Preparations Before Adding Bottom Wing Sheeting; Sheet The Bottom Of The Wing - Top Flite P-47D THUNDERBOLT User Manual

PREPARATIONS BEFORE ADDING
BOTTOM WING SHEETING
1. Sand the 3/16" x 36" Outer Pushrod Tube so
glue will stick to it. Cut it to the lengths shown on
the plans for the right and left wing panel. Slide the
pushrod tubes through the holes in the ribs and
glue the tubes in position.
If not installing retracts, skip the next three steps.
2. Test fit both retracts in the wing and confirm
that the struts are at the same angle when
retracted and extended. Make adjustments if
necessary, then drill the retract mounting holes
for the mounting screws recommended by
the manufacturer.
3. Temporarily mount the retracts to the rails,
then use left over balsa to build a supporting base
for the sheeting, as shown in the photo.
4. After you have completed the retract
installation in both wing panels, remove the landing
gear. Replace and glue in the scraps of wood you
removed from W-3 and W-4.

SHEET THE BOTTOM OF THE WING

Our suggested wing sheeting process allows
you to sheet the wing panels with two skins per
side with the only seam conveniently placed
directly over the main spar. This technique is better
than sheeting the wing with individual sheets,
easier than sheeting the wing with one big sheet
and allows you to presand all of the seams that
will be over open structure.
All balsa sheeting will usually bend when it's
cut from the log since stresses are relieved. For the
best results, trim the edges of the wing sheeting
with a long metal straightedge and a sharp knife
before joining them.
1. Sort through the remaining 1/16" x 3" x 30"
balsa and pick out the best eight sheets to be used
for the top surfaces of the wing panels. Pick out
eight more 1/16" x 3" x 30" sheets to use on the
bottom of the wing.
2. Lay waxed paper over a flat, smooth
work surface.
3. Make a wing skin half by edge gluing two
1/16" sheets together. Refer to the Hot Tip below
for tips on making skins.
HOW TO PREJOIN SHEETS
FOR WING SKINS
Following is a recommended method of
prejoining the 30" long sheets used to make the
wing skin halves with Aliphatic Resin. The
quantity of aliphatic resin used to glue sheets of
wood together is easier to control than CA and
sands easier as well. The result is a wing skin
with nearly invisible glue joints that requires little
presanding. Less presanding allows you to avoid
making the 1/16" skins too thin.
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A. After sorting the sheets used for the top and
bottom, and truing the edges of each sheet, use
masking tape spaced about every 4" along the
seam of the two sheets to tightly hold them
together.
B. Lay a 30" long sheet of waxed paper on the
work table.
C. Apply a light bead of aliphatic resin to one
of the edges of the taped together sheets then
immediately lay it down on the waxed paper.
D. Use a credit card or piece of thin, rigid
plastic as a squeegee to simultaneously wipe
away the excess glue and press the two sheets
down so the edges are even.
E. Use a sanding block and 220-grit
sandpaper to presand the sheets before fitting
and gluing to the wing.