Now let's build the horizontal stabilizer (stab). Pin and glue the three STAB-3 pieces over the plan, followed by
the STAB-2 piece and the two STAB-1 pieces. Allow to dry.
Remove the stab from the board, and trim the corners off the most forward STAB-3 to match the angle of the stab
LE. Sand the LE smooth and straight, then add the 3/8" sq. balsa leading edge sticks. Trim the sticks for a tight joint
where they meet at the front tip of the stab. Allow to dry.
When dry, trim off the leading edge sticks at the tips and sand the outboard ends of the stab. Now you can glue
the two STAB-4 stabilizer tips in place.
Sand the top and bottom surface of the stabilizer smooth, and round off the leading edge and tips.
Sand the balsa elevator to an even TE thickness if you wish.
Trial fit the elevator to the stab, and sand the ends of the elevator
(if necessary) for about 1/16" clearance at each end.
The STAB-4 tips need to be sanded to match the taper of the
elevator. Tape the elevator to the stab, keeping the ends of the tape
about an inch away from the tips. To really hold the elevator in position,
insert a straight pin at an angle through the elevator TE and into the
STAB-4 piece at each end. Now you can carve and sand the STAB-4
pieces to match the taper of the elevator.
Once again using the plans, draw an accurate centerline on the
top surface of the stabilizer (choose the smoothest side to be the top).
Carefully cut the two holes required for the fin posts. The holes should
be centered on the centerline that you just drew, and spaced to fit the
fin that you built earlier.
Inlay a 1/16" ply control horn pad in the bottom of the elevator. Use the plan as a guide - you will notice that the
pad is offset from the center line to better accommodate the control horn. Again, hold off on the actual installation of
the horn until later, when it can be aligned perfectly with the installed pushrod.
R54
TAIL SURFACES
,
continued...
Insert Straight
Pin Here
Finished Horizontal
Stabilizer
15
Summary of Contents for Reaction 54
Page 1: ...INSTRUCTION BOOK...
