Vans Aircraft RV-12 Build, Section 21: Mid Fuse Ribs & Bottom Skins (part 13)

Reference: page 21-19, page 21-20, page 39-03, page 39-04; 7 hours

There is a lot of ground covered during this entry of the construction of the RV-12 airplane. This will finish up section 21 of Van's Aircraft's Plans for the Mid Fuselage as well as the Auto Pilot servo mount for the elevator control.

Step 1: Dimple all the #30 holes and #40 nutplate attach holes in the area indicated in Figure 1 by Van's Aircraft, in both the F-1213-L& _R Step Floors. DO NOT dimple the nutplate screw holes.



Step 2: Dimple the nutplates shown on page 21-19 figure 1 of the RV-12 plans, then rivet them to the Seat Floors.



Builder's note: In the picture above I am pointing at a nutplate that is installed after the step floors are installed.

Step 3: Rivet the Step Floors to the F-1202F Bulkhead, the F1212-L & -R Step Ribs, and the F-1203A Bulkhead using the rivets called out. Be sure to capture the two holes in the front flange of the F-1253-L & -R Seat Floor Supports when riveting the two outbd holes of the step floors to the bulkhead.





Step 4: Dimple the nutplates shown in figure 2 of the RV-12 plans on page 21-19, then reach through the lightening holes in the Step Ribs and rivet the nutplates to the top flange of the Bulkhead and the Step Floors using the rivets called out.



Step 5: Dimple the four sets of nutplate attach rivet holes in the F-1207B Baggage Bulkhead for the nutplates shown by Van's Aircraft in figure 3 on page 21-19.



Step 6: Dimple the nutplates, then rivet them to the F-1207B Baggage Bulkhead using the rivets called out.



Builder's note: As mentioned earlier I am installing the auto pilot option into the RV-12 airplane. So now is the time to jump to page 39-03.

Reference page 39-03

Step 1: Label, then separate the F-1286A-L & -R Servo Brackets by removing the material shown hatched in figure 1 on page 39-03 by Van's Aircraft.

Step 2: Label, then separate the F-1286B-L & -R Servo Angle by removing the material shown hatched in figure 2 as shown by Van's Aircraft.



This completes page 39-03.

Reference page 39-04; Step 1: Not applicable.

Step 2: Cleco the rivet the F-1207 Baggage Bulkhead and the F-1286A Servo Brackets to the Baggage Ribs using the rivets called out in figure 1.



Step 3: Cleco then rivet the Servo Angles to the Servo Brackets as shown on page 39-04 of the RV-12 aircraft plans.



Step 4: (Preconst)Proceed with the assembly instructions in Section 21.

Reference page 21-19; Step 7: Cleco the Baggage Bulkhead in place, then rivet the baggage bulkhead to the F-1206-L & -R Baggage Ribs using the rivets called out. Rivet to these two ribs only, leave the rest of the baggage clecoed.

Step 8: Install the snap bushings depicted in figure 3 on page 21-19.



Step 9: Cleco the F_1048 Facet Pump Bracket to teh Bottom Skin in the tunnel, then drill #30 the four holes common to both parts.



Step 10: Remove the Facet Pump Bracket, final drill #40 and machine countersink the nutplate attach rivets, then attach the nutplates shwon in Figure 3 with the rivets called out on page 21-19 by Van's Aircraft.



Step 11: Rivet the Facet Pump Bracket to the F-1276 Bottom Skin using the rivets called out.



Builder's note: It doesn't say so in the instructions but it is a good idea to rivet these from the bottom of the fuselage. This completes page 21-20.



Reference page 21-20 Step 1: As shown in figure 1, install the six systems block studs in the holes of the F-1276 Bottom Skin between the two F-1215 Seat Ribs.



Builder's note: In the picture above you can see only 4 of the 6 studs.

This complete not only page 21-20, but also section 21 Mid Fuse Ribs and Bottom Skins. Next time we will start the forward fuselage and lower firewall. I'm going to leave you with a few pictures of the snap bushing that need to be installed for the Dynon Skyview avionics package. These specific bushing live between the seats in the tunnel area. Until then enjoy!

Vans Aircraft RV-12 Build, Section 21: Mid Fuse Ribs & Bottom Skins (part 12)

Reference: page 21-18; 3 hours

There is a lot of ground covered during this entry of construction of the RV-12 airplane. Today will complete page 12-18 of Van's Aircraft's Plans for RV-12.

