Top Flite TOPA0110 - Manual (Page 11)

21. It is important to get a good glue bond
between the stab structure and the bottom stab
skins. Apply a heavy bead of medium or thick CA
to all of the bottom edges of the right side of the
stab structure. Place a skin on the structure and
hold it in place with your hands until the glue sets.
Repeat this for the left side. Be careful not to
bend or twist the stab during this step.
22. True up the ends of the stab with a
sanding block. Round the leading edge of the
stab to match the cross section on the plan.
23. Glue on the shaped 5/8" balsa Stab Tips.
Use a razor plane and a sanding block to shape
them to match the stab airfoil. You may contour
the tip to its final shape now, or wait until the
model is nearer completion.
BUILD THE FIN
1. Cut a 9-1/2" length of the tapered 1/4"
balsa stabilizer LE stock left over from the stab.
2. Glue the die-cut 1/4" balsa Fin Forward
and Aft TE’s (FF and FA) together with CA.
Since these pieces are thick and die-cut, they will
probably require a little touch up and blending
with a sanding block.
3. Punch out the die-cut 3/32" balsa ribs V-1
through V-6. Be sure to preserve their jig tabs.
4. Pin ribs V-1 and V-6 to the building board
over their proper locations. Center the LE on the
front of the ribs and glue it in place. Notice that
the fin LE protrudes through the stab into former
F-11.
5. Center the Fin TE on the aft edge of the
ribs and glue it in place.
6. Put ribs V-2 through V-5 into their places
and glue them. Remember, all jig tabs should
contact the work surface.
7. Apply extra medium CA glue to any joints
that do not appear to be well glued.
8. Blend the LE to match the ribs on the
upward facing (left) fin side. Sand the TE if
necessary to blend smoothly with the ribs.
9. Make a skin for each side of the fin using
the 1/16" balsa sheet left over from the stab
skins. See the sketch on page 10.
10. With the structure flat on the table, glue
on the left skin.
11. Trim off the jig tabs and blend the LE and
TE to the ribs on the right side of the fin.
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