Top Flite TOPA0145 - Manual (Page 23)

❏ 29. Trial fit the floor assembly with the fuel tank
into the fuselage. Be sure that the aft end of the floor
is resting against the basswood block you glued in.
Mark a line on the firewall where the floor rests.
Remove the tank and floor.
❏ 30. From leftover 1/4" x 1/2" [6.4 x 12.7mm] balsa,
cut two pieces 5/8" [15.9mm] in length and glue them
to the firewall. One will be 1/16" [1.6mm] above the
mark on the firewall. The other will be 1/16" [1.6mm]
below the mark. These two blocks form the channel
that your floor will slide into when put into place.
❏ 31. Test fit the fuel tank assembly into the fuselage
and make sure the floor slides in between the two
blocks you glued to the firewall. Drill a pilot hole in
the floor where the floor meets the basswood block
and then screw the floor to the basswood block with
a #2 x 3/8" [9.5mm] screw.
❏ 32. With the fuel tank floor still in place, cut a plastic
outer pushrod tube to length for the throttle servo.
❏ 33. Hold your engine against the firewall to locate
where the throttle pushrod will need to come through
the firewall. Drill a 3/16" hole in that location. Slide
two of the ply guide tube holders over the plastic
pushrod, and then put the pushrod in place so that it
is just extending through the firewall. The ply guide
tube holders should be positioned at F3 and F4. A
notch is in the fuel tank floor to allow placement of
the guide tube holder at F3. Double check the
positioning to be sure everything lines up properly.
❏ 34. Glue the pushrod in place at the firewall.
❏ 35. When you installed the pushrods in the rear of
the fuselage you glued the guide tube holder to the
formers. For the tank installation use #2 x 3/8"
[9.5mm] screws to attach the guide tube holders to
formers F3 and F4. This will allow you to move the
throttle pushrod out of the way when the need to
remove the tank arises.
❏ 36. Glue the outer pushrod tube to the guide tube
holder at F4. Do not glue the outer pushrod to the
guide tube holder at F3.
Note: When you want to remove your fuel tank you
will need to slide the guide tube holder at F3 back to
F4. If it has been glued in place it will be difficult to
remove the tank assembly.
❏ 37. Carefully cut away the right side main stringer
that has been holding the nose ring in place.
❏ 38. Locate and drill 15/64" [6mm] holes through the
firewall to accommodate the fuel line and pressure line.
Install the Engine
❏ 39. On firewall former F1 there are four pin punch
marks. Connect the pin punch marks with a pencil as
shown on the sketch. Continue the centerline onto
former F1A.
❏ 40.Use CA to tack-glue the engine mount to the
firewall. Use the lines just drawn on the firewall as a
reference for locating the engine mount in the center
of the firewall.
❏ 41. Once you are satisfied with your engine mount
position, drill four 3/16" [4.8mm] holes for the engine
mount. (A long drill bit may prove helpful if you have
one, but is not necessary. We drilled ours using a
standard bit). After you have drilled the holes, install
four 6-32 blind nuts and fit the engine mount to the
firewall.
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