T
HIS is a good time to cover the elevator,
rudder and the trailing edges of the hori-
zontal and vertical tails. After all of the
model is assembled, do the remainder of the
covering.
Locate the position of the elevator horn as
shown on the plans. The edge of the horn
should be as close to the vertical stabilizer
as possible. Drill the
1
⁄
16
" holes for the mount-
ing screws. Insert the two #4 x
3
⁄
8
" sheet metal
screws though the top of the elevator, and
thread them directly into the nylon control
horn. Install the elevator and rudder hinges
using the same procedure as on the aileron
hinges.
The small size of the Phoenix tail boom makes it difficult to
use a normal clevis to connect to the horns. Instead we use a
Z bend. All adjustments are made with the clevis on the servo
end of the pushrod. To remove the pushrods, simply unscrew
the control horns, and slide the entire pushrod out the back
of the tailboom. The use of the #4 screws from the top of the
elevator allows us to remove the elevator horn more easily.
F
IND the two
3
⁄
16
" square balsa pushrods
that you set aside earlier. Bend and cut
the two pieces of
1
⁄
16
" Z-bend wire as shown
on the plans. There is not a lot of room in the
back of the tailboom, so make the pushrods
carefully. Drill the
1
⁄
16
" hole through the
pushrods. Glue the wire to the pushrods with
CA. Wrap the ends of the pushrods with
thread as shown. Saturate the thread with
glue.
Trim the rudder and elevator horns to the
length shown on the plans.
Phoenix uses wood pushrods for several rea-
sons. First, and most important, balsa
pushrods used in a model with a balsa fuse-
lage will have essentially no change in trim with changes in
humidity or temperature. Once you get the model trimmed
out, it will stay trimmed. This is a big advantage on a model
like Phoenix. Second, if you keep the pushrods straight, they
will be very rigid, so you will have precise control at all
speeds. The Phoenix tailboom and offset vertical tail were
designed so the pushrods could be perfectly straight. Finally,
the wood pushrods are very light.
Bend and cut the wire
Glue and bind to pushrods
Trim horns to length
Phoenix
Page 25
Final Assembly
Assemble pushrods
Cover the control surfaces
Attach horn to elevator
Hinge the control surfaces
Attach elevator horn
❏
❏
❏
❏
❏
❏
