Mooney Mite M-18 Starting to build
When you open the box, what you see is a lot of laser-cut sheets. Use care in removing the sheets as the parts are so well cut that as soon as you pick up a sheet parts start to fall loose. However if parts do fall free most have an ID number printed on them. Top Notch Products has recognized parts can come loose so in the back of the manual you will find a list of all parts to assist in identifying them.
Before starting to build, now is a good time to once again look over the plans and start to think where you want to position components to get the c.g. correct. This is also a good time for you to select your engine. The plans show an electric motor as well as a glow engine. Af- ter looking over the weight of the battery I de- cided to go to what I know best, a four-stroke in the form of the Thunder Tiger F-130. It is also a good time to decide if your plane will have fixed or retractable landing gear, all of which will affect the c.g. For my Mooney I se- lected Spring Air retracts.
I will not attempt to describe how to build the Mooney as the manual and ease of part identification will help you as you progress. The kit does incorporate some very unique building aids, such as a pin registration jig and doubler sheet construc- tion. As you progress in construction and the use of the Top Notch Products building techniques you will see a very strong and light model develop.
A shop technique introduced into Top Notch kits is the use of 1⁄8 piano wire pins to
The Mooney has a short nose which makes getting the correct c.g. a real problem. The problem was solved by moving the engine forward 1½ inches which then balanced the plane.
position parts for gluing. Two small blocks and pins are supplied. In one of the pictures one rudder part has been placed into the register pins. Adhesive is ready to be ap- plied and the remaining parts pushed down to complete the assembly.
Before starting to assemble the wing the manual walks the builder through the Top Notch tab system and where and how to use it. It is a great aid in adding internal wing parts and in the assembly of the rudder and vertical fin. Remember to glue after assem-
The recommended balance point was located and then marked inside the cockpit. Two blocks of wood were glued in place and two screws were installed.
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Then nylon cord was attached to the two screws and the balance checked. It might be a little crude but it works. The balance was within the required range.
MAY 2013
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