Top Flite TOPA0310 - Manual (Page 32)

pen to transfer the engine mount centerlines on the plan
to the firewall. For future reference, this is where the
centerline of your engine should meet the firewall so the
crank shaft will be centered in the front of the cowl.
❏
15. Use 30-minute epoxy to glue the forward fuse
sides, the top deck, the bottom deck and the firewall
together. #64 Rubber bands are perfect for holding
everything tight until the epoxy hardens.
Hint: Where
necessary, #2 wood screws may be used to pull the
sides to the firewall.
❏ 16. After the epoxy from the previous step has
fully cured, “pin” the edges of the firewall to the fuse
sides and top and bottom deck with round toothpicks
and epoxy. A 3/32" drill bit should work for most
round toothpicks.
❏ 17. From two 1/8" x 1/4" x 36" basswood sticks,
cut the side stringers that run from former 5 to the
front of the stab saddles. Note that the front of the
side stringers protrude 1/8" outside of former 5 to
accommodate the 1/8" fuse sheeting that will be
added later. Glue the side stringers into position.
❏ 18. Glue leftover 1/4" x 3/8" basswood sticks
across both sides of the bottom of former 3, between
the corner braces as shown on the plan.
Mount the landing gear
❏ 1. Glue the die-cut 1/8" balsa former sides and
top of F2 to the fuse where shown on the plan. Glue
a leftover 1/4" x 3/4" balsa stick across the bottom
deck aligning with the sides of F2.
❏ 2. Use the landing gear rail template on the plan
to make two landing gear rails from the 1/4" x 2-1/8"
x 11" plywood sheets. Position the landing gear over
the templates and confirm that the holes in the gear
align with the holes in the template. Make
adjustments if necessary. Drill 11/64" (or 5/32") holes
through the rails where shown on the templates, then
insert three 6-32 blind nuts into the holes of both
landing gear rails, making a right and a left rail.
❏
3. Use 30-minute epoxy to glue both landing gear
rails and the 1/4" x 2-1/2" x 6-1/16" balsa landing
gear brace to the fuse. Be certain the rails and the
brace are centered on the fuse.
❏ 4. After the epoxy from the previous step has
fully cured, temporarily mount the landing gear to the
rails with six 6-32 x 5/8" socket head cap screws
and washers.
FINAL CONSTRUCTION
Mount the engine
If you haven’t yet decided on which engine you are going
to use, or if you haven’t purchased it yet, or if it’s just your
preference to mount the tail surfaces before the engine,
you may skip ahead to
Mount the Stab and Fin on
page 33. Return to this page when you’re ready.
❏ 1. Use a bar sander and 80-grit sandpaper to sand
the fuse sides, bottom deck and top deck even with
the firewall. Redraw the engine mount alignment lines
you marked earlier if you’ve sanded them off.
❏
2. Glue the die-cut 1/8" plywood formers F1B
and F1S to the fuse sides and top and bottom deck.
Use a straightedge to make certain all the formers
are in alignment with the firewall.
Note: Whatever engine and mounting method you
decide to use, the distance from the firewall to the
back plate of the spinner (or the front of the drive
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