Top Flite Elder 60 biplane - Manual (Page 5)

these with a #11 X-acto knife. Tape or hold the two 2.
wing panels together with the bottoms of each
facing the other—align carefully. Use your sanding
block to now shape the forward wingtips identically
with each other and the curves shown on the plans.
With the exception of the inboard ends, use your
sanding block to carefully 'match' the wing panels,
leading edges, tips and trailing edges. Separate the
panels and use a sand ing block with light paper over
all of the panel's surfaces to smooth them for later
covering.
16. Firmly pin and/or weight the center section over your
protected work surface and epoxy the left and right
wing panels in place to it, with the tips of each panel
supported off the work surface by 3/4" to impart the
correct dihedral. Do not use so much adhesive that it
drips or runs but enough to adequately coat the
parts required. Using a 1-3 hour type epoxy will give
you plenty of time to position all of the components. 3.
Allow the structure to cure.
Remove the wing from your work surface and
inspect your work. Do any touch-up sanding or filling
as needed. The upper wing is now complete with the
exception of the upper panel sheeting over the
hardwood blocks.
Using the plans as a guide; measure, cut and butt-
glue the 1/4" x 1-1/2" lower leading edge, 3/32" balsa
sheet and the 3/32" x 1" trailing edge that make up
the bottom of the center section. Note grain direc-
tion of these pieces. Measure, cut and glue in place
the 3/8" x 1/2" upper leading edge. Glue one of the
W-11 ply dihedral braces in place against the inside
surface of the leading edge—be sure that it's
centered. Glue the two outer W-1A's in place against
the rear face of the dihedral brace, lined-up with the
edges of the bottom sheeting at right angles to your
work surface. Now glue two W-1A's in place just in-
board of the outer ones—note "tick" marks on
plans. The two remaining W-1A's are now glued in
place, at the center of the structure, spaced 1/4"
apart to allow later dowel insertion.
As shown, the main dihedral brace system is a com-
posite made by laminating the two W-12's (ply) to
each side of the W-13, which results in a 1/4" thick
part—do this now. Glue the completed composite
dihedral brace in place to the bottom sheeting and
up against the rear edges of the six W-1A's. Be sure
this part is centered.
LOWER WING ASSEMBLY
The lower wing for the Elder Biplane is almost identical in
constuction to that of the upper wing, just built. Part
numbers and wood sizes are also the same. However,
there are some differences, primarily in the center sec-
tion structure and in part counts. Carefully join the plans
for the BOTTOM LEFT WING and the BOTTOM RIGHT
WING, Plan Sheets 3 and 4, at the center lines provided
and accurately secure with tape. This provides the full
wing plan on which to work. The lower wing, like the top,
will be built directly over the plans, so cover them with a
MonoKote backing or clear food wrap.
1. Start with the center section first. Locate the die-cut
sheets containing parts W-11 (2, ply), W-12 (2, ply),
W-13(1, balsa), 6W-1A's and 4W-1B's. Remove these
parts from their sheets and clean up any rough
edges before assembly.
4. From your kit box, locate a piece of 1/4" x 1/2" spar
stock and cut two 5" lengths. Glue one of these
pieces in the top rear slots in the W-1A's and against
the top forward face of the center dihedral brace.
Glue the other on the bottom sheeting against the
bottom rear face of the dihedral brace.
5. Now glue the four W-1B rear half-ribs in place behind
the main dihedral brace. Glue the remaining W-11
(ply) dihedral brace in place on the bottom sheeting
and against the rear edges of the four W-1B's. Locate
the 1/4" x 3/8" trailing edge material in your kit box
and cut a 5" length. This is now glued in place
against the rear face of the rear W-11 brace and to
the bottom sheeting.
5