Top Flite TOPA0310 - Manual (Page 11)

BUILD THE TAIL SURFACES
Build the stabilizer
❏ 1. Place the stab plan over your building board
(you may cut it from the fuse plan) and cover it with
Great Planes Plan Protector or waxed paper.
❏ 2. Without using any glue, position the die-cut 1/8"
balsa stab spar on the die-cut 1/8" balsa stab TE .
Note that the stab spar is centered height-wise on
the stab TE to accommodate the cap strips and is
centered lengthwise to accommodate rib S7 at both
tips. Glue the stab spar to the stab TE as described.
From now on, this assembly will be referred to as the
stab TE .
❏ 3. Make the 1/4" stab TE brace by gluing together
both die-cut 1/8" balsa stab TE braces so the
notches align.
❏ 4. Glue the stab TE brace to the stab TE. Note that
the notches in the stab TE brace are opposite the
notches in the stab TE.
Now that the preliminary stuff is done, let’s start
framing this baby up!
❏ 5. Without using any glue, insert the die-cut 3/32"
balsa stab ribs S1 - S6 into the notches of the stab
TE. Position the assembly over the plan. Do not
install S1A at this time.
❏ 6. Cut rib jigs from four 1/4" x 1/4" x 36" balsa
sticks. The rib jigs extend from the forward jig tabs to
the aft jig tabs on all the ribs. Use the rib jigs and T-
pins to hold the ribs over their location on the plan.
After all the ribs are in position, use a small square
to align the TE over the plan.
❏ 7. Use thin CA to glue the ribs to the TE. As you
proceed, be certain the jig tabs of all the ribs are
contacting the plan.
❏ 8. Test fit both die-cut 3/32" balsa ribs S1A and
the die-cut 1/8" balsa stab LE brace to the
assembly. Make adjustments where required for a
good fit, then glue the pieces into position.
❏ 9. Use a hobby knife or a bar sander to bevel the
leading edge of the ribs to match the aft sweeping
Some modelers prefer to vent the air that gets
trapped inside the control surfaces (stab, elevators,
fin, rudder, ailerons, flaps) while covering. Trapped
air expands and prevents the covering from fully
shrinking. To avoid this, drill or cut holes in the ribs
before you begin building. Later, drill a hole in an
inconspicuous spot near the tip of the leading edge
of the control surfaces and in the trailing edge of the
stab and fin. This is most important on smaller parts
like the elevators and rudder
(though they’re not so
small on this model!).
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