Project: BobCollins   -  
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Builder Name:Bob Collins   -  
Project:   Vans - RV-12iS   -   VIEW REPORTS
Total Hours:1053.2
Total Expense:$101616.09
Start/Last Date:Jan 04, 2017 - No Finish Date
Engine:Rotax 912iS
Propeller:Sensenich
Panel:Dual screen G3X, autopilot
 
Friendly URL: https://eaabuilderslog.org?s=BobCollins

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Sep 06, 2021     Fitting tail cone to the fuselage - (3 hours)       Category: Fuselage
Because I haven't yet received the avionics kit from Van's, I can't permanently attach the tail cone to the fuselage yet. I need to have the area open for the installation of some of the equipment and wiring. But I'd like to at least try to get the rear window done before the cold weather sets in for its six-month stay in Minnesota.

So I lifted the tailcone into place and for the most part it fit perfectly when mating with clecoes (the only thing that was slightly misaligned is the right canopy frame rail (that thing that braces the fuselage rail to the rollbar. But I can make that work later when it's time to final drill)

I also installed the two baggage outside corner skins, again fitting them only with clecoes. Amazing how holes line up perfectly.

This week I'll dig out the window from the crate that's been sitting in a corner of the hangar for 2 1/2 years.


 
Sep 02, 2021     Prepping parts for mating fuselage - (2 hours)       Category: Fuselage
I'm not going to permanently attach the tail cone to the fuselage until the avionics are installed but I'm going to try to temporarily cleco it together to get done what I can. So I separated the shoulder belt attach strips and the two corner baggage skin pieces. Then I primed both.


 
May 23, 2021     Assembling various fuse parts and priming engine component - (2 hours)       Category: Fuselage
Stewart at Van's said the installation of the new muffler stacks looks fine and things will be adjusted for clearance, etc., when the radiator is installed. He also said he wasn't concerned about the strain relief on the #1 EGT probe.

The other day I finished attaching the flap motor housing cover but had to take it off to tap a couple of unhelpful nutplates, then reinstalled. I started adding the components for the throttle friction control knob but couldn't find a bushing. One stinking bushing. The inventory said I had it but it wasn't where it was supposed to be. I did find a spacer in another bag (maybe it got mixed up somewhere) but a spacer isn't necessarily a bushing. So I ordered another one. It's not like I'm going flying next week.

The right side cover for that area was still in the blue plastic so I pulled that out as well as the radiator bracket and took them home for Alumiprep and Alodining.

Then I was reminded how easy the Stewart Sytem's water-based Eco-Prime is. I dreaded pulling everything out just to sprray two pieces but, after an hour of stirring all the sludge off the bottom of the can (it sat in my house for the winter), priming was lickity split. It coats on just a couple of passes after a tack coat and dries quickly. I should do that more often. Cleanup was a snap.


 
May 27, 2020     Repainted rollbar. Primed canopy frame - (2 hours)       Category: Fuselage
Armed with a nifty new paint gun, I reprimed (using Stewart Systems) the rollbar assembly and also the top strip around where the instrument panel goes. Came out much better. Then reinstalled.

I also primed the canopy frame.


 
Sep 23, 2018     Completed fuselage subkit - (1 hour) Category: Fuselage
I borrowed a longeron yoke but was still not able to get it to fit do those six center rivets on the aft end of the forward canopy skin. So I ended up just using some AD34H pop rivets that I had left over from the RV-7A building. Came out fine.

I started to attach the panel strip but noticed that the instructions did not say to countersink the holes, which is odd since the screw callout is for 507 screws. But on Facebook, someone said that strip is only temporary. So... done.

What to do now

Well, I can move on to the finishing kit but I was hoping to do that in the heat of the summer , which is now over. I may wait until next year to continue. Or I can do a little of it now. Or I can take care of that serice bulletin for the tail kit that I haven't addressed yet. Or I can clean the hangar.
 
Sep 22, 2018     Riveted angle support to forward skin - (1 hour)       Category: Fuselage
I couldn't get the most center rivets because I'm still looking to borrow a longeron yoke, but I got the rest of them.

I had to take the skin off which pulled off a little of the sealant, but I guess it will still seal that skin when I put it all back. We'll see.


 
Sep 05, 2018     Added sealant to forward skin - (2 hours)       Category: Fuselage
I picked up the indicated Permatex adhesive sealant and made a bead along the aft edge of doubler piece and screwed it down. I Boelubed up the aft portion of the skin for a release when I eventually take it off.

Off for a couple of weeks at various vacations and Twins games.


 
Sep 03, 2018     Riveted handle to supports - (1 hour)       Category: Fuselage
I riveted the handle two the two rib supports, then riveted everything to the forward skin.


 
Aug 22, 2018     Sealed side canopy rails - (2 hours)       Category: Fuselage
As directed, I used ProSeal along the edges of the side canopy ribs and then riveted everything into place. Messy stuff, indeed.


 
Aug 21, 2018     Finished riveting forward deck - (3 hours)       Category: Fuselage
I finished riveting the forward subpanel deck (Van's doesn't have names for RV-12 psrts the way they do for the RV-7A, so I make them up as I go). Then started with the contraption which I think has something to do with the oil sump and battery. Whatever. Had to file out a hole because the parts have been upgraded since last fall's shipment with the addition of some brackets.


 
Aug 20, 2018     Riveted canopy ribs on - (2 hours)       Category: Fuselage
Mixed up some proseal and put a light coating on the longeron over the first four rivets then riveted on the forward deck on both sides. Then, after painting them the other day, riveted on the canopy ribs and remembered to include the headset holders that go underneath. Then I completed riveting the deck to the the longerons.


 
Aug 16, 2018     Rivet engine mount brackets - (1.5 hours)       Category: Fuselage
I riveted the engine mount brackets and the doubler piece that goes underneath the forward deck to the forward deck. Ran out of CherryMax rivets so ordered, and then installed, new ones form Van's.

I also drilled the matching holes in the deck to the longerons.


 
Aug 11, 2018     Completed canopy ribs - (3 hours)       Category: Fuselage
I added all the nutplates to the canopy ribs, then primed it and, because I don't know if it'll show or not when the canopy is open, decided to paint it with the interior gray hammered finish.

I started on the subpanel, and added a bunch of nutplates. I had to leave some out if I'm installing a Garmin EFIS, which I think I am. But then riveted on the ones that I was to leave out if I was planning on a dual screen. I'm pretty sure I can't afford a dual screen.


 
Aug 10, 2018     Adding remaining cowling hinge - (1 hour)       Category: Fuselage
The order from Aircraft Spruce showed up so cut the smaller top hinge for the cowling. Drilled, dimpled, riveted on. Came out nice.


