Top Flite TOPA0150 - Manual (Page 45)

Make the wing fillets
❏
1. Remove the wing from the fuse. Cover the top
of the center section of the wing with Great Planes
Plan Protector or wax paper to keep glue from
sticking when you glue the fillet bases to the fuse
(with the wing in position).
❏
2. Bolt the wing back onto the fuse. Stand about
six to ten feet behind the model and observe the
distance between both sides of the stab and the
wing. If both distances are equal as shown in the
sketch, then the wing is level (A = A). If the wing is
not level, loosen the wing bolt on the “high” side and
slip shims from leftover balsa between the fuse
sheeting and the fillet base to bring the wing into
alignment with the stab. Glue the balsa shims to the
fuse, but not to the ply fillet bases.
❏
3. Remove the wing and the fillet bases from the
fuse. Mix up a batch of 30-minute epoxy and
microballoons. Apply the glue to the fuse crutches
and to the fuse sheeting. Reposition the fillet bases
and hold them in place with masking tape. Mount the
wing to the fuse. Confirm the wing alignment with the
stab. Adjust if necessary. Wipe away excess epoxy
before it hardens.
❏
4. Use CA to glue the fillet bases, aft of the wing,
to the fuse. Do not disturb the model until the epoxy
has fully hardened.
❏
5. Trim the ply fillet bases even with the TE of the
wing. Glue strips of leftover balsa to the fillet bases and
to the fuse to strengthen the joint and to take up space,
reducing the amount of filler that will be required.
❏
6. Remove the wing. Use the pattern provided to
make a wing fillet applicator from leftover ABS
plastic. This will spread the balsa filler while
simultaneously providing the correct shape.
❏
7. Use the wing fillet applicator to apply
lightweight, sandable balsa filler to the fuse and the
fillet bases. Note how the fillet has a concave shape.
Do as neat a job as you can to smoothly apply the
filler, thus minimizing sanding that will be required
after it dries.
❏
8. Bolt the wing to the fuse and place the model
upside-down in a building stand. Glue leftover 1/16"
balsa to the bottom of the fillet bases blending the
bottom of the wing to the fuse. Blend the bottom of
the fillet bases to the fuse with balsa filler. Sand
when dry.
-45-