Top Flite S.E.5A - Manual (Page 5)

File notches into the rear cabane-strut wire and attach to the hardwood blocks in
the crutch, using metal clips and woodscrews provided. Glue the shaped tail block
in position on the fuselage, also formers F-17, F-16, F-15, F-14 and 14A, F-13,
F-ll and 11A, F-8 and F-4. Formers 8, 11 and 13 must be glued at correct angles
(see side view). Take care here, as the fit of the cut panels F-23 to F-27 depends
on the accuracy of the angles on the formers.
8. Remove stabilizer from plan. Turn upside down and glue second S-5 in place.
Pin down 1/4" x 1/2" elevator L. E. Glue laminated E-2's together for tips. Pin
1/8" x 3/8" T.E.'s in position, shim underneath 1/4" at rear edge. Glue all E-l ribs
and E-2 tips in place, also center ribs from 1/4" x 1/2" cut to length.
9. Sand the stabilizer smooth, rounding off the L. E. and tips. The small riblets
are simply cut from 1/16"x 1/8" and glued in place, then sanded to conform to
section when dry. These riblets are marked "optional" on the plan, since they could
be omitted without affecting the strength of the stab. However, for the sake of the
scale appearance it is worth taking the small extra time to incorporate them.
10. When elevators have dried, remove from plan and sand smooth like the
stab. Glue in 1/16" ply elevator horn E-3. The stab and elevator can now be
hinged together using the material provided cut to length — see plan for positions.
Glue a small piece of 1/16" scrap sheet alongside the elevator horn to support the
covering. The stab is now finished.
FIG. 5
BASSWOOD WING SPARS*
11. Make up the wing spars (see Figure 5) as follows: Take the 1/4" x 3/8" and
1/4" x 1/4" basswood spars and cut two 8" lengths of each size. Glue these in the
center of ply parts D-1 and D-2. Then glue long spars to each side at the same
angle as the ply parts, over the plan sheet #1. Construct four such spars: two from
1/4" x 3/8" and two from 1/4" x 1/4". It will help to pin these to the board right next
to each other while they dry, so as to have identical angles on all sets.
12. Glue ply F-7 between fuselage sides, lower front. The two holes are for
excess engine oil to drain away from the engine bay, and should be positioned just
ahead of former F-5. Glue the 1/4" x 1/2" strip parts on the front of F-4 and complete
the noseblock by glueing F-3 in place. Figure 6 shows these details. The radiator
grille is made from the mouldings supplied. Join two grille pieces and trim to 4-3/4"
long. Glue 4-3/4" long pieces of 1/16" x 3/16" on each side to complete the "box."
Make sure that all of the cross-bars are glued to these sides; and that the sides are
level with the front (open) side of the moulding. Later, when the glue dries, the
web holding all the cross-bars at the rear is sanded off, making an open grille very
easily and accurately. See Figure 6A. Repeat the whole process for the other grille
and cement the finished grilles over the large rectangular holes in F-3. Glue F-3B
in place. (Discard second F-3B in other Sheet 2).
HEADREST STRINGERS
PLY DIHEDRAL-BRACE