Top Flite TOPA0155 - Manual (Page 39)

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2. Repeat the previous step for the left side of the
fuse. Cut the short, bottom stringer that connects
formers F2B with F3B from a 1/4" x 1/4" leftover
balsa stick. Glue the stringer into position. Sand the
stringers even with the formers.
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3. Cut a 3/32" x 3" x 36" [2.4 x 76 x 914mm] balsa
sheet into six 6" long sheets. Make a 6" x 6" sheet by
edge-gluing two of the sheets together. Make the
front fuse sheet and the engine exhaust sheet
using the patterns on the fuse plan.
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4. Test fit, then glue the engine exhaust sheet into
position. Note that the aft edge aligns with the middle
of former F4B.
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5. Test fit, then glue the front fuse sheet into
position. Sheet the other side of the fuse the same
way, then sheet the bottom of the fuse over formers
F2B and F3B.
Mount the tail gear
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1. Drill 1/16" [1.6mm] holes through the
punchmarks in the die-cut 1/8" [3.2mm] plywood tail
gear plate (TGP). Use a few drops of medium CA to
tack-glue the tail gear plate into position on the back
of the fuse.
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2. Bevel one end of the 1" x 1-3/4" x 6" tail block
to match the angle of former F12B when positioned
on the bottom of the tail gear plate. Glue the tail block
to the tail gear plate, but not to the fuse.
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3. Round the tail block to match the bottom of
the fuse.
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4. Break the tail block (with the tail gear plate
attached) from the fuselage. Referring to the sketch,
drill 1/8" [3.2mm] holes, 1/2" deep through the
punchmarks in the tail gear plate to accommodate
the alignment posts in the nylon tail gear bracket.
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5. Temporarily mount the nylon tail gear bracket to
the tail gear plate with two #2 x 3/8" screws. Using
the tail gear bracket as a guide, drill a 3/32" [2.4mm]
hole through the tail gear plate and the tail block.
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6. Remove the tail gear bracket from the tail gear
plate. Enlarge the hole in the tail block and the tail
gear plate with a 5/32" drill. Use a Dremel to enlarge
the opening of the hole in the tail gear plate to
accommodate the 3/32" [2.4mm] wheel collar.
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7. Use coarse sandpaper to roughen the outside
of the 1-5/8" nylon bearing tube so glue will adhere.
Cut the tube to a length of 5/8". Glue the tube into the
tail block, so one end of the tube is even with the
bottom of the block.
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