THUNDER TIGER Dragonfly 15 User manual

WARRANTY

Thunder Tiger Model Company guarantees this model kit to be free from defects in both material and

workmanship at date of manufacture.This warranty does not cover any components damaged by use or

modification and in no case shall Thunder Tiger’s liability exceed the original purchase price of the kit.

Thunder Tiger also reserves the right to change or modify this warranty without notice.

Since Thunder Tiger Model Co. has no control over possible shipping damages or construction tech-

niques and materials used for construction by the modeler, no liability can be assumed nor accepted for

damage resulting from the use by the user of the final user-assembled product. By the act of using this

user-assembled product, the user accepts all resulting liability.If the buyer is not prepared to accept this

liability, he should return this kit in new and unused condition to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Assembly Instructions

Item No. 4574

JE6640

Specifications:

Wing Span: 44"(1116mm)

Length: 35 1/4" (896mm)

Weight: 37~40 oz.(1050~1150g)

Engine: .10~.15 req'd

Radio: 3~4 channel req'd

INTRODUCTION

All of us at Thunder Tiger want to thank you for choosing the best looking, easiest building and best

flying ARF trainer available the...Dragonfly 15.This kit features state-of-the-art engineering that provides

quick and easy assembly of a strong, yet lightweight airplane that will give you an enjoyable and

educational experience.

To gain the most from this airplane kit, it is important that you read the instructions thoroughly and then

follow them exactly.This instruction manual has been written with a novice modeler in mind, but includes

many hints and modeling tips that even experienced modelers can benefit from. We strongly suggest

that you read through the instructions completely before beginning construction.This will give you a good

idea of the construction sequence and eliminate many questions you might have if you did not read the

manual prior to starting the actual construction.

The first thing you should do before beginning assembly is to check the contents of your kit against the

parts list on page 4. If any parts are missing, contact your dealer immediately for replacement.

Customers in the United States and Canada may contact Ace Hobby Distributors at 2055 Main Street,

Irvine, CA 92614 1-949-833-7498 for replacement parts. Under no circumstances can a kit be returned

if assembly has already been started.

Introduction .............................2

Other Items Required................... 2

Items Need Check List ................. 3

Parts List .............................. 4

Pre-Assembly Notes.................... 5

Wing ................................... 5-6

Tail Feathers............................ 6

Fuselage ............................... 7

Install the Engine........................8-9

Control Horn............................ 9-10

Servo Installation........................10-12

Radio Adjustment........................13

Balance.................................14

Pre-Flight Check ........................15

Post-Flight check list.....................16

A checklist is also provided on the next page

which willmake shopping for these items easier.

TABLE OF CONTENTS OTHER ITEMS REQUIRED

FOR ASSEMBLY

Radio - A 4-channel radio with four standard

servos is required. Most lower priced 4-channel

radios only come with three standard servos

so you may need to purchase the fourth servo

separately.

ITEMS NEEDED

Adhesives - You will need two types of adhe-

sives for the Dragonfly - Epoxy and Instant

(cyanoacrylate) adhesives. We recommend that

you purchase both 5-minute and 30-minute

epoxy to cut down on assembly time, but you

can get by with only 30-minute epoxy if time is

not important. You will also need a small bottle

of both “Thick” and “Thin” instant adhesive.

Tools - Model assembly can be much easier if

the proper tools are used. Therefore, we have

included in our checklist to the right, a complete

listing of all the tools we used to assemble

our prototype models. As you will notice, many

household tools can be utilized during construction.

Engine - The Thunder Tiger GP-15 is the ideal

engine for this airplane. This quiet running

engine is easy to start, requires no special

break-in periods, is very easy to maintain and

will last for years.

Flight Equipment - There are several “support”

items that you will need to purchase in order to

get your engine running and your plane in the

air.These are listed at the bottom of the page.

