Top-flite TOPA0410 User Manual

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

- 10 -❏ 10. Place one of the stab skins on your building board. Apply an even bead of medium or thick CA to one side of the stab framework. Place the

- 11 -BUILD THE ELEVATORS❏ ❏ 1. Place the die-cut 1/8" [3.2mm] balsa elevator base over the plan. Mark the locations of the “ribs” on both sides

- 12 -❏ ❏ 13. Use a razor plane and bar sander to shape the ribs to match the typical elevator cross-section shown on the plan. Note that there is so

- 13 -❏ 6. Sand the LE of the balance tab base and ribs even. Cut a 3-1/2" long balance tab LE from the remaining 3/8" x 3/4" balsa sti

- 14 -BUILD THE WINGBUILD THE WING CENTER SECTIONNOTE: The wing root ribs are stamped only with a number (2 is R-2), the wing tip ribs are stamped wit

- 15 -❏ 10. Use epoxy to glue the die-cut 1/8" [3.2mm] birch ply forward spar doublers (FSD) to the forward center main spar (the 1/8" birch

- 16 -❏ 21. Insert a T-pin from the back of the LE, through the center of the 5/16" [7.9mm] holes in the wing dowel plate. Keep the T-pins perpen

- 17 -❏ ❏ 9. Use a straightedge to draw lines on the LE and TE, from the bottom edge of rib T-6 to the bottom edge of rib T-7. Use a razor plane and s

- 18 -15/16"[23.8mm]15/16"[23.8mm]Rib T-1Top SparBottom Spar❏ ❏ 4. On the wing tip panel, trim both the top and bottom spar 15/16" [23.

- 19 -SHEET THE WING PANELS❏ 1. Sort through the 3/32" x 3" x 30" balsa sheets, separating the best wood with the most uniform grain

- 2 -TABLE OF CONTENTSINTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3PRECAUTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

- 20 -[3.2mm] plywood wing jigs under the wing tips at T-7 and the 1-1/4" x 1-3/4" x 3-1/4" balsa block under the wing center section T

- 21 -❏ ❏ 18. When satisfied with the fit of the top TE skin, wet it again; apply medium or thick CA on ribs R-1 thorough R-4, the center spar and the

- 22 -❏ ❏ 7. Cut a 3/32" [2.4mm] balsa skin to fit between ribs R-1 and R-3C. The first skin should cover the forward half of the main center spa

- 23 -❏ 3. Glue together the die-cut 1/8" [3.2mm] plywood formers F-6A to F-6B and F-7A to F-7B. Drill 3/16" [4.8mm] holes through the punch

- 24 -❏ 13. Insert the die-cut 1/8" [3.2mm] plywood formers F-3 and F-4 into their appropriate slots in the fuse crutch. Glue the formers to the

- 25 -❏ 21. Use epoxy to glue the die-cut 1/8" [3.2mm] plywood former F-10 to the main fuse stringers and the lower aft fuse plate, perpendicula

- 26 -❏ 31. Glue the die-cut 1/8" [3.2mm] plywood instrument panel perpendicular to the top of the cockpit floor, 1-5/16" [33.3mm] from the

- 27 -36" [914.4mm]6" [152.4mm]3" [76.2mm]❏ 8. Cut one 1/8" x 3" x 36" balsa aft sheet in half diagonally. Edge glue a f

- 28 -❏ 17. Mark an 11/16" [17.5mm] wide slot, approximately 5-1/8" long, centered on the aft end of the turtledeck top for the fin to protr

- 29 -❏ 4. Install a high torque rudder servo in the radio tray. Connect the rudder servo and battery to the receiver, switch on the radio system and

- 3 -INTRODUCTIONThank you for purchasing the Top Flite Gold Edition Giant F4U Corsair. Since this is a scale model with lots of detail, you’ll find i

- 30 -❏ 11. Use 6-minute epoxy to glue the die-cut 1/16" [1.6mm] plywood lower gear supports doublers (LGSD) to the inside of both die-cut 1/8&qu

- 31 -flush with each other. Slide former F-8B over the lower gear supports. When satisfied with the fit, use 6-minute epoxy to glue the assembly in t

- 32 -❏ 5. Clean the 1/4-24 blind nuts with isopropyl alcohol and use epoxy to glue them into the mounting holes from the back of the firewall.Option:

- 33 -❏ 9. Fit and glue a second lower fuse sheet to the other side.❏ 10. Fit a third lower fuse sheet in place from the middle of the first stringer

- 34 -❏ 5. Use 3/32" x 3" x 24" balsa to sheet the bottom of the wing center section, between the R-5 ribs.❏ 6. Cover the wing saddle w

- 35 -match the angle of the wing saddle. Carefully glue former W-6E to the top center wing sheeting. Do not glue it to the 1/16" [1.6mm] spacer.

