Great Planes F-14 60 Kit - GPMA0435 - Manual (Page 27)

pointing straight ahead in relation to the fuselage. Also
check to be sure the top of the strut is flush with the
retract mechanism. Gently tighten the set screw and then
check to make sure they retract smoothly without the
coils binding on anything. When satisfied with their
operation and alignment, tighten and loosen the set screw
a couple of times to make a mark where it is touching the
strut.
D 11. Remove the struts and locate the marks where
the set screw was. Lay the strut down with the axle flat
against the work surface. The set screw mark should be
pointing directly up. Use a small file or a dremel tool
with a cutoff wheel to make a notch (not just a flat spot)
that extends 1/8" above and 1/8" below where the mark
was. Be careful to keep the notch level with the work
surface or your wheel will be twisted off line.
GENERAL FUSELAGE ASSEMBLY
D 1. Cut the 3/32" x 3" x 7-7/8" balsa inlet sheeting
(F146F33) into four 1-7/8" long pieces. Use these to
sheet the bottom of the t u r b i n e inlets as shown in the
photo. Trim and sand them flush with the turbine outer
side. Trim the front of the sheets perpendicular with the
fuse sides approx. 1/8" in front of where the turbine sides
end.
D 2. Use a sanding block to sand the edges of the
turbine sides and bottoms down to the formers. Use a
long sanding block (10" or longer) and keep it pressed
against the side and the bottom to keep from sanding
dips and unnecessary angles into the balsa.
D 12. Replace the struts in the retracts and tighten the
set screws down onto the notches you just made. Check
to make sure the wheels are still pointing straight ahead.
If not, remove the strut from the retract and adjust the
notch until the wheel is straight. If your notch gets too
deep, you can use a vise or a couple pair of pliers to twist
the wheel straight. Do this by holding the axle (don't
scratch it) and twisting the coil. Operate the retract to
make sure everything works smoothly.
D 13. Remove the strut from the retract and glue the
turbine bottoms in place. Make sure you install them
with the die-cut strut opening near the outside of the
fuselage.
D 3. Glue the four bottom 1/4" x 1-3/8" x 27" balsa
turbine corners (F146F21) into place. Thin CA works
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