Top Flite TOPA0310 - Manual (Page 37)

❏ 1. The servos will be mounted to 1/4" x 3/8"
basswood rails, spaced apart and held in position by
the die-cut 1/8" plywood
servo rail spacers . Be
certain the rail spacers are the correct size for your
servos by test fitting one of your servos on rails held
in position on your workbench by the rail spacers. If
necessary, modify the rail spacers, or make new
ones from leftover 1/8" plywood to accommodate
your servos.
❏ 2. Simulate the 1/8" balsa fuse sheeting that will
be added later by temporarily clamping pieces of
leftover balsa across both sides of formers 4 and 5 in
the area of the servo rails. Cut the
servo rails to fit
between the sheeting from a 1/4" x 3/8" x 36"
basswood stick.
❏ 3. Refer to the top view of the plan. Notice that the
elevator servos and rail spacer are offset, so both
elevator pushrods will be at the same angle and have
the same geometry. Glue the rails and rail spacers
into position.
❏ 4. Drill a #36 or 7/64" hole in both elevator control
horn blocks where shown on the plan. Tap 6-32
threads in the control horn blocks, then add a few
drops of thin CA in the holes, allow the CA to fully
harden, then re-tap the threads.
❏ 5. Thread a large nylon torque rod horn onto one
end of a 6-32 x 1-1/2" threaded rod. Temporarily screw
the thread control rod 1/2" into the hole you tapped in
the control horn block. The threaded rod won’t be
glued in place until after the model is covered.
❏ 6. Join both elevators to the stab. Make both elevator
pushrods as shown on the plan from two 4-40 solder
clevises, two .095" x 36" threaded one-end pushrods
and two 4-40 threaded clevises. Silver solder should be
used on the solder clevis. After soldering, remove
residual soldering flux, then coat the clevis and the rod
with a film of oil to prevent corrosion.
❏ 7. Cut two 3/16" pushrod guide tubes (Gray) so
that there is approximately 1-1/2" between the ends
of the tube and the clevises at both ends. Slide the
guide tubes over the elevator pushrods in the fuse.
Drill a 13/64" (or 7/32") hole in eight die-cut 1/8"
plywood
guide tube holders and slide four holders
over each guide tube. Connect the pushrods to the
elevators and servos, and glue the guide tube
holders to the cross braces. Glue the guide tubes to
the guide tube holders.
❏ 8. The same way you did the elevators,
temporarily insert the 6-32 x 1-1/2" threaded rods
into both sides of the rudder as shown on the plan.
As you proceed, keep in mind that, after the
model is completed, components in the cabin
(radio system, fuel tank, cockpit interior, wing
bolts, etc.) will be accessed through the side
doors. Although some modelers prefer to leave
radio installation and other interior details until
after the model is covered and/or painted, it will be
easier to do as much of this work as possible
while the cabin is open.
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