Top Flite TOPA0310 - Manual (Page 15)

❏ 3. Bevel the LE of both elevators for control throw.
Make certain you can achieve 1" of up and down
control throw as measured at the widest part of
the elevators.
Build the Fin
❏
1. Place the fin plan over your building board (you
may cut it from the fuse plan) and cover it with Great
Planes Plan Protector or waxed paper.
❏ 2. Glue both die-cut 1/8" balsa fin TE’s together
so the notches align. Use a straightedge and a
ballpoint pen to draw a centerline on the back of the
fin TE.
❏
3. Without using any glue , join the die-cut 3/32"
balsa fin ribs to the fin TE and place the assembly
over the fin plan. Use leftover 1/4" x 1/4" rib jigs from
the stab to hold the fin ribs to the plan.
❏ 4. Use a small builder’s square to align the fin TE
with the plan and to make sure it is perpendicular to
your building board. Measure the distance between
the centerline you drew and your building board to
make sure the fin TE is true and level. Glue the TE to
the ribs.
❏
5. Bevel the front of the fin ribs to the same angle
as the LE. Cut a shaped 15" balsa fin LE to the
length shown on the plan, then glue it into position.
The LE is centered on the fin ribs the same as it was
on the stab ribs.
❏ 6. Use the 3/16" x 3/16" sticks leftover from the
stab bracing to make the fin bracing between the
ribs where shown on the plan. Glue the fin bracing
into position.
❏ 7. Use a 1/16" x 3" x 24" balsa sheet to sheet the
LE of the fin as shown in the photo and on the plan.
❏
8. Using the bottom fin sheeting pattern on the
plan, make the bottom fin sheeting from the
remainder of the 1/16" x 3" x 24" balsa sheet you
used in the previous step.
Note: When using the
patterns provided, always cut the pieces larger than
the pattern to allow for positioning, trimming and
variances between individual models. Glue the
bottom fin sheeting to the fin.
NOTE: In the following two photos, disregard the
sheeting on the right side of the fin and the fact
that the fin is no longer on the building board. Your
fin should still be pinned to your building board at
this stage.
A . Insert T-pins through the center of the elevator
LE near both ends. Position a straightedge along
the T-pins and mark a centerline with a fine-point
ballpoint pen.
B . Do the same for the other elevator and the TE of
the stab.
How to accurately mark the centerlines of the
control surfaces for hinging.
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