Top Flite TOPA0130 - Manual (Page 16)

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2. Draw a centerline down both sides of a
1/16" x 1" x 12" plywood TE Strip.
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3. Use a T-bar with sharp 150 or 220 grit
sandpaper to bevel the aft 3/8" of the TE Strip
down roughly 1/32".
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4. Locate the two 3/32" x5/8” x 12" balsa
TE Jig Strips. Check the straightness of these
Jig Strips by holding them on edge on a flat
surface. True them up with a knife and a metal
straightedge if required.
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5. Place the ply TE Strip with beveled side
down on a very flat table. Glue a TE Jig to the
TE Strip on the centerline. The Jig will keep the
TE straight until the wing is complete. Do not
use excessive glue because it will have to be
sanded off later.
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6. Glue the TE Strip assembly to the wing
structure with the beveled side up. The aft end
of ribs W-6 through W-10 should align with the
centerline you drew on the TE Strip. Do not
force the ribs to touch the TE Strip. This will
cause the TE to warp when you remove the Jig
later; just fill any slight gaps with glue. NOTE:
The TE Jig is designed to keep the ply TE Strip
from warping.
It's not meant to touch the work
surface so don't be alarmed when it doesn't.
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7. Use a razor saw and a hobby knife to
trim off the bottom half of ribs W-6 through W-10.
The bottom side is the side opposite the jig tabs.
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8. Trim the ends of the TE Strip flush with
the W-6 and W-10 ribs.
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9. Use a T-bar sander to even up the ribs
inside the flap bay.
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10. Cut the remainder of the 3/8" x 1/2" x
15" stick (that you used to make the aileron
hinge blocks) into ten 3/4" pieces. Fit and glue
three of these pieces where shown on the wing
plan. Save the remaining blocks for use on the
other two wing panels. Mark the location of the
hinge blocks on the outside of the TE spar to
help you find them later.
Repeat the previous instructions to build the
other outer wing panel.
Congratulations! Even though building
operational flaps requires a little bit of patience
and a lot of elbow grease, you will be rewarded
by more scale appearance and slower landings
than the less ambitious modeler. If that isn't
enough, they just look great during slow fly-bys.
BUILD THE CENTER SECTION
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1. Cover the Center Wing Panel plan with
waxed paper, then pin a 1/4" x 3/8" x 18" balsa
Spar in position over it.
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2. Locate both of the W-1 Rib Assemblies
(if the ply doublers are not glued in place yet,
do it now) and position them on the spar with
the jig tabs pointing down. Don't glue the ribs
in place yet.
1/32"
3/8"
16