Top Flite TOPA0155 - Manual (Page 40)

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8. Insert the prebent tail gear wire into the tail block
through the bearing tube. Use a small drop of
threadlocker on a 4-40 set screw to permanently secure
the tail gear wire with a 3/32" [2.4mm] wheel collar.
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9. Mount the tail gear bracket to the tail gear plate
with the #2 x 3/8" screws. Thread a nylon torque rod
horn all the way onto the 4-40 x 5/8" screw. File a
small flat spot on the tail gear wire for the screw.
Mount the screw to the tail gear wire with a 3/32"
[2.4mm] wheel collar. Be certain the angle is correct
as shown on the plan. Tighten securely with a drop
of threadlocker.
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10. Cut a 36" long pushrod to a length of 26".
Thread a nylon clevis onto the pushrod about 20 full
turns. Connect the clevis to the torque rod horn and
secure it with a silicone tube.
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11. Slide the pushrod through the tail gear guide
tube already glued into the fuse. Position the tail gear
plate and the tail block on the fuse. Move the
pushrod back and forth to make sure there is no
interference or binding. If necessary, widen the round
notch in former F12B to accommodate the pushrod.
Permanently glue the tail gear plate and the tail block
to the fuse.
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12. Remove the fuselage from the building board.
Fill the gap on both sides of the fuselage between
the tail block and the fuse sheeting with leftover 1/8"
[3.2mm] balsa or filler.
Mount the wing
Although the fuse is only partially complete, now is a
convenient time to mount the wing.
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1. Trim the fuse sheeting even with the aft edge of
former 5D on both sides of the fuselage.
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2. Test fit the 1/4" x 1" x 2-15/16" plywood wing
bolt plate between the fuse side doublers. Trim the
ends of the wing bolt plate as necessary, then use
30-minute epoxy to glue it into position.
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3. If you haven’t yet done so, shape the leading edge
of the wing to match the cross-section on the plans.
The first Sea Fury prototype, powered by a
Centaurus Mk.12 engine driving a four-bladed
propeller, also featuring an arresting hook and
fixed (non-folding) wings, flew on February 21,
1945. The second Sea Fury prototype was
powered by a Centaurus Mk.15 driving a
five-bladed propeller and was fully
navalized with
folding wings.
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