.
d. Unpin the stabilizer from the fuselage and apply epoxy glue to the joint. Pin the stabilizer back in the exact same spot,
using the pencil marks on the bottom as your guide. Recheck the front view alignment and adjust if necessary, using the
pins to hold it in correct position until the glue dries. Builder’s Tip: We recommend slow drying epoxy glue (not 5 minute)
for this joint to allow adequate time to get the stabilizer back in exact alignment before the glue dries.
139.
Pin the vertical fin in position on the stab (without any glue). Locate the two balsa
Tail Fairings (sheet 20) and pin them in place along each side of the fin (again
no glue). Mark the Tail Fairing’s location on the top of the stabilizer with a pencil.
This line shows where you will stop the covering on the top of the stab. Remove
the fin and tail fairings from the airplane.
140.
Cover the stabilizer and elevators according to the instructions provided with
your covering material (see covering instructions further ahead in the book).
141a.
Refer to the plans and then mark the locations for the SIG Easy Hinges on the
stabilizer and elevator. Carefully cut a very shallow slit at the hinge location
using a sharp #11 blade in your modeling knife. This first slit should be very
shallow so you can better control the direction of the knife. It’s main purpose is to
establish the hinge slot in the right location, so concentrate on staying on the
marked line. Don’t try to cut too deep on the first pass. Make the slit a little wider
than the actual hinge.
b.
Now make 3 or 4 more cuts in the slit, going a little deeper each time. As you
make additional cuts, concentrate on staying in the slit and aiming straight into
the center of wood so that it won’t come out the side of the of the part.
142a.
After the slots have been cut, insert an Easy Hinge halfway into each slot in the stabilizer. If the hinge is difficult to push
in, re-insert the knife and move it back and forth in the slot a few more times. DO NOT GLUE THE HINGES IN AT THIS
TIME. Now, carefully slide the elevator onto the exposed half of the hinges. You will find it easiest to slide the part onto
the hinges at an angle, one hinge at a time. To set the proper amount of gap between the parts simply deflect the control
surface to the maximum amount of travel desired in each direction. This will automatically set the proper hinge gap.
b.
Place three or four drops of Thin CA glue directly onto the hinge in the gap. You will notice that the glue is quickly wicked
into the slot as it penetrates both the wood and the hinge. Immediately turn the part over and glue the other side of the
hinge. Continue this process until you have glued both sides of all the hinges.
CAUTION: SIG Easy Hinges are designed to be used with any THIN CA adhesive. Make sure you are using the thinnest
variety. Do not use medium or thick CA, or any other type of glue, on Easy Hinges. Also, never use CA accelerator on
Easy Hinges.
143a.
Epoxy the fin securely in place. Do not put any glue on the bottom of the fin post or it may get into the rear tailwheel
anchor nut. Be sure to line up the fin straight with the 1/8"x1/4" fuselage top stringer. Use a triangle to make sure that the
fin is 90 deg. to the stabilizer. Pin in place and let dry.
b.
Sand the front of FN-2 to blend into the top stringer.
144.
Shape and glue the two balsa Tail Bairings in place. After they’re glued on and dry, taper the Tail Fairings at the back to
blend into the fin post.
145a.
Glue a piece of scrap 1/4" sq. balsa on each side of the fin post, between the tail
fairing and the top of the fuselage side. Carve and sand to blend with the
fuselage and tail fairing.
b.
Use a sanding block to taper the rear end of the fuselage sides to blend in with
the fin post.
Note: In this photo, the right side of the fuselage shows this area before shaping.
The left side shows how it should look when it's done.
