Top Flite Sierra 40 Trainer Kit - Manual (Page 8)

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centerline along the stab trailing edge, tapered balsa
elevator leading edge, fin trailing edge, and shaped
1/4" balsa rudder leading edge.
7. Referring to the cross sections on the plans,
carefully block sand the elevator and rudder leading
edges to a "V" shape. The centerlines you drew
earlier should remain for hinging later.
NOTE: The rudder may be left at a constant
thickness of 1/4" or you may taper it with a
sanding block to match the top view on the
fuselage plans. For a model that travels at a
relatively slow speed such as this one, it is not
necessary to taper the rudder to make the aircraft
fly properly. If you want to taper it for appearance
reasons, that is fine.
shown on the plans and in the photo. This will make
it easier to align the elevators.
10. Lay the elevators and the elevator joiner over
the plans. Mark where the joiner will insert into the
elevators. Start the hole in the elevators by cutting
a small 1/8" square notch with a sharp #11 knife.
Carefully drill a 1/8" hole into each elevator to the
depth shown on the plans. Use the knife to cut a
groove in the front of the elevator at the root end for
the joiner (as shown in the photo).
11. Make sure the joiner wire will fit all the way into
each elevator and that both elevators lie flat on the
work surface with the joiner installed. Bend the joiner
wire if necessary to make the elevators line up with
each other. Rough up the joiner wire with coarse
sandpaper and clean it with alcohol. Mix some 5-
minute epoxy and use a tooth pick or piece of wire to
push the epoxy into the hole and groove in the
elevator. Push the joiner into the elevators and wipe
away any excess glue. Lay the parts over the plans
to aid in alignment while the glue sets. It is important
that the elevator LE is straight so you will not have
problems when you hinge it later.
12. After the epoxy is cured apply some thin CA
to both sides of the balsa elevator over the joiner to
'harden' the area. Sand the cured glue smooth.
13. Place the fin and stab over the plans and mark
the hinge locations on the trailing edges. Transfer
the locations onto the elevator and rudder leading
edges.
8. Hold the tapered elevator stock over the plans
and mark the locations of the cuts at the center
where the elevator is cut away to allow for rudder
movement. Use a razor saw to cut away the right and
left elevators.
9. Locate the bent 1/8" wire elevator joiner. Use
An alternate method to make a groove in a surface
for a torque rod is to sharpen the end of an appropri-
ately sized (1/8") brass tube from the inside with a
#11 knife, then use the tube to cut out the notch for
the torque rod.
14. Cut the hinge slots using the technique
a flat file or a grinder to taper the ends slightly as described on the following page.