Top Flite TOPA0215 - Manual (Page 16)

- 16 -
BUILD THE FUSELAGE
Frame the Fuselage
Notice that you are building the right side first.
❏
1. Tape the Fuselage Plan side view to your
building board. Cover the plan with Plan Protector.
Build the right fuselage side first.
❏ ❏
2. Locate the die-cut 1/8" [3mm] balsa fuse
sides. Edge glue the two halves together.
❏ ❏
3. Locate the die-cut 1/8" [3mm] balsa fuse
side doublers. Edge glue the two halves together.
❏ ❏
4. Locate the die-cut 1/8" [3mm] balsa landing
gear doubler. Glue this to the fuse side doubler.
Note: The left fuse side will have the doubler glued
on the other side.
❏ ❏
5. Draw a line parallel to the top of the fuse side
1/4" [6mm] from the top. Draw another line
perpendicular to this line, aligned with the back of the
first set of slots in the fuse side.
❏ ❏
6. Glue the fuse doubler to the fuse side on the
lines you have drawn.
Note: The left side will be glued to the other side.
❏
7. Locate six 1/4" x 1/4" x 36" [6 x 6 x 914mm]
basswood sticks. These will be the longerons and
the longeron braces. Because these will be part of
the open tail structure it is recommended that you
take some time to sand them now. Later in the
construction process you will be applying a finish and
you will find it much easier if you sand the sticks now
before they become part of the model. Sand them
being careful not to round the edges.
❏
8. From one 1/4" x 1/4" x 36" [6 x 6 x 914mm]
basswood stick cut two pieces 13" [330mm] long.
❏
9. Locate two 1/4" x 1/4" x 36" [6 x 6 x 914mm]
basswood sticks. On one end of each stick cut a 45
degree angle.
❏
10. On one end of each of the 13" [279mm] sticks
cut a 45 degree angle. Using 6-minute epoxy glue a
13" [330mm] stick to the 36" [914mm] stick, gluing
them together on the 45 degree cut. Do this for the
remaining two sticks. This will give you two longerons
48-3/4" [1239mm] long. Use a long straightedge to
keep the sticks straight.