Top Flite TOPA0130 - Manual (Page 9)

9
❑ 10. Repeat steps 5 through 8 to build the left
half of the stab. NOTE: The left half LE and TE
must be sanded for an exact fit with the right
side. They should be glued together along the
center line when you repeat step #6.
❏
11. Trim the 3/8" x 9/16" x 4-1/32" hard balsa
stab TE Joiner, if necessary, to fit between the
S-2 ribs. Securely glue it to the stab TE and
the S-2 ribs.
❏
12. Check the fit of the die-cut 1/8" plywood
Stab Joiner (SJ) and adjust if required for a
good fit with the stab LE. Place the Stab Joiner
into the slots in the two S-1 ribs and work the
whole assembly into position. Make sure all
parts are properly aligned and the S-1 rib jig
tabs contact the work surface. Glue in the Stab
Joiner and the S-1 ribs.
❏
13. Cut two 1/4" wide cross-grain strips from
a 1/16" x 3" x 30" balsa wing sheet. Glue these
strips between the two S-1 ribs flush with their
top edges. These strips will reinforce the stab
skins where they join at the center and also
strengthen the stab.
❏
14. Use CA+ to reinforce any glue joints that
don't look strong.
❏
15. Trim and sand the tip ends of the LE and
TE to match the plans.
❏
16. Carefully remove the stab from the
building board. Try not to damage the jig tabs as
they will be needed until after the top of the stab
is sheeted.
❏
17. Use a razor plane and a sanding block to
shape the top surface of the LE (particularly
toward the tip) until it's even with the ribs. Plane
and sand the TE, if required, to smoothly blend
with the ribs.
TIPS FOR MAKING WING AND
STAB SKINS
A. Wherever practical, pre-join the balsa sheets
to make a "skin" before attaching them to the
structure.
B. Many modelers like to sort the wood so they
can put the best wood with the most even grain
structure on the top of the wing and stab.
C. Make your skin larger than needed to allow
for misalignment. On a large surface like the
wing, 3/8" extra is suggested.
D. To make skins, the following steps
are suggested:
1. True up the edges of the sheets with
a metal straightedge and a sharp knife or a "T-
Bar" sanding block.
2. Test fit the sheets together to make
sure they match well.
3. Glue the sheets together with thin CA
over a flat surface covered with waxed paper. A
quick wipe of the joint with a fresh paper towel
will remove excess glue and make sanding
easier. Mark the poorest surface that you
think should be the inside of the sheet
with an "I".
4. Place the skin on a large, flat surface
and sand it with a large, flat sanding block and
fresh, sharp 220 paper. Use light pressure and a
brisk circular motion.
5. Trim the perimeter of the sheet to
even things out.