'STIP:BendT‐pinsintoZ‐bendshapeinordertousethemtoholdcomponentsand
otherlargeareassecurely.
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SawnCraftCherokee24Manual 10/17/16
2.8 Upper Vertical Fuselage Installation
•PartsRequired:
oMainAssembly
oUpperVerticalFuselageAssembly
oFirewall&SpacerAssembly
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5) GluetheupperverticalfuselagecomponentinplaceandholdinpositionwithT‐pinsuntiltheglue
dries.Applyabeadofgluetotherudderhingebelowtheelevator.Wipeoffexcessgluetosave
weight.
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6) Gluethefirewallandspacerassemblytothefrontoftheairframe,makingsurethatyouuse
sufficientgluetocreateastrongbondasthisisahighstressarea.Trytokeepglueoutofthehole
intheassemblyasthemotorshaftwillneedtospininthisarea.
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SawnCraftCherokee24Manual 10/17/16
2.9 Electronics Installation
•PartsRequired:
o50WMotor
o10AESC
o4+channelReceiver
o2x3.6gServos
o2x~8”servoextensions
ThepowerandradiocomponentsyouselecttoinstallinyourFrontYardFighterskitwilllikelybesimilar
tothebelowphoto.Don’tforgetthatyoucanbuytheFrontYardFighterCompletionKitthatincludes
allofthenecessaryelectronicstogetyourkitintheairwithouthavingtopiecethemtogetheryourself.
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1) Sincewemounttherudderandelevatorservosinthetail,servoextensionswillbeneededto
connecttothereceiverwhichistobelocatednearthefrontoftheplane.Ifyouinstallafour‐
channelreceiver,you'llneedaY‐cabletodrivetheaileronsfromonereceiverchannel.Ifyouinstall
asix‐channelreceiver,aY‐cableisnotneeded,astheaileronservoscanplugdirectlyintoAILand
AUXchannelsonthereceiver,andaremixedinthetransmitter.
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2) Ifyourrudderandelevatorservosfitinthepre‐cutslots,great!Iftheyarelarger,carefullytrim
awayalittlefoamwithasharphobbyknife.Wewantasnugfitoftherearservosintheirfoamslots,
tominimizetheamountofglueneededtosecuretheminplace.
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Pulltheservocablewiththeextensioncabletowardthefrontoftheaircraftandbringthemout
throughtheholesprovidednearthereceiverlocation.Applyabitofgluetotheflatsideoftheservo
thatrestsagainsttheverticalcomponentofthefuselage,tofixitinplace.
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Youcanattachtheelevatorcontrolrodnow,butdonotconnecttheruddercontrolrodasyouwill
dothisinafuturestep.
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SawnCraftCherokee24Manual 10/17/16
16
BUILDER'STIP:Makesuretheservocableandtheservoextensioncablearetapedorglueddown
sotheycanwithstandsomebumpingandbruising.Thiswillmakeyourlifeeasierasitprevents
theconnectorsfromcomingapartafteranimpact.
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3) LocatethereceivernearthenoseandfixinplacewithaspotofglueorVelcro.Makesureyoulocate
itsotheplugsareaccessible.
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4) SoldertheESCandmotorwirestogetherandaddthecorrectbatteryconnectortotheESC,ensuring
thatthemotorspinsinthecorrectdirection.Oncealloftheconnectionsaremade,attachthe
motortothefirewallsuchthatthewirespointdownandtotheleftsideoftheplane.RuntheESC
radioconnectorwiretothereceiverbypassingitthroughtheslotinthelowerverticalfuselage.
Tucktheexcesswirethroughtheholeprovidedtomakeaneatwiringinstallation.SecuretheESC
withaspotofglueorVelcro.
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SawnCraftCherokee24Manual 10/17/16
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BUILDER'STIP:toworkontheundersideoftheplaneaftertheupperverticalfuselageis
installed,settheplaneonapairofsame‐sizeboxes.
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5) AttachastripoftheoppositesideofVelcro™hookandlooptapetotheundersideofthehorizontal
fuselagecomponentthanyouuseonyourbatteries.Makeitlongerthatthebatterytoallowfine
adjustmenttotheplane'scenterofgravity.Attachtheopposinghookandlooptapetobattery
packstoholdtheminplacewheninuse.
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