.
FIN AND RUDDER
57
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Pin the fin and rudder plan to the building board and cover with waxed paper.
Pin in place and glue the laser cut parts F-1, F-2, and F-3.
Cut and glue the 1/4"x1/2" balsa fin post on the back of the assembled fin parts.
Remove the glued parts from the plan, reglue all the joints and then sand the assembled
fin flat and smooth.
With a soft pencil or felt tip marker place a centerline from the trailing edge around the
tip, along the leading edge and out to the end of the dorsal fin. Using the centerline as a
guide round off the tip and the leading edge with a sandpaper block.
LEAVE THE TRAILING EDGE AND BOTTOM OF THE FIN SQUARE.
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a.
A piece of 1/4"x3"x12" tapered balsa sheet is provided for making the rudder. Cut the rudder pattern from the plans and
trace the outline on the piece of tapered stock. Cut the rudder to this shape.
NOTE: Cut the notch required to clear the elevator joiner wire.
b.
Notice that one side of the tapered
stock is rougher than the other. Block
sand the rough side of the rudder until
the rudder and fin are the same
thickness. Tape the rudder to the fin
and blend the shape of the tips
together.
c.
Mark a centerline around the tip of the rudder. Using the centerline as a guide taper the trailing edge of the rudder to a
constant thickness. Round off all of the edges of the rudder.
MOUNTING THE TAIL SURFACES
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a.
Mark a centerline on the top of the stabilizer, making sure that the centerline is
perpendicular to the trailing edge of the stabilizer. Pin the stabilizer to the
fuselage, mount the lower wing to the fuselage and measure from each tip of the
stabilizer to the trailing edge of the lower wing. Both measurements should be the
same. If there is any difference slide the stabilizer right or left until the
measurements are identical.
KEEP THE TRAILING EDGE OF THE STABILIZER PERPENDICULAR TO THE
CENTERLINE OF THE FUSELAGE.
Place reference marks on the stabilizer and fuselage so you can glue the
stabilizer in the correct place in a later step.
b.
Mark the inside edges of the fuselage sides on the trailing edge of the stabilizer
as a reference for cutting the notch for the fin post. Remove the stabilizer from
the fuselage and cut a 1/4" wide x 1/2" deep notch in the trailing edge of the
stabilizer.
c.
Mount the bottom wing on the fuselage, pin the stabilizer on the fuselage, making
sure the alignment marks are properly located, and sight from the rear of the
fuselage forward. The tips of the stabilizer should meet the top of the wing at the
same time. If this does not happen, sand the stabilizer platform to bring the
stabilizer and wing into alignment. Sand on one side only - DO NOT CHANGE
THE INCIDENCE by sanding on the front or rear of the stabilizer platform.
