Multiplex Alpina User Manual

The wings
should
now be sanded
overallwith
fine
glasspaper
before coveing
orpaintingthe
surlaces.
lt is especially
impodant
to achieve
a smooth
profileat
the leadi;g
edge
and trailing
edge
The obechi
leading edge
is roughly
pre-
shaped,
and
will usually
benetit
lrom a
little extra sanding
The
trailing edge
can
alsg
be sanded
somewhat
thinner'
For this sanding
use a
fairly long
sanding
block
with
glasspaper
glued
onto
one surface
Use a
coarser
grade
of
paper
on the
leading and
trailing edges
inilially'
then
finish off
by rubbing
down
lhe entire
wing with
400
grade wefand-dry
paper'
useo
ory.
Repeat
lor the other
wing
panel.
This completes
the structure
of
the
'Alpina'.
Completlng
the model
This stage
consists olcovering
or
painting
thewing and
tailsurlaces
They may
be tissu;-covered,
or a commercial
iron-on
film maybe used
TheMULTIPLEX
range
includ€s
'Hobby-Poxy'
paints
and
'Mullikote'film,
both ofwhich
are
ideal
for this
model.
Followthe
instructions
included with the
materials, and
take
great
care that any
solvent-based
paints
or
primers
cannotget
inside thewings
and tail.
lfyou are
using
alilm which
requires
a high temperature
for application,
becarefulnolto
leavÄ the
iron in one
place
for
too
long, as
the foam structure
beneath
will be
damaged
if the temperature
rises above
60rc.
ll
you
are
using a
film which can
be shrunk
using
hot
air-
such as
l\'l U LTIPLEX
'Multikote',
we should
point
out
that th€
high
quality
veneer used on
the
'Alpina's
wings behaves
slightly
ditferently
at high
temp€ratures
lrom balsa.
However,
the difference
is
not
great
enough
to cause
problems,
and
you
will
quickly
get
used to
it.
When
the
wings and ailerons
are
finished,
the ailerons
can be attached
to the
wings
using coloured
tape 57.
Once againyou
should
take care
at this stage
lo
ensure
thal lhe
ailerons
work treely and
etficiently
later'
An assistant
is very
useful
here.
Hinge
the aileron
right up-
disconnectthe
linkage before
doing this
-
untilthe
aileron
lies flat on the
top ol the
wing. Checkthatthere
is an equalgap
at each
end,
and apply
a strip of
lape along
the
hinge line on
the underside.
There
should
be
no
gap
between
the two surfaces
Now
hinge the aileron
down
and
check
that
it moves
freely, without
jamming
Hinge
the aileron
down
to its
lowest
position,
checking
that lhe
tape
is not
pull;d
ofi.
Apply a second
length
ol tape along
the
top ol the
hinge
line; the
hinge
line should
be exactly
down
the centre
ol lhe
tape lf
you
now
hinge the
aileion
upwardsasfaras
itwillgo,
the two
lengths of
tape willjoin
in the
middle'
forming
an excellent
hinge. This
will only
work il
you
have
kept to
the
instructions,
and the
hinge edges
are straight
and sharp.
(Jll.7)
Conn€ct
up the aileron
linkage;
to do this
you
will
need to cut
a slit
in the wing
sealing
strip,
which can
be sealed
again after
making
the connection
Check
that the aileron
linkage still operates
freely. It
you
have
used coloured
tilm,
matching
coloured
tapes
are available
in
your local shop.
Tapes
which
incorpoäe
woven
reintorcement
are entirely
unsuitable
for this application'
ll
you
intend
painting tho fuselage,
rub it down
with
wet-and-dry
paper' grade
4dO,
used
wet, and wash
it ofl
with
paintthinners,
so as
to be sure
that alltraces
of
release
agent
are removed.
The
surtace
pigmentation of
the
'Alpina'
fuselage
is resistant
to all usual
paints
To hide
the canopy
glue line, mask ofl
the area
with tape
and
paint
a stripe
round
the edge.
lf
you use a darker
colour
here, any
slight
gap
between
the
canopy
and
the
fuselage
will be disguised.
Do
not use cellulose
paint
on
the
canopy.
A
set
ol self-adhesive
lranslers
58 is
included
in the kit
These can
be cut
to
shape
and stuck
in
position
atter
peeling
otf
the backing
paper'
The
large
'Alpina'
transter
and the
'Alpina'
logo lor the
lin are best
applied
as
followsiremove
a
2 cm. wide strlp
ol the
backing
paper' Position
the transfer
exactly
and
press
the exposed
part
down
Now
you
can
peel
off
the
rest of the
backi;g
and
press
the
whole transfer
into
place.
ll
you
manage
to
get
a
few
bubble;,
despite
taking
the utmost
care,
prick
them
with a
fine
needle and
carelully
press
out
the air.
lfyou
wish to add
lurtherdecoration
toyour'Alpina"
you
can
use the
illustration
on
the kit box
as a
Pattern.
Installing
the
radio
syslem
Most oftheworkon
the radio
installation has been
carried outduring
construc-
tion of
the model; all
that is
left is the linal connections
and adiustments
Install
allthe servos,
the
receiver
and
the battery' Screw
two clevises
14 onto
threaded couplers
13, Ieaving half ot the
thread showing
Connect
the links to
the
rudder and elevator
servos.
Trim the controlsurtaces
and
the servos
to neukal. Cutthe
pushrods
to length
and
prepare
the
rods for soldering
into the couplers.
Check
that the bowden
cable
inner sleeves
are both
in
place;they
should end
about
