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FREE BEE
Dear customer, congratulations on the purchase of the Free Bee model. To enjoy building and
flying the model most,please read carefully the building instructions before you begin and
make sure that you understand the building process.
DESCRIPTION OF THE MODEL:
The model is completely made of the expanded polypropylene (EPP), and its design is
optimised for easy flying. Its light weight (about 300 grams) makes it an ideal model for flying
in any place – e.g. school playing field or in the street. It has been designed for not only the
experienced pilots, but with the advanced modellers in mind as well. Thanks to its well thought
out design the actual building process would take about 270 minutes.
MODEL ASSEMBLY:
All joints should be glued using thin CA glue. In the first phase of work, tack-glue the
joints so that they just hold together; then only after checking their position and symmetry
glue permanently. Take care not to let the glue penetrate the EPP and stick your fingers to the
plastic structure. Building the model is not difficult provided you have an elementary experience
with EPP model building. Remember that the EPP has a somewhat “rubbery“ properties, so do
not apply force handling and processing it, as stretching or compressing the model parts may
cause their eventual distortion. First glue together the fuselage side panels (Fig.1). After glue
has set, bend the side panels at front and leave weighted for some 20 minutes; that would
facilitate handling them and later on and also gluing of the complete fuselage. Then make
the fuselage bulkheads ready (Fig. 2), assembling them as per Fig.3. From the inside of the
side panel, using a marker pen, draw an auxiliary line from the cockpit (Fig.4). Glue the front
fuselage reinforcement to this auxiliary line so that the distance of the reinforcing part from
the bottom of the side panels is 5 mm (Fig. 5). Now glue the fuselage bulkheads to one of the
side panels (Fig. 6). Use a flat even working board to keep the fuselage straight during the
process. Ready the battery and servo holder (the keel and 2 half-circular bulkheads) (Fig. 7).
Mark the axis on the half-circular bulkheads to facilitate assembly with the fuselage sides (Fig.
8) and glue them also to the keel member. Then glue the complete holder into the nose and
the cockpit section of the fuselage to the side panels; ensure to have the axes of the fuselage
and bulkhead aligned (Fig. 9, 10). Glue only the bulkheads, NOT the keel now. Then glue also
the other side panel to the bulkheads. Prove first, however, that everything is aligned well,
then, using a weight, secure the position of the side panel and thoroughly fill the joints with
glue. (Fig. 11, 12). The thin CA glue would flow through the joints not requiring to disassemble
the structure for gluing. After a check that the fuselage is straight and true flow the glue
into the joint of the keel in the front fuselage and glue in place the second part of the keel
so that it would seat on the reinforced front part of the fuselage (Fig. 13, 14). Using several
drops of the CA glue, tack the upper part of fuselage in place (Fig. 15), after testing it for
alignment, glue it along the full length of side panels (Fig. 16). Now glue the fuselage lower
part in the same way (Fig. 17, 18, 19). Check again the alignment of the complete fuselage.
Using a sharp modelling knife, cut away the fuselage front at the cockpit canopy (Fig. 20),
this opening shall be used later on to lead the servo cables to the receiver. Using the Fig. 21 as
a guide, glue the undercarriage reinforcements in place. The groove for the wheel axle should
be placed some 2 mm in front of the fuselage bulkhead. Insert the axle through the fuselage
and secure with a glassfibre washer, which should be carefully glued in place by CA glue
(Fig. 22). Put in place the rubber loop, making the undercarriage spring (Fig. 23). Place the
glassfibre end-stop washers in a distance of some 15 mm from the ends of axle, and carefully
glue with CA (Fig. 24). Once the glue cured, slide the undercarriage wheels on the axle and
secure with the QuickLock washer (Fig. 25).Glue the aluminium wire joiner to the elevator
(Fig. 26). At a distance of 75 mm cut, using a sharp modelling knife, a slit some 4 mm deep
and glue into it the carbon composite strip of 3 x 0,5 x 330 mm dimensions (Fig. 27). Then
glue the elevator control arm (Fig. 28). Now glue the elevator into the fuselage (Fig.29) and
glue in place the rudder hinges (Fig. 30). Using a sharp modelling knife, bevel the fuselage
edges so that the rudder may deflect freely (Fig. 31) and glue the rudder (Fig. 32) and its arm
(Fig. 33) in place. Glue into the fuselage also the tailskid and its reinforcement (Fig. 34, 35).
