Vans Aircraft RV-12 Build, Section 17: Wing Skins (part 9)

Reference: page 17-03, page 17-04, page 40-02; 7.5 hours

Primed the wing tip parts for the RV-12. Also I'm just about finished skinning and riveting the wings.

It's been just six months since I picked up my RV-12 tail kit from Van's Aircraft. Even with the extra work of prepping and priming the parts it is truly amazing how quickly this airplane goes together. After I finish the wings I'll do a time comparison between the RV-12 and the RV-10.

Reference: page 17-03

Step 5: Layout and then remove the shaded area from the W-1204D Wing Tip Clouse-Out using the template on page 40-17 of the RV-12 plans. This will create a wing tip access opening to reach into the wing tip and routing wires.



Step 6: Drill #19 a hole near the froward edge of the acess opening in the Wing Tip Close-Out. Builder's note: I drill the holes #30 and will enlarge it to final size before installing.



This completes page 40-02.

Reference page 17-03

Step 5: Cleco the Outbd Upper Skin to the wing skeleton . Rivet the outbd upper wing skin to the skeleton leaving open the holes shown in Figure 4 of Van's Aircraft's plans for the RV-12.



Builder's note: I got over zealous in riveting the left wing's outer panel in place and will need to drill out a few rivet to install the center skin. Ideally the leading edge skin should not be riveted yet. The right wing is done according to the plans.



This completes page 17-03

Reference 17-04

Step 1: Cleco one of the W-1202B Mid Upper Wing Skins to the wing skeleton. Rivet the mid upper wing skin to the skeleton leaving holes open as shown in figure 1 of the RV-12 plans page 17-04.



Builder's note: In the picture above you can see the problem I ran into because of riveting the nose skins on the left wing. The pictures below show how I ended up fitting the skin without drilling out too many rivet. The key was not to force the skins back in such a way as to kink the sheets but to let them arch gradually.











Step 2: Dimple the three inboard holes in the W-1201C-L Wing Walk Doubler shich are in line with the two rows of holes in the leading edge which are already dimpled.

Note: It may be necessary to make a slight edge bend to the forward edge of the Wing Walk Doubler.





Step 3: Cleco the Wing Walk Doubler to the wing. Begin clecoing at the forward/lower edge of the wing walk doubler and progress up and aft. Cleco the remaining portion of the Inbd Wing Skin to the wing skeleton. Rivet the wing walk and inbd wing skin to the wing. Be sure to use flush-head rivets in the dimpled holes.



Builder's note: As my fingertips were getting sore, I started using the dowel rod for placing the rivets into place. Care must be used so as not to dent the skins!



That's it for today's entry. Next time I'll finsh the wing skins and get into the wing tip and closeouts.

Vans Aircraft RV-12 Build, Section 17: Wing Skins (part 4)

Reference: page 17-03, 40-02; 6.5 hours

This entry is for both July 9th and 10th. The 9th was spent deburring and preping the wing skins to install on the RV-12's wing frames (not very exciting and no real pictures to share. But the next day was much more interesting! Started skinning the RV's wings and installing the Lighting Kit. Ran into a small GOTHCA while riveting. Also, just as a reminder, I'm build an RV-12 kit made by Van's Aircraft, both wings are being built at the same time. If you are interested in a specific page in the instructions check out the index on the right side of this blog. It contains entries by page number for quick reference.



Reference: page 17-03

Step 4 page: Position the W-1201B-L Inbd Upper Wing Skin on the wing skeleton. The stiffening flange along the leading edge of the inbd upper wing skin should drop into the cut-outs in the nose Ribs when you lift the trailing edge of the Inbd upper wing skin. Cleco then rivet the inbd upper wing skin to the skeleton leaving holes open as shown in plans.

Builder's Notes: DON'T rivet the leading edge of the upper skin at this time!!! I missed this on the plans and had to drill some of the rivets out to get the middle upper skin in place. Installing the skin kept the wing from flexing so it is now time to start on the lighting kit cutouts.







Reference: page 40-02

Started by cutting a part and fluting the rib flanges to remove the bumps from the Landing Light Ribs. My plan is to use these as the template for drilling their rivet holes from the inside the wing.



Step 1: Align the lines on the top half of the template supplied on page 40-15 with the corresponding top leading edge rib rivet. Use a tool with a sharp point to mark the center of all six rivet holes and the four screw holes that will be added to the top of the Outbd Wing Skin. Mark the perimeter of the upper half of the landing light cutout. Align the bottom half of the template with the corresponding bottom leading edge rivets, then mark the four bottom rivet holes, the four bottom screw holes and the bottom half of the landing light cutout.





Step 2: Drilled only the top two rivet holes.

Builder's note: I did some of these step out of sequence from the plans but am happy with the results. Below is listed the actual steps I followed.

Step 3: Removed the material inside the landing light cutout. Deburr the edge on the landing light cutout and the rivet holes.



Picture below is a pair of aircraft nibblers they don't distort the aluminum sheeting like aviation snips.



Here are the two grinding bits I used to finish off the cutout.





Clecoed the Landing Light Ribs using the two top rivet holes drilled previously. These were tempararly installed transposed (right for left and left for right) to allow for easier access. After aligning these ribs with the wing ribs, I drilled the remaining rivet holes from inside using a small angle drill.





Aligned the Landing Light Back Strips over the screw hole makes and use these as a guide for drilling the four screw holes.



Hopefully the above instructions are helpful. If you have questions please email me at aviationstop at gmail.com

Vans Aircraft RV-12 Build, Section 17: Wing Skins (part 3)

Reference: page 17-03; 4 hours

Building both wings at the same time for the RV-12 is working very well. I'm almost to the point of jumping into the lighting kit installation. You will notice there are pictures below for both the right and left wings.

Step 1: Flip-over the wing placing it right-side-up on the table with the leading edge overhanging the edge by 4 inches. A helper will definitely be required to flip the wing over and a second helper might be useful stabilize the overhanging portion of the skins and prevent them from becoming creased acrss the most forwardrow of rivets as the wing is being re-positioned.





Builders note: Ethan and I were able to turn the wings over with no problems. We just rotated them over slowly and with care.

Step 2: Cleco the W-1201-L, W-1202-L & W-1203-L Inbd, Mid and Outbd Wing Skins to the skeleton using the open holes on the bottom and the top of the wing. Rivet the inbd, mid & outbd wing skins to the skeleton as called out in figure 1 on page 17-03 of Van's Aircrafts plans. Remove any remaining clecos.





Step 3: Cleco the bottom flange of the two W-1216B-L Hinge Ribs to the W-1202-L & W-1203-L Mid & Outbod Wing Skins. Flex the hinge ribs out of the way as required to allow insertion of the Hinge Bracket Assemblies. Insert clecos through the hinge ribs to the Hing Bracket Assemblies, main ribs, and Rear Spar Assembly.











In addition to the above steps, I started deburring, preping and priming the top skin of the wings.