Great Planes Spitfire 40 Kit - GPMA0179 - Manual (Page 9)

❏ ❏
6. ( Complete step 6 only if you will not be using the
Great Planes Slot Machine to cut the hinge slots.) Cut the
hinge slots in the elevator and stabilizer using a #11 blade.
Begin by carefully cutting a very shallow slit at the hinge
location to accurately establish the hinge slot. Make three or
four more cuts, going a little deeper each time. As you cut, slide
the knife from side to side until the slot has reached the proper
depth and width for the hinge.
❏
7. Cut twenty-four 3/4" x 1" hinges from the supplied 2" x 9"
CA hinge material, then snip off the corners. Use 4 hinges to
temporarily join the elevators to the stab, adjusting any hinge
slots if necessary so they all align. Do not glue in the hinges
until you are instructed to do so.
❏
8. Return to steps 5 and 6 and complete the same procedure,
using 3 hinges to hinge the rudder to the fin.
❏
9. Shape the leading edge of the elevators and rudder to a
“V” as shown in the cross-section on the plans.
❏
10. Test fit the joiner wire into your elevator halves. Confirm that
the elevators lay flat on your work surface. Bend the joiner
slightly as needed to achieve perfect alignment. Epoxy the
elevator joiner into both elevator halves.
That’s about it for the tail surfaces. They’re a little more work
than stick or sheet surfaces, but they are much lighter,
exceptionally strong, and a nice piece of craftsmanship. Clean
off the building board and get ready for the wing!
Right now, while the building board is clear, is a great time to
assemble the wing sheeting.
❏ ❏
1. Edge glue three 3/32" x 3" x 30" balsa sheets together.
Make a diagonal cut from 3" down one short side to 3" up the
other short side of the sheet, starting and finishing the cuts at
the joints, creating two LE sheets.
❏
2. Repeat the step to build the LE sheets for the second wing.
❏
1. Select both of the die-cut 1/8" balsa wing ribs W6 and W9
and wing rib doublers W6A and W9A. Position the two W9
ribs mirrored to one another as shown in the photo. Glue the
two W9A doublers onto the outboard sides of W9 ribs. Position
the two W6 ribs mirrored, and glue the two W6A doublers onto
the inboard sides of the W6 ribs. Label the ribs right and left.
Prepare the Doubled Ribs
Assemble the Wing Sheeting
BUILD THE WING
1"
[25mm]
1"
[25mm]
3/4"
[19mm]
CUT HINGE SLOT
WITH HOBBY KNIFE
AND #11 BLADE
9