Top Flite TOPA0310 - Manual (Page 43)

❏ ❏
4. Shape the sub LE’s to match the downward
curving angle of the ribs.
❏ ❏ 5. Cut two landing gear skins from the 1/32"
x 6" x 8" plywood sheet using the dimensions shown
in the sketch. Glue one of the skins to the top of the
landing gear and the other to the bottom.
❏ ❏
6. Sand the sheeting even with the front of the
aluminum gear and the end of the ribs.
❏ ❏ 7. Glue leftover 1/8" balsa to the LE and
leftover 1/8" x 1/4" basswood to the TE of the gear.
Blend the LE and TE to the sheeting. The landing
gear may now be covered with iron-on covering, but
for the best durability and appearance, it is
recommended that the landing gear be covered with
glass cloth and resin, then primed and painted.
❏ 8. Build the other landing gear the same way. Be
certain to make a right and a left, as both aluminum
landing gears are the same.
Mount the Cowl
❏ 1. Trim the bottom flange around the molded ABS
forward cowl so that approximately only 1/8” remains.
Use 250-grit sandpaper to thoroughly scuff the outside
of the cowl so you can make marks with a pencil. Place
the forward cowl and a pencil on a flat surface. Hold the
pencil to the base of the cowl and turn the cowl around
the pencil marking a trim line all the way around.
❏
2. Use a builder’s square as a guide to mark lines
extending from the molded-in “dots” near the bottom
of the cowl to the front of the cowl. These will be used
later for aligning the cowl blisters. Trim the forward
cowl along the line you marked around the base.
❏ 3. Mark and trim the bottom of the molded ABS
aft cowl the same way. Cut a hole in the middle of
the aft cowl leaving a 1/2" ring all the way around.
Save the leftover circular sheet of plastic for the
pushrod exit covers to be made later.
❏ 4. Thoroughly sand the inside of the forward and
aft cowl, and the groove where the forward cowl will
join the aft cowl with coarse sandpaper so glue and
glass cloth will adhere.
❏ 5. Center the forward cowl on the aft cowl and
glue them together with CA. Refrain from using CA
accelerator because it may soften the plastic.
❏
6. Determine where to fit the four die-cut 1/8"
plywood aft cowl ring sections on the firewall. The
- 43 -