Top Flite TOPA0400 - Manual (Page 9)

BUILD THE TAIL SURFACES
BUILD THE STABILIZER
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1. Lay the plan of the stab on a flat work surface
and cover it with wax paper or Plan Protector.
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2. Locate and lightly sand any imperfections on
the die-cut 1/8" balsa stab ribs S-1 through S-6.
You may need to finish cutting the notch in the
forward portion of S-1 for the die-cut 1/8" birch ply
stab joiner (SJ). Mark the extensions of the
bottom edge of the ribs across the fore and aft jig
tabs. These will help centering the LE and TE.
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3. Glue together two die-cut 3/16" balsa stab
TE’s to make two pairs of 3/8" thick stab TE’s.
Since some crushing may occur during die-cutting
wood of this thickness, the TE’s are supplied
slightly long and can be trimmed.
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4. The stab and fin LE’s are made from 3/8" x
3/8" x 30" balsa sticks. Cut two pieces about 1/4"
longer than the length shown on the stab plan.
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5. Starting with the right half of the stab, pin ribs
S-2 and S-6 perpendicular to the building board
over their locations on the plan.
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6. Use a sanding bar to sand an angle on the
LE of the ribs so that the 3/8" x 3/8" LE fits flush
on the LE of the ribs. Glue the LE, centered
vertically, onto the front edge of ribs S-2 and S-6.
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7. Glue the TE centered vertically on the aft
edge of ribs S-2 and S-6.
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8. Glue ribs S-3, S-4 and S-5 in their places.
Check that the jig tabs are contacting the
building surface.
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9. Trim the LE and TE so they end exactly over
the stab centerline.
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10. Repeat steps 5 through 8 to build the left half
of the stab. The left half of the stab is built next to the
right half with the two halves butt glued together.
❏
11. Trim the 3/8" x 17/32" x 5-3/8" basswood
TE joiner, if necessary, to fit between the S-2 ribs.
Use 6-minute epoxy to glue it centered vertically
on the TE’s and the ribs.
❏
12. Check the fit of the die-cut 1/8" plywood
stab joiner (ST) between the S-2 ribs and trim if
necessary. Place the stab joiner into the slots in
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