Building Supplies; Glue & Fillers; Tools; Important Building Notes - Top Flite Douglas DC-3 User Manual

BUILDING SUPPLIES

Here's a checklist of supplies you should have on hand
while you're building. Some of these are optional. Use
your own experience to decide what you need. We
recommend Great Planes Pro ™ CA and Epoxy.
GLUE/FILLER
4 oz. Thin CA (GPMR6004)
4 oz. Medium CA+ (GPMR6010)
2 oz. Thick CA- (GPMR6015)
CA Accelerator (GPMR6035)
CA Debonder (GMPR6039)
CA Applicator Tips (HCAR3780)
30-minute (GPMR6047)
or
45-minute (GPMR6048) epoxy
6-minute epoxy (GPMR6045)
Pro Wood Glue (GPMR6161)
Microballoons (TOPR1090)
Milled Fiberglass (GPMR6165)
Lightweight Hobby Filler (Balsa Color, HCAR3401)
Auto body filler (Bondo ® or similar)
Isopropyl Alcohol (to clean up excess epoxy)

TOOLS

#11 Blades (HCAR0311, 100 qty.)
Single Edge Razor Blades (HCAR0312, 100 qty.)
Razor Plane (MASR1510)
Hobbico Builder's Triangle (HCAR0480)
T-Pins (HCAR5100 (S), HCAR5150 (M), HCAR5200 (L)
Drill Bits: 1/16", #41 (or 3/32"), 9/64" (or 1/8"), 5/32",
1/4", #10 (or 3/16") (or 1/4-20 tap and drill set),
#43(or 4-40 tap and drill set)
1/4-20 Tap and drill (GPMR8105)
4-40 Tap and drill (GPMR8101)
Tap wrench (GPMR8120)
Curved Tip Scissors (HCAR0667)
Long handle 9/64" ball end hex wrench (GPMR8004)
Silver Solder w/flux (GPMR8070)
Great Planes Plan Protector (GPMR6167) or wax paper
Masking Tape
Easy–Touch ™ Bar Sanders*
Dremel ® #178 cutting bit for countersinking screws
in the servo hatch covers
RECOMMENDED COVERING TOOLS
AND ACCESSORIES
Top Flite Heat Gun (TOPR2000)
Top Flite Trim Seal Tool (TOPR2200)
-and-
Top Flite Sealing Iron (TOPR2100)
Top Flite Hot Sock (TOPR2175)
-or-
21 st Century Sealing Iron (COVR2700)
21 st Century Cover Sock (COVR2702)
EASY-TOUCH ™ BAR SANDER
*A flat, durable, easy to handle sanding tool is a
necessity for building a well finished model. Great
Planes makes a complete range of Easy-Touch Bar
Sanders (patented) and replaceable Easy-Touch
Adhesive-backed Sandpaper. While building the DC-3
we used two 5-1/2" Bar Sanders and two 11" Bar
Sanders equipped with 80-grit and 150-grit Adhesive-
backed Sandpaper. Here's the complete list of Easy-
Touch Bar Sanders and Adhesive Backed Sandpaper.
5-1/2" Bar Sander (GPMR6169)
11" Bar Sander (GPMR6170)
22" Bar Sander (GPMR6172)
33" Bar Sander (GPMR6174)
44" Bar Sander (GPMR6176)
11" Contour Multi-Sander (GPMR6190)
12' roll of Adhesive-backed sandpaper:
80-grit (GPMR6180)
150-grit (GPMR6183)
180-grit (GPMR6184)
220-grit (GPMR6185)
Assortment pack of 5-1/2" strips (GPMR6189)
We also use Top Flite 320-grit (TOPR8030, 4 sheets)
and 400-grit (TOPR8032, 4 sheets) wet-or-dry
sandpaper for finish sanding.
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IMPORTANT BUILDING NOTES

• There are two types of screws used in this kit.
Sheet metal screws are designated by a number
and a length.
For example #6 x 3/4" [19.1mm]
Machine screws are designated by a number,
threads per inch and a length.
For example 4-40 x 3/4" [19.1mm]
• When you see the term test fit in the instructions, it
means that you should first position the part on the
assembly without using any glue, then slightly modify
or custom fit the part as necessary for the best fit.
• Whenever the term glue is used you should rely upon
your experience to decide what type of glue to use.
When a specific type of adhesive works best for that
step we will tell you what type of glue to use.
• Whenever just epoxy is specified you may use either
30-minute epoxy or 6-minute epoxy. When 30-minute
epoxy is specified it is highly recommended that you
use only 30-minute (or 45-minute) epoxy because you
will need the working time and/or the additional strength.
• Occasionally we refer to the top or bottom of the model
or up or down . To avoid confusion, the top or bottom
of the model is as it would be when the airplane is
right side up and will be referred to as the top even if
the model is upside down during that step, i.e. the top
main spar is always the top main spar even if the wing
is upside down when you are working on it. Similarly,
move the former up means move the former toward
the top of the fuselage even if the fuselage is upside
down when you are working on it.
• When you get to each step, read that step completely
through to the end before you begin. Frequently there
is important information or a note at the end of the step
that you need to know before you start.