Top Flite Contender User Manual page 20

HobbyLite ™ . Allow the filler to completely harden.
Trim the protruding pushrod guide tube to within 1/8"
from the fuse side. Then with a sanding block and
150-grit sandpaper, sand the pushrod guide tube
and filler material flush with the fuse side.
11. Locate the 2" [51mm] long balsa tapered tail
post and glue it in place at the end of the fuselage.
Sand it flush with the top and bottom of the fuse.
Sand the edges of the fuse bottom to be flush with
the fuse sides.
12. Remove the pins holding the fuselage to the
building board.
13. Sand the bottom of the fuse smooth. Using
3/32" x 3" x 30" [2.4 x 76 x 762mm] balsa, cut and
glue the sheets to the bottom of the fuselage. Cut the
balsa so that the grain of the sheeting is running
across the fuselage as shown on the plan cross-
sections. When you have finished gluing the
sheeting in place, sand it flush with the fuse sides.
14. Edge glue two pieces of 3/32" [2.4mm] balsa
and cut it to fit the area where the flap rests on the
fuselage bottom. Do this even if you are not installing
the functional flap.
15. If you are installing the functional flap, cut a
3/4" x 1" [19.1 x 25.4mm] slot in the center of the
sheeting. This will allow proper clearance for the flap
control horn to pass through the sheeting when the
flap is deployed.
16. Locate the die-cut 1/8" [3.2mm] ply formers
F-1A, F-1B and F-1C. Use 6-minute epoxy to glue
F-1A and F1-B together. Glue F-1C to the back of
F1-B, locating the top of F1-C 3/4" from the top of
F1-A/F1-B assembly. Set the assembly aside to cure.
17. Locate the die-cut 1/8" [3.2mm] ply stabilizer
base. Use 6-minute epoxy to glue it in place at the
rear of the fuselage. Use masking tape to hold it in
place while the epoxy cures.
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18. Drill four 11/64" [4.4mm] diameter holes at the
punch marks on the upper half of the firewall assembly
to accommodate the engine mount blind nuts.
19. Drill four 3/32" [2.4mm] holes at the punch
marks on the lower half of the firewall assembly to
attach the nose gear mount.
20. On the back side of the firewall, install four
6-32 blind nuts in the 11/64" [4.4mm] diameter holes
you drilled. Wick some thin CA under the blind nuts
to help secure them to the firewall.
21. Use #4 x 1/2" [12.7mm] sheet metal screws to
secure the nose gear mount to the back of the firewall.