- 36 -❏ 4. Use leftover 1/2" x 1/2" balsa hinge block material to fair in the outboard ends of the oil coolers.RETRACT INSTALLATION❏ 1. If y

- 37 -❏ ❏ 5. Cut aileron “ribs” from the 1/8" x 1/2" x 30" balsa sticks. Glue the ribs to the aileron base at the previously marked rib

- 38 -❏ ❏ 18. Reinstall the aileron on the wing. Place a straightedge against the servo arm, parallel with the slot in the servo hatch and mark the c

- 39 -Remove❏ ❏ 5. Use a sanding bar to bevel the edge of the outboard flap LE so that it fits tightly against the forward edge of the ribs and flap

- 4 -The trim scheme of the Corsair on your kit box was inspired by the full scale “Bayou Baby”. The decal set included with the kit will allow you to

- 40 -BUILD THE INBOARD FLAPS❏ ❏ 1. From the remaining 1/2" x 15/16" balsa stick, cut a 6-7/8" [174.6mm] long inboard flap LE.❏ ❏ 2. Sa

- 41 -BUILD THE MIDDLE FLAPS❏ ❏ 1. Glue two of the die-cut 1/4" [6.4mm] balsa middle flap LE’s together to make a 1/2" [12.7mm] thick flap L

- 42 -❏ ❏ 11. Use a sanding bar to sand the LE and flap skins flush with the plywood flap ends.❏ ❏ 12. Drill a 3/32" [2.4mm] hole through the fl

- 43 -❏ ❏ 8. Position a straightedge along the mark on the top of the flap servo hatch. Mark the TE of the wing at the location for the flap pushrod e

- 44 -FINISH THE FUSELAGEMOUNT THE STABILIZER❏ 1. Sand the LE of the stab so that the TE of the stab is flush with the aft edge of former F-10.❏ 2. Us

- 45 -system and center the servo arms. Thread 4-40 metal clevises 14 turns onto two 4-40 x 48" [121.9cm] threaded pushrods. Insert the pushrods

- 46 -❏ 6. Move the rudder torque rod through its range of motion. Make sure it is at an elevation where it is not binding or striking a former. Posit

- 47 -FIT THE RETRACTABLE TAILGEAR❏ 1. Use the fuse plan to locate the tail gear opening. Start by cutting a small hole in the bottom of the fuse, gra

- 48 -❏ 6. Install a 2-56 pivot ball on the throttle bellcrank. Snap a ball end onto the pivot ball. Mark the isolation plate in line with the ball en

- 49 -❏ 2. Use your bar sander to carefully true the edge of the overlaps so when you glue them together the seam will be as small and straight as pos

- 5 -and replaceable Easy-Touch Adhesive-backed Sandpaper. While building the Giant F4U Corsair we used two 5-1/2" Bar Sanders and two 11"

- 50 -FINISHINGBALANCE THE MODEL LATERALLYDo not confuse this procedure with “checking the C.G.” that will be discussed later in the manual. Now that

- 51 -Trim the MonoKote covering at the edge of the oil coolers. Apply a thin coat of filler along the edge of the MonoKote covering. After the filler

- 52 -❏ 8. Connect the elevator, rudder, aileron, flap and throttle pushrods to the servo arms.❏ 9. If you installed a gas engine, install an on/off s

- 53 -Most modern engines in the size range specified provided more than ample power for the Corsair. It is recommended, therefore, that you run the e

- 54 -Note: Because of the large engines that are used on giant airplanes and the difference in their weights, it is not uncommon to add 1 lbs to 3 lb

- 55 -ENGINE SAFETY PRECAUTIONSNote: Failure to follow these safety precautions may result in severe injury to yourself and others.Keep all engine fue

- 56 -5.3 There must also be a means to stop the engine from the transmitter. The most common method is to close the carburetor throat completely usin

- 57 -FLIGHTWe recommend that you take it easy with your Corsair for the first several flights, gradually “getting acquainted” with this great model a

- 58 -Build and fly your own giant–scale warbird! Wingspan: 84.5 in Wing Area: 1245 sq in Weight (with radio): 17.5 to 19 lb Wing Loading: 32–35

- 59 -Premium gas performance! Output: 5.5 hp @ 7,500 rpm Weight: 1530 g (3 lb, 6 oz)The only thing more astonishing than DLE performance is the low

- 6 -DIE-CUT PATTERNS

- 7 -DIE-CUT PATTERNS

- 8 -(Continued from page 5.) 1/2" x 15/16" x 18" = 12.7mm x 23.8mm x 457.2mm 1/2" x 1" x 3" = 12.7mm x 25.4mm x 76.2m

- 9 -❏ E. Inspect the seam and press the sheets together where they do not align.❏ F. Place weights on top of the sheets to hold them down. We prefer