10 m m short of
the threaded
couplers.
On no account
plug
the inner sleeve
into the threaded
couplerlWhere
the
rod is to be
soldered,
it must be clean
and bare
Clean
up
the end ol
the rods and
bend
them slightly Solder
them
inlo the
couplers,
check
the neutral
position,
and
adjust
if necessary'
The slim,
low-drag
fuselage means
that
it is
only
possible
to lit an adjustable
threaded coupler
lo one
side ol the
aileron and aibrake
linkages- lhe othel
side
ls aoldered
dlrectly
lo the clevis
(see plan).
Adiustments
-
within
certain limits
-
are
made as lollows:
alter the
transmitter
trim until the
non-
adjustable
side ol
the
linkage is at
neutral Now adiust
the side
with the
threaded couoler
untilthatside
is
also
at neulral(orthe
airbrake
is
at
the same
height).
ldeally
-
and
you
should
aim al
this
-
both sides
will be neutral
when
the transmitter
trims are
at neut.al
(airbrakes
exactly
haliextended)
This can
be achieved
by
unsoldering
the lixed side
of the
linkage, and moving the
rod
slightly
inside the coupler.
Check
that the whole
radio system
operates correctly.
Control surface
throws
can be adiusted
by
moving the clevises
in or out on
lhe servo outputarms.
The
rudder should
habe 300
throw either side
ol neutral;
the ailerons should
have
about
15"down and
30" up movemenl.
The
rear tail dowel should
movealmost
to
top and bottom
ol
its
slot.
lf
you
are
using
linear
servos,
these
throws can
only be adjusted
at the
horn and bellcrank
positions
Now check
again thal all
the control surlaces
move in the
right
directions
This
should
also be
an integral
part
ol the checking
procedure
before every
day's
flying.
lt is wellworth
gening into the habil of checking
nol onlythatthe
control
surfaces
move, butthatthey
move in
the rlEht direction!One
mistake he.e-
especially
on the bungee
or at
the slope-
invariably
results in maiordamage
to
your mooer.
These
are the correcl
movemenlsl
right aileron
=
right aileron
uP
up elevator
=
kailing edge
ol tailplane
up
right
rudder
=
rudder
right as seen
trom the
rear'
airbrake
lever towards
you
:
airbrakes
out
The receiver
battery
is lined
in the extreme
nose,
wrapped
in foam.
We
recommend
the
use of a
battery of
1 2 Ah capacity
(O
No
15
5510).
This
provides
much longer
operating
times and
greater
secunty-
ll
your receiver is a smallunit,
tryto
fit it behind the
battery-
This willnecessitate
the
use ol extension
leads to lhe
aileron and
airbrake servos
ll the receiver
is
too
large,
fit it in the space
between
the servo
plates
30 and 31.
Wrap
well in
loam.
The receiver
aerialcan
be deployed
outside
the
fuselage- do
not forget
to fit a
button or
similaf
to relieve
the tension
ofthe aeriall
lt can
also be
laid
out
inside
the fuselage,
by
threading
it into a
length of
plastic
bowden
cable
tube This
tube
can then
simply
be left
loose in the
fuselage.
The receiver
switch
can be
located
to suit
your
preference
'Low
drag
modelters
prefer
to leave
the switch
inside,
and open
the canopy each
time
they s',vitch
on or
off.
Launching
and
ttying
Before
you
test-fly
your
'Alpina',
there
is onevery
imporlanl
job
stillto
be dond-1
balancing
the
model correctly
The
ideal Centre
of Gravity
(CG)
posltion tor a model
can be
calculaled,
but
inaccuracies
in
conslruction,
which
can
never really
be eliminated,
can lead
to
the calculated
position
being
incorrect
For this
reason,
the
model is balanced
initially
at an
average
CG
position which
is
quite
safe
tor
test flying
The ideal
CG
position
lor
your
parlicular model can
then be
checked
during
test llying,
and corrected
if needed.
Thisaverage
CG
position
tor
the
'Alpina'
is 85
m m. behind
the
leading edgeat
the
wing
root. lvlark
this
position with a
lelt-tip
pen.
Make sure
your
model
is
fitted
with its complete
radio system,
not
torgetting
the canopy
lt
is
quite
adequate
to balance
the
model on
two finger
tips
to check
the CG
ll
you
want
to mäke
a more
accurate
check
by balancing
the modelon
two
pointed wood
strips,
place
some suitable
material
under
the wings
to
prevent
the
undersur-
tace of
the wings
being
damaged
by
the weight
of the
model
Add
lead ballast
to
th€ nose
until
the model
balances
with its nose
slightly
down.
Pack
the
lead in
place wilh loam,
but do
not
glue
it in
place'
Your model
is
now ready
for
its maiden
flight.
il at all
possible,
the
first
flight should
take
place
at
a suitablellying
site
under
qood
w;ather
conditions.
Älhough
a strong'
blustery
wind will be
no
problem
ior
your
'Alpina'
later on, avoid
such
conditions
initially'
lf vou inlend
tlvinq the
model on
the
flal carry out
a
handlaunch
into the
wind
bilore
tryrng ä
oungee
o, winch
launch.
This wlll show
up
any
minor trim
changesthai
are
needsd.
However' do
notcarryouttoo
many hand-launches,
as
th; model
is
very close
to the
ground,
andtherelore
in considerabl€
danqer'
14

Multiplex Alpina Specifications

General

Brand	Multiplex
Model	Alpina
Category	Toy
Language	English