Top Flite TOPA0120 - Manual (Page 35)

❑ 25. Glue the Upper Aft Fuse Sides at their
bottom edge only with CA.
❑ 26. Moisten the Upper Aft Fuse Sides with a
damp paper towel. Form both the right and left
Upper Aft Fuse Sides against the formers and hold
in place with long strips of masking tape.
❑ 27. Glue the Upper Aft Fuse Sides to the
formers and stringers.
❑ 28. Glue the Upper Aft Fuse Side to the
corners of former F-4B.
❑ 29. Sand the Upper Aft Fuse Sides and
Stringers flat down to the tops of the formers.
NOTE: The fuselage sides around the side window
cutouts become very thin. Use caution so they will
not break away.
❑ 30. Place the 1/4" x 1-1/2" x 18" balsa sheet
on top of the Upper Aft Fuselage Sides. Check the
plans for the proper length. Hold in place and
trace along the Upper Aft Fuselage sides onto the
1/4" balsa sheet. Rough cut the Aft Deck Top to
shape
NOTE: The Aft Deck Top is constructed
of two separate blocks because of the
change of angle along the top surface.
❑ 31. Glue the aft portion of the Aft Deck Top to
the fuselage. Use a razor plane and sanding block
to shape edges of the Deck Top to blend with the
fuselage sides. NOTE: Do not round the top
surface at this time.
❑ 32. Cut the front portion of the Aft Deck Top
from the remaining piece of the 1/4” x 1-1/2” x 18”
balsa sheet. Match the ends of the two Deck Top
Blocks for a good joint and glue in place.
❑ 33. Shape the forward section of the Deck Top
to match the fuselage sides as you did in step #29.
Do not round the top surface at this time.
❑ 34. Trim the vacuum formed Window Recess
parts and test fit into the openings. The openings
in the fuse sides may need enlarging for a proper
fit.
NOTE: There is a Left and Right
Window Recess part.
❑ 35. Glue the Window Recess Inserts in place
and trim to match the fuse sides and Former F-4B.
❑ 36. Cut the Cockpit Side Rails from the 1/8” x
5/8” x 6-1/4” balsa sticks. Glue the side rails in
place where shown on the Side View on the
Fuselage Plans.
❑ 37. Shape the Cockpit Side Rails to blend into
the fuselage sides.
❑ 38. Finish shaping the Aft Deck Top to the
contour shown on the plans. Use a razor plane
and sanding block for final shaping. Trim the
canopy to the proper shape (refer to page 51 for a
photo of the trimmed canopy). Check the fit of the
canopy to the fuselage and adjust the fuselage as
required for a good fit.
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