Top Flite TOPA0135 - Manual (Page 31)

❏ ❏ 18. With the bellcrank facing away from the
plans, glue the aileron bellcrank plate into the slots
in ribs W-7 and W-8.
❏ ❏ 19. Test fit Tip Ribs W-12 and W-13 and the
die-cut 1/8" plywood Tip Spar to the tip of the
wing. Make sure W-13 is vertical and the jig tabs
are contacting the work surface, then glue the
assembly in position.
❏ ❏ 20. Locate the 5/8" x 1" x 7" balsa stick and
make the Tip Leading Edge. Bevel each end as
shown on the plans. Glue the tip leading edge
in position.
Proceed to step 25 if you will be installing
retractable landing gear.
❏ ❏ 21. Test fit a 1/2" x 3/4" x 6-3/4" grooved
Landing Gear Rail into the notches in ribs W-4,
W-5, and W-6. The fit should be snug and the
groove should be facing away from the work
surface. Be sure that the rail extends past W-4
approximately 3/4" as shown on the plans. Use
30-minute epoxy to glue the rail in position.
❏ ❏ 22. Use 30-minute epoxy to glue the 1/2" x
3/4" x 1" maple Landing Gear Block to the top of
the rail and the side of W-4F.
❏ ❏ 23. Draw a line 3/16" from W-4F on the
landing gear rail.
❏ ❏ 24. Carefully drill a 3/16" hole at this mark in
the middle of the groove all the way through the
maple block with the drill perpendicular to the
rail as shown in the photo.
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FOR RETRACT GEAR ONLY
Hot Tip: The key to a durable landing gear
mounting structure is building accuracy and good
glue joints, not lots of epoxy. Please take
your time, plan ahead, and work carefully during
these steps.
❏ ❏ 25. Before using any glue or drilling any
holes, test fit the plywood retract rails in
the notches of ribs W-5 and W-6 together with
your retracts.
❏ ❏ 26. Remove a section from ribs W-4 and W-3
so you may retract the landing gear, preferably
with the wheel installed, into the wing.
The shape
or size of the pieces of wood you remove does
not matter as long as it provides enough room
to allow the wheel and landing gear to fully
retract. These scraps will be glued back in place
after this operation.
❏ ❏ 27. With the landing gear fully retracted,
confirm that the strut and wheel go into the wing
an acceptable amount. NOTE: With the standard
Robart wire strut installation, the landing gear and