Top Flite TOPA0305 Part 2 User Manual

Page 26

10.

If you have fixed landing gear, cut

a slot in

the bottom of the cowl to clear the landing gear
wire. If you have retractable landing gear, remove
whatever material is necessary

so the retractable

nose strut and steering arm will clear the cowl.

11.

Remove the cowl and make a template out

of thin cardboard to locate the needle valve.

13. Remove the cowl and cut the hole for the

needle valve. Start with a small hole. Mount the

cowl to the fuselage and check your accuracy.

Enlarge the hole while you simultaneously change
its position if necessary.

14. Use the same template method to make

holes for the glow plug, exhaust, fueling system

and engine head if necessary. The location for the
fuel filler valve and retract fill valve are up to you,
b u t w e h a v e p r o v i d e d die-cut 1/8" p l y w o o d

mounting brackets for these items. The head on

the SuperTigre

.75 barely contacted the cowl in

one area,

so w e just ground away that small

portion of the fins without any

ill

effect.

15.

Make sure you have thoroughly sanded the

inside seams of the fuselage. Use 30-minute epoxy

to glue 1" wide fiberglass cloth over all the seams

inside the cowl. Add

" squares of glass cloth

inside of the cowl over the holes for the cowl mount
screws. Redrill the holes after the epoxy cures.

16. Fill the seams in the cowl with Bondo filler.

There are other fillers that you can use, but we

have found that Bondo works the best. Squadron
Green or White putty also works well but it takes
longer to dry and shrinks. You could use Squadron
putty for smaller parts like the tail cone.

Here are some tips for applying the Bondo to your

cowl:

1. Thoroughly roughen all seams and other areas

with 150-grit sandpaper where you will apply

Bondo.

2. Mix the Bondo thoroughly but rapidly to allow
as much time as possible to apply it.

3. Bondo cures within a few minutes, so mix only
enough to fill one seam at a time.

4. Use an expired credit card or a piece of plastic
as

a spatula to apply Bondo. Bend your spatula to

build up a slight moundover the seam.

5. Apply only enough Bondo to fill the seams and

uneven edges. It's easier to apply

a second coat

than it is to sand

gobs of it off.