 
Aug 09, 2018     Began working on canopy ribs - (1.5 hours)       Category: Fuselage
Nothing heavy duty here. Separating parts, dimpling, adding nutplates. Priming.


 
Aug 07, 2018     Installed upper firewall and sealed - (6 hours)       Category: Fuselage
Finished adding all the nutplates and then added a smear of ProSeal to the upper portion of the lower flange and fit it to the firewall and fuselage side skin. Of course, it fit perfectly.

I added the small cowling side hinges and riveted them to the front fuselage. Then I prepped up the two stiffening angles for each side of the forward fuselage skins. Mixed up a big batch of ProSeal (sealant) and then sealed the firewall, dispensing the sealant with a syringe. It made a pretty good mess but I cleaned it and smoothed things out as best I could. Then riveted on the stiffeners. I'll have to reprime the inside of the skins. No big deal


 
Aug 06, 2018     Riveted hinge on forward firewall - (2 hours)       Category: Fuselage
Removed, deburred, reattached and riveted the long hinge on the upper firewall. Still waiting for parts so I can do the smaller hinge. Also attached a mess of nutplates to the firewall as directed.

Will add that shorter piece of hinge when the hinge material arrives on Friday.


 
Aug 05, 2018     Began work on upper firewall - (3 hours)       Category: Fuselage
I prepped up the doubler strip, drilling out the holes to a #7 deburring, and dimpling, and countersunk all the nutplate attach holes. Then riveted the nutplates and strip to the firewall as directed. I have a little confusion about the short pieces on the ends so I waited on those.

I was only able to make the 25 7/8 " hinge piece but I fit that on and then drilled the holes to that, leaving 1/6" of it above the flange of the firewall as directed.


 
Aug 03, 2018     Section 29: Forward fuselage - (1 hour)       Category: Fuselage
Started making hinge pieces but came up short (I think I'd made a mistake earlier so I used some extra material and now I'm short), so have ordered additional material.


 
Aug 02, 2018     Completed brake lines - (1 hour)       Category: Fuselage
Made the two long brake lines back to where the landing gear will be. Also noticed a mistake in putting an angle valve on the left side pedal so changed that out.


 
Jul 31, 2018     Started making brake lines - (2 hours) Category: Fuselage
I made the two brake lines that the tie the left and ride brakes together. Then added the plastic top and aluminum retainer to the three plastic blocks that isolate the fuel lines running rom the tank to the front bulkhead.

Then I riveted in the aluminum piece that will hold brake lines coming from the landing gear.
 
Jul 28, 2018     Drilled brake pedals - (2 hours)       Category: Fuselage


 
Jul 25, 2018     Expensive brake pedal screwup - (2 hours) Category: Fuselage
It turns out I made a big mistake drilling the brake pedals which I didn't realize until the 4th pedal, which I installed correctly.

I had flipped the pedal tube around so that the match hole for drilling was outboard of the tube instead of inboard.

I can't just flip and redrill because the holes are already drilled out to 1/4".

So I ordered new pedals at $25 per and then decided, screw it, I'll order new tubes too at another $25.

So I wait.

Meanwhile, in Oshkosh, they're building a full RV-12 in one week.
 
Jul 23, 2018     Brake pedal drilling - (2 hours)       Category: Fuselage
Slow going. Got to match drill via #40, then a #12, and finish it off with a 1/4" four times.


 
Jun 29, 2018     Testing of the fuel tank for leaks - (2 hours)       Category: Fuselage
Tank testing has been a gigantic pain in the neck because it's virtually impossible to seal off the fuel filler area. I've tried a number of different things so far but there's still a slow leak. While the tank is pressurized, I've used soapy water and Snoop to find leaks elsewhere but nothing so far.

I need to find out if there's a filler cap in the house somewhere that might help.


 
Jun 19, 2018     Finished sealing fuel tank - (3 hours)       Category: Fuselage
My old eye injury was kicking up on me today and everything is blurry so couldn't go to work to write a bunch of words I couldn't see. So I went to the hangar and fumbled through sealing up holes I could barely see.

Got the new tank plate and riveted that on. Also dabbed sealant on the rivets from the inside as best I could. Then made the return tube and added that, and the fuel supply fitting.

Then sealed up the attach plate and finally the fuel sender unit. Hope it doesn't leak because it'll be a pain in the next to take any of that off.

So we'll wait a couple of weeks and test it for leaks.

In the meantime, plenty of Twins games to usher including the Red Sox in the rain tonight.


 
Jun 16, 2018     Sealed fuel gauge - (2 hours) Category: Fuselage
I mixed up ProSeal and stuck it in the bends near the filler plate, then did the same to the flange of the fuel gauge and screwed it into place.

The tank testing fluid has arrived. Waiting for a new tank plate and ProSeal to finish this baby off.
 
Jun 15, 2018     Section 28: Rudder pedals - (2 hours)       Category: Fuselage
I had to buy a couple more rudder pedal blocks because I couldn't find the ones they sent me. They're not cheap: $13 or something like that. Then I split them in half as directed and clamped to the rudder pedals, then added the additional tubed parts.

That's when I found a discrepancy. The plans appear to either have the labels reversed, or the labels on the parts, including the master cylinders incorrect. I'm opting for the former.

Unfortunately, all the Van's support team is at Oshkosh but it appears from talking to people online that the plans labels are, indeed, reversed, so I'll plan on building to the figures in the plans, not the labels.

Next step is clamping and drilling the pedals.


 
Jun 11, 2018     Riveted bottom skin of fuel tank - (5 hours)       Category: Fuselage
A messy stinking mess, for sure, but I riveted on the bottom skin as directed. A day or so later I put a light in there and saw light from the two cracks just below the tank plate so mixed up more ProSeal and stuck that in there. That seems like an obvious point of failure in the design but we'll see.

Ditto over on the end plates.

Before installing that tank pickup tube plate, I test fit the the pickup tube but found I couldn't get it out. Thinking about it, I decided I didn't like that so tried to get the fitting out but, of course, it had snapped off. Still, I think it would've leaked if it'd left it there so drilled off the plate and ordered new parts.

In the meantime, I'm rewiring all the fluorescent fixtures in the hangar to accommodate LED tubes. That's going to be so great on those cold days when I couldn't see anything.


 
Jun 01, 2018     More fuel tank sealing - (2 hours)       Category: Fuselage
Did some minor sealing of the fuel tank -- the filler ring, the attach brackets etc.

But as I was preparing to do the big seal of the bottom skin, I thought, "there don't look to be THAT many rivets left," which is odd because I had a supply of the closed end rivets on hand (which I'd used) for various repairs to the RV-7A fuel tank a few years ago.

