.
Fin And Rudder
45.
a.
Tape the fin plan to the building board, and cover it with waxed paper.
b.
Glue and pin down the 1/4" laser cut balsa pieces (FN-1, FN2, FN-3, and FN-4) over the plans.
c. Cut the two 1/4" X 3/8" balsa ribs and glue in place with THIN CA.
d.
Glue the 1/4" x 5/8" fin trailing edge to the fin frame.
e.
When the glue has cured remove the frame from the building board and fill any gaps in the fin frame with MEDIUM
CA.
46.
a.
The fin is sheeted on both sides with 1/16" x 3" x 10-1/2" balsa left over from sheeting the stabilizer. Assemble the
balsa sheets per the diagram on a piece of waxed paper with THIN CA to make two fin skins. If the waxed paper is
sprayed with accelerator before gluing the skins, the CA will not wick between the waxed paper and the balsa skins.
b.
Separate the skins from the waxed paper and sand the joints smooth BEFORE attaching them to the fin frame.
Sanding the skins after attaching them to the framework will result in a "ripple effect".
47.
a.
Sand both sides the fin frame to smooth out the glue joints. Also sand the ends of the leading and trailing edges.
b.
Apply THICK CA or SIG-BOND to one side of the fin frame, place it over the fin skin, press in place and immediately
pin the assembly down to the building board to keep it flat while the glue cures.
c. Repeat for the opposite skin and allow the glue to cure.
d.
Sand the sheets flush with the fin frame all around. Round the leading edge with a sanding block.
48.
a.
Temporarily pin or tape the stabilizer to the fuselage. Trial fit the fin in the fuselage and on top of the stabilizer. It
may be necessary to trim the length of the fin trailing edge to allow the base of the fin to set on top of the stabilizer.
Leave the fin in place until after the tailwheel has been fitted.
b.
Round off the trailing edge and the bottom of the laser-cut 3/8" balsa rudder. Sand two 300 bevels on the leading
edge of the rudder with a sanding block. A pencil line drawn down the center of the rudder will help keep the bevel
symmetrical.
c. Cut a slot in the bottom of the rudder to accept the tailwheel wire.
49.
a.
Align the bottom edge of rudder with the fuselage bottom and tape in place.
b.
Trial fit the tailwheel assembly. Adjust the bends in the wire and the slot in the bottom of the rudder as necessary
until the nylon tailwheel bracket seats properly on the fuselage bottom and the tailwheel wire is aligned with the
rudder; i.e., flat in the slot and in line with the rudder.
c. When satisfied with the fit of the tailwheel assembly remove it from the fuselage and rudder. Prepare the washers
and wire for soldering.
BUILDER'S TIP:
#2 flat washers are included in the kit to act as retainers for the tailwheel and as a support to transfer the loads
from the tailwheel wire to the tailwheel bracket. You can use 3/32 "wheel collars (not included), but the soldered
washers give a more "finished" look and are more reliable.
The secret to successful soldering is cleanliness. Sand the washers and the wire where the washers are to be
soldered and then wipe everything clean with alcohol before attempting to solder the washers to the wire.