Top Flite Sierra 40 Trainer Kit - Manual (Page 6)

6
COMMON ABBREVIATIONS USED
IN THIS BOOK AND ON THE PLANS:
Deg. = Degrees Lt = Left
Elev = Elevator Ply = Plywood
Fuse = Fuselage Fit = Right
LE = Leading Edge (front) Stab = Stabilizer
LG = Landing Gear TE = Trailing Edge (rear)
= Box to check after step " = Inches
is completed.
Balsa Basswood Plywood
GET READY TO BUILD
1. Unroll the plan sheets. Re-roll the plans inside
out to make them lie flat. The wing plan sheet has a
cut-line across it. If you have a small building space
you may cut the wing plan into two pieces along this
line.
The fuselage plan sheet does not have a cut-line
across it. It is used mostly for reference and not
much building is done over it. There is not much
benefit in cutting it apart, but you may do so if you
wish.
2. Remove all parts from the box. As you do,
figure out the name of each part by comparing it with
the plans, die-cut patterns, and the parts list at the
back of this book. Using a felt tip pen, write the part
name or size on each piece to avoid confusion later.
Use the die-cut patterns shown on page 4 to identify
the die-cut parts and mark them before punching out.
Save all scraps. If any of the die-cut parts are difficult
to punch out, do not force them! Instead, first cut
around the parts with an X-acto knife. After punching
out the die-cut parts, use your T-Bar or sanding block
to lightly sand the edges to remove any die-cutting
irregularities.
USING GLUE
There are two types of glue that are recom-
mended for building this model: CA and Epoxy.
CA (cyanoacrylate) glue is used for gen-
eral construction. It is available in a variety of
viscosities. We recommend you have the fol-
lowing two types.
Thin CA has a viscosity similar to water
and is used to glue together parts that fit
together very well and do not require reposi-
tioning after glue is applied. Thin CA is espe-
cially effective for gluing balsa to balsa. It can
be used to glue hardwoods such as plywood,
spruce, or bass but it is usually necessary to
fillet the joint afterwards with some medium CA.
Thin CA has the ability to "wick" into joints. This
means it will be drawn into very fine gaps
between parts. This characteristic makes thin
CA very useful for a lot of tasks, such as gluing
seams that are already clamped together or
installing CA hinges. Thin CA usually sets very
rapidly, so do not expect to move parts at all
after glue is applied. This rapid reaction may
also produce fumes and a significant amount of
heat. Always use CA glues in a well-ventilated
area.
The other type of CA glue we recommend
is medium (or gap filling). Medium CA is used
in general construction for parts which have
gaps, require slight repositioning, or involve
hardwoods. Medium CA can be used to make
small fillets between parts in high stress areas.
Medium CA is a very good general purpose
glue and many people use it for the majority of
their building.
Some medium CA glues can be slow to set,
especially when used to fill gaps. A product
known as CA accelerator is available to speed
things up. It is sprayed onto the joint after the
glue is applied and chemically reacts with the
glue causing it to set very rapidly. There are a
few precautions to consider when using an
accelerator...
Use it in a well ventilated area. The rapid
reaction can release irritating fumes at a higher
rate than normal. Do not use CA accelerator on
thin CA!
Be careful when using the accelerator
around plastics. Certain accelerators may
attack some plastics and the vapors may fog
clear canopies. It is best to test the glue and
accelerator on a scrap piece of plastic if one is
available.
Using too much accelerator may cause the
CA glue to react very rapidly and literally boil.
This will result in a joint with a chalky white color
which is not nearly as strong as a normal joint.
Epoxy is used on high-stress joints that
require toughness and vibration resistance.
Epoxy also works well in areas that may en-
counter fuel. Its slower cure time allows parts
to be clamped, checked, and realigned if nec-
essary before the epoxy sets. Epoxy is avail-
able in many different formulas having different
cure times. The single best type of epoxy to
have available when building your Sierra is one
that sets in 15 minutes, but you may also find 5-
minute epoxy handy to have around.
them into groups, such as fuse (fuselage), wing, fin
and stab (stabilizer), and hardware.
3. As you identify and mark the parts, separate