So I counted the holes that still need rivets: 84

Then I counted the number of rivets I had left: 77. Seventy eight if you count the one I found on the floor while searching everywhere for stray rivets.

So I now have to wait for the order from Van's to arrive.


 
May 28, 2018     Started sealing the fuel tank - (7 hours)       Category: Fuselage
The instructions say to be prepared to spend at least three hours on the operation and then breaks it down into three operations. I don't know if the three hours is per operation or for the whole shooting match but they undersell it.

Working with ProSeal requires tons of gloves and lots of cleaning, none of which is included in the estimate, I'd guess.

I scuffed up all the parts previously and just before starting, wiped them all down with MEK (fun stuff!).

Then it's a matter of mixing ProSeal and slathering it on the appropriate flanges. Building the RV-12 fuel tank is a lot easier than the 7A as pulled rivets are less messy. I was able to get through one full operation and half of the second when the building heat (102) and fumes seemed to be giving me a message.

Got everything done up to and including the two end stiffners. I also dabbed ProSeal over every shop head. I kept hearing George Orndorrf's old advice from when he put out RV construction videos. "If you don't THINK it will leak, it probably will. If you look at it and say, 'that's not going to leak,' it won't."

I wonder where George is now?


 
May 17, 2018     Nutplates and fuel tanks, oh my! - (3 hours)       Category: Fuselage
Added nutplates to the sender hole and access plate hole. Fit all ribs and drilled the two matching holes, disassembled and deburred, Fit the finger ring and match drilled the holes to #30, bent the fuel sender float arm to appropriate lengths.


 
May 12, 2018     Section 26: Started on the fuel tank - (1 hour)       Category: Fuselage
I painted up the seatbacks (at least where it will show), and started on the seatbacks after doing a lawnmower tune up.

My arm is still pretty much painful after so much AD4-4 squeezing the other night so I only did two rivets on the nutplates in the access ring before calling it a day.

I dimpled the fuel cap and sender rings for nutplates


 
May 10, 2018     Completed second seatback - (1 hour) Category: Fuselage
I'm going to wait to borrow a rivet gun to shoot the top corner rivets as the squeezer isn't good for them.

Also need to find some cotter pins for the spring assembly.
 
May 09, 2018     Started working on second seat - (.5 hour)       Category: Fuselage
Second verse, same as the first.


 
May 08, 2018     Finished a seatback - (1 hour)       Category: Fuselage
I realized that I had installed the lower angle upside down so drilled out the rivets and installed right side up. Then added the brackets to the bottom. The 12 seems like a much better method of attaching the seats to the floor instead of the lame hinge pins of the7A.

Also started work on the right seat.


 
May 07, 2018     Seatback riveting - (1.5 hours) Category: Fuselage
For now,I'm just building the left seat until I see how it all comes together although it's very similar to the 7A I built. Riveted the hinges where they go, then riveted on the side angle pieces for support.
 
May 06, 2018     Started on seatbacks - (2 hours)       Category: Fuselage
Mostly separating pieces and trimming and deburring. Also countersunk all the holes in stiffeners, measured and cut hinge pieces and riveted it to the back plate.


 
May 05, 2018     Completed Section 24 - (2 hours)       Category: Fuselage
After priming and painting, I riveted the roll bar support piece to the rollbar and the aft bulkhead, then inserted missing rivets on the two "posts" on the bulkhead, made up and added nutplates to a thingamajig which I have no idea what it is, riveting it and place. I also left five holes open per the instructions for an ADS-B receiver.

This completes Section 24.


 
May 03, 2018     Roll bar support - (.5 hour)       Category: Fuselage
Dug out the top rollbar support piece and primed it up then riveted the two "wings" to the rear portion.


 
Apr 26, 2018     Rear bulkhead - (4 hours)       Category: Fuselage
(Multiple sessions). After installing the rollbar and support pieces, I turned to the rear bulkhead and drilled the holes in the bottom flanges on the tail, then prepped the bulkhead pieces, adding supports for the fuel pump bracket assembly. Then I fit them with the fuselage and added the nutplates. Buggered up one rivet hole but drilled out and replaced.


 
Apr 21, 2018     Painted parts of rollbar assembly - (.3 hour)       Category: Fuselage
I made a quick run to the hangar to tape and paper off sections of the fuselage (handy that all the newsprint that came with the finishing kit had been folded and stored in the fuselage) and used the hammered finish spraycan to spray the D brackets for the rollbar and the crosspost so that the rollbar (when it, too, has been primed and painted , can be reinstalled.


 
Apr 20, 2018     Removed rollbar - (.5 hour) Category: Fuselage
Removed the rollbar and unbolted the "posts" that hold it onto the D gussets and primed them as directed. I have to paint the parts to the final interior color (same gray hammered finish I used on the 7A).
 
Apr 19, 2018     Riveted support bracket - (2 hours)       Category: Fuselage
I riveted two pieces of the roll bar support brackes, clecoed them to the side rails and roll bar and then drilled out the side holes on the outside and inside of the roll bar on each side.


 
Apr 18, 2018     Side rollbar support - (2 hours)       Category: Fuselage
(multiple sessions)
I riveted the rollbar to the "B" and "C" strips with the exception of the rivet holes called out in the instructions.

I drilled and tapped the holes for the canopy latch assembly and then riveted as instructed.

I separated the pieces for the side rail support brackets, primed them, and gave them a shot of the hammered finish paint.


 
Apr 15, 2018     Prepping rollbar for riveting - (2 hours)       Category: Fuselage
Back to work after a few days of building a long shelf in the hangar and inventorying all the parts of the finishing kit.

I countersunk the canopy latch bracket as instructed and riveted in place. Same for the electrical bracket and reinstalled the rollbar in anticipation of riveting it together sometime this week.

A foot of snow yesterday and I got stuck on the ramp outside the hangar and had to shovel the car out. There's always a distraction.


 
Apr 11, 2018     Deburred rollbar - (1.5 hours)       Category: Fuselage
Having removed the rollbar, I deburred and then countersunk the called-out rivet holes. I also dug out the bag with the flush head cherrymax rivets, only to find out that the bag Van's sent was full of round-heads. They're sending a new bag. So I delayed countersinking C-01213A.


 
Apr 06, 2018     Removed rollbar - (1 hour) Category: Fuselage
Not much here. Took forever just to take all the clecoes out. Now deburring although I'll be busy the next few days ushering for the Twins.

Today would have been my father's 99th birthday
 
Apr 05, 2018     Finished drilling rollbar - (1.5 hours) Category: Fuselage
Completed the underside row of #40 holes in the rollbar, drilling them out to #30. Took every remaining cleco I could find.
 
