Apr 27, 2024     Rivet top skin – Right wing (16-3) - (2 hours)       Category: Wings

Finished the long skin and now working the short one. Also started to feed the conduit through the ribs, but it looks like this will take a while.
Pic1 – Started feeding conduit (24-039)
Pic2 – Started riveting short skin (24-040)
Pic3 – Finished long top skin (24-041)

  Apr 21, 2024     Rivet top skin – Right wing (16-3) - (3 hours)       Category: Wings

I completed the Condition Inspection on the RV-12, which took some time, but I got it done in time to see the 2024 Soler Eclipse come through our area. We flew the 12 over to Shelbyville, IN (20 min flight) to get a little more time in the totality of the eclipse. I think we could have seen it from our back yard, but it was fun to fly over to the centerline of the path. We landed along with a bunch of other planes just a short time before it started. I tried to grab some picture, but it didn't catch the cool experience I saw with my eyes (with eclipse glasses). I did grab a pic or the plane and sun when it was in total eclipse. It was a really cool experience.
Now that the 12 is working well, it's time to get back on the 10. Still trying to finish up the top skin. It's been pretty busy with spring break and visiting family, but when we find a little time we try to tackle a section or two of the rivets. I need to step up my efforts so I can be ready for the fuselage kit later this year (hopefully).
Pic1 – Eclipse 2024 from Shelbyville, Indiana (20240408_eclipse)
Pic2 – Cyndi and I bucking rivets (24-034)
Pic3 – More sections complete on the big skin (24-036)
Pic4 – Still more to go (24-037)

  Mar 09, 2024     Rivet top skin – Right wing (16-3) - (8 hours)       Category: Wings

With the left wing top skin finished and back on the stand I started the right wing. Not as many pictures since it pretty much a repeat of the left. Skins were prepped, edges deburred, holes final sized and deburred, skins dimpled and primed. I spent a little extra time trying to get the overlapping corners sanded down to minimize the sandwich thickness per the instructions. The top skins are a little thicker, so it takes a little more aggression to set the dimples with the c-frame and hammer. I think after all those skins the dimple die said it had enough and the tip broke off while setting the rivets on the aft spar. Unfortunately, I tried to use it before I notice it had broken off. As a result, the die was not centered on the hole and damaged the side of the hole. I ended up oversizing the hole to remove the damage and added a reinforcement plate. Now we are working to rivet the skin on starting in the center and working our way out.
Pic1 – Corner sanded thinner in overlap region (24-024)
Pic2 – Reinforcement added (24-026)
Pic3 – Starting to rivet top skin on (24-031)
Pic4 – Couple ribs done…several to go (24-032)

  Feb 17, 2024     Finished top skin – Left Wing (16-3) - (4 hours)       Category: Wings

My helper and I finally finished the top skin for the left wing. It looks good and we managed to not mess up anything other than a few rivets that I had to drill out and reset. The rivets on the trail edge inboard side were difficult to get the bucking bar in. The extra thick rear spar doubler with round head rivets created limited access. We ended up angling the bucking bar a little, which seemed to work ok. I may want to grind a groove in the bar or purchase another bar for these on the right wing. I was able to squeeze the inboard edge except for a few rivets that I had to buck due to access. Anyway, it's done and put away to make room to do the same for the right wing. One more thing…I pulled the trigger on the fuselage kit. I have no idea when it will get here, but I suspect I will be done with the wings before it gets here.
Pic1 – Top skin completely riveted (24-016)
Pic2 – Another view...happy with the results (24-017)
Pic3 – Wing walk area (24-018)
Pic4 – Inboard rivets (24-019)
Pic5 – Inboard rivets (24-020)
Pic6 – Top skin on (24-023)

  Feb 03, 2024     Still riveting top skin – Left Wing (16-3) - (4 hours)       Category: Wings

I was without my partner most of the week, so I went ahead and started working on the next section and managed to cleco the leading-edge ribs in place on the skin. It's a tight fit and I had to modify the holder a little to match the shape better. It takes quite a bit of pushing and prying to get all the rivets holes aligned. On Saturday we were able to get back on the wing skin, but still have some more to go.
Pic1 – Cut out notches on leading edge ribs (24-011)
Pic2 – Clecoed the leading-edge ribs to skin (24-012)
Pic3 – Still Left wing, but getting closer to riveting the top skins in place (24-013)
Pic4 – More rivets than clecos, getting closer to finishing top skin (24-014)

