Top Flite TOPA0405 - Manual (Page 39)

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16. Thoroughly wet the outside of the
forward deck sheeting with warm water. Allow the
water to soak into the wood for a few minutes. Test
fit the sheet to the stringers and formers. The deck
sheeting between formers IP and F-6 should go to
the middle of the side stringer and the center of
former F-6. Glue the forward deck sheet along the
top edge of the fuse sides.
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17. Apply glue to the formers and stringers.
Bend the wood around and attach it to formers F-2
and F-4 first. Hold the deck so it conforms to former
F-6. Apply some additional thin CA to the joint.
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18. Holding the deck so it conforms with F-1,
apply CA to the joint. Trim the sheeting along the
centerline of the top stringer.
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19. Repeat steps 16 through 18 for the other
side of the fuse.
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20. Fit leftover 1/8" forward deck sheeting from
F-6 to behind the IP.
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21. Use the aft deck sheeting pattern on the
fuse plan to make the aft deck sides from two
1/8" x 3" x 24" balsa sheets. Trim the aft deck
sides slightly larger than the pattern to allow for
trimming and positioning.
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22. Test fit one of the aft deck sides to the right
side of the fuse. Sand a slight bevel to the bottom
edge of the deck side to fit the fuse and stab. If
necessary, wet the aft deck side so it will bend
more easily, then glue it in position. Glue the other
aft deck side to the fuse the same way.
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23. True the top of the aft deck sheeting and
1/4" stringers with a razor plane and a bar sander.
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24. Test fit and trim but do not glue the 5/8" x
3" x 24" balsa aft deck block to fit the top of the
aft deck. The more accurately you fit the aft deck
block before you glue it into position, the easier it
will be to final shape after you glue it down and the
less filler you will need.
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25. Glue the aft deck block in position and final
shape it to blend with the aft deck sheeting.
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26. Make a fin filler from leftover 1/16" plywood
as shown on the plan and glue it to the aft deck
and the fin. Glue pieces of leftover 1/8" balsa to
both sides of the fin filler, then add lightweight
sandable balsa filler to smoothly blend the fin filler
to the fin and the stab to the fin and fuse. Carefully
sand the filler after it is dry.
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