Top Flite TOPA0500 - Manual (Page 18)

❏ 15. Insert an eyelet into each of the six rudder hinges.
Glue the eyelets in place with medium CA and allow to
fully cure before you proceed. Remove the brass hinge
tube from the fin and fit it through the fin and rudder
hinges as shown on the plan with the guide tubes you
cut earlier.
❏ 16. Cut the six forward and aft rudder LE sections
from the remainder of the 1/8" x 3/4" x 30" balsa stick
you used for the fin TE sections. You can see them in
the next photo. The same as the fin TE sections, you
must cut each rudder LE section accurately. Bevel the
bottom front forward LE section as shown on the plan.
❏ 17. Test fit but do not glue the rudder LE sections
where shown on the plan. Make adjustments as
necessary for a good fit. Add the top guide tube.
Are you
beginning to see how it works?
❏ 18. Cut the six 3/32" rudder hinge ribs (three for
each side of the rudder) from the 3/32" x 7/16" x 24"
balsa stick and the six 1/16" rudder ribs from the 1/16"
x 7/16" x 24" balsa stick.
❏ 19. Place the three 3/32" rudder hinge ribs between
the rudder hinges over the plan. These ribs will set the
correct
height of the rudder core to keep it aligned with
the hinge line.
❏ 20. Fit the rudder core, resting on top of the 3/32" ribs,
to the hinges.
❏ 21. Place approximately 1/32" shims from cardstock
or something similar between the forward rudder LE
sections and the fin TE section. Carefully view the
structure, making sure everything is in alignment, and
glue the forward rudder LE sections to the ply rudder
hinges and glue the aft rudder LE sections to the rudder
core, hinge guides, and rudder hinges. Also glue the
rudder core to the rudder hinges. Make sure you do not
glue any of the rudder parts to any of the fin parts!
❏ 22. Rearrange any T-pins that protrude above the
structure so they will not interfere with your bar sander.
Lightly sand the top of the fin LE and TE and the rudder
LE sections to match the airfoil shape of the ribs, to
accommodate the fin skin.
❏ 23. If you haven’t already done so, cut out the fin skins.
Sheet the left side of the fin with one of the skins (don’t
forget to use your left skin so the good side is out). Make
sure you position the skin accurately because the bottom
of the skin is what determines the fit of the fin to the stab.
You may use medium CA for this if you work quickly and
carefully. Make sure you don’t inadvertently glue the
forward rudder LE to the fin TE or fin skin!
❏ 24. Use leftover 1/16" balsa to sheet the LE of the
rudder over the rudder LE sections as shown in the
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