Top Flite TOPA0215 - Manual (Page 25)

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E. To get a good bond between the soft wrap wire
and the wire landing gear it is important to use a
good solder and flux. The Great Planes® Silver
Solder Kit (GPMR8070) works very well and
includes all the needed items for a good, strong
solder joint.
F. Begin by applying a couple of drops of the liquid
flux onto the wire joint. With a small torch begin
heating the landing gear wire above and below the
joint. (The best bond will be achieved if the landing
gear wire gets hot enough for the solder to flow into
it as well as the wire wrapped joint). Heat the wire
hot enough to melt the solder but not so hot that the
wires turn glowing red. Apply a small amount of
solder to the wire wrapped joint and when it is hot
enough you will be able to see the solder flow
around the wire joint. There is no need to over apply
the solder. Use just enough to flow between all of
the gaps in the wire. After completing the soldering
wipe away excess flux with a little water. Then, dry
the joint. Washing away the flux will allow the paint
to adhere better when you paint the landing gear.
With a little practice you will find soldering a very
simple task.
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2. After completing the three solder joints on the
main landing gear wire, lay the main landing gear
wire onto the fuselage so that the wire is laying
across the forward landing gear mounting plate.
Install two nylon humped landing gear straps over
the wire landing gear. Drill a 1/16" [1.6mm] hole
through the holes in the landing gear straps and into
the landing gear mounting plate. Screw the straps
into the mounting plate with #2 x 1/2" [13mm] sheet
metal screws.
❏
3. Position the rear landing gear wire in place over
the rear landing gear mounting plate and secure it
with two nylon landing gear straps the same as you
did for the forward landing gear wire.
❏
4. Bring the two landing gear wires together so the
rear landing gear wire makes contact with the forward
landing gear wire just below the solder joints you made
at each corner of the forward landing gear wire.
❏
5. Wrap the two wires together with a 5" [127mm]
piece of soft wire, using the same technique used for
joining the forward landing gear wire. Solder the joint
together. Do this for both sides of the landing gear.
You need to decide if you are going to install a tail
skid wire or if you are going to install a steerable
tailwheel. Both are included in this kit. Steps 6 - 9 are
for the tail skid construction and installation. Skip to
the Tail Wheel Wire Installation after step 9 if you are
using a tailwheel.