14
Align the stabilizer with the fuse
❏
11. Attach a piece of string with a pin to the center
of the fuselage as shown. Hold the string to the corner
of the horizontal stabilizer. The distance from the pin
to the horizontal stabilizer must be exactly the same
on both sides.
Mark the stab location
❏
12. Using a felt-tip pen, trace a line around the tail
of the airplane on the top and bottom of the
horizontal stabilizer.
Remove the center covering
❏
13. Remove the stabilizer and draw two additional
lines, on the top and bottom, 1/16” inside the lines
drawn in the last step. Next, carefully cut through the
covering at the
inside
lines and remove the covering
from the center.
Do not cut the wood under the
covering! This would seriously weaken the stab and
could easily cause the stab to break in flight.
If the
stab breaks the plane may crash, so be very careful
when you make this cut.
Install the stabilizer
❏
14. Mix 1/4oz. (7.5ml) of 30-minute epoxy. Using a
mixing stick, place glue inside the horizontal stabilizer
slot on all sides including the horizontal stabilizer
mount. Insert the stabilizer from the rear, and adjust
the alignment. Wipe off any epoxy that squeezes out
using a paper towel dampened with rubbing alcohol.
Set the fuselage aside until the glue cures.
Install the vertical fin
❏
15. Trial fit the fin into the slot in the top of the
fuselage. Using a felt tip pen, trace a line around the
front of the fin onto the fuselage. Remove the fin.
Next, using a hobby knife, carefully remove the
covering from where the fin will sit on the fuselage. Be
careful not to cut into the wood.
Mix 1/4oz. (7.5ml) of 30-minute epoxy. Using a
mixing stick, apply epoxy to the top of the horizontal
stab through the slot. Apply epoxy to the sides and
bottom surfaces of the
fin base that have balsa
wood exposed. Insert
the fin into the slot,
making sure the fin base
is seated firmly on the horizontal stabilizer. Check for
a perpendicular angle between the fin and the
stabilizer when viewing from the rear. Check this
alignment several times as the glue cures.
