9
❏
10. Insert a pin into the middle of the fuselage crutch
across the top of the former as shown. Loop the line over
the pin.
❏
11. Hold the line with the tape to one corner of the stab.
Swing the line over to the corner on the other end of the
stab. Adjust the stab and slide the tape along the line until
the stab is centered and equalized.
❏
12. Once you’re satisfi ed with stab alignment, use a
fi ne-point felt-tip pen to mark the outline of the fuselage all
the way around both sides of the horizontal stabilizer. Even
though the ink and most of the covering on top of the stab
are black, you’ll still be able to see the line indicating where
the covering will be cut and removed in the next step.
❏
13. Cut the covering 1/32" [1mm ] inside the lines you
marked around the stab. A hobby knife may be used if
the blade is brand new and sharp so little pressure will be
required for cutting, but extreme care must be used to cut
only through the covering and
not into the sheeting
otherwise, the stab will be weakened. The best way is with
a soldering iron with a cutting-type of tip. A heat setting of
about 500F [260C] seems to work well.
❏
14. Wipe away any residual ink with a paper towel square
dampened with denatured alcohol, then peel the covering
from the stab.
