Top Flite TOPA0145 - Manual (Page 9)

BUILD THE TAIL SURFACES
MAKE THE STAB SKINS
❏ 1. Use the Hot Tip that follows or your own method
to glue two 1/16" x 3" x 30" [1.6 x 76 x 762mm] balsa
sheets together to make a 1/16" x 6" x 30" [1.6 x 152
x 762mm] sheet for one of the stab skins.
F. Place weights on top of the sheets to hold them
down. We prefer plastic bags filled with lead shot, but
anything similar will do the job.
G. After the glue dries, remove the weights and
masking tape. Sand the sheet flat with your bar sander
and 150-grit sandpaper. The idea is to sand the
sheeting before you glue it to the structure. This
eliminates low spots that can occur over the ribs from
excessive sanding.
This is the same procedure we recommend when it is
time to make the wing and fuse skins.
E. Inspect the seam and press the sheets together
where they do not align.
D. Use a credit card or something similar to
simultaneously press the sheets flat as you squeegee
the excess glue from the seam. Wipe the glue off your
squeegee so it’s ready for the next time. Immediately
proceed to the next step.
C. Place a sheet of Plan Protector or wax paper on
your workbench. Turn the taped together sheets over
and apply aliphatic resin (wood workers glue such as
Great Planes Pro) to the seams.
B. Tightly tape the trued edges of the sheets together
with masking tape.
A. Use a straightedge and a sharp #11 blade to true
one edge of both sheets. Do not cut all the way
through the first time but make several passes with
your knife to prevent the wood from splitting.
HOW TO MAKE THE STAB SKINS
Top Flite selects balsa that is intended for
sheeting, though occasionally a few of these
sheets may have a small nick or split near the
ends. If your kit contains a few of these sheets,
arrange them and glue them together so the
defects will not interfere with the final shape of
the skin.
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