Page 12
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Construction Manual
FIFTY ONE
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Step 82 - Fuselage - Servo installation.
This might seem like a strange
time to think about where your
elevator, rudder, and throttle (if
glow) servos will be mounted,
but actually it's the perfect
time. After the top and bottom
sheeting is applied, access to
the inside of the fuselage is quite
a bit trickier.
You'll see on the plans that I've
called out a few locations that are suggested servo mounting
spots. The reason I chose this is that the servos are easily accessible
through the wing-saddle, no extra hatches are needed, and they're
easy to mount on to the lite-ply structure already in the fuselage.
So, do this for the elevator and rudder servos, glue one of the
SR rails to each side of F4, so they rest up against the flat on the
FSP and FSS sides (see the plans for a detailed look at what I'm
on about here. From there you can use your servos to determine
where the other two SRs should be mounted (making sure you
leave a little "wiggle-room" so the servos can be removed. Once
the SRs are glue in place, go ahead and drill the mounting holes
and temporarily screw them in place.
If you're going glow, the throttle servo can be mounted forward
of these servos by making up another pair of SRs. It might be best
to temporarily mount your engine to get an idea on how best to
snake the throttle pushrod to the engine. And you'll have to drill a
hole or two to make that work properly for your setup.
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Step 83 - Fuselage - Pushrod installation.
Since the servos are in, it's also time
to mount the pushrods, as again,
once the sheeting is installed, you
can't get to this area.
We choose to use DuBro's 2-56
Laser-Rod system in our prototypes
as the pushrods flexibility works
out well in the Fifty-One.
Here are a couple of suggested
exits for the pushrods. On the
left is shown the rudder exit, and
the elevator on the right picture.
Note that the elevator is raised
up because of the elevated stab
and elevator control horn. (You're
mileage may vary, but this should
help get you close.)
Also when installing the outer sheath of
these sorts of pushrods, you'll need to tack them to the fuselage structure
in several places so they won't move or bend while in action.
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Step 84 - Fuselage - FS8, FS9, FS10, FS11
Locate both FS8s and FS9s from
BP11. One FS8 and FS9 are glued
together to form a longer piece,
as shown here. The tab is offset
so there's only one way it only fits
together correctly. Make 2 pieces.
Now do the same with the F10 and
F11 pieces from BP12, so you'll have a two pair of pieces to use in
the next steps.
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Step 85 - Fuselage - FS8, FS9 install
The FS8/9 pieces installed next. These are used to reinforce the
canopy area between F4 and F5. Refer to plans on how these
are installed on the side sheeting, up against the 1/4" sq. balsa
framework. Do this for both sides of the fuse.
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Step 86 - Fuselage - FS10, FS11 install
Now glue the FS10/11 pieces in to reinforce the lower fuselage
between F5 and F6. Again, refer to plans for exact placement.
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Step 87 - Fuselage - Sanding
Lightly sand the top and bottom of the fuselage to remove any
excess glue and make sure the surfaces are level, as you'll be
installing cross-sheeting in the next few steps.
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Step 88 - Fuselage - Top cross-sheeting
Locate one of the uncut
1/16" x 4" x 24" balsa sheets.
You'll use this same sheet to
create all of the cross-grained
sheeting for the fuselage.
This is done a piece at a time,
starting at the base of the
"canopy's" windscreen. Hold
the 1/16” sheeting against
the fuselage, making sure the
grain is cross-ways. Mark, cut and glue a portion of the sheeting in
position. Repeating this technique, work your way forward to the
nose.
Also cut the piece needed to form the angled "windscreen". It will
need a slightly mitered edge to match the sheeting you already
installed. Sand that edge to achieve the correct angle.
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Step 89 - Fuselage - Bottom cross-grained sheeting
Flip the fuselage over and create
the pieces needed to cover the
area from the front of the wing
saddle forward to the nose - again
from 1/16" balsa sheeting.
It will take several pieces to
properly form the "hump" and
make sure you properly bevel
them for the correct fit.
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Step 90 - Fuselage - Rear cross-grained sheeting
Finish sheeting the fuselage with more
of the 1/16" sheeting. The top can be
sheeted from the windscreen, all the
way aft to the vertical fin. Then, when
you reach the vertical fin, the pieces that
surround it can be length-grain, rather
than cross grain.
Flip the fuselage over the complete the
fuselage sheeting by starting at the rear
of the wing saddle and working your
way back to the rear of the fuselage.