1- Introduction:
Welcome to the Pilot-Rc Team!
Thank you for choosing a Pilot-Rc plane as your next model. We hope that you enjoy many successful and exhilarating flights with your new plane. Please read through these instructions before you start building or flying to assure a successful experience, and welcome to Team Pilot-Rc!
Your model:
Model: | Laser – 35% |
Wingspan: | 103″ (2.610mm) |
Length: | 93.7″ (2.380mm) |
Wing area: | 1,771 “² (11,430 cm²) |
Weight: | 26.35lbs (11.95kg) |
FEATURES:
- NEW! Full Carbon reinforced fuselage and wing using carbon laminated wood and carbon stringers.
- Genuine German Oracover (Ultracote) covering
- Highly prefabricated, experienced builders can have air ready in under a day
- Pre-installed hinges (glued and pinned)
- Internally mounted cowling – so no external screws exposed
- Includes cooling baffles
- Exhaust tunnel pre-installed in fuselage for easy canister installation
- Removable rudder (as well as removable wings and stabs)
- Laser engraved motor mounting position
- Push-Pull system for Rudder servos
INCLUDED HARDWARE:
- Complete air frame with all basic accessories (such as carbon fibre main undercarriage, tail-gear assembly and wing-tubes as well as fibreglass control horns and wheel pants)
- Pre-installed hinges and pre-mounted canopy
- Fuel tank and fuel tubing pre-prepared, fuel dot and breather valve
- Wheels, axels and wheel pants
- Pre-prepared pull-pull wires and pushrods with ball links
- Matching carbon spinner
REQUIRED HARDWARE:
Motor: 80-120cc or equivalent electric
Servos: 7-8 high torque (minimum 20kg) plus throttle // Uses x2 per aileron, x1 per elevator and x1 or x2 on rudder
Also requires all the usual accessories such as transmitter, receiver, propeller, batteries, powerbox, extension leads and possibly other small accessories.
PILOT-RC RECOMMENDED HARDWARE:
- Servos: Pilot-Rc PW27AH (27Kg – 0,119s at 8,4v)
- Servo arms: Pilot-Rc 1,6″ Aluminium arms (included with Pilot-Rc servos)
Other accessories needed to complete:
- Epoxy Adhesives
- Cyanocrylate adhesives
- X-Acto and Saw knives
- Sandpaper
- Thread lock
- Aircraft stand or support
- Drill, screw drivers, allen keys, wrench set, pliers, etc
2- Disclaimer
All Pilot-RC products are guaranteed against defects for 30 days of your receiving the model. This warranty is limited to construction or production defects in both material and workmanship, and does not cover any parts damaged due to misuse or modification.
Should you wish to return this airplane for any reason, all shipping costs are the responsibility of customer.
If any parts are needed to be replaced by the manufacturer, the original parts must be returned, at the costumers expense.
Do not regard this plane as a toy! This plane is meant for ages 14 and above.
The manufacturer can not supervise the assembly and maintenance of the model or ensure your correct radio installation. Therefore, the manufacturer can not be made responsible or liable for any damage occurring during the use of this radio controlled model. As such all responsibility for the correct build, maintantence and operation must be accepted by the customer. The operation of the model is taken as acceptance by the customer of their acceptance to the above.
The model is highly prefabricated and ready for use, however please also assure that any pre-installed (such as pushrodand ball link sets, fuel tank, etc) components are tight, secure and airworthy both for the first flight and subsequent flights as part of your routine maintenence and verification.
In no event does Pilot-RC accept any liability to exceed the original cost of the basic Pilot-Rc airframe provided (accesories such as engine or radio system are also excluded from liability).
To ensure safety, please read the instruction manual thoroughly before assembly. Building and operating model planes requires diligent practice and correct guidance. Any neglect, carelessness or lack of experience can cause serious bodily harm or damage to property.
Seek the assistant of local model flying clubs and or an experienced aeromodeller for assembly, operation and maintenance to ensure a quick and successful learning process.
Fly only at designated model flying fields approved by the AMA (Academy of Model Aeronautics), the MAAC (Model Aeronautic Association of Canada) or the similar corresponding governing body for your country.
Pilot-RC reserves the right to update the model, instructions and limited warranty without notice.
If you have any problems and questions, please contact Pilot-RC.
3- Assembly
Main landing gear assembly:
Position the fuselage upside down and screw on the carbon undercarriage to the fuselage using the nuts and bolts provided.
Screw the wheel axles on to the landing gear, and then slide on the wheels and secure in place with the provided grub screws.
Some users may prefer to leave the wheels until the end of the build, to prevent the model moving on the build table.
Tail wheel installation:
Using the already installed blind nuts on the inside of the fuselage, simply attach the tail wheel with the bolts provided. Attach the spring at one end to the metal arm on the tailwheel and the other end to the underside of the rudder itself using the small woodscrew provided.
Installing the control horn on the elevator:
It is very important to sand horn to assure a strong bond once glued to the model.
Locate and cut the covering where the horns will be glued
Glue them to the surface using epoxy glue
Excess epoxy glue can be removed with acetone
Installing the control horn on the rudder:
It is very important to sand horn to assure a strong bond once glued to the model.
Locate and cut the covering where the horns will be glued
Glue them to the surface using epoxy glue
Excess epoxy glue can be removed with acetone
Installing the control horn on the ailerons:
It is very important to sand horn to assure a strong bond once glued to the model.
