Top Flite TOPA0150 - Manual (Page 26)

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15. Glue the die-cut 1/8" balsa fin TE to the fin TE
spar. Sand the fin TE to blend in with the fin and the
bottom of the fuse.
Now the fuse is far enough along that the rudder can be
built. For a perfect match, it’s built directly onto the fin.
Build the rudder
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1. Glue together both die-cut 1/8" balsa parts of
the rudder core.
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2. Place the rudder core over the rudder plan. Use
a ballpoint pen to mark the locations of the rudder
ribs on both sides of the rudder core.
Refer to this photo for the following three steps.
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3. Make both rudder tip blocks from the 1/4" x 1-
7/8" x 6" balsa sheet and make both rudder base
blocks from the 3/8" x 2-1/8" x 7" balsa sheet. Glue
the blocks to the rudder core, then shape them to
match the rudder core, but do not round them yet.
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4. Cut the rudder LE from the 1/4" x 7/8" x 12"
balsa stick, then tack glue it to the TE of the fin.
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5. Securely glue the rudder core and the tip and
base blocks to the rudder LE that is tack glued to the
fin. Be certain the rudder is centered. Be careful not
to inadvertently glue the rudder to the fin.
Hint: Use
a rubber band to hold the rudder to the fin while you
center it up for gluing it into position.
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6. Start with a razor plane followed with a bar
sander to carefully blend the rudder tip blocks to the
fin, then round the fin tip and rudder tip to match
each other. Round the rudder base blocks to match
the bottom of the fuse.
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7. Cut the rudder ribs from the 3/32" x 5/16" x 30"
balsa stick, then glue them to the rudder. Shape the
ribs to match the rudder.
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8. Carefully break the rudder free from the fin. Cut
the rudder hinge blocks from strips of leftover 1/8"
balsa and glue them to both sides of the rudder core.
The same as you did for the elevators, draw a
centerline on the rudder LE and the fin TE and cut
slots for the hinges. Bevel the LE of the rudder and
round the balance tab to clear the fin. Test fit the
rudder to the fin. Make certain you can achieve 1-1/4"
of right and left control throw.
While we’re working on the rudder and the back of
the fuse, let’s go ahead and mount the control horns.
Do the rudder first.
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9. Install the tail gear pushrod and temporarily
connect it to the steering arm on the tail gear the
same as you did before. Connect the rudder to the
steering arm using the hardware shown on the plan
and in the photo. Use silver solder to join the .074" x
4" pushrod to the threaded coupler.
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