Comprehensive Items Needed

Check List

❏4-Channel Radio with 4 Standard Servos

❏5-Minute Epoxy (4 ounces or so)

❏30-Minute Epoxy (4 ounces or so)

❏“Thin” Instant Adhesive (1/2 ounce)

❏

“

Thick” Instant Adhesive (1/2 ounce)

❏Hobby Knife and Blades

❏Epoxy Mixing Sticks and/or Brushes

❏Sandpaper (80, 150 grit)

❏Masking Tape

❏Rubbing Alcohol

❏Paper Towels

❏Ruler

❏90 Degree Triangle

❏Waxed Paper

❏Fine-Point, Felt-Tip Pen

❏Misc. Household Tools

❏Drill and Bits (1/16", 5/64", 1/8")

Flight Equipment

❏Foam Rubber Padding for the radio

❏Stick on Lead Strip for balancing the plane

❏3 or 4 Props (see engine instructions)

❏10%-15% Glow Fuel

❏Fuel Pump or Bulb

❏Electric Starter or “Chicken Stick”

❏Glow Plug Clip and Battery

❏Extra Glow Plug(s)

PARTS SKETCHES

AS6272 Horizontal Tail

AS6271 Main Wing

PE0009 Hardware Set AS6276 Main Landing Gear

AS6275 Linkage Set

No.3280W Spinner

AS6270 Fuselage

AS6274 Nylon Pushrod

Fuselage(1)

Hex Wrench(1)

EZ Connector(1) M2 Nut(1)

3x3mm Set Screw(1) M2 Washer(2)

No. 3268 Tank

AS6243 Control Horn

AS6273 Vertical Tail

AS6278 Decal

Decal(1)

2x22mm Screw(2)

Nylon Torque Horn(2)

Backplate(2)

Control Horn Base(2)

No.3254 Wheel

Nylon Torque Horn(2)

M3 Spring Washer(4)3x14mm Machine Screw(4)M3 Washer(4)M3 Nut(4)

Rubber Band(6) Dowel(2)

CA Hinge(6)

Left Wing(1) Right Wing(1)

Horizontall Tail(1)

CA Hinge(4)

Vertical Tail(1)

CA Hinge(2)

Outer Rod(2)

Clevis(2)Z bent Threaded End(2) Straight Threaded End(2)

Inner Rod(2)

Wheel(2)

Back Plate(1)

2.8x8mm

Self Tapping Screw(2)

Spinner(1)

Crank Weight (1)

90-degree Nipple (1) Tank (1)

Fuel Stopper (1)

Fuel Cap (1)

Silicone Tube(1) Straight Nipple (1)

120cc (4oz.)

3x12mm

Wood Screw(6)

Collar(2)

2.6x5mm

Machine Screw(2)

Main Gear(1)

Retainer(3)

Piano Wire(1)

Guide Tube(1)

Aileron Pushrod(2) Clevis(2)

Joiner(2)

Aileron Servo Stand(2)

Brass Tube(2)

Wing Protector(1)

ORDER BY BAG NUMBER ONLY

INDIVIDUAL PARTS NOT AVAILABLE

❏2.Trial fit the wing joiner into one of the wing pan-

els, sand it until it fits smoothly. Next, slide the

other wing half onto the joiner until the wing

panels meet. Mix approximately three ounces of

30-Minute Epoxy. Note: When joining the wing

halves it is extremely important to use plenty of

epoxy.Use a mixing stick or scrap piece of wood

to apply a generous amount of epoxy into the

wing joiner slot of one wing half. Ensure that the

epoxy is applied to all sides of the slot.

❏ 3.Coat one half of the joiner with epoxy up to the

centerline. Install the epoxy-coated side of the

joiner into the wing joiner slot, making sure that

the joiner is positioned correctly. Lightly coat the

epoxy on all sides of the exposed area of joiner

and wing roots as well as the slot of the other

wing half. Carefully slide the wing halves togeth-

er, ensuring that they are accurately aligned.

Firmly press the two halves together and wipe

off the excess epoxy. There should not be any

gap between the wing halves.You might wisely

use mask tape to hold the wing together. Allow

the wing joint to cure.

PRE-ASSEMBLY

PRE-ASSEMBLY NOTE

❏1.If you are not an experienced R/C pilot, plan to

have a fully competent pilot check your complet-

ed model and help you with your first flights.

