Top Flite TOPA0155 - Manual (Page 7)

IMPORTANT BUILDING NOTES
There are two types of screws used in this kit:
Sheet metal screws are designated by a number
and a length.
For example #6 x 3/4" long [19.1mm]
This is a number six screw that is 3/4" [19.1mm] long.
Machine screws are designated by a number,
threads per inch, and a length.
For example 4-40 x 3/4" long [19.1mm]
This is a number four screw that is 3/4" [19.1mm]
long with forty threads per inch.
• When you see the term test fit in the instructions,
it means that you should first position the part on
the assembly without using any glue, then
slightly modify or
custom fit the part as necessary
for the best fit.
• Whenever the term glue is written you should rely
upon your experience to decide what type of glue
to use. When a specific type of adhesive works
best for that step, the instructions will tell you what
glue is recommended.
• Whenever just epoxy is specified you may use
either 30-minute epoxy or 6-minute epoxy. When
30-minute epoxy is specified, it is highly
recommended that you use only 30-minute (or
45-minute) epoxy because you will need the
working time and/or the additional strength.
• Photos and sketches are placed before the
step they refer to. Frequently you can study photos in
following steps to get another view of the same parts.
TYPES OF WOOD
BALSA BASSWOOD PLYWOOD
PREPARE TO BUILD
1. A set of miniaturized building plans is included in
the middle of this manual. They may be removed and
used as a quick, handy reference, so you don’t have
to get out the full-size plans when you are not
building over them.
2. If you’ve already purchased the retractable
landing gear, or as soon as you do, take the air lines
out of the package. Unravel the lines and hang them
somewhere in your shop. When it’s time to install the
retracts, the kinks will be out of the lines and they’ll
be easier to work with.
(Continued on page 10)
1/64" = .4mm
1/32" = .8mm
1/16" = 1.6mm
3/32" = 2.4mm
1/8" = 3.2mm
5/32" = 4mm
3/16" = 4.8mm
1/4" = 6.4mm
3/8" = 9.5mm
1/2" = 12.7mm
5/8" = 15.9mm
3/4" = 19mm
1" = 25.4mm
2" = 50.8mm
3" = 76.2mm
6" = 152.4mm
12" = 304.8mm
15" = 381mm
18" = 457.2mm
21" = 533.4mm
24" = 609.6mm
30" = 762mm
36" = 914.4mm
METRIC CONVERSION
1" = 25.4mm (conversion factor)
Plastic bags filled with lead shot are recommended
to be used as building weights because they
assume the shape of curved surfaces and apply
uniform pressure without making dents in balsa.
Shot can be purchased at sporting goods stores
where hunting supplies are sold. #6 shot is
recommended. One 25 lb. bag costs about fifteen to
twenty dollars. Small, sealable food storage bags
can be used to hold the shot. Tape the bags shut for
security. Each bag holds about two to three pounds.
Fifteen to twenty bags is adequate for this project.
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