Great Planes Spirit of St. Louis ARF - GPMA1151 - Manual (Page 8)

Due to the manufacturing process, there may be some
small surface stress marks on the fuselage and wing. This
is normal.
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1. Using the indentations in the aft end of the fuselage as a
guide, cut the slots for the elevator and rudder pushrods. Do
not cut the slots for the stab braces until instructed to do so.
❏
2. Use one of the landing gear wires to punch a hole at
the three marked locations for the landing gear on each side
of the fuselage. These holes will be used to align the
formers that will be installed in the fuselage. The left
fuselage side is shown in the above photo.
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3. Temporarily fit the 1/8” balsa rear landing gear former
(J) into the fuselage. Be certain it is centered on the rear
two holes you punched in the fuselage sides. Use a fine-
point felt-tip pen to mark the inside of the fuselage for the
landing gear wires on both sides of the slot in the landing
gear former.
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4. Remove the landing gear former. Cut a slot in the
fuselage from the inside, centered in the groove, from one
mark to the other. Use one of the aft landing gear wires as
a guide for cutting the width and height of the slot.
❏
5. Use medium CA to glue both 1/32” plywood doublers
(3) to both sides of former J. Mark the ply doublers at the
location of the slots in former J.
Assemble the Fuselage
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