Vans Aircraft RV-12 Airplane Build,Section 47: Installing the Propellor; Section 25: Rear canopy window

Reference: page 47-06, page 25-06, page 42C-10; 9.5 hours

Today's work on the RV-12 ELSA airplane kit. Includes installing and sealing the rear window. Installing the propellor and and Transponder antenna.

Reference: Page 47-06

Builder's note: There is an article in the 3rd 2010 Rvator called Perfect Pitch on installing and pitching a prop on the RV-12. The goal is to have each blade within 0.1 degrees of the other to reduce vibration.





Reference: Page 25-06

Next came the installation of the rear window. The newer revision on the RV-12 plans calls out sealing the window and screws with fuel tank sealant to prevent fuel from getting to the edges and crazing the window. Note: I used clecos to hole the window in place, removing a section of them at a time to apply the fuel seal with a syringe. Then replaced the clecos with screws coated with sealant.









The last few smaller items included the installation of the floor anti-skid pads from Section 33. And the transponder antenna Section 42C-10.



Builder's note: The floor pads are the bigger pad versus the wing walk covers.





That's it for today's work of the RV-12. Long day but it's coming along nicely.

Vans Aircraft RV-12 Airplane Build, Section 47: Spinner & Propeller (part 3)

Reference for this entry: page 47-05, 47-06; 4.0 hours

Today will basically finish the assembly and fabrication of the spinner for the RV-12 airplane.

Step 4: Make two Gap Fillers out of the pieces trimmed from the Spinner. Start by placing the pieces on the Template with the outer surface towards you. Trace the curved line visible through the fiberglass then trim to the line. Test the gap fillers and trim as needed to clear the prop by 1/16 to 1/8 of an inch.

Builder's note: I did the above step wrong the first time and had to build on the edges of the fiberglass piece. Remember curve side up from template!










Step 5: Make a mark on the Spinner and Spinner Plate so that they can be aligned later. Remove the spinner and make an alignment mark on the inside. Make an alignment mark on the Front Spinner Bulkhead. Remove the front spinner bulkhead, forward hub half and prop blades. Reinstall the spinner.





Step 6: Clamp the Gap Fillers to the Spinner Plate and drill #40, cleco as you drill each of the four rivet holes. Remove clecos and gap fillers.



This completes page 47-05.

Reference: 47-06

Step 1: From the 032 aluminum sheet, make four Back Plates. Bend the aluminum sheet around a curved object so that the material conforms to the curve of the Spinner prior to cutting.





Position the back pates on the Gap fillers. Clamp the parts together and match-drill #40 then cleco the rivet holes



Step 2: Use a felt pen to trace the propeller clearence in the gap fillers onto the Back Plates. Seperate the parts and trim the back plates to the traced line. Radius corners and deburr the back plates.



Step 3: Cleco the Gap Back Plates to the Gap Fillers, then cleco the gap fillers to the Sipper Plate. Drill a #30 pilot hole in the Spinner and gap back plate for the screw that will secure the two parts together.



Step 4: Final drill #19 all the holes common to the Spinner and the Front Spinner Bulkhead, common to the spinner and Spinner back plate, and common to the spinner and the Gap backplates.



Step 5: Remove the spinner back plate, Spinner, Front Spinner Bulkhead, hub mount hlf and Spinner Plate. Drill #40 holes in the spinner plate, the front spinner bulkhead, and the back plates for the rivets used to attach the nutplates called out on page 47-05.



Step 6: Machine countersink all #40 holes in the Spinner plate, Gap Back Plates and Front Spinner Bulkhead for the heads of AN426AD# rivets.



Step 7: Deburr all holes drilled, then rivet the nutplates called out by Van's Aircraft.



Step 8: Rivet the Gap Back Plates to the Gap Fillers, then rivet the Gap fillers to the Spinner back plate.



This completes this entry on the spinner all that is left is final mounting of the prop and spinner after painting the RV-12 airplane.