10
Step 9
The last alignment step is making sure the wing
and stabilizer are parallel. If they are not, lightly
sand the opening in the fuselage for the stab
until the stab rests parallel to the wing.
Parallel
Step 10
Use a felt-tipped pen to trace the outline
of the fuselage on the stab.
Step 11
Remove the stabilizer from the fuselage, and the
stabilizer from the elevator. Use a hobby knife
with a brand new blade to remove the covering
1/16" (1.5mm) inside the lines just drawn.
Note
: Use care not to cut into the underlying
wood and weaken the structure. Doing so
will almost guarantee stab failure in flight.
Hint
: A soldering iron or hot knife can be used
as an option to the standard hobby knife.
Cool Tip
: Use a little rubbing alcohol and
a paper towel to remove those felt-tipped
marker lines once they are no longer needed.
Step 12
Double-check the alignment, to verify it’s correct. Mix up
1/2 ounce (15 ml) of 30-minute epoxy. Apply the epoxy to
the exposed wood of the stabilizer and into the slot in the
fuselage. Slide the stabilizer into position and remove any
excess epoxy using a paper towel and rubbing alcohol.
After the epoxy fully cures, apply a thin bead of epoxy
to the joint to fill any gaps and to fuel-proof the joint.
Step 13
Roughen up about 1/4" (6mm) of each end of the
carbon tail support using sandpaper. Test fit the carbon
tail support into the hole drilled in the fuse and notch
in the stabilizer. Use 6-minute epoxy to glue the rod
into position. Install both carbon tail supports.
Section 1: Stabilizer Installation