15
❏
4. Enlarge the middle hole in both sides of the
steering arm with a 3/32" [2.4mm] drill. Insert a 2-56
ball link ball in the hole. Secure each ball with a 2-56
nut and a drop of threadlocker.
❏
5. Use wire cutters to cut the supplied braided cable
into two equal lengths. Slide a small copper tube
(called a swage) over one end of the cables, then
guide the end of the cable back through.
❏
6. Wrap the cable
back around the swage
and back through the
swage.
❏
7. Use pliers to pull the cable from the fi rst loop to
reduce the size of the second loop.
❏
8. Now pull on the long end of the cable to reduce
the size of the fi rst loop. Slip the loop over one of the
ball link balls on the steering arm. Tighten the loop
until it is small enough to remain secure on the ball,
yet may still be pried off. Squeeze the swage with
pliers. Connect the other cable to the other ball link
ball the same way.
❏
9. Connect a 24" actuator extension to the electric
retractable tail gear or air lines to the pneumatic
retractable tail gear.
❏
10. Place the tail gear in the fuselage while
simultaneously guiding the pull/pull cable through
the white plastic guide tubes. Also route the actuator
extension or air lines through the fuselage.
❏
11. Drill four 3/32" [2.4mm] holes through the rails
for mounting the tail gear. If your drill bit is not long
enough to reach the rail nearest the top of the fuselage,
use medium CA to temporarily glue a 3/32" [2.4mm]
drill bit in a 1/8" [3.2mm] brass tube. After drilling the
holes, the drill bit can be removed from the tube by
heating the tube.
❏
12. Mount the tail gear in the fuselage with four #6
x 1/2" [12.7mm] sheet metal screws.
After the British policy of giving names to aircraft
had caught on in the U.S., the XP-47B was dubbed
“Thunderbolt” by C. Hart Miller, Republic’s Director
of Military Contracts. Republic offi cially approved
the name.