Apr 04, 2018     Started drilling rollbar - (1.5 hours)       Category: Fuselage
Brad Benson (update: we would later become unfriends over the whole Trump agenda thing. But I miss him. He was a good guy)stopped by to help me move the mid fuselage off the rolling workbench and onto some sawhorses so it would be easier to get at the rollbar work.

With everything clecoed, I started drilling out the #40 holes to #30. I used the shopvac as I drilled to keep any chips from falling into parts.


 
Apr 03, 2018     Fit rollbar - (1.5 hours)       Category: Fuselage
I bolted the rollbar attach points to the frame, beveling the outside edges and lubing it up pretty god and then fit the rollbar over it. It took a little work as I didn't notice the "B" & "C" tabs got held up on one side, but once I cleared that it slipped over the beautiful machined pieces nicely.

I clecoed the rollbars to the holes and it was tough fitting; I'm not sure how easy the rivets are going to go in there; we'll see.


 
Apr 02, 2018     Section 24: Rollbar construction - (2 hours)       Category: Fuselage
This, so far, is so much easier than when I did the 7A. The holes in both in the inside strips and the rollbar itself are all pre-punched. What's not to like?


 
Apr 01, 2018     Completed Section 23 - (3 hours)       Category: Fuselage
I finished the vent doors by priming the doubler frame and then riveted it to the fuselage on both sides. While I waited for primer -- and then hammered finish -- to dry on each side, I cut the hinge to 10" for the cowling attach point. I couldn't find a piece so I cut another 10" piece for the left side so I may have to order new hinge material later depending on how the rest of this goes. No big deal.

I drilled the hinge and shim piece to each side and then riveted them.

But the time all that was done, all the paint was done on the vent door material so riveted all that on and then assembled the vent doors with the called-out hardware.


 
Mar 30, 2018     Assembled fuselage vent doors - (2 hours)       Category: Fuselage
A lot of little stuff adds up to a lot of time to get the vent doors separated and assembled but I've done and they're kind of slick. Might be a little drafty in the winter.


 
Mar 27, 2018     Riveted left side skin - (4 hours)       Category: Fuselage
Over multiple work sessions, deburred and reassembled the left side skin and riveted everything.


 
Mar 25, 2018     Added nutplates to left side skin - (1 hour)       Category: Fuselage
Did a bunch of cleaning work at the hangar because Heather (family friend) was to stop by and bring stuff for me to store until she and her boyfriend find a new place. But she had to take her cat to the vet so I cleaned up stuff anyway. Then I deburred the doubler plates and primed them, and then added the 10 rivets in the "triangle " cuthout and clecoed everything back together. I'll start riveting tomorrow. Maybe.


 
Mar 24, 2018     Drilling right longeron - (3 hours)       Category: Fuselage
Second verse, same as the first. Fit the side skin and then match drilled the longeron and the top gusset. Removed deburred every stinking hole, cut of the tab in the back and deburred the edges and then "bent" ("formed" is how I learned it but "bent" is what Van's uses, I guess) and cleaned and primed.

Van's has charged $7200 to the credit card so the finishing kit is about the be crated and shipped. They called last week and said for $350 I can now put a right landing light in. I decided not to. I have plenty to do. Maybe when I don't I'll add it.


 
Mar 22, 2018     Completed right side skin - (3 hours)       Category: Fuselage
(Over several work sections).

Finished riveting on the right side skin, added the stiffener in the baggage area, painted up the right top cap and also the rivets that would hold it in place etc.


 
Mar 17, 2018     Began riveting side skin on right side - (3 hours)       Category: Fuselage
Riveted on the doublers and the holes that called for CherryMax rivets (a couple broke off too early so drilled out). Then just kept rivting and got part of it put on. There's a lot of rivets!


 
Mar 16, 2018     Finished nutplates and primed right skin - (1.5 hours)       Category: Fuselage
I finished the last seven or eight nutplates. Then Scotchbrited the right side skin and primed and left it overnight for the fumes to dissipate. Gotta find that air mask.


 
Mar 15, 2018     Deburred right side skin - (1 hour) Category: Fuselage
Deburred every hole (boring!) and started riveting on the nutplates around the triangled area.
 
Mar 14, 2018     Drilled longeron holes - (3 hours)       Category: Fuselage
(Done over several evenings)

Installed the longeron and drilled the side skin to it,also the top holes in the "D" piece. Later I removed everything and deburred the longeron and also reprimed it.

I also primed the underside of the two doublers that go on the outside and ma


 
Mar 07, 2018     Finished wing cutouts in side skin - (2.5 hours)       Category: Fuselage
Picking up on what I started last night, I filed then sanded smooth both wing cutouts.

Also, I closed on the hangar today with Doug Beedon.


 
Mar 05, 2018     Longerons - (1 hour)       Category: Fuselage
I finished riveted the mid posts on both sides (just two rivets at the bottom of each) and then riveted the arm rest piece . Then I filed the cutouts a bit in the center section and fit the longeron both sides. They matched PERFECTLY . Van's is amazing.

The next step is to cut out landing gear holes in the side skins but I've got to clean up the hangar first.

The closing to buy it is on Thursday and I need to get it cleaned up and get organized.

Also heard from my pal, Jim Gray, who runs EAA Radio at Oshkosh that I'll be assigned this year to cover the one-week build of an RV-12 during Oshkosh. I'm ready.


 
Mar 02, 2018     Riveted forward post - (1 hour)       Category: Fuselage
Progress has slowed as I'm priming up some parts and prepping others. I riveted the forward right side post. The instructions do not have a rivet callout for these so I used the LP4-5 called out in the "post" just aft of this one. But on the plans, the instructions for that post indicate there are 8x holes . But there are actually 10. I've emails Van's support for clarification.


 
Feb 28, 2018     Countersunk longeron - (1.5 hours) Category: Fuselage
Dimpled and primed the side rails and then countersunk the longerons to accommodate the dimples.
 
Feb 27, 2018     Attached one bulkhead plate - (1 hour)       Category: Fuselage
Ordered the replacement side plate piece I screwed up. Riveted the one I got right (actually, I got two right, but they were just for the same side) on.


 
Feb 26, 2018     Countersunk wrong side of doubler - (1.5 hours) Category: Fuselage
Stupid mistake, I thought I'd fitted the bulkhead doubler on the center section to determine which side to countersink but, unfortunately, I screwed one up so I had two left side doublers. Couldn't find the part on the Van's site to reorder so now I'm playing that game.
 
