Great Planes P-51D Mustang 40 Kit - GPMA0175 - Manual (Page 7)

TAIL FEATHERS
BUILD THE FIN AND RUDDER
To build the fin and rudder you'll need the following:
1/4" shaped balsa fin front
1/4" shaped balsa fin rear
1/4" shaped balsa rudder rear
1/4" x 1-1/4" x 9-1/2" balsa sheet
1/4" x 1/4" x 30" balsa stick
D 7. Carefully draw a centerline all around the edges of
the fin and rudder (this will help to maintain symmetry when
sanding).
D 1. Tape the fuselage plan down to your flat work
surface. Tape a piece of waxed paper over the fin and rudder
portion of the plan.
D 8. Using a sanding block and coarse (50 or 80-grit)
sandpaper, sand both sides of the rudder to a taper as shown
on the plans. The trailing edge should end up approximately
3/32" wide and have a rounded shape. (Do not sand to a sharp
edge). Sand the bottom edge to a rounded shape. Sand the
leading edge to a "V-shape" as shown on the plan. Sand the
top and front edges of the fin to a rounded shape.
D 2. Working on a flat surface covered with waxed paper,
glue the fin front to the fin rear.
D 3. Using a T-bar or sanding block, sand both sides of
the fin smooth, then sand the outline of the fin to match the
plan.
D 4. Using the plan as a guide, glue the 1/4" x 1-1/4" x
9-1/2" balsa rudder front to the shaped balsa rudder rear,
lining up the top edges.
D 5. Cut a 2-1/4" length of 1/4" x 1/4" balsa, and glue it
to the top of the rudder.
D 6. Trim the edges of the rudder to match the plan, then
use your T-bar with medium grit sandpaper to sand both sides
of the rudder smooth.
D 9. Check the plans and mark the location of the tailgear*
on the rudder. Drill a 7/64" hole in the rudder (the hole is
drilled slightly oversize to allow for positioning, and to create
a hard epoxy "sleeve" around the wire). Then groove the
rudder leading edge to accept the tailgear wire. (See the
photo at step 5 on page 18).
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