Top Flite TOPA0220 - Manual (Page 9)

main spar even if the wing is upside-down when
you are working on it. Similarly,
move the former
up means move the former toward the top of the
fuselage even if the fuselage is upside-down when
you are working on it.
• When you get to each step, read that step
completely through to the end before you begin.
Frequently there is important information or a note
at the end of the step that you need to know before
you start.
• Photos and sketches are placed before the
step they refer to. Frequently you can study photos in
following steps to get another view of the same parts.
GET READY TO BUILD
1. Unroll the plan sheets. Roll them inside out so
they lie flat.
2. Remove all the parts from the box. Use a ballpoint
pen (not a felt tip pen) to lightly write the name or
size on each piece so you can identify it later. Use
the
die-cut patterns on pages 6 and 7 to identify and
mark the die-cut parts before you remove them from
their die sheets. Many of the parts already have
numbers stamped on them, but in some cases the
number is located alongside the parts or only on the
die drawings in the manual. Do not remove the die-cut
parts until instructed to do so. If a part is difficult to
remove, don’t force it out but cut around it with a hobby
knife and a #11 blade. After you remove the parts from
their die sheets, lightly sand the edges to remove
slivers or die-cutting irregularities. Save some of the
larger scraps of wood.
3. Separate the parts into groups such as stab, fin,
wing, and fuse. Store smaller parts in zipper-top
food storage bags.
BUILD THE TAIL SURFACES
Use the Hot Tip that follows to cut the 1/8” x 1/4” x
24” [3.2 x 6.4 x 610mm] sticks for the framework of
the stab, elevators, fin and rudder. This framework
will then be sheeted with 1/16” x 3” x 24” [1.6 x 76 x
610mm] balsa.
BUILD THE STABILIZER
❏ 1. Cut the stab plan along the dashed line and
tape it to your building board. Cover the plan with
Plan Protector or wax paper.
❏ 2. Cut the stab TE from a hard 1/8” x 1/4” x 24” [3.2
x 6.4 x 610mm] balsa stick and pin it in position over
the plan.
❏
3. Pin the die-cut 1/8” [3.2mm] ply stab center in
position. Similarly, pin the die-cut 1/8” [3.2mm] balsa
stab tip parts in position. Do not glue until later.
❏ 4. Cut both stab LE pieces from another hard 1/8”
x 1/4” x 24” [3.2 x 6.4 x 610mm] balsa stick and pin
them in position. Do not glue until later.
HOW TO CUT THE STICKS
There are ten 1/8” x 1/4” x 24” [3.2 x 6.4 x 610mm]
sticks supplied for building the stab, elevators, fin
and rudder. There are ample sticks supplied for
building these parts. Do not use the 30” [762mm]
sticks that are used for building the wing.
Use the hardest sticks for building the framework
of the stab and fin. The softer sticks can be used
for the ribs and diagonal pieces, and for the
elevators and rudder.
Cut the longest parts from the sticks first, using
the remainder for the shorter pieces. We have
found that a new single edge razor blade makes
the best cuts with a minimum of crushing.
We found it fastest to cut all of the required parts
at one time. Others may prefer to cut each part as
it is needed.
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