Feb 25, 2018     Riveted on seatbat crosspiece - (3 hours)       Category: Fuselage
After priming (because I think these are going to be sprayed with the hammered finish paint ), I riveted on the "B" plate and then the "K" bracket and cross piece . Also riveted on the pieces that form the notch for the seat back plates.


 
Feb 24, 2018     Primed longerons - (1.5 hours) Category: Fuselage
I met with my hangerlord, Doug Beedon, super nice guy, who wants to sell the hangar because he has cancer and wants to concentrate on the task before him. $25,000. I think I'll do it.

Aftwards, I took the SmartTool to the longerons and readjusted the twist to 5.1 degrees, then primed them up.

Also added the called out nutplates to the "B" plate.
 
Feb 23, 2018     Drilled top plates to longeron - (2 hours)       Category: Fuselage
Over two nights I fit and drilled the top plates to the longerons, starting 12 7/16" from the forward end, which I twisted to 5.2 degrees,give or take.

I used an .025 piece of scrap to simulate the side skin.


 
Feb 22, 2018     Twisting the longeron night away - (2 hours)       Category: Fuselage
I realized that the "twist" in the longerons was not a twist, but a bend for the aft end. So I twisted both forward ends of both longerons to 5.1 degrees or so. I used the electronic protrator that came with the mag timing thing but it didn't work that great so I'll recheck it.Then drilled the left top plate


 
Feb 19, 2018     Completed mating of forward and mid fuselage - (3 hours)       Category: Fuselage
I gave up on trying to get the forward fuselage mated with the fuse assembly turned upside down,so I carried it -- yeah, you can carry an RV-12 fuselage -- over to the rolling workbench and put it right side up. It went together nicely after that.

The trick, I learned on VAF, is the mid fuselage skin has to "sandwich" in between those "ribs" and the forward fuselage skin.

Then it was on to Section 23 where I discovered the pre-bent twists in the longerons was made in the rear, not the front of them.

Email to Van's sent.


 
Feb 18, 2018     Completed forward lower fuselage - (5 hours)       Category: Fuselage
Good progress today. The ProSeal was cured enough to take it back to the hangar without fear of a mess. I assembled the watchacallit on the left side of the firewall after riveting on the stiffener angles. The MS2108 nut is a pain in the ass, by the way.

Then I prepped up the lower corner side skins and riveted those on, including the cowling attach plates which have to be bent, then riveted on with nutplates installed. No problems there, either.

The problem came when it was done and I tried to fit it to the mid fuselage. The inboard "ribs" (I don't know the numbers) are blocked by the mid-fuselage skin from fitting on to their attach point... which would line the aft set of holes in the forward fuselage with the aft set in the mid fuselage.

There are "slots" cut into the skin for the two stiffener angles on the outboard side, which are also an attach point, and I'm thinking there should be slots to accomodate the web of the inboard pieces too. Will check.


 
Feb 17, 2018     Bottom skin to firewall - (2 hours)       Category: Fuselage
Carolie flew home this morning to visit her mother and brother, so I moved the parts home so I could work in the warmth of the house. I mixed up a small amount of ProSeal and made the fillet between the "ribs" (I don't understand why Van's doesn't say to put it along the seam to the left and right of the ribs, too). Then I put some on the flange of the firewall and riveted the "shelf" in place.

No problems. No mess. It's like I've done this before.


 
Feb 16, 2018     Completed firewall to bottom skin riveting - (1 hour)       Category: Fuselage
Having riveted the two large "ribs", I scuffed the aft portion of the firewall bend radius, presuming that fuel sealant is going to go there . I used #60 grit and I'm not sure I got it scuffed enough so will revisit that. Then I riveted the bottom skin/rib section to the lower firewall.

I think there's a flaw in the instructions which have you machine countersinking the nutplate attach holes in the bottom skin and dimpling the accompanying flange of the firewall. If you machine countersink the skin, you shouldn't need to dimple the firewall since you're not accommodating anything.

In other news, my hangar landlord says he wants to sell it.


 
Feb 12, 2018     Riveted bottom skin to ribs - (1 hour)       Category: Fuselage
I don't know what to call the darn things so I'll just call the big shelf supports "ribs." Anyway, I riveted both the left and right to the bottom skin.


 
Feb 11, 2018     Firewall work - (4 hours)       Category: Fuselage
I am continually fascinated by the intricacies of the RV-12iS kit. Like this, for example. This is a brace (I think) for the firewall shelf (RV-12 parts don't have names; just numbers). There's a bracket that goes on the other side here and aligns with the center of the engine mount bracket to which it's also riveted.

Like just about every other hole in this kit, LP4-3s are used EXCEPT for one (OK, two, but work with me here): a CherryMax rivet is used on the most aft and middle hole of the engine mount bracket (closest to the camera here).

I have no idea why, but it's fascinating.

Anyway, I riveted the brackets to the firewall shelf as directed, then prepped up the two main bulkheads/brackets/whatever. The drawing noted to insert the forward rivers for the engine mount bracket from the inboard side (there's an overhang that prevents you from doing it from the bracket side) and I did that on the left one but didn't see the part in the instructions where it wants the manufactured head on the engine mount bracket side and so they'll inserted from the inboard side (the thinnest piece). I thought about drilling them out, but that would be stupid.


 
Feb 08, 2018     Section 22: Firewall work - (2 hours)       Category: Fuselage
Pretty cold over several days so just quickly getting in and out. Added some nutplates to the firewall, dimpled and countersunk attach holes as directed. Nothing big.It's a lousy time to build. Too cold.


 
Feb 03, 2018     Completed Section 21 - (1 hour)       Category: Fuselage
Got the final rivets put in. The rivet gun wasn't very helpful so I used the squeezer. Some of the rivets were not quite flush but close enough. I heated up the area with a gun and then, after heating the metal, put the plastic cushion strip on and made sure it was bonded. It's 15 degrees today, not exactly a good day to work with adhesive.

This completes section 21.


 
Feb 02, 2018     The case of the missing rivets - (1.5 hours)       Category: Fuselage
With the aft bulkhead of the mid fuselage in place, I'm in the home stretch of Section 21. There are Two brackets that need to be riveted to the bulkhead and then a cross piece that goes in afterwards. So deburred and primed up the pieces and riveted accordingly.


 
Feb 01, 2018     Prepped aft brackets - (1.5 hours)       Category: Fuselage
With the aft bulkhead of the mid fuselage in place, I'm in the home stretch of Section 21. There are Two brackets that need to be riveted to the bulkhead and then a cross piece that goes in afterwards. So deburred and primed up the pieces and riveted accordingly.


