Micron Wings Balsa Craft S.E.5a, Build Instructions, Page: 8 / 21

Step 04 – Base Plate and Engine Cowl
With your finger, dab some water on both sides of the fuselage frame and also on the top cover
sheet (part 1). Allow the water to soak in and the balsa will be come easily bendable, The top
edges of the fuselage sides will need to be trimmed until the meet flush and sit down on the
fuselage formers.
Use hobby masking tape to bend the sides over in place and set somewhere to allow the wood to
dry (not in the sun). At this stage the pieces have not been glued – just allowing to dry in the
correct shape. They will be glued in place later after they dry.
Step 05 – Fitting the Base Plate
For the tail section also give it a slight bend and let it dry. You can tape it in place on the airframe
to dry – It
will also need to be trimmed later once the airframe sides are glued in place.
Once the fuselage sides are dry glue them in place and secure with hobby tape while drying.
The top section can now be glued in place. But first, it must be trimmed around the cockpit area
and also down the sides. Either trim ½ millimeter at a time or sand it back so that it fits in place
and sits down against the body formers. Once the fit is correct, glue it in place and tape to hold it
with modeling masking tape.
Step 06 – Fuselage Top Cover