Locate and cut the covering where the horns will be glued
Glue them to the surface using epoxy glue
Excess epoxy glue can be removed with acetone
Aileron servo installation:
Locate and cut the covering where the servo will be installed. We recommend cutting only the diameter of the main part of the servo. Allow the servo to sit on top of some Oracover, thus trapping and securing the Oracover in place.
Use the included string and tabs to route the servo wire through the wing and screw the servo in place.
Centre the servo with your transmitter, attach the servo arm and connect the servo to the ailerons with the pushrods provided.
Rudder servo installation – Option A:
Option A allows to install the rudder servo directly in the tail with direct push pull system.
Locate and cut the covering where the servo will be installed. We recommend cutting only the diameter of the main part of the servo. Allow the servo to sit on top of some Oracover, thus trapping and securing the Oracover in place.
Route the servo wire through the guide tube, up to the canopy where the receiver or powerbox will be located, and screw the servo in place.
Centre the servo with your transmitter, attach the servo arm and connect the servo to the ailerons with the pushrods provided.
Due to the close proximity to the rudder, make sure that you are using the full travel on the rudder servo in order to gain maximum mechanical advantage.
Option B allows you to install the rudder servos under the canopy via Pull-Pull.
Screw the rudder servos to the allocated tray inside the fuselage
Centre the servos with your transmitter and attach your double servo arms
Attach the provided pull pull wires to the rudder control horns and thread the pull pull wire carefully through the fuselage slots all the way back to the actual rudder servo.
Attach the ball links to the rudder servo horn and pull through any excess pull pull wire until both sides are tight and without slop. Tension should be similar to that of the strings on a guitar.
With everything correctly in place, crimp the small copper tubes firmly onto the wires to permanently fix the wires in place, before sliding over the heat shrink.
ELEVATOR servo installation:
Centre the servo with your transmitter, push insert the servo into its location inside the elevator, and screw in place.
Attach the servo arm and connect the servo to the elevator with the pushrods provided.
MOTOR installation:
The Laser 103″ is provided with the firewall already mounted, with accurate laser drawings showing the correct center and mounting holes if using one of the recommended engines.
In our case, mounting the recommended GP 123cc, the standoffs that are required are of 40mm, which when drilled where indicated allow for perfect cowling and spinner alignment.
The firewall also comes pre-aligned with the required engine incidences, so all four standoffs should be the same size. Each individual model however may require minor changes with washers depending on engine and cg.
Securely screw your engine to the firewall using your preferred method bot, nut or blind nut method.
Secure the engines ECU to the engine box. Pre drilled holes are available on the side of the firewall, however your final preferred location vary depending on your installation.
Once all is correctly mounted, screw and glue to top lid to complete the box structure of the firewall, and route any and all leads as required.
Throttle servo:
Option A involves installing the servo into the bottom of the firewall.
Two cut outs are ready to go, just punch out the one needed and screw your servos in.
Option B involves using additional servo mount.
For the installation of the throttle servo, simply screw the servo to the provided servo mount, and then screw and glue this in its final location where required for your particular engine. Use the included pushrod to connect to your engine, making sure that of a smooth and bind free movement.
Cowling installation:
The cowling is installed with three pre-installed bolts on the top half, from the inside of the fuselage going forwards, and two additional bolts going through the cowling from the bottom.
With the cowl off, turn the model over, and place some small strips of masking tape in line with the two bolt holes. Draw a straight line on the masking tape going over the holes, and mark/measure where the hole is relative to the lines.
Install the cowling, tightening the top bolt. Place additional masking tape on the cowling, and with a ruler continue the straight lines drawn previously.
Measure back to the marked point where the holes are, and then remove the cowl and drill out the two necessary holes with a 4mm drill bit.
Re-install the cowl using the top and bottom bolts.
Installation of ancillary components:
Check the correct location of your chosen battery and ancillary components depending on your CG.
Install your receiver with double sided tape or velcro, making sure that all servo leads can be easily connected without being too tight, and that the receiver is securely fixed in place.
For specific tips on receiver and antenna location, please consult your receivers manual.
Make sure that all ancillary components are securely fastened or tied down and can not come loose in flight.
Wheels pants Installation:
Slide the wheel pants over the wheels and axles, supporting the rear of the pants to line up with the ground and mark where to drill the two screw holes in the wheel pants.
Remove the wheel pants and drill the holes for the appropriate holes.
Before putting back on the plane, mount the bolt with the blind nut on the wheel pant and tighten until the nut sits flush with the wheel pant.
Remove the bolts and the nuts should stay in place.
Slide the wheel pants back over the wheel and bolt in place.
Balancing the CG of airplane:
The CG is marked inside the fuselage, near the wing tube. Next to it there is a small hole.
Cut the covering around the hole and insert the included balance rods in their position, attach the canopy and check the balance of the model. Move your batteries accordingly until correctly balanced.
Personal CG preference can be adjusted following the first flight.
Control throw deflections and suggested expo.
General flying:
Surface | Deflection | Expo |
Ailerons: | 20º | 35% |
Elevators: | 20º | 35% |
Rudder: | 20º | 20% |
Full 3D acrobatics:
Surface | Deflection | Expo |
Ailerons: | 40º | 60% |
Elevators: | 40º | 60% |
Rudder: | 45º | 35% |
Double check:
Double check that all screws are installed, all components tightly secured, batteries and or fuel tank are full, all surfaces are working in the correct directions, balance is correct and range test passed before performing your maiden flight.
We wish you a succesful maiden and many happy flights with your new model.
Tony Tan, Pilot-Rc
Video:
Video soon!