Top-flite TOPA0400 User Manual

WARRANTY...Top Flite Models guarantees this kit to be free of defects in bothmaterial and workmanship at the date of purchase. This warranty does n

the die-cut 1/8" balsa S-1 ribs and insert theassembly into position to check the fit. Use 6-minute epoxy to glue the assembly into position,maki

❏ 19. Remove the stab from the building surface.Trim off the jig tabs with a sharp knife. Trim andblend the LE and TE to the top of the ribs as youdid

❏ 6. Sand the LE to match the ribs on the upwardfacing side (left side). Sand the ends of the TEflush with the ribs.❏ 7. Make a fin skin for each side

❏ 4. Align the rudder plate over the plan and markthe “rib” locations on both sides of the rudder plate.(See the photo in step 5).❏ 5. Glue the rudder

❏ 3. Use 30-minute epoxy to glue the die-cut 1/8"plywood wing ribs W-5 between the lazer-cut 1/8"birch ply rib doublers W-5W and W-5Z. Use 3

❏❏9. Glue the lower 1/4" x 1/4" x 30" balsa TEspar as far forward as possible in the slots in ribsW-2 through W-8.❏❏10. Glue the lower

❏❏16. Sight down the wing TE to make sure itis still straight. Shim any low jig tabs if required.From the 3/32" x 3" x 30" balsa sheets

❏❏22. Cut eleven 1-1/4" long pieces from the3/4" x 3/4" x 30" balsa stick to make hinge pointbackups. Glue the backups at the flap

JOIN THE WING PANELS❏ 1. Trim and sand the ends of the spars, LE’s andTE’s of both wing panels flush with the tip rib W-12.Excess overhang will affect

❏ 13. Insert the die-cut 1/8" plywood F-8C into theaft end of the radiator assembly. Make sure all theedges are square and properly aligned. Make

TABLE OF CONTENTSAND BUILDING SEQUENCEINTRODUCTION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3PRECAUTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

❏ 21. See the cross section at W-1 on the fuselageplan for the proper orientation of the angle on thefront of the W-1A ribs. Use 6-minute epoxy to glu

❏ 9. Cut one 3/32" x 3" x 30" balsa sheet in half(two 15" lengths). Make four wing skins by edgegluing three 3/32" x 3"

SHEET THE TOP OF THE WING❏ 1. Trim any remaining jig tabs from the top ofthe wing. Use a long sanding bar to remove anyhigh spots and excess glue. ❏ 2

BUILD THE AILERONS❏❏1. Glue the die-cut 1/4" balsa aft LE (ALE)centered on the die-cut 1/4" balsa forward LE (FLE).❏❏2. Use a razor plane an

❏❏11. Use the excess 3/32" balsa trimmedfrom the aileron skins to make end caps on the ailerons.❏ 12. Return to step 1 and construct the other ai

together edgewise to make two flap skins 3/32" x4-1/2" x 30". Trim the flap skins following thedrawing. Save the excess balsa sheet to

❏❏14. Tape the flap to the wing. Sand the TE ofthe wing to match the flap TE angle. Leftover balsasheet can be used to fill any gaps between thewing s

❏ 9. Tape the fuselage bottom view over your flatbuilding surface ( we recommend cutting that part ofyour plan loose to make it easier to handle). Cov

❏ 16. Use 6-minute epoxy to glue the die-cutplywood sub-former F-8D to the aft face of formerF-8A/B. Make sure the 3/8" holes line up. Thisassemb

❏ 25. Position the retractable tail wheel on therails and mark the mounting hole locations. Drill a 7/64" pilot hole at each mark. Attach theretr

INTRODUCTIONThank you for purchasing the Top Flite GiantScale Gold Edition P-51D Mustang. Since this isa scale model with lots of detail, you’ll find

❏ 35. Glue 3/8" triangle reinforcement at theforward and aft joints between former F-10 and thebalsa fuse sides.❏ 36. Insert the outer pushrod tu

❏ 6. Glue the radiator corners to the fuse. Wettingthese sheets may be required depending on thesoftness of the wood. You may need to use tape tohold

❏ 7. Slide the die-cut 1/8" plywood tank floorthrough the notches in former F-3 and align theforward end of the tank floor with the line you drew

❏ 7. Tape a piece of leftover balsa between thefuse sides at the aft end of the fuse. Insert a T-pin inthe leftover balsa on the fuse centerline and t

❏ 4. Use the stab plan to locate the elevatortorque rod positions. Cut slots centered in the stabTE for the torque rod guides. Test fit the elevatorto

