Ripmax Bullet User manual
INSTRUCTION
MANUAL
Page 2
STEP 1
STEP 2
STEP 3
Congratulations on your purchase of the Bullet ARTF - the rst Almost Ready to Fly version of this classic low-
winger. Based on the original and timeless Bullet design, the new Ripmax Bullet ARTF has been scaled up by 10%
to make to most of today's more powerful engines. This also gives a lighter wing loading and improved ying
characteristics.
Assembly is quick and easy, but before commencing construction, please ensure that you read these instructions
in their entirety.
Locate the pre-cut servo apertures in the underside of the
wing. Carefully trim away the covering to expose these
apertures using a sharp knife.
Check the t of your chosen aileron servos in the apertures
and adjust with a sharp knife if necessary. Prepare your
servos by connecting a suitable 300mm extension lead to
each. It is a good idea to use a lead-lock, a turn of insulation
tape or heatshrink tube over the joint for additional security.
Fit the rubber grommets and brass ferrules supplied with
your servo.
Pilot drill the mounting holes for each servo.
Page 3
STEP 4
STEP 5
Install your servos as shown using the screws supplied with
your radio noting that the servo output arms face towards
the front of the wing.
The wings and ailerons are supplied with the hinges loose
tted, ready for installation. Remove both ailerons and
ensure that the hinges are inserted mid-way in their slots.
Using thin cyano, pour a couple of drops onto each hinge -
above and below - ensuring the glue soaks into the hinge and
the surrounding wood.
STEP 6
STEP 7
Carefully slide each aileron into position, ensuring a
gap-free hinge line. Make sure that each aileron lines up
with the wing tips and that they are free to move through
their entire travel. Centre each aileron between the
root and tip so that there is an equal gap at both ends.
Minimise any hinge gap, then carefully add a couple of
drops of thin cyano to the top and bottom of each hinge
ensuring that the glue does not run through the hinge line
onto the bottom of the wing. Turn the wing over and drop
more cyano onto each hinge from the other side.
Prepare the aileron pushrods by screwing on a nylon snap
link and fuel tube keeper. Locate the aileron control horns.
They are screwed in position on the ailerons in line with
the aileron servo's output arm. Align the row of holes
in the horn with the hinge-line. Mark and pilot drill two
mounting holes.
STEP 8
Screw the horn to the aileron. The screws thread into the
moulded horn plate on the top surface of the wing.
STEP 11
STEP 12
STEP 13
STEP 9
STEP 10
Page 4
Using side cutters, trim off any excess screw thread that
passes through the moulded horn plate.
Use a small length of tape to hold each of the ailerons
at their neutral position while you complete the aileron
linkages. Ensure that both aileron servos are centred.
With the pushrod connected to its horn, mark the position
the control rod passes over the servo’s output arm. Bend
the pushrod up at 90° at this point.
Trim off the excess pushrod wire using side cutters.
Repeat the procedure for the second aileron in exactly
the same way.
Now slide each aileron servo horn over their respective
pushrods and re-t to the servo. Adjust the pushrods to
ensure that the ailerons are centred with the aileron servos
at their neutral position. Test to ensure that both ailerons
move freely across their entire throw then snap a moulded
keeper onto the pushrod to retain it as shown.
Locate the pre-cut grooves in the hardwood undercarriage
mounting blocks. Carefully cut the covering at this point
to allow the undercarriage legs to insert into the mounting
blocks.
STEP 14
STEP 15
Page 5
Install both undercarriage legs ensuring that they push down
fully into their slots.
Locate the undercarriage retaining saddle clamps. Note that
two are used per leg. Pilot drill the undercarriage mounting
blocks for the clamps - one at the inner and one at the outer
end of the leg - and retain with the wood screws supplied.
STEP 16
STEP 17
Fit the wheels using the collets supplied. File or grind
a at on the axle where the point of the grub screw
contacts to reduce the risk of it slipping. Ensure the wheel
spins freely and using threadlock, tighten the grubscrew
securely. Repeat for the other wheel.
Locate the wing joining brace. Note the orientation - the
top of the brace is straight and the bottom has a slight
dihedral angle. Measure and mark a centre-line on the
joining brace.
STEP 18
Coat the inside of the corresponding slot in the wing
panel and one half of the brace with 5 minute epoxy.
Ensure that adequate epoxy is used to fully cover
all surfaces.
STEP 21
STEP 22
STEP 23
STEP 19
STEP 20
Page 6
Insert the brace half-way into one wing panel using the
centre-line as a guide. Wipe off any excess epoxy.
Protect the covering with masking tape, then spread
sufcient slow setting epoxy over the opposite panel
joiner slot, wing joiner and root rib. Bring the two panels
together ensuring the epoxy lls the join. Wipe off any
excess that squeezes out of the joint, then use tape to
hold the panels together as the adhesive cures.
Locate the pre-drilled wing mounting bolt holes in the wing.
Use a sharp knife to remove the covering from the holes as
shown.
