I am finishing my build but I have a question. The vertical stabilizer does not fit in the pre-slotted holes. Should I just cut a little more to fit it or is it that way for a purpose?

without knowing what Mustang this is kinda hard to say... ARF or Kit? I would guess its probably ok to cut the openings a tiny bit to fit, but I would double and triple check to make sure. Also, how does it not fit? Are the holes too short? too narrow? maybe youre just supposed to remove the covering where the fin slides in.

We need to know the manufacturer and size of your model, and if you could post some pictures that would be helpful also.

Hogflyer

Wild guess since we have so few facts. Perhaps the rudder slot accidentally got narrowed when he glued/installed the horizontal stabilizer?? Again, a wild guess. A picture would be great too.

Guys Im sorry I havent posted a pic but I will in a few hours. It is a Nitro models P-51 60 size. It is not assembled yet. The horizontal stab is fine. Its the vertical stab thats the problem. It kinda slides in but the front of the stab is not even with the fuselage and it looks like it needs a little cut or sand at the back end.

You can adjust the opening if needed to get a good fit. I would try sanding it. Just go easy, taking off a little then checking the fit. You don't want to remove too much and and up with a sloppy fit. Don't alter the thickness of the vertical stabilizer base itself. This could weaken the piece and cause a failure in flight.

It's also possible that there could be a little excess glue in the opening, especially in the corners. That could prevent a good fit.

A picture would really be good. somebody could probably tell you exactly what to do based on that.

Here are some pics of what I was talking about.

heres another

So the vertical fin is too long, NOT too thick for the existing slot?

The slot is too small for the vertical stab but not by much. Does the stab need to sit in this slot? Or most in the slot? Yes I would need to lengthen the slot in the fuselage for it to sit in the fuse.

Is there a block at the end of the slot that needs to be removed to allow both the tail and the horizontal stab to be installed? It sure looks like there is not enough room for the stab to slide in either, and from the looks of the tail I'd think the horizontal stab should be installed first (at least that's the way I've always done it). The way the tail sits you'll need to cut a notch on the lower aft side of it. One technique of rounding off blocks that sit above the horizontal is to put a small sacrificial piece of wood in there that can support the blocks as they are tapered and sanded to shape without the horizontal or tail having to be installed. I'm a think'in that's what your looking at (but I could be wrong - happens on rare occasions ).

Check to see if that isn't a removable block there. Try installing the horizontal stab (slide it in as far as it will go, or center it up if it goes all the way in) and take a picture of that - that will let us have a better idea of how things are fitting.

Hogflyer

Hogflyer hit it on the head.

That block in the rear of the fuse needs to be removed. I have had other Nitromodels ARFs like that too.

Just cut it out with a hobby knife

Oh yeah I have already trial fitted the horizontal stab and it fits fine even with the U shaped wire to attach to the elevator. The problem is the cut slot for the vertical fin. I do not know if the block at the end of the stab is removable as such so I deem it necessary to either cut or sand to fit the vert. stab.

Don't cut the Fin, remove the block at the rear of the slot

Thanks MinnFlyer. I just saw the block at the end of the fuse and your right its easy to take out (its all in one piece). I had no intention on cutting the stab itself. I wanted to lenthen the fuselage slot they pre-cut. Should the wire for the elevator fit snug in the opening or the opposite?

You'll want the elevator joiner to be able to move completely freely. Make a 32nd or so of clearance around it, at very least. Binding elevators really, really suck!

J

What Jburry said

Thanks for all your help guys!