Vans Aircraft RV-12 Airplane Build, Section 49: Cooling System (part 12) & Section 50: Engine Controls (part 1)

Reference for this entry: page 49-15, 49-21, 50-02; 1.5 hours

Welcome back to my RV-12 airplane blog. I'm starting on page 49-15 which deals with installing the Cowl duct seals. The plans call for using silicone sealant to glue them on. So I used Silicone II (after proper cleaning) and the peeled right off the next day! So I made two test pieces one with fuel seal the other with RTV as can be seen below. The fuel seal peeled a part easily. The RTV took alot of abuse before failing, so I am using RTV sealant to glue the seals on.





Step 3: Clean COWL 12 DUCT SEAL A, B & C with denatured alcohol.



Step 4: Bond the seals to the COWL DUCT INTERFACE using silicone (use scrap aluminum and clamps on the curved area).





Step 5: After the silicone is dry, use a razor blade to slit the lower outboard portion of the COWL DUCT SEAL C to allow the seal to compress without bunching up.





This completes page 49-15. Post script: The RTV stuck really well.

Reference: page 49-21

Builder's note: The newest set of section 49 doesn't show a page 49-21. The one I have is rev 1 dated 6/26/14. It deals with installing the blast cooling tube for the rectifier. So here it goes.

Step 6: Using blind rivets attach the cooling shroud to the Rectifier.



Step 7: Reattach the Rectifier to the Firewall Shelf.

Step 8: Cut the Duct NT 5/8 to 24 inches long. to make the blast tube.



Step 9: Squeeze the blast tube slightly, then insert the end into the Cooling Shroud.



Step 10: Tie wrap the Blast Tube to the Radiator Hose to prevent the blast tube from chafing on other components.



Step 11: Add a bead of RTV around the end of the blast tube where it enters the Cooling shroud.



This completes page 49-21.

Reference: 50-02

Step 1 (Older Style Center Panel): NA I used the new panel.

Step 2: Route the Throttle Cable through the left hole in the center panel, through the nut and washer and the cable penetration grommet in the F-1201A Firewall Upper. Feed the cable slack to the forward side of the firewall upper until the throttle cable is seated in the panel.

Step 3: Route the Choke Cable through the remaining hole in the center panel, through the nut and washer and the cable penetration grommet in the F-1201A Firewall Upper. Feed the cable slack to the forward side of the firewall upper until the choke cable is seated in the panel.





This completes this entry and page 50-02 for the RV-12 airplane.

Vans Aircraft RV-12 Airplane Build, Section 49: Cooling System (part 10)

Reference for this entry: page 49-13, 49-14, 49-15; 4.0 hours

Today's work on the RV-12 deals with more fiberglass work on the cooling duct and cowl. The steps aren't necessarily in the order they appear below. Also I decide to seal the inside of the lower cowl with epoxy resin. I didn't thin it and it only took abou 2oz. of resin.

Reference: Page 49-13 of the RV-12 airplane plans

Step 14: Drill #30 two drain holes in the COWL 12 COOLING DUCT as shown in Figure 2. Be careful to not drill through the outside of the COWL 12 BOTTOM.





This completes page 49-13.

Reference: Page 49-14 Step 11: Remove clecos and fill holes with flox epoxy mixture. Double check that drain holes are still open.



Step 12: Cut out the label printed on Page 49-17 (or photo copy label if preferred) and position on top of the COWL 12 COOLING DUCT. Brush over the label with epoxy resin so that the label is well coated and bonded with the cooling duct.



This completes page 49-14.

Reference: Page 49-15

Step 1: Cut VA-198 P-Seal material into lengths shown in Figure 1 to create the COWL 12 DUCT SEAL A, B & C.



Step 2: Sand the entire bonding area on the perimeter of the COWL DUCT INTERFACE with 100 grit sandpaper.



Then coated the interior of the cowl with epoxy using an old store gift card as a squeegee for the epoxy resin.



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