Top Flite TOPA0140 - Manual (Page 39)

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7. Cut a 3/16" x 36" [4.8 x 914mm] pushrod
guide tube to a length of 29" [735mm]. Sand the
guide tube with coarse sandpaper so glue will stick
when it’s time to glue it in place. Slide the tube
through the holes in the formers as shown on the
plan until it reaches the right fuse side just behind
former 10. This is where the guide tube will exit
the fuselage.
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8. Cut a slot in the fuse side for the guide tube.
The center of the slot should be 3/16" [4.8mm]
above the steering arm so the pushrod will align
with the ball when you mount it to the steering arm.
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9. Refer to the sketch in step 10. Bevel the aft
end of the guide tube to so it will be flush with the
fuse side where it passes through the slot. Screw a
nylon dual ended ball link onto a .074" x 36" [1.9
x 914mm] wire pushrod. Cut 6" [150mm] off the
other end of the rod. Snap a ball stud into the dual
ended ball link and slide the pushrod into the guide
tube from the rear.
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10. Reposition the tail gear plate on the fuse.
Fit the ball stud onto the steering arm and
temporarily secure it with a 0-80 nut. Move the
pushrod back and forth to test the action of the tail
gear wire. Make sure there is no interference and
everything is in alignment. Make adjustments
where necessary.
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11. Disconnect the ball stud from the steering
arm and remove the pushrod from the fuse but
leave the guide tube in place. Glue the guide tube
in the slot in the fuse with a mixture of epoxy and
microballoons. Glue the guide tube to the formers
with CA. After the epoxy cures sand the guide tube
flush with the fuse side.
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12. Raise or lower the tail gear wire in the nylon
bracket until the steering arm is centered in the
slot in the fuse. Secure the wheel collar to the tail
gear wire with a small set screw and a drop of
thread lock.
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13. Use epoxy and microballoons leftover from
step 12 (or mix up a new batch) to make a small
fillet between the stab and the stab saddles inside
the fuselage.
While we’re at it, let’s install the elevator pushrod
guide tube.
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14. Cut another 3/16" x 36" [4.8 x 914mm]
pushrod guide tube to a length of 29" [735mm] and
sand it so glue will stick. Slide the tube through the
holes in the formers until it reaches the left fuse side
just behind former 10. Cut a slot in the fuse for the
pushrod to exit and glue it in place the same way
you did for the rudder guide tube. After the epoxy
cures, sand the tube flush with the fuse side.
PREPARE THE FUSE FOR SHEETING
Disregard the fuselage sheeting in this photo.
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1. Glue both die-cut 1/8" [3.2mm] plywood
lower crutch doublers to the inside of both
crutches where shown on the plan (the bottom of
the lower crutch doublers should align with the
bottom of the crutches). Test fit both 1/2" x 7/8" x
7/8" [12.7 x 22.2 x 22.2mm] maple wing bolt
blocks in the notches of the lower crutch doublers.
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