Top Flite TOPA0140 - Manual (Page 30)

BUILD THE AILERONS
❏ ❏
1. True up the wing sheeting where the
ailerons will fit.
❏ ❏
2. Hold a die-cut 3/32" [2.4mm] balsa
aileron base up to the wing. Glue a piece of
leftover balsa to the wing so the gap between
the end of the aileron and the wing will be
approximately 1/16" [2mm] wide. Our model
required a piece of 1/8" [3.2mm] balsa. Sand the
balsa even with the wing sheeting.
❏ ❏
3. Cut the aileron leading edge from the
1/4" x 7/8" x 24" [6.4 x 22.2 x 610mm] balsa stick.
Trim the aileron leading edge so it fits in the wing
against the outer TE.
❏ ❏
4. Pin the aileron leading edge to the wing,
then shape it so it matches the wing sheeting on
the top and the bottom.
❏ ❏
5. Use the plan to mark the location of the
aileron ribs on both sides of the aileron base.
For the next two steps it is helpful to set the wing
on the leading edge between two blocks or boxes
so it won’t fall over.
❏ ❏
6. Glue the aileron base to the aileron LE.
Make sure the front of the aileron base is centered
on the aileron leading edge and the trailing edge of
the aileron base aligns with the flap and wing tip.
You may have to relocate your T-pins so they do
not interfere with the aileron base.
❏ ❏
7. Cut the top and bottom aileron ribs from
two 3/32" x 3/8" x 24" [2.4 x 9.5 x 610mm] balsa
sticks. Glue the ribs to the aileron base and the
aileron LE, making sure you keep the aileron base
aligned with the wing.
❏ ❏
8. Use your razor plane or a bar sander to
trim the ribs to the shape of the wing and aileron.
❏
9. Remove the T-pins and take the aileron out
of the wing.
❏ ❏
10. Place a straightedge against two T-pins
in the center of the aileron LE near both ends. Use
a ballpoint pen to mark the centerline of the aileron
LE along the straightedge.
❏ ❏
11. Mark the centerline of the inner TE of the
wing the same way.
❏ ❏
12. Glue pieces of leftover 3/32" [2.4mm]
balsa to the aileron base over the location of the
hinge slots. You can see these pieces in the next
photo. Cut the hinge slots along the centerlines of
the wing and the aileron where shown on the plan.
❏ ❏
13. Test fit the aileron to the wing with
three hinges.
❏ ❏
14. Use your razor plane or a bar sander to
shape the leading edge of the aileron to a “V” for
control movement. Test fit the aileron to the wing.
Make sure it can pivot to the recommended throws
or make adjustments where needed.
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