Even though we have tried to provide you with a

very thorough instruction manual, R/C models

are rather complicated and an experienced

modeler can quickly check over your model to

make sure your first flights are successful.

❏2.Please assemble your model according to these

instructions. Do not attempt to modify or change

in any way as doing so may adversely change its

flying characteristics.

❏3.Before you begin, please check the entire con-

tents of this kit against the parts list and photo to

make sure that no parts are missing or dam-

aged. This will also help you to become familiar

with each component of your plane. If you find

that any of the parts are either missing or dam-

aged, please contact your dealer immediately

for replacement.

Note:Your dealer cannot accept kits for return if

construction has begun.

WING ASSEMBLY

❏1.Locate two wing joiners and sand gently to

remove any rough edges. Apply 5-Minute epoxy

or thick CA to glue two joiners together. Clamp

the two joiners together using clothespins, or

other small clamps and wipe off the excess

epoxy before it cures. Allow the epoxy to cure

before removing the clamps.

TAIL FEATHERS

❏ 7.Use the same way as you did on aileron to glue

the rudder and elevator on the tails. Using a

hobby knife, carefully cut out the covering at the

center of horizontal tail slot .The vertical tail will

later be inserted into this slot. Install the tail on

the fuselage. Use a felt tip pen or marker to

draw lines along the fuselage sides as well as

the bottom side of horizontal tail.

❏ 8.Remove the tails from the fuselage and use a

hobby knife to carefully score the covering

material where marked.Make the score approx-

imately 1/16" (1.5mm) inside the lines you drew.

It is very important that you do not press hard

enough to cut into the wood itself or it may fail

in flight. Just score the covering and it will peel

away nicely.

❏ 4.Locate the plastic wing protector plate and light-

ly sand the edges on one side of the plate by

80-grit sandpaper. Center the plate across the

wing joint and flush with the trailing edge then

glue with thick CA.

❏ 5.To hinge the ailerons, remove the clear tape that

holds one of the ailerons in place. Pull the

aileron off the wing, revealing three hinges.

Position the hinge in the center by a ball pin or

T pin.

❏ 6.Attach the aileron to the trailing edge, remove all

pins then drop thin CA to the hinges at both

sides.

TAIL FEATHERS

LANDING GEAR

❏ 11.Locate the main landing gear and the three

retainers. Place the landing gear and retainer

on the fuselage bottom as shown.Make marks

on the retainer holes. ( About 5” away from the

nose).

❏ 12.Drill 1/16"(1.5mm) holes on the marks you

made.

❏ 13.Screw the landing gear with the furnished six

3x12 wood screws. Insert the brass tube to the

wheel first then secure the collar with 2.6x5mm

set screw.Make sure the wheels rotates freely.

❏ 9.Apply 5-Minute Epoxy or thick CA onto the hor-

izontal tail and vertical tail along the area where

the covering were removed. Attach the horizon-

tal tail and vertical tail onto the fuselage.Note, it

is important to ensure that the horizontal tail is

level in regards to the fuselage and the vertical

tail is perpendicular to the horizontal tail as

shown. Wipe off any excess epoxy and secure

by masking tape. Allow the epoxy to cure com-

pletely.

❏ 10.Trail fit the tail assembly to the fuselage.

Remove the covering at the contact area then

apply enough 5-Minute Epoxy to the contact

area inside the fuselage and do not move it

until it cured.

FUSELAGE

90˚

does, simply cut a small portion of the fuel tub-

ing until the clunk no longer reaches the rear

of the tank.

❏ 16.Cut two 5” (12cm) long of standard size sili-

cone fuel tubing (not furnished) and slip one

end onto the nipple extending out of the cap

and the other onto the top vent of the fuel tank.

Slide the fuel tank (cap end first) into the fuse-

lage from the wing saddle area, threading the

fuel lines through the oblong hole in the fire-

wall. The tank should fit tightly in the forward

formers.

ENGINE

❏ 17.Position the engine on the engine mount

beams so the distance from the prop hub to

the firewall is exactly 3 1/2"( 89mm). Using a

pencil or felt tipped pen, mark the engine

mounting plate where the four holes are to be

drilled. Note:Mark the mounting plate through

the engine mounting flanges. Remove the

engine and drill a 1/8"(3mm) hole through the

beam at each of the four marks.

