Finishing Touches; Decals - Top Flite Douglas DC-3 User Manual

TEMPORARY PIN
TO KEEP HINGE
3. Join the elevators to the stab with the hinges,
simultaneously installing the joiner wire in the elevators.
If the hinges don't remain centered as you join the
elevators to the stab, remove the stab and insert a pin in
the center of the hinges to keep them centered. Use a
tissue dampened with alcohol to remove excess epoxy
that comes out of the elevators. Make sure there is
approximately a 1/64" gap between the elevators and
the stab so you do not glue them together.
Do not use CA accelerator on any of the hinges
and do not glue the hinges with anything but thin
CA. Do not attempt to glue one half of the hinge at
a time. The hinges will not be properly secured
and could come out while the model is in flight.
ASSEMBLE, THEN APPLY 6 DROPS
OF THIN CA TO CENTER
OF HINGE, ON BOTH SIDES
CENTERED THE CA WICKS
ALONG THE "TUNNELS"
TO THE ENTIRE
HINGE SURFACE
4. Cut a paper towel into approximately 2" squares.
Add six drops of thin CA to the center of the hinges on
both the top and bottom. The tunnels you drilled will
wick the CA into the entire hinge surface. Use the paper
towel squares to absorb excess CA from the hinge gap
before it cures.
5. Use the same hinging method to join the rudder to
the fin (if you've build the non-scale stab and fin) and the
ailerons to the wing.
6. If you've built the scale rudder, cut the covering
from the hole in the top of the rudder for the hinge tube.
Cut the hinge tube so the top end will be just below the
top of the rudder when it is fully inserted.
7. Fill the rudder torque rod hole in the rudder with
epoxy. Join the rudder to the fin and insert the hinge
tube. Use a piece of leftover 1/16" pushrod or something
similar to push the hinge tube so the top rests about
1/32" below the top of the rudder. The hinge tube will not
come out, but seal the hole in the top of the rudder with
a piece of MonoKote.
8. If you've built working flaps, use a toothpick to
apply a small amount of petroleum jelly to the pivot
points of the hinges to keep epoxy out.
9. Use a piece of wire or a toothpick to thoroughly
coat the holes for the flap hinges in the wing and the flap
with the epoxy. Coat one side of the flap hinges with
epoxy and insert them into the wing. Coat the other side
of the hinges with epoxy and join all three flaps with the
flap joiner wires to the wing. Wipe away excess epoxy
before it cures.
pins to hold the flaps into alignment with the TE spar
until the epoxy has fully cured.
horns to the ailerons and flaps. Reinstall any hardware
and other components you may not already have in
place such as the engines and mufflers, retracts, fuel
tanks, servos, on/off switch, fuel filler valves, air filler
valve, etc.
secure it with a 3/32" wheel collar and a drop of thread lock.

DECALS

place the decals.
the decals.
apply them to your model. You can float the decals into
position by first applying soapy water to the model's
surface (just a teaspoon of dish detergent to a quart of
water), then squeegeeing out the water and soap with a
piece of soft balsa or a credit card wrapped with a
tissue. Blot the surface dry and let the decal adhesive
cure for at least 12 hours before running the engines.
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10. Tape the flaps in place and use tape or clothes
11. Reinstall all the pushrods and mount the control
12. Mount a 1-1/2" tail wheel on the tail gear wire and

FINISHING TOUCHES

1. Study the photos on the box to decide where to
2. Thoroughly clean your airplane before you apply
3. Trim the decals as close as practical and carefully