Top Flite TOPA0145 - Manual (Page 19)

❏ 5. Cut away former F3 and IP as shown in
the photograph.
❏ 6. Cut the tail fillet pattern from the plan and
make two of them from some of the leftover pieces of
3/32 [2.4mm] balsa sheeting.
❏ 7. The fillet pattern is slightly oversized, so you will
have to do some final fitting to get a good fit. The fillet
should fit around the tail surfaces and forward to the
center of F8. When you are satisfied with the fit, wet
the fillet pieces with a solution of water and alcohol.
This will allow the balsa to become flexible without
cracking. When the balsa has become flexible
enough, glue the fillet into position.
❏ 8. After the fillet has been glued into place use some
Lightweight Hobby Filler (Balsa Color, HCAR3401)
to fill any gaps and create a smooth fillet.
❏ 9. Cut one of the sheets of 3/32" x 2-3/4" x 30" [2.4
x 70 x 762mm] balsa sheeting to form the front and
rear decking. Before test fitting it into place, wet the
wood with the water and alcohol solution so that the
wood becomes flexible enough to conform to the
shape of the formers. We recommend cutting a piece
for the left side of the fuselage and one for the right,
joining the two sheets on the center stringer. The
radius of the formers is too tight to complete the
sheeting with one sheet of balsa. When you have
completed one side of the fuselage do the same for
the other side.
NOTE: The photo above, incorrectly shows sheeting
on the left side of the fuselage in the nose area. Do
not sheet the area from F-2 forward to the nose ring
on the left side of the fuselage.
If you are choosing to have a full cockpit interior,
make a deck out of the 1/16" x 3" x 24" [1.6 x 76
x 610mm] balsa sheeting. This should be placed
between formers F4 and F5C and trimmed flush
with the side stringers.
CONSTRUCTION WITH A FULL
COCKPIT INTERIOR
If you are choosing not to have a full cockpit
interior, make a deck out of the 1/16" x 3" x 24"
[1.6 x 76 x 610mm] balsa sheeting. This should
be placed between formers IP and F5C and
trimmed flush with the side stringers.
CONSTRUCTION WITHOUT A FULL
COCKPIT INTERIOR
19