Top Flite TOPA0220 - Manual (Page 16)

FRAME THE FUSELAGE
❏
1. Locate both die-cut 1/8" [3mm] ply F1 firewalls.
Glue them together using 6-minute epoxy.
Note: Make sure the pin point punch marks are
facing out on one side. Label this side F1.
❏ 2. When the epoxy has cured drill 1/8" [3.2mm]
and 11/64" [4.4mm] holes where shown in the sketch
above. The 3/16" [4.8mm] hole is for the throttle
pushrod for an OS .46 FX.
❏
3. Install four 6-32 blind nuts in the 11/64" [4.4mm]
holes. Put some epoxy on the blind nuts as you install
them to hold them in place. Be careful not to get any
epoxy in the threaded holes in the blind nuts.
Note: The blind nuts are installed on the aft side of F1.
❏ 4. Referring to the former drawings on the
fuselage plan, drill 3/16" [4.8mm] holes for the
pushrods in formers F2, F3, F4, F5 and F6 at the pin
point punch marks. Label the front of each former.
❏ 5. Refer to the “pushrod exit locations” drawing on
the plan and the HOT TIP below. Drill 3/16" [4.8mm]
holes in the fuselage sides for the pushrods. The left
side has one hole for the rudder pushrod. The right
side has one hole for the elevator pushrod.
Note: The drawing shows where the holes should
enter and exit the fuselage sides on the inside and
outside. This allows you to judge the angle at which
the holes should be drilled.
❏ 6. Locate the die-cut 3/32" [2.4mm] balsa left and
right fuselage top deck parts. Use your bar sander to
sand the edges flat and straight where the parts join.
Edge glue the left and right fuselage top deck parts
together using either thin CA or aliphatic resin. Align the
parts even at the front edges. Use your bar sander with
150-grit sandpaper to sand the assembled fuselage top
deck flat and smooth.
Note: The front edge is cut at a 2 degree angle to
establish the engine right thrust angle.
A. Mark the fuselage side with pins where the
hole enters and exits the fuselage side.
B. Start by drilling a 3/16" [4.8mm] hole at the
exit point on the outside of the fuselage side.
C. Turn the side over and use a rotary tool with a
cutoff wheel to cut a trough in the interior of the
fuselage side. The trough should extend from the
pin mark at the entry point to the hole you drilled
at the exit. MAKE SURE you are cutting the
trough on the inside of the fuselage side.
D. Dress the angled hole up by using the 3/16"
[4.8mm] drill at an angle and sliding it in and out
of the hole to shave the hole clean. Any
imperfections at the exit can be filled and sanded
after the pushrod is installed.
HOW TO DRILL ANGLED HOLES
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