Top Flite TOPA0500 - Manual (Page 21)

❏ ❏ 6. Pin the two stringers to the plan so the angled
splice is at former F9 as shown on the plan. Glue the
front of the stringer to the cabin crutch and glue the
stringers to each other where they meet at F9.
❏ 7. Repeat steps 4, 5 and 6 with an additional 36" long
grooved main stringer and the remaining 18" long
grooved main stringer.
❏ 8. Refer to the Pushrod Locations area on the fuse
plan and drill 3/16" holes through the punch marks in the
die-cut 1/8" plywood formers F9, F10 and F11.
❏ 9. Drill 1/16" holes through the punch marks in the
die-cut 1/8" plywood former F12. Draw a vertical
centerline connecting both punch marks on one side of
F12 (this will be the front) and horizontal guidelines
1/16" above and below the punch marks on the other
side of F12 (this will be the back).
For illustration
purposes the photo shows two F12's.
❏ 10. Test fit all the die-cut 1/8" plywood formers (F2
through F10 and former F12) to the main stringers over
their location on the plan. You may need to bevel the
notches in some of the rear formers to accommodate
the angle at which they join the main stringers. Use a
small square to make sure the formers are vertical and
glue them to the main stringers. Make sure the
centerline on former F12 is aligned over the centerline
on the plan. Don’t be concerned if the formers are
slightly warped. You will be able to straighten them
when you add the stringers.
❏ 11. Cut 1-1/4” from the aft end of one of the die-cut
1/8" plywood stab saddles to accommodate the rudder
torque rod arm. This will be the left stab saddle.
❏ 12. Test fit, then glue the die-cut 1/8" plywood stab
saddles and former F11 to the main stringers and
former 12. Note that the front of the saddles tilt inward
yet the rear of the saddles remain vertical.
❏ 13. Cut one of the three 1/8" x 3/16" x 36" main sub
stringers into two 18" long pieces. These will be for the
front of the fuse. Use your razor saw to cut notches in the
front of the 18" sub stringers the same way you did for the
main stringers to permit bending. Glue the main sub
stringers in the groove of the main stringers on both sides
of the fuselage. Glue two additional 1/8" x 3/16" x 36"
main sub stringers to the main stringer on both sides of
the fuse.
❏ 14. Temporarily place the stab on the stab saddles
and hold it in place with weights. Cut the end of a
Disregard the shape of F12 in the following photos
until you get to step three on page 25. During
development of our prototype the shape of F12 was
changed. This does not change construction so
proceed as the instructions indicate.
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