Top Flite TOPA0500 - Manual (Page 16)

❏ 19. Cut the rudder hinge blocks from leftover rib jigs
and glue them to the rudder core and rudder LE where
shown on the plan. Blend the rudder hinge blocks to
the rudder.
❏ 20. The same way you did for the elevators and stab,
carefully break the rudder free from the fin, draw a centerline
on the rudder LE and the fin TE, mark and cut the hinge
slots, then drill the holes in the hinge slots and test fit the
rudder to the fin with the hinges. Bevel the leading edge of
the rudder to a “V.” Make sure you can achieve the throw
recommended on page 62 of the manual.
❏ 21. Mark the location of the rudder torque rod on the
rudder. Drill a 9/64" (or 1/8") hole at the mark you made
and cut a slot to accommodate the vertical part of the rod.
❏ 22. Tape the fin and rudder plan back to the fuse plan,
accurately aligning the reference lines.
Set the fin and rudder aside. Skip to “Build the
Fuselage” on page 20
(there’s another DC-3 Fact within
the scale fin and rudder section that you may be
interested in).
BUILD THE SCALE FIN AND RUDDER
For easier identification while you proceed, here is a
drawing of some of the fin and rudder parts.
❏ 1. Cut the scale fin and rudder plan along the dashed
line and tape it to your building board. Cover the plan
with Plan Protector.
❏ 2. Accurately cut three 7/32" slots, 5/16" deep, in the die-
cut 3/32" balsa rudder core in the location shown on the
plan to accommodate the rudder hinges. Mark the location
of the rudder ribs on both sides of the rudder core.
❏ 3. Accurately cut three guide tubes to the length
shown on the plan from a 3/16" x 36" outer pushrod
tube. Use coarse sandpaper to roughen the outside of
the guide tubes so the glue will stick.
❏ 4. Cut the die-cut 1/16" balsa fin ribs V2 through V7
at the embossed cutline toward the aft end of the ribs.
Before you proceed, it will be easier for you to build
the fin and rudder if you are able to visualize how
the hinge system operates and how all the parts fit
together. To do this, study the photos in this section
before you continue. Further, if you’ve ever had
aspirations of being a “neat and tidy” builder, now is
the time to exercise those thoughts—refrain from
using lots of glue and do not build up large fillets
that will interfere with sanding or the fit of joining
parts. Take your time and you’ll end up with a
beautiful scale fin and rudder that all of your friends
will marvel at.
DC-3 Fact
By the late 20's the air transportation industry was
rapidly expanding with small airline companies
springing up everywhere. Though major players
such as United, Transcontinental, Western and
American Airlines were well established, the
aircraft they used featured metal skinned, wooden
framed construction—technology leftover from
WWI aircraft. This
set the stage for the demand
for an aircraft that could serve the growing
industry. Whichever aircraft that would be was
surely destined to become famous.
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