Top Flite TOPA0310 - Manual (Page 50)

❏ ❏ 6. Cut out the molded ABS lower strut fairing
along the cutlines. With the strut in position, trim the
lower strut fairing to fit the landing gear fairing and the
wing strut. After you’ve achieved a good fit, glue the
lower strut fairing to the landing gear fairing.
Note: You
don’t have to get a perfect fit between the lower strut
fairing and the landing gear fairing—filler will be added
later, blending the two for a seamless transition.
IMPORTANT : If you plan to do aggressive aerobatics,
you should make the wing strut load bearing. Make an
aluminum bracket that is attached to the bottom of the
strut and mounts to one of the landing gear screws.
❏ ❏ 7. Test fit the molded ABS upper strut fairing
to the top of the wing strut and the wing the same
way you did the lower strut fairing.
❏ ❏
8. After you are satisfied with the fit of the
upper strut fairing to the wing and the strut, position
the assembly on the wing, then glue the fairing to the
strut, (don't glue them to the wing).
❏ ❏ 9. Temporarily cover the bottom of the wing
with iron-on covering where the top of the strut
comes into contact. Cover that part of the wing with
wax paper, Saran wrap, or spray on a light coat of
mold release agent. Fill the top strut fairing with filler
such as automotive Bondo or something similar, then
fit the strut to the wing and allow the filler to harden.
❏ ❏ 10. Remove the strut from the wing, then sand
the filler, blending it to the top strut fairing.
❏ ❏ 11. Position the strut on the bottom of the wing,
centering it under the hole in the strut mounting
block. From the top of the wing, use the hole you
already drilled in the strut mounting block as a guide
to drill a 5/32" hole through the strut
(now the holes
are guaranteed to line up).
❏ ❏
12. Enlarge the opening of the hole in the
upper strut fairing to countersink the head of a 6-32
x 1-1/4" socket head cap screw. Install a 6-32 blind
nut into the top of the wing strut mounting block. Test
mount the strut to the wing with the screw.
❏ ❏ 13. Mount the landing gear fairing. There are two
ways to do this. The first way is to permanently glue it
to the landing gear. Drill holes in the bottom of the
fairing for the landing gear screws. The second way is
to use eight #2 screws, evenly spaced around the
edges, to hold the fairing to the fuse sheeting. If you
use this method add a few drops of thin CA to the
holes in the balsa to get a secure grip on the screws.
❏ 14. Use filler to blend the lower strut fairing to the
landing gear fairing. When the filler hardens, sand it
to shape.
❏ 15. Return to step 1 and build the other wing strut
the same way.
❏ 16. While the model is upside-down, cut out the
molded ABS tail gear cover and test fit it to the
bottom of the fuse over the tail gear. You can use #2
screws to hold it in position, or glue it in place with
RTV silicone after the fuse is covered and the cover
is painted.
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