doesn’t align with the tip, adjust the stab and the arrow
slightly and check both tips again. Adjust the stab until the
stabilizer tips and the TE are centered.
❏
5. View the stab from approximately 3m [10 feet] behind
the plane. Check that the stab is parallel with the wing. If it is
not, lightly sand the stab saddle until the stab is parallel with
the wing.
❏
6. Use a fine-point felt-tip pen to mark the outline of the
fuselage onto the bottom of the stab.
❏
7. Remove the stab from the fuselage. Use a sharp #11
hobby knife or the
“Expert Tip” that follows to cut the
covering from the stab just inside the lines you marked. Use
care to cut only the covering and not the wood. Cutting the
wood will weaken the stab and it may break in flight.
❏
8. Reinstall the stabilizer onto the fuselage. Use the string
method to align the stabilizer and glue it in place with thin CA.
❏
9. Test fit the fin on the stabilizer. Make sure that the fin is
perpendicular to the stabilizer and the TE is flush with the aft
end of the fuselage.
❏
10. Use a fine-point felt-tip pen to mark the outline of the
fin on the top of the stabilizer.
❏
11. Remove the fin from the stabilizer. Using the same
technique used for the stab, cut the covering from the top of
the stabilizer just inside the lines you marked. Use care to
cut only the covering and not the wood. Cutting the wood will
weaken the stabilizer and it may break in flight.
❏
12. Remove the covering from the tabs of the fin and the
bottom edge of the fin that will be adhered to the stabilizer.
❏
13. Use a small modeling square to make sure that the fin
is perpendicular to the stabilizer and secure it in place with CA.
HOW TO CUT COVERING FROM BALSA
Use a 25-watt soldering iron to cut the covering from the
stab. The tip of the soldering iron doesn’t have to be sharp,
but a fine-tip does work best. Allow the iron to heat fully.
Use a metal straightedge to guide the soldering iron at a
rate that will just melt the covering and not burn into the
wood. The hotter the soldering iron, the faster it must
travel to melt a fine cut. Allow the heat to melt the
covering. Do not apply much pressure or the wood may be
damaged. Peel off the covering.
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