Page 21-18 Step 1: Remove the F-1202F Bulkhead and the Step Attach Angles from the fuselage. (Keep the step attach angles clecoed to the bulkhead.) Use the bolts shown in figure 1 of the RV-12 plans on page 21-18 [AN4-5A] to secure the F-1251-L nutplate Brackets to the step attach angles and bulkhead.





Step 2: Align the Nutplate Brackets vertically on the Step Attach Angles, then match-drill #30 the two holes of the Bulkhead and step attach angles into the nutplate brackets.





Step 3: Deburr the holes in the F-1202F Bulkhead, the Step Attach Angles, the Nutplate Brackets, and the Step Ribs.



Step 4: Prime the F-1236A-L & -R Step Angles.

Step 5: Rivet the Step Angles to the Step Ribs using the rivets called out by Van's on page 21-18 of the RV-12 aircraft plans.

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Step 6: Repeat Steps 1-5 for the right side of the fuselage.

Builder's note: I did both side at the same time.



Step 7: Cleco the F-1202F Bulkhead back in place then rivet it to the F-1212-L & -R Step Ribs using the rivets called out in figure 3 on page 21-18.



Step 8: Rivet the F-1251-L Nutplate Brackets and the F-1236A-L & B-L Step Attach Angles to the F-1202F Bulkhead using the rivets called out in Figure 4 on page 21-18 of the RV-12 aircraft plans. Repeat for the right side of the fuselage.





Step 9: Rivet the F-1202F Bulkhead to the F-1274-L Fuselage Corner Skin. DO NOT rivet the bulkhead to the bulkhead to the Bottom Skin. Repeat for the right side of the fuselage.



Step 10: Install the Steps.
Builder's note: As the steps can be installed at any time I am setting the hardware aside with the steps and will install them later. This way they won't be in the way during construction.

Step 11: Dimple the nutplate shown in Figure 5, then rivet them to the top flange of the F-1202F Bulkhead using the rivets called out. DO NOT attach nutplates at the indicated hole locations. See Van's RV-12 aircraft plans page 21-18 figure 5.



Builder's note: My standard sized rivet set would not fit in the tight quarters so I used a pneumatic squeezer with a special yoke. Also in the picture above I am holding the lens cover in my hand (rookie mistake).

Step 12: Install the snap bushings called onu in figure 5 into the holes indicated.



Builder's note: In the picture above I am pointing at the new hole that is added for installation of the Dynon SkyView avionic system.

This completes page 21-18. Well that's it for this building section. Until next time,
Vern

Vans Aircraft RV-12 Build, Section 21: Mid Fuse Bibs & Bottom Skins (part 11)

Reference: page 21-17; 3 hours

In this entry we get to play with fuel tank sealant. I just purchased the one ounce container from Van's Aircraft as it does have a shelf life and I didn't want to use old sealant when it came time to build the fuel tank.This stuff can and will make a mess. So think through the process before mixing the sealant components together.

Step 1: Separate the F-1326 Step Attach Angles by removing the hatched areas as show in the RV-12 plans on page 21-17.



Step 2: Make the F-1236B-L & -R Outbd Step Attach Angles by trimming the flanges of two of the angles separated in step 1. (At this point these two parts are identical, but will become left and right once they art drilled in a later step.) The two, remaining, untrimmed angles seperated in Step 1 are designated F-1236A-L & -R Inbd Step Attach Angles.



Step 3: Separate the F-1251 Nutplates Bracket into individual parts by removing the hatched areas shown in figure 3 of Van's Aircraft plans.



Step 4: Machine countersink the F-1251-L & -R Nutplate Brackets for the attach rivets called out, then rivet the nutplates in place.





Step 5: Cleco the F-1236A-L Indb Step Attach Angel to the F-1212-R Step Rib and the F-1236B-L Outbd Step Attach Angle to the F-1212-L Step Rib as shown by Van's Aircraft in figure 4 of the RV-12 plans. Then match drill #30 the indicated holes of the F-1202F Bulkhead into the step attach angles. Cleco the holes, then repeat this step for the right side of the fuselage.





Step 6: Final-Drill 1/4 the hole in the F-1202F Bulkhead and the F-1236B-L Out bd Step Attach Angle that is indicated in figure 5 of the plans.

Builder's note: I completed each step on both sides of the fuselage rather than completeing one side and then going the the other.



Step 7: Temporarily bolt the WD-1233-L Step to the F-1202F Bulkhead and F-1236B-L Outbd Step Attach Angle.



