Top Flite TOPA0220 - Manual (Page 23)

❏ 10. Locate the four 3/32" x 3" x 24" [2.4 x 76 x
610mm] balsa sheets. Set the two softest sheets
aside for use later. Use the remaining two to sheet
the front of the fuselage in the following steps.
❏ 11. Cut both sheets to a length of 15-1/2"
[394mm]. Sand an angle along one long edge of both
sheets as shown in the sketch. Fit a piece of
sheeting to the area to be covered between F1T and
F3TF on the left side of the fuselage. See the photo
at step 12 below.
Note: There will be a 1/32" [0.8mm] lip where the
fuselage side overhangs the top sheeting. This will
be sanded away later.
❏ 12. Using thin CA, glue the angled edge of the
sheeting to the top of the fuselage side and the
bottom of the formers.
❏ 13. Moisten the outside of the sheeting so that it
will bend easier. Most modelers use a mixture of
water and ammonia. We prefer rubbing alcohol with
a spray nozzle attached to the bottle. It soaks into the
balsa easily and dries very fast.
❏ 14. Bend the sheeting against the formers, one at
a time. While holding it in place, glue it to the former
and stringer with thin CA. Do not become concerned
if the sheeting splits at one end as ours did. Glue the
split together and then glue it to the formers. It can
be filled and sanded later.
❏
15. Fit the second piece of sheeting to the other
side of the fuselage. Be sure the angled edge is
resting properly on the top of the fuselage side. Cut
the sheeting 1/16" [1.6mm] oversize.
❏ 16. Carefully hold the sheeting in position along
the top edge of the fuselage and then roll it along the
former until it meets the sheeting on the other side.
Note how much must be sanded off to get it to fit
properly. Remove the sheeting and sand as needed.
Do not sand off too much. Refit the sheeting and
check it again. Go from former to former and sand a
little off each time. You will quickly have a perfect
fitting piece.
❏ 17. Glue this piece of sheeting in place in the same
manner as you did the first piece. It is easier to use
medium CA on the formers and thin CA on the stringer.
The rear turtle deck of the fuselage is sheeted in
exactly the same manner as the top front. Fitting the
balsa sheeting is a bit more difficult as the slope and
curvature are greater.
C. In the same manner, mark the sheeting at F1T.
D. The sheeting is straight from F3T to F2T and
then slowly slopes to F1T. Mark the sheeting
where it crosses F2T. Transfer the mark at F3T to
F2T. Our F3T mark showed the sheeting needs
to be 1-15/16" [49.2mm] wide at F3T. It should
also be 1-15/16" [49.2mm] wide at F2T as well.
E. Cut the sheeting in a straight line between the
marks from F3T to F2T. Cut the sheeting at an
angle between the marks at F2T to F1T.
A. Mark the center of the 3/16" [4.8mm] stringer
onto F3T.
B. At formers F2T and F3T, hold the angled edge
of the sheeting in place along the top edge of the
fuselage side. Carefully roll the sheeting along
the former until it is resting on the stringer. Mark
the location of the center of the stringer on the
sheeting at F3T.
HOW TO FIT SHEETING
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