Top Flite TOPA0120 - Manual (Page 34)

❑ 14. Bend the sheeting around so it conforms
with F-1. Apply some additional CA to the joint.
❑ 15. Trim the sheeting to the edge of the
stringers along the top edge of the forward deck.
❑ 16. Sand the sheeting and the stringers to
match the flat tops of formers F-1, F-2 and F-3.
❑ 17. Test fit the 1/4” x 3” x 12” Fwd Deck Top
to the top surface, and then glue it in place. Make
sure the Fwd Deck Top’s aft edge lines up with
Fwd Deck Sheeting’s aft edge towards the cockpit.
Trim the front end of the Deck Top even with the
sheeting near the firewall. Refer to the Fuselage
Side View on the plans.
❑ 18. Refer to the plan cross-sections for
shaping the FWD Deck Top. Use the canopy to
assist in final shaping. NOTE: There is a
transition from the canopy to the firewall from a
fairly flat Deck top shape at the Canopy to an
almost round one at the firewall. Use a razor plane
and sanding block to shape the FWD Deck Top.
❑ 19. Test fit the two die-cut 3/32” balsa Upper
Aft Fuselage Side sections together and make
any necessary adjustments. Glue the two pieces
together and lightly sand both sides.
❑ 20. Glue in the die-cut 1/8” plywood former
F-8B and the two die-cut 1/8” plywood Stab
Supports. Make sure F-8B is locked onto the
forward tabs of the Stab Support. The Stab
Supports must be well seated since they set the
stab incidence.
❑ 21. Insert the elevator Outer Pushrod Tube
through the slot in the stabilizer support, F-8, F-7,
F-6, F-5, and F-4. The tube must extend
approximately 3/4" through Former F-4. NOTE:
The Elevator Pushrod Tube must extend far
enough past the stabilizer support so it can be
trimmed flush with the outside of the Upper Aft
Fuselage Side. See photo in step 20.
❑ 22. Glue the 3/16” x 3/16” balsa Stringers in
the slots provided in Formers F-6B, F-7B and
F-8B. NOTE: The top two stringers are 18"
long and extend forward past former F-6B
approximately 3” and aft beyond former F-8B
approximately 1”. The top two stringers will extend
past the length of the top block at former F-8B.
The side stringers are cut from a 24" stick and run
from former F-6B to F-8B and interlock with the
Stab Supports.
❑ 23. Sand the tabs on Former F-8B where it
locks to the Stab Supports until the side edge of F-8
is cut down even with the sides of the Stab Supports.
❑ 24. Hold the Upper AFT Fuse Sides in place
and check the fit. Sand the bottom edge until they
fit properly. Install die-cut 1/8" ply Former F-4B in
place at the angle shown on the fuselage side view
on the plan.
NOTE: There will be a small ledge
where the upper aft fuse side mates
with the main fuse side. This will be
sanded away in the final sanding.
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