Top Flite TOPA0300 - Manual (Page 31)

the Main Str
inger
. Use Thin CA, wiping up an
y
e
xcess bef
ore it dr
ies
. Repeat f
or the other side
.
These Sub-Str
ingers will pro
vide a ledge f
or the
side sheeting.
❏
22. Lightly sand all joints and b
lend the
str
ingers with the f
o
rm
ers in prepar
ation f
o
r
sheeting. The bottom fuse fr
ame
w
o
rk
is no
w
ready f
or sheeting.
❏
1. Remo
v
e
the Main Landing Gear str
uts
,
then pin the fuse fr
ame
w
o
rk
bac
k on the flat
b
u
ilding surf
ace
. Push T
-pins in at an angle
through the Main Sub-Str
inger in a w
a
y that
w
o
n’t interf
ere with the sheeting.
❏❏
2. Pin one of the 3/32” x 4” x 48” balsa
Fuse Side Sheets
to the Main Str
inger
. Cur
v
e
the sheet into contact with the fr
ame
, then use
pins
, masking tape and clothes pins to hold it
against the the str
ingers
.
❏❏
3. Mar
k the
top edg
e
of the
fir
st full-
length 3/16” String
er
onto the Fuse Side sheet,
w
o
rking from the
inside
of the fuse
.
❏❏
4. Remo
v
e
the
Fuse Side
sheet. Carefully
cut a
w
a
y
the e
xcess mater
ial. Chec
k the fit and
mak
e
adjustments as needed with a hob
b
y
knif
e
and sanding b
loc
k to the top and bottom edges
.
When the sheet is
flush with the top of the
string
er
, carefully tr
im a
w
a
y
another 3/32” from
the
bottom
edge
. The Fuse Side sheet should
no
w bisect the str
inger
, allo
wing f
o
r a glue surf
ace
for the ne
xt sheet. T
est fit the Fuse Side sheet on
the other side of the fuse
, then cut a second Fuse
Side using the first one as a patter
n.
❏❏
5. Wipe a damp paper to
w
el o
v
er the
outside surf
ace of the Fuse Side to aid with
cur
ving the balsa.
❏❏
6. Realign a Fuse Side sheet with the
fr
ame
w
o
rk, then wic
k some thin CA into the joint
betw
een the Main Str
inger and the Fuse Side
star
ting mid
wa
y between the fr
ont and bac
k
of the Fuse
. Carefully w
o
rk
outw
ard in both
directions along the Main Str
inger
, holding the
Fuse Side in tight contact with the Main Str
inger
as y
ou proceed.
❏❏
7. Clip and pin (or tape) the
top edg
e
of
the Fuse Side to the first str
inger
. Wic
k
thin CA
into the joint, b
ut wipe off an
y e
xcess bef
ore it
cures
. A
v
oid using CA acceler
ator as it will
create lumps along the seam that will cause prob
lems when y
ou tr
y to add the ne
xt piece of
sheeting. Repeat Steps 4, 5 and 6 f
or the
other side
.
❏❏
8. Rub a piece of
c
halk
along the top
outside edge of a Fuse Side sheet.
❏❏
9. Cut tw
o 3/32” x 3” x 36” balsa sheets
do
wn to 26”. Sa
v
e
the cut off pieces f
or later use
.
❏❏
10. W
et the outside of one of these sheets
,
then
fle
x it with the grain
for a min
u
te or tw
o to
soften it up and star
t a cur
v
e
. Align the sheet
along the center
line of the 3rd str
inger and the
center
line of F-3, then tempor
ar
ily hold it in
place with clothespins
. Mar
k the lo
w
er edge to
match the top edge of the Fuse Side b
y
pressing
it against the chalk. Remo
v
e
the sheet, tur
n it
o
v
er and cut along the chalk line f
or a perf
ect fit!
Sheet the fusela
g
e bottom frame
31