Top Flite TOPA0965 User Manual

Page 15

BUILD THE FUSELAGE

INSTALL THE STABILIZERS, ELEVATORS

AND RUDDER

For the installation of the stabilizer you will need to
have rubbing alcohol on hand for clean up. If you do
not have any, DO NOT START THIS INSTALLATION
UNTIL YOU DO! It is suggested that you read the
next few steps to better understand the process
before actually gluing components in place.

❏

1. Temporarily attach the wing to the fuselage with

two 1/4 - 20 nylon wing bolts. Slide the horizontal
stabilizer in place in the back of the fuselage. Position
the stab so that it is equal in length on both sides of
the fuselage and that the distance from the wing tip
to the stabilizer tip is equal.

❏

2. When you are satisfi ed with the positioning,

mark the outline of the fuselage onto the top and the
bottom of the stabilizer with a fi ne point - felt tip pen.

❏

3. Inside of the line you have marked, cut the

covering from the stabilizer following the method in
the “Hot Tip” that follows or use a sharp hobby knife
making sure you do not cut into the surface of the
wood. Cutting the surface of the wood will weaken
the structure! Be sure to cut the covering from the
top, bottom and the end of the horizontal stabilizer.

HOW TO CUT COVERING FROM BALSA

Use a soldering iron to cut the covering from the
stab. The tip of the soldering iron doesn’t have
to be sharp, but a fi ne tip does work best. Allow
the iron to heat fully. Use a straightedge to guide
the soldering iron at a rate that will just melt the
covering and not burn into the wood. The hotter
the soldering iron, the faster it must travel to melt
a fi ne cut. Peel off the covering.

❏

4. Slide the stab into the opening in the rear of the

fuselage. Stand back a few feet and look at the stab in
relation to the wing. The stab should be parallel and
in line with the wing. If you fi nd that your stab is not
aligned, adjust the stab by removing small amounts
of the stab saddle with 100 grit sand-paper.

❏

5. Locate the stab fi ller block. Cut the covering

from the block as shown.

❏

6. Locate the elevator joiner wire. Insert it into the

slots in the fi ller block, making sure it can move easily
in the slots.