Section 4: Installing The Vertical Stabilizer - Hangar 9 P-40 Warhawk Assembly Manual

Section 4: Installing the Vertical Stabilizer

Required Parts
• Fuselage assembly
• Tail wheel wire
• Tail wheel wire support bracket
Required Tools and Adhesives
• 30-minute epoxy
• Square
• Pliers

Step 1
Test fit the fin to the fuselage. Slide the fin as far forward
in the slot. Trace the outline of the fuselage onto the fin
using a felt-tipped pen.

Step 2
Remove the fin and use a hobby knife with a new blade
to remove the covering 1/16" below the lines just drawn.
Use rubbing alcohol and a paper towel to remove the lines
once they are no longer needed.
• Fin
• Steering control arm
• 30-minute epoxy
• Hobby knife
• Ruler
Note: Use care not to cut into the underlying
wood and weaken the structure. Doing so
could cause the fin to fail in flight, resulting in
the loss of your airplane.

Step 3
Slide the fin back into the fuselage. Check the alignment
of the fin to the stabilizer using a square. The fin must
be 90 degrees to the stabilizer when properly aligned. If
not, carefully sand the bottom of the fin to provide the
clearance to align the fin.

Step 4
Mix 1/2 ounce of 30-minute epoxy. Apply the epoxy to
both the exposed wood on the fin and the slot in the
fuselage. Use care not to get epoxy on the elevator joiner
wire. Insert the fin and use tape to hold the fin in position
until the epoxy fully cures.
Note: Check the alignment of the fin
periodically to make sure it isn't moving while
the epoxy cures.
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