Top Flite TOPA0140 - Manual (Page 12)

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14. Trim the front of the ribs to accommodate
the bottom stab leading edges the same way you
did the top. Glue the stab leading edges to the
stab core.
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15. Test fit and glue the bottom stab skin to the
bottom of the stab. As you do this, use care not
to add any twist to the stab as it is no longer
supported by the jig tabs. If you haven’t used too
much accelerator, you could use medium or thick
CA and hold the skin in position with your hands
until the CA cures.
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16. Trim the bottom skin so it is even with the
tips and stab TE. Roughly trim the stab leading
edge so it is even with the sheeting and resembles
the cross section on the plan but do not sand it to
final shape yet.
What a nice piece of workmanship. I bet you don’t
need any filler at all! You’re off to a good start so
let’s move on to the elevators.
BUILD THE ELEVATORS
Note: The die-cut elevator bases included in the
kit have one large lightening hole instead of the
two smaller ones shown in the instruction manual
photos. This is to reduce the weight in the tail.
Start with the left elevator.
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1. Position one of the die-cut 3/32" [2.4mm]
balsa elevator bases over the elevator plan and
lightly mark the location of the elevator ribs on
the base.
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2. Glue a die-cut 1/4" [6.4mm] balsa elevator
tip block and a die-cut 1/4" [6.4mm] balsa root
block to both sides of the elevator base as shown.
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3. Glue the elevator base, on center, to a
die-cut 1/4" [6.4mm] balsa elevator leading edge.
You can see it in the next photo.
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4. Sand the elevator root blocks and the
elevator tip blocks to a wedge so they match the
cross section on the plan. Sand the top and bottom
of the elevator LE to match the root and tip blocks.
Do not sand the “V” on LE of the elevator and do
not round the tips until instructed to do so.
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5. Insert a T-pin through the center of the
elevator LE near the tip and near the root. Place a
straightedge across the T-pins and draw a
centerline on the elevator LE with a ballpoint pen.
Draw a centerline along the TE of the stab the
same way.
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6. Glue one of the shaped 5/8" [15.9mm]
balsa stab tip blocks to the left side of the stab.
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7. Mark the center of the stab on the TE and
the location of the elevator roots where shown on
the plan (refer to the following photo). Use thick or
medium CA to
tack glue the elevator to the
stab—just a drop in three or four places. Add a few
pieces of masking tape for a little extra security.
Make sure the elevator is centered vertically on
the stab.
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8. Glue the shaped 5/8" [15.9mm] balsa
elevator balance tab to the elevator LE with
medium or thick CA. There should be approximately
a 1/16" [1.6mm] gap between the elevator balance
tab and the stab tip.
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