Fit The Cabin Top - Top Flite Douglas DC-3 User Manual

4. Sheet the hatch with leftover 3/32" balsa. After the
glue dries, temporarily remove the hatch (to make sure
you have not inadvertently glued it to the fuse) and
replace it to the fuse. Sand the hatch to match the fuse.
5. The method we used to secure the hatch to the
fuse was simply to cover the fuse and the hatch as one
as if there was no hatch. It is not likely that you will ever
need to access the connectors inside the hatch but if
you ever do, just cut through the covering around the
hatch. If you would like to make the hatch more easily
removable, you may use your own method to secure the
hatch (such as screws or tape).

FIT THE CABIN TOP

1. Cut the molded plastic cabin top along the cutlines
(always cut about 1/8" beyond the cutlines to allow
for trimming).
2. Bevel the edges of the die-cut 1/8" plywood cabin
base to match the sides of the molded plastic cabin top
and place it on the fuse. Glue the die-cut 3/32" balsa top
aft cabin former F3C to the bottom aft cabin former
F3C. From now on this is F3C. Position F3C on top of
the cabin crutch against former F3 and shape so it is
about 1/32" smaller than fuse sheeting (to accommodate
the thickness of the plastic cabin top).
3. Temporarily hold F3C to the fuse with T-pins.
4. Position the plastic cabin top on the fuse. Note any
high spots where the cabin top needs to be trimmed for
a good fit. Trim as necessary
A NOTE ABOUT THE WINDOWS
A clear plastic sheet is provided for the windows. You
may cut the window openings in the cabin top and
install the clear plastic windows, just make stickers or
paint on simulated windows. If you decide to install
the clear windows, cut the window openings from the
cabin top along the cutlines (most easily seen from
the inside). Cut the individual clear windows using the
cutouts in the cabin top as a guide. You can cut the
clear windows slightly oversize and glue them to the
inside of the cabin top, or carefully cut them to the
exact size and inset them into the cabin top as we did
- 31 -
on our prototype (shown in the photo). When it's time
to install the windows (after you paint the cabin top),
you can carefully glue them in place with a small
amount of medium CA or canopy glue. Cover the
seams between the windows and the cabin top with
3/32" black striping tape. If the clear windows seem
like more work than you are willing to do, make
window stickers from trim sheet using the window
patterns on the plan (actually, the window stickers
don't look bad—there's nothing to see inside the
cabin anyway!) .
5. Use your bar sander to sand the front of the cabin
top even with the front of the fuselage.
6. Draw a centerline around the front of the shaped
balsa nose block. Test fit, then glue the nose block to
the front of the fuselage.
7. Roughly carve the nose block to match the fuselage
and the shape shown on the plan. Use the centerline you
drew as a guide to keep the nose block symmetrical.