Top Flite TOPA0130 - Manual (Page 30)

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18. Cut, fit, and glue the remaining 3/16"
square balsa Stringers to the forward section of
the fuselage. Remember to check for warps or
twists in the For mers as they can be
straightened at this time.
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19. Lightly sand all joints and blend the
Stringers with the formers in preparation for
sheeting. Pay particular attention to the junction
of the lower rear 3/16" Stringer and F-8. The
Stringer at this junction must be blended flush
with F-8 to allow the sheeting to fully contact the
former.
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20. Glue two (of the four) 1/8" x 3/8" x 21"
balsa Sub-Stringers into the groove in the left
side Main-Stringer. Use Thin CA, wiping up any
excess before it dries. Repeat for the right side.
These Sub-Stringers will provide a ledge for the
side sheeting.
SHEET THE FUSELAGE TOP
FRAME
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1. Pin one of the 3/32" x 3" x 42" shaped
balsa Fuse Sides to the Main Stringer, with the
slightly curved edge down. The notch for the
stab is positioned next to the stab saddle, facing
upward. Curve the sheet into contact with the
frame, then use masking tape to hold it against
the cockpit deck, tail, and nose. Trace the top
edge of the lower 3/16" Stringer onto the Fuse
Side, working from the inside of the fuse.
NOTE: Do not mark or trim the stab saddles yet.
This will be done during step 3.
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2. Remove the Fuse Side. Carefully cut away
the excess material 3/32" below the line you
drew, from F-6 aft.
By so doing, the sheeting will
divide the stringer in half and provide a gluing
surface for the upper sheeting. This sheet
should be cut to fit flush with the top of the
cockpit deck as shown in the photo. Check the
fit on both sides of the fuse, then cut a second
Fuse Side using the first one as a pattern.
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3. Use clothespins, T-pins, and tape to
secure the tr immed Fuse Side in its final
position on the frame. Hold a piece of thin
cardboard (an index card or piece of a file
folder) on top of the Stab Saddle, against the
inside of the Fuse Side. Mark the stab Saddle
contour using the cardboard as your guide.
Don't press down on the cardboard with your
pen or you will distort the shape. Remove the
Fuse Side, then cut the Fuse Side to the
Saddle outline you just drew. Repeat for the
other Fuse Side.
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4. Realign a Fuse Side with the frame, then
wick some thin CA into the joint between the
Main Stringer and the Fuse Side starting
midway between the front and back of the
F u s e . C a r e f u l l y wo r k o u t wa r d i n b o t h
directions along the Main Stringer holding the
Fuse Side in tight contact with the Main
Stringer as you proceed.
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5. Wipe a damp paper towel over the outside
surface of the Fuse Side to aid with curving the
balsa.
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6. Clip and pin (or tape) the top edge of the
Fuse Side to the stringers and Cockpit deck.
Wick thin CA into the joint but wipe off any
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Sub-Stringer Main Stringer