 
Jan 30, 2018     Riveted forward floors - (1.5 hours)       Category: Fuselage
No problems at all. Riveted the floors as directed. Still have to put two nutplates in . Then there are couple of brackets in the back to install and it'll be on to Section 22!

One year ago today was my last Meniere's attack. Ironically, the hearing doesn't feel quite right tonight.


 
Jan 29, 2018     Prepped remaining forward floor - (1.5 hours)       Category: Fuselage
Second verse, same as the first . I did realize that three rivets on the mixture bracket should've been riveted before the skin was riveted on (there was no point in the instructions were it said to definitely rivet them) and it was a little tough getting the clecos out becsuse the floor had been riveted on, but I schemed to get it down.

Rivets wouldn't go in so Brad Benson is bringing over a right angle drill in a day or so.


 
Jan 28, 2018     Completed riveting bottom skin to structure - (4 hours)       Category: Fuselage
With the exception of the holes called out in the planes, I finished riveting the bottom skin to the superstructure. I also got the -08 nuts for the six screw studs and put them in. But I don't have a wrench small enough to fit over them apparently so I'll have to find something and I'll tighten them later. Made a note on the plans.

I then started on the most forward two floorboards, installing platenuts in the right side and tomorrow I'll start on the left side. Did a trial fitting oin the right side and, of course, everything fits perfect.

Almost done with Section 21.


 
Jan 25, 2018     Riveting bottom skin - (.7 hour)       Category: Fuselage
Didn't have a lot of time because I had to run up to Oakdale to take care of Patrick and Mindy's cat while they're in the Dominican Republic but got started on riveting the bottom skin to the superstructure. Nothing much to report.


 
Jan 24, 2018     Riveted doublers/stringers to superstructure - (1.3 hours)       Category: Fuselage
Finished riveting the twelve doublers to the bottom of the fuselage skin and superstructure. Also the small stringers that go underneath. Lots of riveting to do now.


 
Jan 21, 2018     Fit bottom skin - (4 hours)       Category: Fuselage
The Patriots make me too nervous to watch so I headed to the hangar and worked on the getting the botton skin to fit. Once it did, I decided to take a look underneath to make sure everything was OK and I noticed that I had the bolts configuration backward on the mixture bracket assembly, which means that once the skin was on, there was no way to get a bolt out or one in. So I took everything off and switched it around, then reinstalled and also clecoed i (after priming the part that touches the skin) the bottom doublers. I also clecoed in the stiffeners in the center section.

Patriots won. They're going to the Super Bowl.


 
Jan 18, 2018     Prepped bottom skin - (1 hour)       Category: Fuselage
I added nutplates to the inspection panels then used the sodering iron to clear the rivet lines and deburred all holes. Then I primed the interior portion of the bottom skin.


 
Jan 18, 2018     Prepped up angles - (1.5 hours) Category: Fuselage
I cut and prepped up the strengthening angles that go on the bottom skin (on the exterior, which is kind of weird. Also prepped up and primed the stiffener angles.
 
Jan 17, 2018     Riveted shark gills - (1 hour) Category: Fuselage
Added the forward curved skin and then riveted the shark gils, leaving holes open as required
 
Jan 16, 2018     Began work on 'shark gills' - (1.5 hours)       Category: Fuselage
First, I heard back from Van's on HW-00014 and it was supposed to be in Bag 3125 but wasn't on the inventory of the early fuselage kits for the RV-12iS and there's been a revision. So they're sending it.

In the meantime, I skipped ahead a step and started prepping up the "shark gills", the rather unsightly curvature of the bottom of the forward fuselage that consists of a series of curved pieces resembling gills of a fish.

Mostly just deburred and added nutplates as directed.

Had to move the car into the hangar as I worked so the kerosene heaters could melt the ice and snow in the wheel wells that have been making for a bumpy ride of late.


 
Jan 15, 2018     Riveted forward floor ribs - (3 hours)       Category: Fuselage
I made the four angles for the flange of the forward ribs and riveted them into place, then riveted the tibs into place (I'd actually prepped up all the ribs when I accidentally skipped a page ahead a few days ago.

I then riveted the forward bulkhead to the angles, and then to the ribs. I put the snap bushings i as called out, but then got stuck on the final instruction, which said rivet HW-00014 to the forward bulkhead.

There is no HW 00014 in the inventory list . There is HW 00016, HW00017 and HW-00018, but they are all stainless steel hose claims.

I've sent a note to Van's for confirmation.


 
Jan 13, 2018     More work on forward bulkhead - (2 hours)       Category: Fuselage
I guess the part I've described as the aft bulkhead is actually a forward one (under the knees as you sit). Anyway, I riveted on the two rectangular doublers, then fit it to the floor ribs and riveted accordingly.


 
Jan 10, 2018     More riveting on aft bulkhead - (1.7 hours)       Category: Fuselage
A slightly frustrating work session, mostly because of stupidity. I was in the middle of riveting these two brackets that go back to back on each side of the aft bulkhead, they cleco into the big doublers and channels on the aft side. I was using AN4-8 rivets. I was almost done, only one or two to go when one rivet had unexpectedly pulled out as I squeezed, so there was no real shop head to speak of. Drilled it out -- drilling out AN-4 rivets is always asking for trouble . Couldn't get the head off so I drilled more with a #40 and then attacked from the back side only I went after the wrong rivet, and it happened to be one of the rivets that actually sits underneath the brackeets. You can't get to the head.

I ended up getting the buggered up rivet out and re riviting, but I had to abandon the "good rivet". I'll drill a hole and add a Cherry rivet nearby.


 
Jan 09, 2018     Fuselage rear bulkhead - (2 hours)       Category: Fuselage
Deburred and counterunk what I believe is the rear bulkhead and then prepped up doubler parts that are riveted to it.


 
Jan 07, 2018     Added center section bulkhead caps and rollers - (1.5 hours)       Category: Fuselage
Add the F-1204H bulkhead caps after riveting on a forward piece to the floor, then installed the two rollers on each side at the bottom.


 
Jan 03, 2018     Riveted right side floor ribs to floor - (2 hours)       Category: Fuselage
Pretty much the same process as previous entry.


 
Jan 02, 2018     Riveted left side ribs to floor - (1.5 hours)       Category: Fuselage
A little slow going because I'm being very careful but you rivet several ribs to each other then to the floor. Pretty simple stuff.


 
Jan 01, 2018     Started fitting floors - (2 hours)       Category: Fuselage
Riveted one more section of ribs together, then started working on the floors, deburring and adding nutplates and priming small parts.

I test fit one side of the floor to the #1 rib and will rivet it in place tomorrow. Was a little surprised that instructions had us dimpling the nutplate holes on the forward ends of those ribs but there are no nutplates installed and the floor isn't screw down; it's riveted down.

