Vans Aircraft RV-12 Build, Section 21: Mid Fuse Bibs & Bottom Skins (part 8)

Reference: page 21-14; 1.5 hours

The sachets of parts for the RV-12 aircraft, stored in the garage, are getting smaller (and much easier to search through) while the fuselage is growing in size. Strange to think I picked up the tail kit from Van's Aircraft less than 10 months ago and in that time have built the tail, wings and am well into the fuselage.

Step 1: Secure the WD-1210 Control Column to the two Control Column Mount Assemblies using the hardware called out by Van's Aircraft in Figure 1 on page 21-14.Hardware call-outs are symmetrical about the fuselage center-line. Small tabs of tape can be used to hold the pairs of washers during instillation.

Builder's note: The key is to use the correct number and thickness of washers so the Control Column ears are parallel to the Column Mounts and not bowed in or out. Also, I forced Aeroshell #5 grease down into the bearing cage, as there will never be a better time to access this area. Below you can see a washer holder I made out of a tongue depressor.









Step 2: Dimple the holes in the top flange of both inboard F-120L& -R Step Ribs indicated in Figure 2 of the RV-12 plans on page 21-14.

Builder's note: I had a interesting time dimpling these two flanges, as the holes are very close to the rib web. A small sized #30 female die would have solved the problem. Not having one, I used a highly modified spare die to do the job. I have not experienced this kind of clearance issue on any of the previous rib parts to date on the RV-12.



Step 3: Dimple the sic sets of nutplate attach rivet holes in the top flange of the F-1202F Bulkhead.



Step 4: Rivet the F-1212-L & -R Step to the F-1203A Bulkhead using the rivets called out.





Step 5: As indicated by Van's Aircraft in Figure2, dimple the bottom hole in the forward flange of both outboard F-1212-L & -R Step Ribs and the two corresponding holes in the F-1202F Bulkhead.



Step 6: Cleco (DO NOT RIVET) the F-1202F Bulkhead to the F-1212 Step Ribs.



Step 7: Figure 3 on page 21-14 of the RV-12 plans, shows a bottom view of the fuselage. Install the snap bushings that are called out into the holes of the bulkheads as shown.

Builder's note: Not all of the snap bushings are pictured below . some are in places I couldn't get my camera into. Also in some of the pictures I am pointing at less obvious ones









This completes page 21-14 of the RV-12 plans.