Top Flite Sierra 40 Trainer Kit - Manual (Page 9)

9
CAUTION!!! You must use extreme care to
avoid cutting yourself when cutting hinge
slots with an X-acto knife. If the balsa breaks
while you are pushing on the knife, the blade
could go into your hand before you know it!
A good precaution is to wear leather gloves
while performing this step.
A. Begin by carefully cutting a very shallow slit
at the hinge location. This first cut is to establish your
cut in the right place, so concentrate on staying on
the centerline and don't cut too deep!
B. Make three or four more cuts in the same line,
going slightly deeper each time. As you make
these additional cuts, work on going straight into the
wood. Continue this process while "wiggling" the
knife handle forward and backward until the blade
has reached the proper depth for the hinge.
C. Trial fit the hinge into the slot. If the hinge is
difficult to push in, re-insert the knife and move it
back and forth in the slot a few times to enlarge the
slot.
BUILD THE FUSELAGE
1. Place the fuselage plan side view on your work
table. Cover it with waxed paper.
2. Use thin CA to glue the separately die-cut
corner of the die-cut 1 /8" balsa upper forward fuse
sides in place as shown in the photo. These parts
are located in the same die-cut sheets (SIE4F07).
Remember that you will be making a right and a left
fuselage side. You may wish to glue from opposite
sides of the wood in order to reduce sanding.
NOTE: The plans may shrink or expand slightly
due to humidity. Do not worry if the parts are not
exactly the same size as the plans.
4. Plug the die-cut 1/8" balsa aft fuse sides into
the forward fuse sides. Sand them lightly if neces-
sary to make them fit. Before gluing be sure to align
the parts over the plans. Any "bend" in the fuse sides
will cause the fuselage to twist later. When the fuse
sides are well aligned with the plans, glue the forward
and aft pieces together with thin CA. Add medium
CA to any joints that are not tight fitting.
15. Trial fit the hinges in the slots and trial fit the
rudder and elevator in place on the fin and stab. Do
not glue the hinges until after you have covered
the model.
3. Glue the upper forward fuse sides to the die-
cut 1/8" balsa lower forward fuse sides using thin
CA. Mark the inside surface of the fuse sides with the
letters 'R' and 'L to designate the inside of the Right
and Left fuselage sides. Be sure to make a RIGHT
and a LEFT fuselage side.
5. Use a sanding block to sand smooth all of the
joints you have made on the fuse sides.
6. Position the die-cut 1/8" balsa rear fuse
doubler in its place on the inside surface at the rear