Builder's note: As can be seen in the picture above I used a straight edge to level both steps before drilling them so they would be the same on each side of the RV-12.

Step 8: Make the pad of the WD-1233-L Step horizontal, however, the inbd, top corner of the step is to remain even with or below the beginning of the radius of the F-1202F Bulkhead. See figure 5 on page 21-17 of the RV-12 plans. Once the step is positioned, match-drill 1/4 the inboard hole of the step into the bulkhead and F-1236A-L Inbd Step Attach Angel. Remove the step.



Builder's note: I need to add two washers under the outside edge of the pad and the straight edge jig on both sides to get the upper corners below the radius of the bulkhead.





Step 9: Seal the opening in the WD-1233-L Step with fuel tank sealant.

Builder's note: First fuel tank sealant is sticky and will get over everything. Do wear gloves! It doesn't stick to polypropylene plastic (i.e.sandwich bags) so this can be used to cover the outer surface of the sealant as it cures. Then when it has sets up it will come right off. Also, I primed the inside of the steps with zinc chromate, and allowed it to dry, before sealing them up.





Step 10: Repeat Steps 6 - 9 for the right side of the fuselage. I did both side at the same time.

This completes page 21-17 of the RV-12 plans.

Vans Aircraft RV-12 Build, Section 21: Mid Fuse Bibs & Bottom Skins (part 10)

Reference: page 21-16, page 42D-14; 5 hours

During this entry we will install the bottom skin on the Van's RV-12s forward fuselage. Also, Van's Aircraft has an option on this page of the airplane plans for adding optional nutplates for the antenna mount (at least I believe it is the comm antenna as it would be a bad place for the GPS antenna!) Also I am installing the Dynon Skyview avionics package and now is the time to start with the airframe alterations

Step 1: Dimple the four sets of nutplates attach rivet holes around each access hole in the Bottom Skin.



Builders note: This is was a good time to install the optional nutplates for the antenna mount. First I made a nutplate centering tool out of a nutplate and bolt. Then after drilling them the rivet holes need to be dimpled. One way is to use a blind dimpler and a hand rivet puller as pictured below. Being I still have my C frame dimpler from building the RV-10 I used this.









Builders note: I used floating nutplates part number MS21059-08 as I was unsure how precises the center of the holes were compared to the antenna base. These do require more work as a standard female die will not fit into the nutplate. So I made one to do the job as can be seen in the pictures below.







Step 2: Dimple the twenty nutplates called out in the airplane plans page 21-16, then rivet them around each access hole in the bottom skin.

Builders note: Before attaching the nutplates I etched, alodined and primed the inside of the bottom skin.



Step 3: Break the edges along both sides of the F-1276 Bottom Skin.



reference: page 42D-14:

Step 1: Drill #30 a pilot hole in F-1203A Bulkhead using the deminsions shown in the Van's avionic plans for the Dynon Skyview. USe a step drill to enlarge the #30 hoe per the callout in Figure 2 on page 42D-14.Insert a snap bushing into the hole per the callout.



Builders note: the picture above is looking up from the bottom of the skin. It shows the forward face of the F-1203A former.



Step 2: Drill #30 a pilot hoe in F-1202F Bulkhead using the dimensions given in figure 3 on page 42D-14. Use a step drill to enlarge the #30 hole to 3/4". Insert a snap bushing into the hole per the callout from Van's Aircraft plans.





This completes page 42D-14 for installing the Skyview avionics alterations for this section. Now we will con tinue on with 21-16.Below is one more picture of the two holes after they are completed.



Page 21-16; Step 4: Cleco the Bottom Skin to the fuselage.



Step 5: Reach through the openings in the side of the fuselage or through the access holes in the Bottom Skin, then cleco the F-1204A-l & -R Bottom Stiffeners, and the F-1204A & D Center Section Bulkhead flanges.



Step 6: Cleco the F-1268A, B, C, D & E Doublers to the F-1276 Bottom Skin, to the F-1204A-L & -R Bottom Stilleners and the F-1204A & D Center Section Bulkhead flanges.


Step 7: Except for the holes indicated in the plans, rivet in place the Doublers, the Bottom Stiffeners and the Bottom Skin using the rivets called out by Van's Aircraft.



This completes page 21-16. As for the notes about installing the Dynon Skyview, my guess is the newer kits will have these holes predrilled, but time will tell.