Vans Aircraft RV-12 Airplane Build, Section 24 Rollover Structure (part 4)

Reference: page 24-05, 24-06; 3.5 hours

This posting will finish the Roll Bar and Baggage bulkhead installation for the RV-12 airplane. The next section is installing the tailcone, however because I'm working in half of a two car garage I'm going to skip attaching the tail cone for now.

Step 1: Dimple the nutplate attach holes (flush forward side) in the Baggage Bulkheads and Baggage bulkhead Channels.



Step 2: Flute the Baggage Bulkhead along the three long flanges below the longeron cutout to align the holes in the flanges with the holes in the Fuselage Side Skins



Step 3: Dimple the nutplates used in figure 1 on page 24-05 of the RV-12 airplane plans. Cleco then rivet the nutplate, Baggage Bulkhead, Baggage Bulkhead Channels together then cleco and rivet these parts to the Baggage Bulkhead B-1207B and Baggage Floor.



Builder's note: While installing the bulkheads I wasn't happy with the tight fit of the bulkhead on the longeron as it could cause a wear spot in the longeron. Because of this I opened up the pass through holes. Before and after pictures are shown below.







Builder's note: The hole I am pointing at in the picture below is left open during this step and will be filled with a rivet later.



Step 4: Install the snap bushing into the Baggage Bulkhead Channel per the callout in figure 1 on page 24-05 of the RV-12 airplane plans.



Step 5: I machine countersunk the Roll Bar Brace with a 120 degree countersink before installing it. Cleco then rivet the Roll Bar Brace to the Roll Bar Brace Brackets. Cleco this assembly to the Roll Bar Assembly and the Baggage Bulkhead. Rivet the assembly to the Roll Bar Assembly and the baggage bulkhead.





Step 6: Cleco then rivet the Brace Angle to the Baggage Bulkhead except the second hole from the inboard end that is also common to the Attach Angle as shown in figure 1 on page 24-05 and 24-06 of the RV-12 airplane plans.



Reference page 24-06 of Van's Aircraft plans for the RV-12 airplane

Step 1: Machine countersink the nutplate attach holes in the top of the F-1207J Attach Angle.



Step 2: Rivet the nutplate shown in figure 1 on page 24-06 of the RV-12 airplane plans to the top of the Attach Angle.



Step 3: Cleco then rivet the Attach Angle to the Baggage Bulkhead, Brace Angle and Baggage Floor.



Step 4: Rivet the Left & Right Support Frames to the Roll Bar Assembly and Canopy Decks.



This completes pages 24-05 and 24-06 as well as Section 24 of the RV-12 airplane.

2012 Arlington Fly-In, Washington

All work and no play... This year we headed for Arlington Washington and the annual fly-in. The airshow had a few wet days and also some great days. The turnout appeared to be a little smaller than I remember in past years, but there were some cool airplanes to see. For example the RV-1 was at the Van's Aircraft booth.

While at the airshow I ordered the epoxy primer the exterior of the RV-12 from Aircraft Spruce. My plan is to use Epibond epoxy primer and Aerothane for the top coat. Will I have never worked with Aerothane, I have used and like working with Epibond. One safety note is when working with Aerothane, a fresh air breathing system must be used as it is a catalyzed urethane paint.

Below is a short video of some of the highlights from the 2012 Arlington Fly-In.I hope you enjoy it! - Vern

Vans Aircraft RV-12 Airplane Build, Section 24 Rollover Structure (part 3)

Reference: page 24-04; 0.5 hours

The sequence of the instruction for the RV-12 airplane on page 24-04 didn't make a lot of sense to me. So while I performed all the steps I did them in a different order as I note below.

Step 2: Mark a centerline in the forward face of the Shear Clips on the tail cone.

This was my first step



Step 1: Cleco the Baggage Bulkheads to the Tailcone Assembly as shown in figure 1 on page 24-04 of the RV-12 airplane plans.

This was my second step

I got way down in the weeds on this one and forgot to take an overview picture.

Step 3: Match-drill #30 the two holes from the Baggage Bulkheads into the corresponding Shear Clips as called out in figure 1 (double check that the centerline drawn is centered in the two holes before match-drilling). Remove the bulkheads, clean and deburr holes.





This completes page 24-04 and this building session. Until next time!