Great Planes Giant Aeromaster Kit - GPMA0502 - Manual (Page 11)

D 4. Make the skins for the fin by using three 1/16" x 3" x
30" balsa sheets. Cut each sheet in half. Make a skin by
edge gluing three sheets together. Use your bar sander or
large sanding block and 220-grit sandpaper to sand the
entire top and bottom of the skin flat.
D 2. To make the fin tip, cut the remaining short piece of
3/8" x 3/4" balsa stick to fit between the fin LE and TE.
When satisfied with the fit, glue the fin tip to the LE and
TE. Cut the 3/8" x 3" x 14-7/8" balsa block to make the fin
LE brace and fin bottom. Cut two notches in the fin
bottom for the #8x1" screws that secure the stabilizer to
the fuselage. Glue and pin them in position.
D 3. From the 3/8" x 1/2" x 30" balsa stick, make the fin
ribs. Then glue them in position. Remove the fin from
your building board. Inspect all the glue joints and add CA
to any joints that don't look strong. Use your bar sander to
sand the top of the LE and TE so they are flush with the
fin tip. Sand a radius on the end of the LE to match the
plan. Sand the entire top and bottom surface of the fin
until it is flat and even. Be careful that you do not sand
any particular area of the fin too thin or gouge the fin
cross bracing and ribs by snagging them on the
sandpaper.
D 5. Pin one of the fin skins down on the building board.
Apply an even bead of medium or thick CA to one side of
the fin framework. Place the framework in its proper
position on the skin so that the LE of the fin is flush with
the edge of the 15" balsa sheet and press it down firmly
until the glue has cured. Repeat this step for the other
side of the fin. Do not apply the 1/16" skin to the fin post.
D 6. After the glue has cured, remove the fin from the
building board. Use your bar sander or a large sanding
block and 220-grit sandpaper to sand the edges of the top
and bottom skins flush with the fin framework.
D 1. Place a piece of wax paper over the rudder plan. Cut
the 1/2" x 3/4" x 30" balsa stick 14" long to make a rudder
LE. Cut the remaining 1/2" x 3/4" balsa stick 12-3/4" long
to make a rudder TE. Pin the rudder LE and TE to the
plan, allowing the ends to overhang the top and bottom of
the rudder by 1/16". Use the plan or a straightedge as a
guide to make sure the rudder TE and LE are straight as
you pin them in position.
D 2. Make the rudder tip by cutting the remaining short
piece of 1/2" x 7/8" balsa stick to fit between the rudder
LE and TE. When satisfied with the fit, glue the rudder tip
to the LE and TE. Cut the 1/2" x 3" x 3-1/2" balsa block to
make the rudder bottom. Glue and pin the rudder bottom
in position.
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