The Hack-A-Plane
Assembly Instructions
June 2016
STEP 1: Check items
Start by removing components from package carefully. Do not cut into the box with a knife
to insure that none of the building materials are damaged.
Take a look at the list of materials below to make sure that you have everything to start
Number
Item
Quantity
Pictures
1
Guillow Sky Streak
1
2
Guillow Bullseye BiPlane
1
3
Propeller
1
4
Gear Motor
1
5
Jumper Wire
2
6
Battery
1
7
Battery Charger
1
8
Electrical Tape
1 roll
9
Fishing Line
24 box lengths
10
Paper Clip
12
Command Hook
1
13
Double Sided Tape
1
11
Swivel
4
2
STEP 2: Assemble motor & propeller to
plane
First attach one jumper wire to the end of each motor wire as shown below. When doing this
twist the ends of the wire into a “J” and hook the ends together. Once they have been
hooked together twist them around to make a good connection. Then add a little bit of
electrical tape to insulate the wires and keep them connected.
Fold wires into a “J” shape
5
4
Twist two wires together
Wrap exposed wire with electrical tape
Note: Make
sure wires are
separate
8
Next, assemble the Sky Streak plane wing to its body.
Wing
Body
1
Now, attach the motor to the nose of the plane with electrical tape.
8
1
4
Be sure not to tape bottom shaft
Tape the jumper wires to the plane body. Attach the wire directly behind the plane’s wing as
shown.
8
Slide propeller onto the end of the motor. Make sure that propeller spins freely.
3
STEP 3: Assemble battery to plane
Tape the battery to the underside of the plane so that is right next to the metal hook.
8
6
Tape the battery connection wire to the plane body and the connector can point down as
shown.
8
Insert the two jumper wires into the connector.
Make sure that the propeller is blowing air back toward the plane. If it is not then
switch the jumper wires in the connector.
5
STEP 4: String Assembly
First cut all your pieces to length. You will need…
(3x) 2 box lengths of string
(1x) 6 box lengths of string
(1x) 12 box lengths of string
Tie an “overhand on a bight” knot in each end of the three 2 box lengths strings (refer to
hack-a-plane youtube video)
Now slip all 3 loops on your finger and grab the untied 3 loose ends so that you end up with
3 loops all the same length. Take the 3 untied ends and tie a single overhand on a bight out
of the 3 strings together. You can twist the strings together to make it seem like one string.
You should end up with a 3 string loop on one end and then 3 single string loops on the
other end. All 3 single string loops should be roughly the same length. We’re going to call
this our harness
9
Three String Loop
Single String Loops
Next tie an “overhand on a bight” on both ends of the 6 box length string.
Attach the paper clip to the eye of one swivel (don’t attach the paper clip to the clasp).
Attach the second swivel to the opposite side of the paper clip as shown.
Attach the three strand loop of the harness one of the swivel clasps. Be sure to attach the
side that has all three strings tied together.
Attach either loop of the 6 box lengths string to the opposite swivel.
You string assembly should look like this.
11
10
STEP 5: String assembly to Plane
First, attach two paper clips to the end of two of the 2 box length strings as shown.
8
Attach the two paper clips to the either side of the wing. (Don’t worry too much about
placement at this point. You will be able to modify this while flying the plane to see how it
changes the way the plane flies.)
Slide the last loop on the harness in the tail slot, and insert both the tail wing and vertical
stabilizer fin into place.
STEP 6: Kill Switch
Next tie an “overhand on a bight” on one end of the 12 box length string
Next loop the “overhand on a bight” knot so that it creates a slip knot (a slip knot tightens
when it is pulled on). Then slide this over one of the jumper wires and pull it tight on the
plastic housing. Be sure to tape this in place with electrical tape to ensure that it does not
come loose
1
2
3
Insert loose end into
“overhand on a bight” and
pull through to make a loop.
STEP 7: Assemble base
Unfold the paper clip, and bend in half as shown below.
8
Push the two ends of the paper clip through the middle of your RumbleLab crate until only
a small loop is exposed in the top of the crate.
Now open the top of the crate, and fold the two ends down so that the paper clip cannot
move.
Now add a heavy object to the inside of your crate. Something like a text book or a
hammer will work great.
OR
Using a piece of electrical tape close the box lid.
STEP 8: Hanging the Plane
First, remove the cover with the red printed words on the double sided sticky tape.
13
Apply the double sided tape to the command hook.
12
First find an open space, and remove the opposite cover from the double sided sticky
tape. Then stick the command hook to the ceiling. Wipe off the ceiling to make sure it is
dust free. Be sure to apply pressure to the command hook for 30 sec to ensure that it does
not fall off while the plane is flying. (There are many places to hang your plane. We took
our plane outside and attached it to a tree limb.)
Next, loop the free end of your 6 box length string on the command hook (or whatever you
choose to hang it from)
It should look something like this…
Now add the RumbleLab crate directly under the hanging plane, and feed the kill switch
string through the exposed paper clip.
STEP 9: Turning on/Flying the plane
Safety First!!! Always wear your safety glasses when flying and stay under the plane!
Please make sure to follow these steps so that you are able to turn the plane, and also
operate it in a safe manner. For more detail please refer to the assembly video on
www.rumblelab.com/hackaplane.
Start by holding the plane body while being crouched under the plane. Insert your kill
switch jumper wire into the battery connector. Your propeller should be blowing backwards
onto your hand, if not flip the jumpers in the battery plug. Hold on to the plane body even
after inserting the jumper wire so that the plane does not fly away from you.
Then slowly grab the string attached to the jumper wire and run your hand down the kill
switch to the crate.
Next, staying in a crouched position, slowly move backward until you are a safe distance
from the flying plane. (Stay crouched while flying to keep free from the flying zone.)
Now you will be able to experiment with flying the plane. By reeling in or releasing the kill
switch string you will be able to control the fly radius of the plane. In order to stop the
plane; briskly pull the kill switch string and it will disconnect your jumper wire from the
battery.
STEP 10: Experimenting
Now it is time to explore!
Try playing with the fly radius as mentioned above, and see if you can get the plane
to fly in a circle. (Just a little hint: in the case you have issue flying your plane in a
circle add a tail or a streamer to increase the rudder area. You can make this out of
electrical tape or whatever you prefer.)
If you have any questions shoot us an email at [email protected]