Great Planes P-51D Mustang 40 Kit - GPMA0175 - Manual (Page 9)

epoxy into the holes with a toothpick, then lay the elevator
leading edges along a straightedge to insure perfect align-
ment.
TEMPORARILY INSTALL HINGES
(Do not glue)
NOTE: On an experimental basis, we have included
"laminated hinges" in this kit, and the following
instructions are written for this type of hinge. Our R&D
department has thoroughly tested these hinges and found
them to be easy to install and sufficiently strong and
durable for this type of airplane. However, as the kit
builder you arc reminded that you are ultimately responsible
for the structural integrity of your aircraft. If you are not
confident using this type of hinge, please feel free to
substitute your favorite hinge.
D 1. Lay the rudder and elevators on the plan and mark
the hinge locations. Place the rudder against the fin TE and
transfer the marks over to the fin. Place the elevators against
the stab TE and transfer the marks over to the stab.
CAUTION!!!: You must use extreme care when
cutting hinge slots with an Xacto knife, to avoid
cutting yourself! If the balsa part breaks while you
are pushing on the knife, the blade could go into
your hand before you know it! A good precaution is
to wear leather gloves while performing the follow-
ing steps.
C. Trial fit the hinge into the slot. If the hinge is
difficult to push in, re-insert the knife and move it back
and forth in the slot a few times to enlarge the slot.
D 3. Insert the hinges into the slots and trial fit the rudder
and elevators in place on the fin and stab. Do not glue the
hinges until you are instructed to do so later in this book.
Hinge gluing instructions are included later.
D 2. Cut the hinge slots on the accurate centerlines
which you previously drew, using an Xacto knife. The
recommended procedure for cutting hinge slots with an Xacto
knife is given below.
WING
A. Begin by carefully cutting a very shallow slit in the
trailing edge at the hinge location. This first cut is to
establish your cut in the right place, so concentrate on
staying on the centerline and don't cut too deep!
B. Make three or four more cuts in the same line, going
slightly deeper each time. As you make these addi-
tional cuts, work on going straight into the wood. Con-
tinue this process while ''wiggling" the knife handle
back and forth until the blade has reached the proper
depth for the hinge.
NOTE: The following instructions explain how to build
the wing on a flat surface, directly on the plans. An
alternate method is to use a Great Planes Wing Jig
(available from your local hobby dealer). Many expert
modelers prefer to use a wing jig for high performance
airplanes, as it helps to insure a straight, warp-free wing,
especially if you do not have a workbench or building
board that is perfectly flat. If you choose to use the Wing
Jig, please read the instructions that are included with the
jig before beginning.
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