Build The Tail Surfaces; Build The Fin & Rudder - GREAT PLANES Rapture 40 Instruction Manual

BUILD THE TAIL SURFACES

Build the Fin & Rudder
1. Unroll the full-size plan sheet and reroll it inside out to
help it lay flat. Cut the fin plan from the rest of the plan, or
position the plan so the fin is over your building board. Cover
the fin plan with Great Planes Plan Protector or wax paper
so glue will not adhere to the paper.
2. Use the pattern on the plan to cut the fin base from
the 1/4" x 2-1/4" x 24" [6.4 x 57 x 610mm] balsa sheet.
Repositionable spray adhesive may be used to temporarily
stick the pattern to the balsa sheet, or the pattern can
simply be traced onto the sheet. Use a straightedge and a
hobby knife to cut out the part.
3. Pin the fin base to the building board over its location
on the plan.
4. Build the rest of the fin framework from a 1/4" x 1/2" x
36" [6.4 x 13 x 914mm] balsa stick and a 1/4" x 1/4" x 36" [6.4
x 6.4 x 914mm] balsa stick. Use medium CA to glue the parts
together and use T-pins to hold them down as you go. Hint:
The easiest, most accurate way to cut the small sticks is to
place the stick over the structure; use a single-edge razor
blade to make cut marks, then cut the rest of the way through
the stick over your workbench. A miter box is also helpful for
cutting 90° angles on some of the larger balsa sticks.
5. Remove the fin from the plan. Use a bar sander with
80-grit sandpaper to sand both sides flat and round the tip
and leading edge. Follow with 220-grit sandpaper. Final
sanding will be done later.
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