❏ 14.Locate the four pre-drilled wing dowel holes,

two on either side of the fuselage. Using a

sharp hobby knife, carefully cut the covering

away from each of the holes Insert one of the

wooden dowels into each of the wing dowel

holes. Ensure that an equal amount of dowel

extends from each side of the fuselage. You

might apply a thin coat of epoxy to the wing

dowels to prevent the dowels from becoming

fuel-soaked during flight.

FUEL TANK

❏ 15.Locate the fuel tank and the fuel tank acces-

sories. Assemble the fuel tank by first cutting

the silicone tube to 2"(53mm) in length. Press

the straight plastic nipple (the 90-degree nip-

ple is not used in this plane) into the rubber

stopper until the molded-in ring is against the

stopper. Rubbing alcohol applied to the nipple

will make it slip into the stopper easier. Now

slip the silicone tubing onto the nipple and

insert the metal clunk into the other end of the

tubing. Insert this assembly into the tank

(clunk first) and securely tighten the threaded

cap on to hold everything together. Note: It is

important to ensure that the fuel tank clunk

does not touch the rear of the fuel tank. If it

INSTALL THE ENGINE

❏ 20.Locate the plastic pushrod tube through the

pre-drilled hole in the firewall of the fuselage

until approximately 1/2"(1.5mm) of the tube

protrudes from the firewall. Secure the tube

with 5-Minute Epoxy. Locate a Z bent throttle

pushrod, Slide the wire, straight end first, into

the pushrod tube. Insert the Z bent into the

hole on the throttle lever of your engine. Note:

It may be easier to temporarily remove the

throttle lever from the engine to insert the Z

bent end.

CONTROL HORNS

❏ 21.Locate the linkage rods include straight thread-

ed end, Z bent threaded end , nylon inner rod.

Thread the nylon rod onto the straight thread

end first as shown. At least 3/8"(9mm) in

length.

❏ 18.Using a Philips screwdriver, firmly secure the

engine by four 3x14mm machine screw, M3

spring washers, M3 washer and M3 nuts.

Install the muffler as per the instructions

included with the engine. Connect the vent

tube from the fuel tank to the nipple, or pres-

sure fitting, on the muffler. The remaining fuel

tube should be attached to the carburetor inlet

nipple.

❏ 19.Remove the propeller nut and prop washer

from the engine. Install the spinner back plate

on the crankshaft, followed by the propeller,

the prop nut and finally the spinner nose cone.

Securely attach the spinner nose cone to the

spinner back plate using the two screws pro-

vided in the hardware bag and a Philips

screwdriver.

CONTROL HORNS

❏ 24.Attach the control horn using the hardware pro-

vided ( 2x22mm screws, back plate, control

horn base and nylon horn) and fasten in place

using a Philips screwdriver. Make sure the

back plate and control horn base are both in

line at two sides on the elevator. Thread the

nylon horn on to the screw then snap the cle-

vis onto the horn.

SERVO INSTALLATION

❏ 25.Thread the Z bent threaded end to the nylon

inner rods as shown. Before you thread, it

might need to cut the nylon rod as it is too

long. Note the servo orientation in the next

step. Refer to the photo, make sure you thread

the Z bent threaded end to the nylon rod for

3/8"(9mm) in length and the Z bent end is

about at the position of servo horn where is

going to link.

❏ 22.Insert the pushrod to the holes on former, the

lower one is elevator pushrod and the other is

rudder pushrod. Attach the plastic clevises at

least 1/4"( 6mm) in length.

❏ 23.Turn the fuselage over and place one of the

control horns on the bottom of the elevator.

Hold the control horn against the bottom of

the elevator so it is approximately 1/8" (3mm)

behind the hinge line and in line with the

pushrod exit hole. Using a felt tipped pen or a

pencil mark the mounting hole positions.

Remove the control horn and drill two 5/64"

(2mm) holes through the elevator as shown.

CONTROL HORNS

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