  Jan 20, 2024     Rivet top skin – Left wing (16-3) - (4 hours)       Category: Wings

It's been pretty frigid here, which means the garage is a little too cold to work, but on the days when I can get it warm enough, we go out and bang some rivets. We've finished up most of the out board large skin and now are working from the center out on the inboard small skin. I also took a little time to do some indoor activity of straightening out the nose ribs for the next section. I haven't ordered the fuselage kit yet but trying to think about the best time to place that order. Van's hasn't published lead times, but I think it will be at least a year, so I'll probably need to pull that trigger before this summer.
Pic1 – Started riveting the inboard top skin (24-008)
Pic2 – Straightened the nose ribs (24-009)
Pic3 – Still Left wing, but getting closer to riveting the top skins in place (24-010)

  Jan 06, 2024     Rivet top skin – Left wing (16-3) - (2 hours)       Category: Wings

Well, the excitement of the holidays and family visiting has come and gone and now it's back to building…unfortunately the new year brought in a joy of cold that I can't seem to shake. Cyndi and I managed to get out into the garage for a couple hours to try our hand a riveting the top skin to the frame. I was able to back rivet most of the rivets including the ones next to the spar using an extended back rivet and the heavy flat face bar. It was a little cold for Cyndi, so we kept it on the warming plate on the stove until we were ready for it. The areas that the rib was too stiff too bend, or there was lack of access to back rivet, we switched to mushroom head and bucking bars. I used the notched bar to get under the j-channel and the angled bucking bar worked great of the aft spar rivets. Two panels down and many to go.
Pic1 – Started riveting top skin (24-003)
Pic2 – Tools used (24-004)
Pic3 – Small center section of skin riveted (24-005)
Pic4 – Bottom side of riveted area (24-006)
Pic5 – Aft spar brackets riveted to skin (24-007)

  Dec 28, 2023     Primed and clecoed top skins dimples - Left Wing (16-3) - (2 hours)       Category: Wings

I primed the inside surface of the wing skins and the J-channels, then clecoed everything in place including the nut plates. Only the aft nut plate needed to be dimpled. I secured the wing to the table and now ready to start setting rivets.
Pic1 – Nut plates and skins dimpled and clecoed in place (23-194)
Pic2 – Skins all clecoed in place (23-195)
Pic3 – Spar secured to the work bench (23-196)

  Dec 26, 2023     Top skin dimples - Left Wing (16-2) - (6 hours)       Category: Wings

Checked the counter sink and dimple for the number 8 screws to make sure they are flush then proceeded to dimple the top skins…that's a lot of dimples. I had to move both wing skeletons to the wing stand to make room for the c-frame and dimpling. After the skins were dimpled, I called it quits to give my shoulder a chance to rest. The .032 thick skins take a little more force than I'm used to on the empennage.
Pic1 – Dimpled for #8 screw (23-190)
Pic2 – Check screw in counter sunk holes (23-191)
Pic3 – Check screw in dimple hole (23-192)

  Dec 18, 2023     Top skins (16-2) - (6 hours)       Category: Wings

Final drilled the left-wing top skin and countersunk the holes for the wing walk area. Unfortunately, I wasn't paying enough attention when I drilled the holes for the wings walk doubler (W-1027B) and I had it flipped around. I think it will work, but I went ahead and ordered another one. We'll see how long it take s before I get it with all the re-org happenings at Vans. Since they are identical, I used the other one for the left wing and continued building. I countersunk the screw holes for a #8 screw, which cuts into the thickness of the doubler, so now it's a match for the left wing only. I also sanded down the corners of the top skins where they overlap next to the tank skin, so it doesn't stick up quite as bad. I sanded it down as much as I felt comfortable with. Now I'm ready to start dimpling, priming, and riveting.
Pic1 – Countersunk holes for number 8 screws (23-182)
Pic2 – Wing walk area countersunk (23-183)
Pic3 – Overlap corner shaved down (23-184)
Pic4 – Tapered the overlap on both skins (23-185)
Pic5 – Underside shaved area (23-186)
Pic6 – Top skins ready for the next steps (23-187)