Build The Fuselage; Preparation; Build The Fuse Top - Top Flite P-47D Thunderbolt User Manual

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2. Use a 3/16" brass tube sharpened on the end
or a 3/16" drill bit to drill holes for your hinges (not
supplied) at the marks you made. We prefer Robart
Super Hinge Points.
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3. Test fit the elevators to the stab with the hinges.
Adjust or relocate hinge slots or holes that don't align.
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4. Bevel the LE of the elevators for control throw. A
razor plane makes this job fast and easy and yields a
clean, sharp bevel. Use the centerline on the elevators
as a guide to keep the bevel centered. Be certain you
can achieve 3/4" of up and 3/4" of down throw as
measured at the widest part of the elevators.
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5. Hinge the rudder and fin, then bevel the LE of the
rudder to achieve 1-3/4" of right and 1-3/4" of left control
throw as measured at the widest part of the rudder.
The Thunderbolt was a massive airplane, the biggest
and heaviest single engine, single-placed fighter
ever built. The engine, the Pratt & Whitney 18
cylinder twin-row radial, developed 2,000 H.P . and
was the most powerful engine at the time. However,
in turn, it needed a highly efficient duct system for its
super-charger. The designer, Alexander Kartveli
designed the duct system first, then built the
fuselage around it.

BUILD THE FUSELAGE

Preparation

Note: The die-cut 1/8" plywood formers are
embossed only with the abbreviated portion of their
name. For example, former F-2B is embossed 2B.
All the formers are die-cut 1/8" plywood unless
otherwise noted.
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1. Glue together a former F-1BR and F-1BL. Sand
them flat and even. Make another assembly the
same way. Glue together both assemblies to make
what will now be called F-1B.
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2. Glue together former bottoms F-2BR and F-2BL
to make up the bottom half of former F-2. From now
-16-
on this assembly will be referred to as F-2B. Sand
F-2B flat and even.
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3. Glue together both former tops F-1.
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4. Drill 3/16" holes through the punch marks in all
the formers to accommodate the outer pushrod
guide tubes. As you drill the holes, push down on the
formers to keep the wood from splitting when the drill
bit goes through.
In some of the following photos you will see
additional holes in a few of the formers. We've
simply estimated the locations and drilled holes
for routing the air lines and various wiring for the
radio system (servo cords, battery cords, etc.)
that will run through the fuse. If you can partially
visualize your radio installation and wire routing at
this time, it will be easier to drill these holes now.

Build the fuse top

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1. Cut the top view of the fuselage plan from the
rest of the plan, then place it over your building
board. Cover the top view of the fuse plan with wax
paper or Great Planes Plan Protector.
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2. Bevel one end of two 3/8" x 1/2" x 30" grooved
balsa main stringers so you can splice them together