Sheet The Belly Pan - Top Flite P-47D THUNDERBOLT User Manual

7. Make a Mounting Post from left over 1/8"
lite-ply to secure the outer pushrod tube for the
release mechanism. Position it so that when the
cable guide tube is inserted through the bottom
sheeting next to the W-1 ribs, it lines up with the
release mechanism. Glue the post to the stringer
and the bottom wing sheeting.
8. Glue two more shorter 3/16" stringers next to
the middle stringer behind 3-C to support the
sheeting around the release mechanism. Mount
the release mechanism to the middle stringer with
the screws supplied then trace its outline on the
stringers. Remove the release mechanism.

SHEET THE BELLY PAN

1. Trace the bottom of the wing (on the fuse
plan) to make a pattern for the belly pan sheeting.
Make two belly pan sides from 3/32" x 3" x 24"
balsa sheet. The belly pan sides extend from the
bottom wing sheeting to the middle of the first
stringer. Test fit each sheet, make adjustments as
required, then glue them to the stringer, bottom
wing sheeting and the formers.
2. Use a pen to mark on the belly pan sides the
location of the gap between fuselage former F-2
and the forward belly pan former 2C (so you know
where to guide the razor saw when the belly pan is
separated from the fuselage).
3. Estimate the location and cut the oval shaped
holes for the wing bolt tubes in each belly pan side
sheet. Start by making a small hole in the sheeting
above the wing bolts and adjust the position of the
hole as you enlarge it. Hint: If you have accurately
positioned belly pan former 4-C, the center of the
hole will be 1/4" (17/64" to be exact) ahead of it;
and the inner edge of the hole should cut about
half-way through the side stringer.
4. Test fit the tube in each hole and confirm that
it will fit over the head of the wing bolts. Make
adjustments then cut two 2" sections from the tube.
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Insert the tubes in the wing, trace a line on them
using the sheeting as a guide then cut the tubes to
the approximate beveled shape. Glue the tubes to
the belly pan side sheet and the wing sheeting. Be
careful not to get any glue on the heads of the
nylon wing bolts and accidentally glue the bolts
to the tubes or wing bolt plate.
5. Make a bottom belly pan sheet from 3/32" x
3" x 24" balsa. After you have custom fit the first
section (but before you have glued it in place), use
it as a template to make the other half. If you are
installing the drop tank release mechanism, use
the outline you drew on the center stringers as a
guide to cut out a section of balsa to clear it. Glue
the sheet in position.
6. As you did in step 2, use a pen to mark the
location of the gap between F-2 and 2C on the
bottom sheet.
7. Make another bottom belly pan sheet for the
other side and glue it in position.
8. After the belly pan is completed, use a razor
plane and sandpaper to rough shape the belly pan.
With the marks made on the belly pan sheeting as
a guide, saw through the belly pan sheeting with a
razor saw and separate the wing from the fuselage.