On the 7A, I put nutplates in these sorts of locations to be able to remove all the floors, but , alas, with LSA, it's not possible to deviate from the plans.

Couldn't work more than a couple of hours; my toes got too cold.


 
Dec 31, 2017     Riveted brackets - (2.5 hours)       Category: Fuselage
First, on that screw/nut combination, I threw out both the screw and the nut and started with new hardware and it worked fine.

Today I riveted together various brackets, including the set belt bracket on one side, then riveted various assemblies to two ribs, including the flaperon mixture bracket (whatever that is) and a seat belt bracket.

-13 weather. Perfect for building metal airplanes!


 
Dec 30, 2017     More rib prep - (2.5 hours)       Category: Fuselage
Added more nutplates, Also riveted the pulley bracket to two ribs.


 
Dec 29, 2017     More seat rib work - (6 hours)       Category: Fuselage
Lots of little detail stuff. You have to number the seat ribs 1-8 with 1,8, 4 & 5 being the most important. Deburred all those after filing the spot where you have to cut a vertical piece over a lightening hole (presumably, used in the manufacturing process).

Then prepped up a series of smaller pieces, the numbers of which all jumble together and mean nothing, but, trust me, I did it, deburred it, and riveted it all in place.

Was getting too tired to start on adding nutplates; will do that tomorrow.

By the way, on the part you see in the middle picture, Van's calls out AN426-4 rivet in three places. Too short. I used AN426-4.5 which were perfect.Lots of little things getting each rib prepped. Added Nutplates to sloped sections on some ribs including one which also calls for an AN52510R10 screw and an MS21042-3 but it is REALLY tough to get the nut on. I'm suspecting that there was another mistake in the Van's shipment (other bags were wrong) that hasn't been caught yet and that the MS21042-3 aren't really that.

In one other section, you cut out the cutout of the doubler plate on the web of the rib (I forget which one). The drawing shows on large hole but the instruction to cut out the cuttout leaves a thin strip on the web. As there is a #12 hole nearby, I opted to leave the strip and take the instructions literally.


 
Dec 28, 2017     Started on seat ribs - (4.5 hours)       Category: Fuselage
Lots of little detail stuff. You have to number the seat ribs 1-8 with 1,8, 4 & 5 being the most important. Deburred all those after filing the spot where you have to cut a vertical piece over a lightening hole (presumably, used in the manufacturing process).

Then prepped up a series of smaller pieces, the numbers of which all jumble together and mean nothing, but, trust me, I did it, deburred it, and riveted it all in place.

Was getting too tired to start on adding nutplates; will do that tomorrow.

By the way, on the part you see in the middle picture, Van's calls out AN426-4 rivet in three places. Too short. I used AN426-4.5 which were perfect.


 
Dec 27, 2017     Pulley assembly and flaperon mixture arm - (4 hours)       Category: Fuselage
I got the buggered Cherry rivets out that I mentioned yesterday lickity split thanks to some online advice.

The back-ordered bag of hardware came so I finished riveted the baggage floor on each side with the four AD 48-9 rivets.

I deburred, primed and riveted together the pulley assembly and the the flaperon mixture arm, but had to stop because I didn't have any wheel bearing grease at the hangar, where it was -9 upon arrival.


 
Dec 26, 2017     Stuck with Cherry rivets - (1 hour)       Category: Fuselage
Frustrating day, aside from the fact it was -3 at the hangar.

I was making mile progress on page 5 when the final step was to add a single nutplate using the CCR264SS-3-2 rivets..which leave a hollow hole where the stem usually is.And they're stainless steel so they don't drill out and because they're so small, the spin like crazy.

Anyway, the nutplate fell off as I squeezed and I didn't notice so I ended up just installing two rivets that don't want to come out.

Walked away frustrated.


 
Dec 23, 2017     Finished attaching ribs to floor and bulkhead - (3 hours)       Category: Fuselage
Made good progress. Countersunk and riveted the bearing brackets. Attached the rear baggage bulkhead and riveted. Added more ribs and nutplates and riveted. The thing is getting pretty sturdy.


 
Dec 22, 2017     Finished riveting flooors - (1 hour)       Category: Fuselage
Pretty much just repeating the 2-6 steps for the left side. Riveting the ribs to the floors and also riveted in the plastic buffers to the floor. The instructions say you can wait til after you paint but see no reason to paint the top of the baggage floor. On the RV-7A I had a nice piece of upholstery from Flightline Interiors and if one isn't available for the RV-12, I'll just make one.

One problem is the smallVan's recommended manual pop riveter has crapped out, apparently for good. It just won't pull anything. I had the problem when I first bought it and I talked to ATS aboout replacing it but then it started working and I figured "screw it."

Now, of course, I assume it's out of warranty.


 
Dec 21, 2017     Finished riveting floor/ribs to center section - (1.5 hours)       Category: Fuselage
I got a quick reply from Van's that the manufactured heads for the floor to center section rivets can go on the forward side, unlike the rib to center section rivets which go on the aft side. That's pretty much what I expected but I wanted to be sure. So I finished that line of rivets on the right side and then repeated the whole process on the left side, although I took a break to go buy a swivel head pop riveter, which was very helpful in setting those rib rivets.

I also primed the bottom and shot along the future rivet lines.


 
Dec 20, 2017     Attached left ribs to center section - (2 hours)       Category: Fuselage
Pretty much just the same as the right side. The lowest (actually top) rivets are just a bear to get right and I didn't but I'm not even going to consider drilling them out; it'll cause way too much damage.


 
Dec 19, 2017     Finished right side baggage ribs - (1 hour)       Category: Fuselage
I know I'm working slowly and methodically, but it just feels like there's stuff to trip you up so I'm double and triple checking things constantly. I solve the problem of riveting the right side ribs to the center section by using the "wedge tool" and bending the stem. I found cutting the stem not to be a satisfactory solution. All came out fine. On the left side!


 
Dec 18, 2017     Started riveting baggage ribs - (1.5 hours)       Category: Fuselage
I primed the bottom of the baggage floor and while it was drying, added more nutplates (come on, Van's... how long does it take you to fill the backordered bag, anyway?) after dimpling them by hand.

Once dry, I started riveting the baggage ribs to the floor.The manufactured head where they attack to the center section needs to go on the forward side and there's very little room to work. I decided after riveting one pop rivet at the very bottom of "21" rib (the last of the rivets in that rib), I would take a break to consider how to do a better job.

Upon thinking, shortening the stem so the puller doesn't have to open as wide to insert the full stem and using the wedge took and bending the stem at an angle seems like the best possibility.

