Alignment of Tailplane surfaces.
 

Hi,
Last night was finished epoxying the stabiliser and rudder to my Spirit 2M glider. It took some effort to get the surfaces level and rudder vertical (hopefully)...

Can anyone offer any advice or tips on methods to make this process easier???
It is my first kit and I'm sure in the process of learning to fly, I will find out what gravity is all about.... and will need to re-do parts of the glider (hopefully not)...

Thanks

VB

RE: Alignment of Tailplane surfaces.
 

> It took some effort to get the surfaces level and rudder vertical <

Then you have taken the right approach. Anyone who says it is easy to do this probably has not aligned things properly. I agonize over this step more than any other part of building a model. Buy the Higley's "Model Building is Mostly Mounting". This book says: "Attaching the tail. No other gluing operation affects how a model flies more than this one." The book has a simple process to do the job right.

RE: Alignment of Tailplane surfaces.
 

In one of the trade magazine they showed how to use Lego buildning blocks to hold the wings and tail level and square while the glue sets, I thought it was pretty slick. I think it was in Fly RC.

RE: Alignment of Tailplane surfaces.
 

What I do is to use a table with 360 degree access, add the stab with 30 min epoxy, check it horizontally against the wing alignment from both front and back, double check that it is straight from end to end, then, once I am satisfied with the alignment, I add a drop of CA in a few strategic places and hit them with accelerator to LOCK the stab into position till the epoxy cures.

RE: Alignment of Tailplane surfaces.
 

I get the things aligned, and run masking tape from top of fin to the tips of the horiz stab... mark the tape so I can put it back the same... apply glue to the fin and glue it in.. retape and its straight every time. :D

You can do similar with the horizontal to the fuselage... Masking tape is wonderful stuff. ;)