Top Flite TOPA0305 Part 1 User Manual

Page 23

Perform steps 7 through 9 only if you are
installing fixed landing gear,

Test fit the die-cut 1/8" balsa aft inner spar

Prepare a set of right wing ribs by using 30-

minute epoxy to glue the die-cut 1/8" plywood

fixed landing gear rib doublers W4G, W5G
and W6G to the die-cut 3/32" balsa ribs W4, W5
and W6 exactly as shown in the photo. Make

sure the doublers are on the side of the ribs as
shown in the photo.

Prepare a set of left wing ribs the same way

but use the photo above to make sure you glue

the doublers to the correct side of the ribs.

Remove the shaded area of balsa shown ir

the previous two photos after the epoxy

i s

fully cured.

Note: Details for fixed landing gear are shown or
the left wing plan.

10.

If you will be installing lights in the wing, drill

3/16"

holes through wing ribs W3 through W14 in

the approximate location shown in the sketch on

step 5 page 21.

Fit the ribs and spar web to the bottom spar

so the ribs accurately align with the plan.

11.

Use

straightedge and a ballpoint pen to

mark a vertical line 1/16" from the front and back of
the spar notches in both W2 ribs. Use a sharp
hobby knife to lightly cut halfway through the balsa
along the lines. You will remove this section of
balsa to accommodate the spar joiners when it is
time to join the wing.

BUILD THE OUTER WING PANELS

For clarity, some of the photos show the wing off
the building board without the plan, but of course

you should build your wing over the plan the same

as we do.

Build the right wing panel first

so your progress

matches the photos.

not use any glue until step 8. Pin a

1/4"

x 3/8" x 36" balsa bottom spar over its

location on the plan

so the root end extends past

the dashed line by about 1/8". Stick the pins
through the spar at an angle

so they will not

interfere with the spar web when you position it in

the next step.

Test fit ribs W2 through W14 to the die-cut

1/8"

balsa spar web (W15). If necessary, deepen

the notches (in the ribs or in the spar web)

so the

ribs fit all the way into the spar web.

BEVEL THE NOTCHES IN THE

RIBS AND SPARS TO MATCH
THE ANGLE ON THE PLANS

ORIGINAL NOTCHES

5 . Test fit the die-cut 118" balsa aft outer spar

(W16)

and the die-cut 1/8" balsa aileron spar

(W17)

into the notches of ribs

through W14. If

necessary, bevel the notches in the spars and ribs

the same way you did in the previous step.