I actually came to this realization while working on that low rivet but decided not to bend the stem and having it risk breaking off with a partially pulled rivet. The resulting rivet was no lesson in good riveting but it's the best of a difficult situation .


 
Dec 17, 2017     Attached nutplates to inspection holes - (1.5 hours)       Category: Fuselage
Armed with the knowledge that K1000-08D's are simply dimpled-eared nutplates, I dimpled up 20 of them and attached them to the inspection holes on the baggage floor. Also finished priming up that back section.

That's one interesting part of the instructions. Unlike the old 7A instructions, Van's refers to parts only by number, not function. And nobody can remember the numbers, they're all so similar. So a lot of these logs will refer to parts only as "that part".


 
Dec 16, 2017     Various puttering while waiting for backordered parts - (1 hour)       Category: Fuselage
It's been more than a month now since the fuselage kit arrived and still no sign of the back-ordered Bag 3124 which has K-1100-08D nutplates and some CherryMax rivets, So I've been poking ahead and trying to get done what I can get done without screwing stuff up down the line

Today I riveted the the "C" doublers to the end piece of the center section with LP-4-5. That end piece had a fair amount of surface corrosion so I sanded it up and then shot the whole piece with some primer.

Also deburred a few other pieces while I'm waiting.

I'm not really sure what the "D" stands for in the nutplate numbers. If it's "dimpled" I'll just go ahead and dimple the ears of the the K-1100-08's that I have hanging around.


 
Dec 12, 2017     Riveted floors to center section - (1.5 hours)       Category: Fuselage
I was set straight on the how to rivet the floors. I'd missed the instruction on the previous page (Step 6) because I skipped ahead after step 4 since Van's has not yet sent the backordered bag that has platenuts in them.

But the instruction is to use TWO flat sets in the squeezer. That worked well even though the head gets smooshed just a bit and you end up with a slightly uneven shop head.

I couldn't finish because the final four rivets are rivets that are in the backordered bag.


 
Dec 10, 2017     Riveted ELT bracket to ribs; started riveting floors - (4 hours)       Category: Fuselage
Nothing special, just following instructions.Also, the instructions say to dimple the #30 holes in the ribs corresponding to the floor dimples, but it said nothing about the #40 holes.

I checked with Van's and they confirmed it was a mistake in the instructions and the #40 rivets need to be dimpled too as they are used on platenuts.

I started riveting the right floor but couldn't figure out the best way to use the squeezer as the floor interferes with the squezer. If you put the shoip head the aft side, you risk getting smileys. It's less of a problem if you put it on the forward side, but if you ever need to drill the heads off the rivets, that's going to be difficult. Will wait to complete the task until I ask more


 
Dec 09, 2017     ELT bracket - (2 hours)       Category: Fuselage
After a week or so of inactivity, I finished up the CherryMax rivets pulling in the center section because the Cherry Rivet Puller arrive as did the replacement 4-8 CherryMax rivets. I was very impressed with the puller as it set perfect rivets every time.

I 'm waiting on installing the platenuts on the floor section as Bag 3127 is still backordered.Van's said maybe this week. We'll see.

So I jumped ahead and worked on the ELT bracket which was easy.


 
Nov 28, 2017     More center section work - (1.5 hours)       Category: Fuselage
I had to assemble the pieces on the ends that go in the middle of the channel. Then they're clamped and match drilled.

When it was time to rivet, I had a significant problem with the 4-8 Cherry Max rivets. Van's says the recommended pop riveter won't work (that's correct) but suggested you don't need to buy the expensive Cherry pop riveter because any Home Depot like pop riveter will work as long as the stem isn't anything but straight. That's wrong; at least it was for me.

I eventually got all 12 rivets on one side done, but with stems breaking prematurely and drilling out the head, I went through the full 26 supply Van's sends.

They're expensive things. $1 each from Van's which didn't have them listed on the website when I looked. So I had to order 100 of them at SkyGeek at 69 cents. Oh, and a new Cherry pop riveter from Aircraft Spruce.


 
Nov 26, 2017     Adding more parts to the center section - (3 hours)       Category: Fuselage
Got out to the hangar early because old RV pal Warren Starkebaum was going to stop over for a look at the project. Primed a couple of small parts, riveted the two end pieces on the D section, then assembled various parts so I can match drill the two end pieces. My C-clamps, however, were back at the house.

Good to see Warren, though.


 
Nov 24, 2017     Finished drilling center section - (5 hours)       Category: Fuselage
Finished drilling all the match-drilled holes in the center section. Something like 132, as it turned out.

Countersunk all the holes called out in Step 6 where the center section accepts the dimples in the "D" plate. Originally countersunk 120 degrees but then saw the note that it's the 100 degree countersink so adjusted accordingly. Then separated various parts and primed .


 
Nov 22, 2017     50 down. 74 to go - (1 hour)       Category: Fuselage
I'm thinking maybe I should've ordered a resupply of #30 drill bits sooner. :*)


 
Nov 20, 2017     Fit center section to bottom skin - (1 hour)       Category: Fuselage
I deburred the bottom skin and then set the clamped center section on top of it and clecoed all the holes along the bottom. More of a pain in the neck than anything else; I clecoed the outboard holes and then set it atop several 2x4's and then reached under to do the remaining holes. Then the instructions say to remove the spring clamps, let the unit adjust itself, and add c-clamps.

I'd already used c-clamps, but, whatever.

Then the instructions say remove all the clecos. I don't think so. I think I'll just keep everything where it is while match drill holes in the forward part of the center section to the big honking angle.

I pulled out my clear plastic housing for the drill bushings, which I've only used once since I bought it 16 years ago (and then I only used it for a couple of seconds while I realized how worthless it was for getting a straight drill shot in the rear spar doubler when setting the incidence on the the RV-7A wings years ago.

Time took its toll on plastic -- as it usual does -- and it pretty much disintegrated when unscrewed the #10 drill bushing that's been sitting in it for the last 10 years or so.

So I'll just flip the drill bushing around and hold it against the hole as I drill.


 
Nov 19, 2017     Started on center section - (1 hour)       Category: Fuselage
Deburred the center section and countersink 8 holes for four platenuts and installed, Similarly installed two platenuts on to separate pieces and then clamped center piece to the center section. I love the way they use two AN4bolts to nest against the center section in order to properly center the piece.


 
Nov 18, 2017     Fuselage kit arrives - (1 hour)       Category: Fuselage
It's been three months since I've done anything on the RV-12 because Van's redesigned the RV-12 -- now known as RV-12Is-- to allow for a fuel injected engine and the interior moves the fuel tank, adds a throttle quadrant and extends the plane's range. But I had to wait while new parts were manufactured.


 


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