Install Wing Struts And Fairings; Finishing; Final Sanding; Fuel Proofing - Top Flite CESSNA 182 SKYLANE Instruction Book

Install wing struts and fairings

NOTE: See the wing plan for a view of the
strut ends.
1. Poke a T-pin through the hole you drilled
in the Wing Strut Mounting block out through the
Fuse side. Remember? You glued them behind
F-2 at the lower corner of the Fuse.
2. Measure and cut two shaped Wing Struts
to fit between the pin points and the Strut
attachment blocks buried in the wing. Bevel the
two ends to fit closely to the Wing and the Fuse.
3. Trim the ABS Wing Strut Fairings to the
cut lines. Cut an airfoil shape to match the Strut
in the ends of a pair of Fairings. Slide the
Fairings over the Strut and check the fit between
the Wing and the Fuse. Use a round file or
Moto-Tool and sanding drum to shape the
outside ends of the Fairings to blend with the
Fuse and the Wing.
4. Center the lower Fairing over the pin
point and tape it in position around the edges.
While holding the Strut in approximately the
correct position, tack glue the lower Fairing to it
with a drop or two of CA.
5. Center the upper Fairing and Strut over
the mark you made during "Wing Construction",
then tack glue it to the Strut.
6. While holding the Strut in a vise (or
propped up so it can't fall over) fill the Fairing
cavity to the brim with a 30-Minute Epoxy and
microballoon mixture. When the epoxy has
cured, fill the other end in the same manner.
7. Grind or file the epoxy filler to match the
Fuse and Wing contours.
8. Tape the Strut assembly in position.
Carefully drill a 1/16" diameter hole in the
mounting block, perpendicular to the Fairing. If
you miss the Mounting Block, adjust the drill
angle and try again. Enlarge the correct hole in
only the Fairing to 1/8". Drill a countersink
recess about 1/8" deep x 3/16" diameter to
accept a #4 x 3/4" sheet metal screw at each
Fairing attachment point.

FINISHING

Final sanding

Nearly every imperfection in your wood structure
will show through the covering material;
therefore, before covering, you should make a
final check of the entire structure. Fix any
"dings," then sand the entire structure smooth,
using progressively finer grades of sandpaper.
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Fuel proofing

Fuel proofing may be done after covering.
1. Fuelproof the engine compartment, paying
special attention to the firewall. Either Grey (mix
black and white) K&B epoxy paint or 30-Minute
Epoxy is recommended.
2. Fuelproof any external exposed wood (eg:
flap pushrod exits). Matching brush-on K&B or
Perfect Paint works nicely here.

Balance the airplane laterally

SPECIAL NOTE: Do not confuse this
procedure with "checking the C.G." or
"balancing the airplane fore and aft." That
very important step will be covered later in
the manual.
Now that you have the basic airframe nearly
completed, this is a good time to balance the
airplane laterally (side-to-side). Here is how to
do it:
1. Temporarily attach the wing and engine
(with muffler) to the fuselage.
2. With the wing level, lift the model by the
engine propeller shaft and the fin post (this may
require two people). Do this several times.
3. If one wing always drops when you lift the
model, it means that side is heavy. Balance by
gluing weight to the other wing tip.
NOTE: An airplane that has been laterally
balanced will track better in loops and
other maneuvers.