Top Flite TOPA0410 - Manual (Page 12)

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❏ ❏ 13. Use a razor plane and bar sander to shape the
ribs to match the typical elevator cross-section shown on
the plan. Note that there is some outward curvature of the
ribs to provide the scale ribbed appearance.
❏ 14. Return to step 1 and build the second elevator the
same way.
❏ 15. Use thick or medium CA to tack glue the elevators
to the stab — just a drop in three or four places. Make
sure to leave a 1/16" gap between the stab and the
balance tab root rib. Also, make sure the elevators are
centered vertically on the stab.
❏ 16. Use a razor plane and your sanding bar to sand the
elevator and stab tips flush. Avoid sanding the stab skin.
Proceed slowly, removing small amounts of material at
a time.
❏ 17. Mark each elevator and stab so they can be
reinstalled correctly later. Carefully “break” both elevators
free from the stab and sand off any glue bumps left from
the CA you used to tack glue the elevators to the stab.
❏ 18. Position the elevators over the elevator plan and
mark the hinge locations. Tape the elevators to the stab
and transfer the hinge locations from the elevator to
the stab.
❏ 19. Mark a centerline on the LE of the elevators. Install
your heavy duty hinges (not included) at each hinge
location on the centerline of the elevator LE. Do not glue
the hinges in until after the stab and elevator are covered.
❏ 20. Test fit the hinges in the elevators and stab and
adjust as necessary to get a close fit between the LE of
the elevator and TE of the stab.
BUILD THE RUDDER
❏ 1. Glue the die-cut 1/8" [3.2mm] balsa forward, aft and
balance tab bases together.
❏ 2. Place the rudder base over the plan and mark the
locations of the “ribs” on both sides of the base.
❏ 3. Use the plan to measure and cut a control surface
leading edge from the remaining shaped stick. Glue the
rudder base into the slot in the control surface LE,
perpendicular to the slot in the LE.
❏ 4. Position the rudder with the LE hanging over the
edge of the table. Use the 1/8" x 9/32" x 30" balsa sticks
to make the rudder ribs, gluing them to the rudder at the
marks you made previously.
❏ 5. Cut and glue the rudder ribs to the other side of the
rudder base.