Great Planes RV-4 Park Flyer Kit - GPMA0010 - Manual (Page 7)

One of the best ways to insure light weight is to build neatly
and make good-fitting glue joints that require less glue.
Here are some tips to help you build neatly and light.
1. The easiest way to cut balsa sticks is with a single-edge
razor blade. To do so, position the stick over the plan, then
place the razor blade on the stick where you wish to cut it.
Press down lightly on the razor blade to make a mark where
the stick is to be cut.
2. Take the stick off the plan and cut it over a cutting mat or
a scrap piece of wood
(Okay, if you’re careful you could go
ahead and cut the stick right over the plan, but if you do, you
may cut through the plan protector, allowing the CA to soak
through and glue the structure to the plan).
3. Because of the small balsa sticks used in the tail, small
T-pins may be used to hold the sticks to your building board,
but only where necessary. Use small T-pins (HCAR5100)
or small straight pins found in craft stores. Do not stick pins
into the sticks near the ends, or the wood may split.
4. If you have difficulty with the T-pins splitting the small
sticks, an alternate method is to use the “crossed-pin”
technique. Insert the T-pins into the building board in a
crisscross fashion to hold the sticks to the plan.
5. Only a small amount of CA should be used to glue the
parts together. Use the included CA applicator tips to
control and pinpoint the amount of CA that comes from the
bottle. When the tip becomes clogged, cut the tip off and
continue. In addition to adding unnecessary weight, excess
CA is difficult to sand. If you require additional CA tips, order
number GPMR6033 (5).
6. When applying CA, be careful not to glue your fingers to the
structure. In the process of
un-sticking your fingers you can
inadvertently damage the structure, thus requiring repairs and
adding weight
(not to mention the aggravation!).
7. Sanding requires a light touch to avoid damage. We found
the best method for sanding is to use light strokes in the
direction of the longest sticks. Be certain the sandpaper is
thoroughly bonded to the bar sander. Lifted edges will catch
the structure, causing damage. Use medium-grit sandpaper
such as 120 or 150-grit.
8. One of the best ways to insure a lightweight model is to
proceed slowly and build neatly. Good glue joints with minimal
adhesive are stronger, lighter and have a better appearance
than poor-fitting joints with too much CA. Of course, you should
take this approach with all of your projects!
9. Work over a flat surface. Cover the plan with Great Planes
Plan Protector
™ (GPMR6167) or wax paper so the parts will
not adhere to the plan.
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