Temporarily bolt the wing to the fuselage using the two
nylon retaining bolts. Holding the underwing fairing in place -
ensuring it is centred front and back, left and right - mark its
position with a felt pen. Do not press too hard on the fairing
otherwise it may distort and spread wider than the fuselage.
Remove the fairing and carefully trim inside the lines you just
marked using a sharp knife. VERY IMPORTANT: Make sure
that you do not cut into the wood otherwise the strength of
the wing will be severely weakened. Remove the wing bolts.
STEP 24
STEP 25
Page 7
Glue the plywood wing bolt reinforcing plate in place using
5 minute epoxy. Use the wing bolts to hold the plate in
position while the epoxy cures but take care not to get
adhesive on the threads.
Protect the fuselage with clear tape or lm so that you do
not accidentally glue the wing to the fuselage in this step.
Using 5 minute epoxy or thick cyano, run a bead of glue
around the perimeter of the underwing fairing. Avoid using
too much glue as any excess will simply run out onto the
wing covering or bond the fairing to the fuselage rather than
the wing. Use strips of masking tape to hold the fairing in
place until the glue dries.
STEP 26
STEP 27
Using a sharp knife, carefully remove the lm from the
slot in both sides of the fuselage where the tailplane
will mount.
Trim away the covering to expose the slots for the
elevator and rudder pushrods.
STEP 28
Carefully measure and mark the tailplane's centre line.
STEP 31
STEP 32
STEP 33
STEP 29
STEP 30
Page 8
Slide the tailplane into its pre-cut slot in the rear of
the fuselage. Ensure that it is square to the fuselage
and centred in its slot using a long ruler or string
as shown in the diagram.
Mark the tailplane on the top and bottom where it enters
the fuselage using a soft, water-soluble pen.
Remove the tailplane and cut away the covering from just
inside the marked lines to give a lm-free surface for the glue
to bond. IMPORTANT: Ensure that only the lm is cut - not
the tailplane - as this will seriously weaken the structure.
With the covering removed, the tailplane is ready to be
installed. If necessary, use a warm covering iron to ensure the
edges of the lm are rmly adhered.
Now loosely position the elevator joiner at the rear of
the tailplane slot. This is an important step as it is almost
impossible to t after the tailplane is installed. Slide the
tailplane into position.
STEP 34
Page 9
Check that the tailplane is correctly aligned, square to the
fuselage and level with the wings. Glue in position using
cyanoacrylate glue (cyano). Alternatively, if using epoxy, use
masking tape to protect the covering (removing it as soon
as you are satised with the alignment and before the epoxy
cures). Any excess epoxy can be wiped from the model before
it cures using methylated spirit or methanol.
STEP 36
Slide the n into its pre-cut slot in the top of the fuselage.
Ensure that it is pushed down far enough to touch the top
of the tailplane. Mark the n on both sides where it enters
the fuselage using a soft, water-soluble pen.
STEP 35
Insert three hinges in each elevator half, ensuring they are
located mid-way in their slots. Using thin cyano, pour a
couple of drops onto each hinge - above and below - ensuring
the glue soaks into the hinge and the surrounding wood.
STEP 37
Remove the n and cut away the covering from just below
the marked lines to give a lm-free surface for the glue to
bond. IMPORTANT NOTE: Ensure that only the lm is cut
- not the n - as this will seriously weaken the structure.
If necessary, use a warm covering iron to ensure the edges
of the lm are rmly adhered. Glue the n in position
ensuring that it is rmly pushed down in its slot. Make
sure the n is at right angles to the tailplane and allow the
glue to dry.
STEP 38
Apply epoxy to one elevator half in the slot where the
wire joiner will be tted. Use a scrap of piano wire to force
adhesive into the hole as shown. If you wish, protect the
rear of the tailplane from the epoxy with a couple of strips
of masking tape.
STEP 41
STEP 42
STEP 43
STEP 39
STEP 40
Page 10
Now slide the rst elevator into position ensuring that the
joiner enters the hole in the elevator and all three hinges
enter their pre-cut slots in the tailplane. Ensuring a
gap-free hinge line, align the end of the elevator with the
tip of the tailplane.
Apply a couple of drops of thin cyano to the top and
bottom of each hinge. Make sure that the glue does not
run through the hinge line onto the bottom of the tail.
Repeat for the second elevator half ensuring both elevator
halves are in line with each other.
Insert four hinges into the rudder, ensuring they are located
mid-way in their slots. Using thin cyano, pour a couple of
drops onto each hinge - from above and below - ensuring the
glue soaks into the hinge and the surrounding wood.
Now slide the rudder into position making sure that all hinges
enter their pre-cut slots in the n. With a gap-free hinge line,
ensure that the top of the rudder is aligned with the top of
the n. Now add a couple of drops of thin cyano to both sides
of each hinge. Make sure that the glue does not run through
the hinge line onto the other side of the n.
Temporarily t your spinner backplate and propeller. Place
your engine on the pre-tted mount and adjust its position
until the rear of the spinner backplate is 107mm in front of
the rewall.
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