❏ 14. Install the two elevator servos, rudder servoand tail wheel steering servo in the fuse. Hook upthe radio and center the servo arms on theelevato

rib E-1 to the outside of rib E-6. After the top andbottom skins are applied, a 3/32" balsa cap will beinstalled on the face of E-1.❏❏3. Place th

❏❏14. Drill a 3/32" hole into the elevator for thetorque rod, perpendicular to the LE. Make a slotlarge enough to clear the torque rod from the 3

a leftover piece of outer pushrod tube. Drill a 3/16"hole through former F-3 so that the outer pushrodtube is aligned with the throttle servo arm

❏❏15. Thoroughly wet the outside of theforward deck sheeting with warm water. Allow thewater to soak into the wood for a few minutes. Testfit the shee

LANDING GEARThe Top Flite Giant P-51 is designed for the Robart#622-5 retracts. Robart # will work great if youprefer to use fixed main landing gear.S

INSTALL THE DORSAL FINNOTE: A few early P-51Ds did hot have a dorsalfin. If you have a particular plane/trim scheme inmind, check to see if it has a d

❏ 5. Make a mark on the outside of the fuselagesides 1-3/4" below the fuse side's top edge. Thismark will designate the bottom of the cowl s

❏ 3. Test fit the cowl halves together and makeadjustments as necessary.❏ 4. Join the cowl halves together with thin ormedium CA. NOTE: Do not use CA

❏ 14. After the filler cures, sand it flush with theplastic. Wet sand the entire cowl with 400-grit sandpaper in preparation for primer.BUILD THE WING

❏ 9. Allow the filler to dry completely. It may takeovernight, depending on the thickness of the filler.❏ 10. Use cylindrical sanding tools to final s

❏ 2. Trim the left and right scoop halves alongthe molded cut lines. Notice that the left scoop halfhas a tab along the joint that the right scoop ha

❏ 2. At each hinge location drill a 3/16" hole(depending on the type of hinges you are using)centered on the TE of the wing and LE of the flapand

❏ 2. Cut hatch guides from leftover 1/4" x 1/4"balsa stringers. Use thin CA to glue the guidesbetween the hatch blocks, flush with the botto

INSTALL THE RUDDER PUSHROD❏1. Thread a 4-40 nut, a silicone retainer and 4-40 threaded clevis 14 turns onto the end of a 4-40 x 36" threaded push

RETRACT INSTALLATION❏1. Enlarge the retract opening in the bottom wingskin and mount the retracts on the retract rails.❏ 2. Gradually increase the siz

TOOLS❏ Sealing iron (TOPR2100)❏ Heat gun (TOPR2000)❏ Hobby saw, hobby knife (HCAR0100), #11 Blades (HCAR0211)❏ Razor plane (Master Airscrew®)❏ Pliers

slightly contour the epoxy to make a fillet. Removethe masking tape, wet your finger with isopropylalcohol and blend the epoxy mix into the stab, fina

Wing:1. Tips of wing2. Trailing edges of wing 3. Aluminum on the bottom right, followed by theleft wing panel4. Aluminum on the top right, followed by

PAINTINGAfter the model is covered, use fuelproof modelpaint, 30-minute epoxy thinned with alcohol orfinishing resin to coat areas that may be exposed

ATTACH THE CANOPY❏ 1. Before permanently installing the canopy,securely glue your pilot in place on the cockpit floor,if a full cockpit will not be in

BALANCE YOUR MODELNOTE: This section is VERY important and mustNOT be omitted! A model that is not properlybalanced will be unstable and possibly unfl

FIND A SAFE PLACE TO FLYSince you have chosen the Giant P-51D, weassume that you are an experienced modeler.Therefore, you should already know about A

3. Where established, I will abide by the safelyrules for the flying site I use and I will not willfullyand deliberately fly my models in a careless,r

Redundant and fail-safe battery systems arerecommended. The use of anti-glitch devices for long leads arerecommendedThere is no maximum engine displac

FLYINGThe Top Flite Giant P-51D is a great-flying scalewarbird that flies smoothly and predictably. The P-51 does not, however, possess the self-recov

- 59 -FLIGHT LOGDATE COMMENTSStarted ConstructionFinished ConstructionFirst Flight

- 6 -

2-VIEWPhotocopy this page and use the copy to plan your trim scheme.

- 7 -

GET READY TO BUILD1. Unroll the plan sheets. Reroll the plan sheetsinside out to make them lie flat. Wax paper orGreat Planes Plan Protector placed ov

BUILD THE TAIL SURFACESBUILD THE STABILIZER❏ 1. Lay the plan of the stab on a flat work surfaceand cover it with wax paper or Plan Protector. ❏ 2. Loc