Table of Contents
Advertisement
Cover the wing
❏
1. If you've chosen the "Tarheel Hal" trim scheme
on the kit box cover, the wing isn't as detailed as the
fuse and is rather straightforward. Start by covering
the belly pan in four strips running from front to back.
❏
2. Add the invasion stripes. These can be straight
strips of MonoKote. On our prototype we made them
3-1/2" wide (meaning the white stripes should be
3-3/4" wide to allow for a 1/8" over lap on both sides
of the black).
❏
3. Cover the remainder of the wing in aluminum.
❏
4. Cover the flaps and ailerons starting with the
ends, then the bottoms and tops. Make certain the
invasion stripes on the flaps line up with the invasion
stripes on the wing.
❏
5. Cover the 1/16" ply aileron and flap hatch
covers, the balsa retract hatch covers and the wheel
covers (if you've made them) to match the bottom of
the wing.
Apply the decals
❏
1. Cut the decals from the included decal sheet.
❏
2. Place the decals on the model where shown on
the kit box. For larger decals such as the stars and
bars, first dip the decal in a solution of warm water
and soap (about five or six drops of liquid dish soap
per quart of water). Then, place the decal on the
model, slide it into position, and squeegee the water
out from under the decal with a rubber squeegee or
a piece of soft balsa. This will aid in positioning the
decal and eliminate air bubbles. Some small wrinkles
can be removed with a little heat from a heat gun.
❏
3. Don't forget to fill out the identification decal and
stick it somewhere in your model. The AMA requires
this information in or on the model.
Apply panel lines
If you plan to do the panel lines with a pen, don't do
them until after the model is completely finished and
has been balanced. This will minimize all the
handling you'll be doing in the meantime which can
smudge the panel lines.
If you think your model looks good now, wait 'til you
see it with panel lines. Panel lines are easy to apply
and really enhance the model's appearance. The
pictures on the box cover may be used as a
reference, but if your model will be entered in
competition refer to 3-view drawings in your
documentation package for accurate placement of
the lines.
Some of the panel lines on the model on the kit box
cover are made from MonoKote and some of them are
drawn with a Top Flite Panel Line Pen (TOPQ2510).
The ones that go around the fuse are MonoKote
because, the same as the invasion stripes, they are not
straight and cannot be drawn on with a straightedge. All
the rest of the panel lines are made with the Panel Line
Pen. Use a Top Flite Smart Stripe (TOPR2420) to cut
panel lines from black MonoKote.
-55-
The various hatches and rivets were made using a Top
Flite Scale Template (TOPR2187) and homemade
templates from sheets of plastic.
Note: Ink panel lines that come into contact with fuel
will wash away immediately. Over time they will
smudge and fade from handling with oily hands, but
they can always be "freshened up" by going back over
them with a Panel Line Pen. If you would prefer more
permanent panel lines, make them from MonoKote.
FINAL ASSEMBLY
Join the control surfaces
❏
1. Test fit the control surfaces with the hinges to
make sure they fit. If necessary, trim hinges that are
too long (a few of the flap and aileron hinges on our
prototype had to be shortened to fit all the way in).
❏
2. Join all the control surfaces to the model with
the hinges using 30-minute epoxy. Do one control
surface at a time, mixing up fresh batches of epoxy
as required.
Hint: Add a drop of plastic-compatible oil or a dab of
petroleum jelly to the hinge pins to keep epoxy from
entering. You can also lightly coat the LE of the
control surface and the TE of the model with a thin
film of oil to prevent epoxy from adhering.
Hide quick links:
Advertisement
Table of Contents
