Top Flite Metrick - Manual (Page 9)

14. With the 1/8" balsa sheet provided, fit, cut and glue the
vertical grained "spar webs" in place between each
rib from W-4B out to W-7B. Note that these webs are
fitted flush with the forward edge of the spars and are
cut to fit between the top and bottom spars. Do this
step carefully to ensure good, positive fits.
15. Now cut, fit and glue the forward 1/16" balsa webs in
place between each rib from the inboard W-6 out to
the inboard position shown for dihedral brace W-17.
Note that the grain of these webs runs horizontal or
parallel with the span and that they are full depth
from the top of the bottom sheeting to the top of each
rib and full against the forward face of each of the 1/8"
balsa spar webs.
16. Use a small sanding block and light sandpaper to
bevel the bottom trailing edge sheeting as shown on
the plans.
17. Cut, fit and glue the top 1/16" x 7/8" trailing edge in place.
Pin and allow to dry completely.
18. Unpin and remove the two wing panels from the
work surface. Prop-up the outboard end of each
panel 1-1/8", with the inboard end flush with the edge
of your workbench. Using the sanding block, care-
fully sand the inboard face of wing panel so that it is
smooth and straight. This should be done accurately
to provide a flat gluing surface for ply cap ribs W-1.
Repin wing sections flat to the worksurface.
19. Glue W-1 directly to wing panel roots, carefully
lining-up the large wing tube hole in W-1 with the
space between W-14 and W-15. Be sure W-1 is also
flat against the worksurface—allow to dry.
20. Trial-fit one of the 1/4" I.D. brass wing tubes through
the large hole in W-1 and into the box between W-14
and W-15. As shown on the plans, the tube must fit
against W-4B (ply) and contact the bottom spar. This
fit imparts the correct dihedral angle when the panels
are aligned to the fuselage. Once satisfied, remove
the tube. Cap-off one end of the tube to keep epoxy
from entering it when it is permanently put in place.
We simply placed one end of the tube over a piece of
bond paper, applied Cyanoacrylate adhesive around
the joint and sanded off the excess paper, leaving a
bond paper" cap".
21. Measure, cut and fit—but do not glue—the top 1/8" x
1/4" spruce spar. Set these aside for immediate instal-
lation after the main wing tubes have been installed.
22. Mix a batch of 1-hour type epoxy and be sure to mix
enough since we are now going to fill the wing tube
box with epoxy and tubing. Pour epoxy directly into
the wing tube box to the level of the bottom of the
hole in W-1. Insert the 1/4" I.D. wing tube into the hole
and in place as described in Step 20 above. Pour
epoxy over the tube to a level at the bottom of the
wing rib spar notches. Make sure the wing tube is in
and will stay in the proper position and glue the top
spruce wing spar in place. Pin as needed and allow to
dry completely.
23. Cut, fit and glue the top 1/16" balsa leading edge
sheeting in place—note that this sheeting, unlike the
bottom, extends from the back surface of the leading
edge to halfway across the top wing spar, leaving
about 1/8" of the top of the spar exposed. Pin and allow
to dry.
24. From the 3/32" x 1/4" ply strip stock provided, make and
epoxy in place the wing eyehook screw bases, which
are epoxied to the back side of W-2B—refer to plans
for location.
25. Carefully and accurately cut and fit the two required
pieces of 1/16" balsa sheet needed for the inboard top
center section. Glue in place the forward piece of this
sheeting, leaving the remaining piece for installation
after the rear wing incidence tubes are installed. Cut,
fit and glue in place all of the top 1/16" x 1/4" cap strips.
26. Remove the panels from the worksurface. Press in
place, through the rear 1/8" dia. holes drilled earlier,
the 3/32" I.D. x 1-3/16" brass incidence tubes. Press the
F-11 fuselage ply wing ribs in place over the protrud-
ing ends of the fuselage wing tubes. Slip the forward
1/4" dia. wing rod and the rear 3/32" dia. incidence wire
in place through the fuselage and slip the wings in
place. Line-up the trailing edge tip of the W-1 root ribs
with the F-11 fuselage ribs and tape or pin accurately
in place. Make four 1/16" ply wing incidence tube
"formers", as shown on the plan, using ply leftover
from the die-cut sheets. Epoxy one on each side of
the wing incidence tubes as shown, fill with epoxy
and allow to cure. When dry, finish sheeting the top
rear center section of each panel.
27. Remove the F-11 fuselage ribs and accurately tack-
glue them to the W-1 root ribs—these will be
removed after final sanding of the wings and be
installed on to the fuselage during the FINALASSEM-
BLY stage of these instructions.
28. The outboard wing panels are now built directly over
the plans, using the same techniques described ear-
lier in this section. Note that in the outboard wing
panels the vertical 1/8" balsa shear webs are only
installed between W-7B and W-8. Note that the 1/16"
horizontal-grained full-depth webs are only fitted
between the outboard end of ply dihedral brace W-17
and rib W-8 and between W-8 and W-9. When the
panels are complete, lightly taper the trailing-edge
facing ends of triangular gussets G-1 and G-2 and
glue them in place as shown. When the outboard
panels are complete remove them from the worksur-
face, prop-up the tips at W-13 1-1/4" and use a sanding
block to bevel the inboard surface of the panels to
achieve the proper polyhedral angles shown on the
plan. Take your time here and do a careful job—each
completed wing panel must carry the same polyhed-
ral angles.
29. The two 13/16" x 1" x 6" balsa wingtip blocks are first
rough-cut to shape, using the plans for templates
and then glued in place. Use a hobby knife to first
bring the tips down to rough shape and then use a
sanding block and sandpaper to finish the job. Note
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