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Step 3: Aligning the Vertical Stabilizer
❑
Remove the rudder and hinges from the vertical stabilizer and set them aside for now.
❑
Push the vertical stabilizer down into place. To align it
properly, the stabilizer should be even with the back edge of
the fuselage and it should be pushed down firmly.
❑
Using a builder's triangle, check to make sure that the
vertical stabilizer is aligned 90º to the horizontal stabilizer.
Step 4: Installing the Vertical Stabilizer
❑
While holding the stabilizer firmly in place, use a pencil to draw a line on each side of the stabilizer where it meets the
top of the fuselage.
❑
Remove the stabilizer. Using a modeling knife, carefully
cut away and remove the covering material from below the
lines you drew. Carefully remove any covering material from
the base of the stabilizer, too.
WARNING
When cutting through the covering to remove it, cut with only
enough pressure to cut through only the covering itself. Cutting
down into the balsa structure could weaken the stabilizer and
cause it to fail during flight.
❑
Apply a generous amount of 30 minute epoxy to the gluing surfaces of both the stabilizer and the stabilizer mounting
slot in the top of the fuselage.
❑
Push the stabilizer down into place and realign it, double-checking all of your measurements once more before the
epoxy sets up. Quickly remove the excess epoxy and use pieces of masking tape to hold the stabilizer in place until the
epoxy has fully cured.
❑
After the epoxy has fully cured, remove the masking tape and look closely at the glue joint. If there are any gaps
between the stabilizer and the fuselage, fill them using 30 minute epoxy for added strength. Again, before the epoxy sets
up, remove any excess using a paper towel and rubbing alcohol.
When aligned properly, the
vertical stabilizer should be 90º
to the horizontal stabilizer