Top Flite TOPA0155 - Manual (Page 13)

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13. Glue the remaining rudder skin to the rudder.
When doing so, position the rudder so it is resting flat
on the workbench.
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14. Glue both die-cut 1/8" [3.2mm] balsa upper
stab saddles (USS) to the inside of the rudder
skins and rib V2 as shown on the plan. Trim the fin
skins even with the saddles and the lower main spar.
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15. Use a bar sander with 80-grit sandpaper to
true the edges of the sheeting even with the sub LE
and rib V6. Sand the edges of the upper and lower
TE spar even with the fin sheeting.
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16. Cut the fin LE from the 3/16" x 1/2" x 30" [4.8
x 12.7 x 762mm] balsa stick, then glue it to the fin.
Save the remainder of the balsa stick for the stab LE.
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17. Sand both ends of the fin LE even with the top
and bottom of the fin. Use a razor plane followed with
progressively finer grits of sandpaper to round the fin
LE as shown in the cross-section on the plan.
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18. Cut two 5-1/2" [140mm] pieces from the 1/4 x
2" x 11-7/8" [6.4 x 51 x 302mm] balsa sheet. Glue
the die-cut 1/16" [1.6mm] balsa fin tip core (FTC)
between both 1/4" [6.4mm] balsa sheets with the
bottom edges aligned. Sand both 1/4" [6.4mm] outer
pieces even with the fin tip core.
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19. Test fit the tip to the fin/rudder. Be certain the
tip is vertical and in alignment with both the fin and
rudder. If necessary make adjustments, then glue
the tip into position.
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20. Use a razor plane followed by a bar sander to
shape the tip even with the fin and rudder sheeting,
but do not round yet. Hint: While sanding, rest the
bar sander on the sheeting, but apply pressure only
to the tip. If you fear sanding the sheeting too much,
protect it with a few strips of masking tape.
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21. Finish shaping the tip by rounding and
smoothing. For scale appearance, note that the tip is
sanded rather thin, yet round.
Finish the fin and rudder
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1. Separate the rudder from the fin by using a razor
saw to cut through the ribs and the tip. Use a bar sander
with 80-grit sandpaper to sand the remainder of the ribs
even with the fin TE and rudder spar.
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2. Use a small square and a ballpoint pen to mark
the rudder where the counter balance is to be glued
on later (between ribs 3 & 4).
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