Using a sharp knife, cut an approximately 1,5 mm deep slit into the wing and press into it the
carbon fibre spar; glue using the CA (Fig. 36). Note, the spars MUST be one above the other.
The remaining length of the spar from the forward part of the wing could be used to reinforce
the rear of the wing centre section (Fig. 37). Glue the upturned tips to the centre section (Fig.
38) and the reinforcement for the rubber loop, fixing the wing to the fuselage (Fig. 39,40).
Glue this reinforcement on the wing centreline.Using the sandpaper, sand away any bumps
on the fuselage front and glue the motor bulkhead in place (Fig. 41), then the motor bearers
to the bulkhead (Fig. 42).The fuselage is designed with the motor downthrust in mind, but
ensure that in case of need the motor bearer could be unbolted and have washers inserted to
change the downthrust angle. Insert the motor speed controller between the keels and a place
it close to the motor bulkhead. Connect the controller to the receiver (Fig. 43). Between the
keels, some 100 mm from the nose of the fuselage, cut an opening for the servos. Push the
servos into the prepared openings (Fig. 44). You may secure the servos in place using a drop
of CA glue at the brackets. Connect the servos to the receiver and check the neutral position
and the correct spacing of channels.Using a sharp knife, cut the canopy part as per Figs.45 and
46. If the canopy fits well, glue it in place (Fig. 47, 48). Last, glue the reinforcing bulkhead
into the canopy (Fig. 49). Glue the front wing holding dowel of 2 x 100 mm aluminium wire
and secure it with the glassfibre stop/washers (Fig. 50). Similarly, glue the rear wing-holding
dowel of 1,6 x 100 mm aluminium wire and thE glassfibre securing washers from both sides
(Fig.51).Slide the 3 x 10 mm tubes (three each side) and insert their end with the Z bend
into the servo arm (Fig. 52). On the empennage side bend the wire to make an L and using
a drop of CA, secure them from accidental sliding out (Fig. 53). Then glue the push/pull rod
guide pillars into the fuselage.In the fuselage front, forward of the servos, cut between the
keels an opening for propulsive batteries (Fig. 54). Glue the 5mm part of EPP, shortened to
the 70 x 300 mm dimensions, between the two wing ribs (Fig. 55). Then cut away the excess
material which could hinder gluing the wing into the fuselage (Fig. 56); glue the part to the
wing centreline (Fig. 57). Connect the motor (Fig. 58) and the model is finished. The Free Bee
model is not too sensitive to the position of the centre of gravity, it should lie, however, some
90 mm from the wing leading edge. Thanks to the excellent flight characteristics there is no
need to limit the control surface deflections. The model is very docile and nice-flying, yet it is
still very nimble and able to be flown in a confined space. The weight in flight with the 600
mAh battery and an HCS C 60W/2-3 motor is 305 grams, giving a wing loading of 10g/dm2.
The Free Bee is not designed to be flown in extremely strong winds, yet it handles well the
wind velocities of about 6 m/s; only keep in mind the necessity to have a sufficient spatial
reserve so that the model would not be blown away from sight.Many happy moments with the
Free Bee model wishes FLYTEAM.
LIST OF PARTS
Name Pcs Name Pcs
Half of fuselage from EPP 2 Wing spar (1x1000mm) 1
Control rod 2 Wheels diameter 74mm 2
Wing of EPP 1 Control surface lever 2
Horizontal tail of EPP 1 Tailskid 1
Vertical tail of EPP 1 Elevator joiner 1
CNC-milled fiberglass sheet 2 Dowels for tie rubber loops 2
Upper part of fuselage of EPP 1 Undercarriage axle, 3 x 120 mm 2
Lower part of fuselage of EPP 1 Quick Lock 2
Bulkhead set, 12 pieces 1 Undercarriage rubber loop spring 1
Rudder hinges 2 Building manual 1
Front canopy 1
You will need the following tools and materials
CA glue, CA glue accelerator, a sharp (modelling) knife. To complete the model you need
the following: a receiver (MZK), two servos (Waypoint W-060), an AC controller (Robotbirds
Pro 10), a battery pack (2 LiPol cells of 600 – 800 mAh), a 60W brushless motor (HCS C
60W/2-3) + 9/5 HD GWS propeller.
FRE BEE
FRE BEE
