Top Flite TOPA0215 - Manual (Page 30)

- 30 -
Join the Control Surfaces
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1. Start with the stab and elevator. Remove a small
strip of covering from the hinge slots.
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2. Test fit the hinges in only the stab or elevators
(without glue).
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3. Join the elevators to the stab with the hinges. If
the hinges don’t remain centered as you join the
elevators to the stab, remove the elevators and insert
a pin in the center of the hinges to keep them
centered. Make sure there is approximately a 1/64"
[.5mm] gap between the elevators and the stab so
you do not glue them together.
Do not use CA accelerator on any of the hinges
and do not glue the hinges with anything but thin
CA. Do not attempt to glue one half of the hinge
at a time. The hinges will not be properly secured
and could come out while the model is in flight.
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4. Cut a paper towel into 2" [50mm] squares. Add
six drops of thin CA to the center of the hinges on
both the top and bottom. The tunnels you drilled will
wick the CA into the entire hinge surface. Use the
paper towel squares to absorb excess CA from the
hinge gap before it cures.
If you have chosen to install the tailwheel assembly
instead of the tail skid, skip step 5 and follow steps
6-10. If you chose the tail skid, step 5 completes the
instructions for joining the control surfaces.
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5. Use the same hinging method to join the rudder to
the fin and the ailerons to the wing. When installing the
ailerons be sure the aileron torque rod wire is firmly
glued into the hole in the aileron with 6-minute epoxy.
The following steps are used only if you are using a
tail wheel.
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6. Trial fit the hinges and the tail wheel wire into
the rudder. Trial fit the rudder to the stab inserting the
hinges into the hinge slots and the nylon tail wheel
bearing into the slot in the fuselage cross bracing.
Epoxy
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7. When you are satisfied with the fit remove the
rudder from the fin. Apply epoxy to the portion of the
tail wheel wire that fits into the rudder then slide the
wire into the rudder. Be careful not to get any epoxy
into the tail wheel bearing. Hint: A small amount of
petroleum jelly applied to the area where the wire
passes through the bearing will prevent glue from
getting into the bearing.
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8. Apply epoxy onto the nylon bearing where it will
be inserted into the cross bracing. Apply some epoxy
in the slot in the cross bracing as well. Insert the
rudder assembly into the fin. When you are satisfied
with the fit, wipe away any excess epoxy and then
apply thin CA to the hinges the same as you did for
the elevator.
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9. Install the 1" [25mm] tail wheel (not included)
onto the wire with two 3/32" [2.4mm] wheel collars
and two 4-40 set screws.