Vans Aircraft RV-12 Airplane Build: Final Assembly (part 13) Closing Forward Fuselage

Reference: Page 45A-10, 42C-16, 34-11; 4.0 hours

Now that the RV-12 is at the airport I can adjust the radio volume for the EFIS as it requires a radio signal and ATIS is ideal for this.



This completes page 45C-10.

Reference: Page 42C-16

Next came the testing and final install of the ELT. To complete the G switch test I fabricated my own test plug using a 15 pin female D-Sub and a jumper wire. And of course the test have to be done 5 minutes after the hour. Sorry I didn't photograph the test plug.



Then came the install of the Forward fuselage.



Reference: page 34-11

Now with the forward fuselage on I can ensure the canopy handle works prperly with just one hand. And after some adjustment it works fine.

This completes this entry for the RV-12 final assembly.

Vans Aircraft RV-12 Airplane Build, Miscellaneous

Reference for this entry: pages 29A-10, 34-11, 40-11; 3.0 hours

Today the plan is to to do a mixer of different tasks on the RV-12 airplane and there by start pulling some of the odd jobs together.

Reference: page 29A-10

Step 4: Install the screws that anchor the back of the Map Box to the Base Panel.



This completes page 29A-10 of the RV-12 plans.

Reference: 34-11

Step 2: Rivet the latch block to the Canopy Lock.



Reinstalled the Canopy guide blocks that had been remove form painting.



Reference: page 40-11

Builder's Note: Because the wiring had already been ran from the instrument panel back to the RollBar the steps on this page will be out of sequence fro the RV-12 plans.

Step 1: Drill #12 hole for lighting wires into roll bar.



Step 2: Insert a snap bushing in the hole, but first trim the sides of the bushing so it will set between the front and back frames of the roll bar.



Step 3: Remove the two lower right rivets.


Step 4: Machine countersink the three holes int the light bracket that attach the Cockpit light.



Step 5: Cleco the Light Bracket to the holes from the rivets just removed.



Step 6: Match-drill #30 the right two holes in the Light Bracket into the web of the Roll Bar.



Step 7: Rivet the light Bracket to the roll bar.



Step 8: Crimp on butt splices to the two wire coming out of the Cockpit light.



Step 9: The lighting wire have been run previously. But needed to be ran throug the roll bar. I used a length of light safety wire to pull the wires up through the roll bar.





Step 14: Enlarge the guide hole in the Roll bar attach Plate to 3/8".



Step 15: Inert a snap bushing into the hole after deburring the hole.



Step 16: Make a Wire tube out of PT-035X1/4 tubing 30 inches long.



Step 17: Used the safety wire to pull the wires up through the wiring tube and out through the hole in the Roll Bar.





Step 10: Crimp the butt splices onto the appropriate wires.



Step 11: Rivet the Cockpit light onto the Bracket using the called out rivets.

Secured the wires to the Roll Bar using a drop of fuel tank sealant.



This completes page 40-11 of the RV-12 airplanes plans and this entry

Vans Aircraft RV-12 Airplane Build, Section 34: Canopy Installation (part 8)

Reference: Page 34-09, 34-10, 34-11; 3.5 hours

Step 2, page 34-09: Cleco the canopy to the front frame bow. Installed the screws that hold the canopy to the rear bow.Just tight enough so the screws don't turn freely.





Builder's note: I'm still not happy with the canopy clearance of the instrument panel. So off the canopy came and I removed more plastic.



Builder's note: I roller the top edges of the canopy skirts so they fit the bubble better.



Step 3: Riveted the skirts to the canopy frame and installed the screws along the side frame.





Riveted the canopy along the front bow (again the canopy was first warm before starting any of this work.



This completes page 34-09.

Step 1, page 34-10: Installed the canopy handle and latch. Greased it with Aeroshell #5 grease. the handle is not supposed to turn under it's own weight when the canopy is in its up position. Mine was fine until I grease it.





So I removed the latch assemble and slightly pinched it (as out lined in the RV-12 plans) with a pair of Vise Grips with tape over the jaws to protect the part. Is doesn't need much to work correctly.



Step 2: I Machine counter sunk the Latch Block using a small diameter countersink and installed it on the roll bar as directed in the RV-12 plans by Van's Aircraft.







This completes page 34-10.

Reference page 34-11, Step 1: Close the RV-12 canopy and check the clearances against the drawings on page 34-11 of the RV-12 plans.

Builder's note: As can be seen in the picture below, I have zero clearance above the latch handle and twice the maximum below the handle. This can be adjusted by filing down the latch tube on the canopy frame. But before doing this rather permanent adjustment I am going to finish the canopy and paint the roll bar to ensure the proper seating of the canopy.



Step 2: Fabricate the Latch Block and match-drilled it to the Latch plate.





I'm holding off installing the Latch Block until after I paint the roll bar.

This completes today's work on the canopy installation on the RV-12 airplane kitted by Van's Aircraft.