Now What?

The wings are coming Friday but after the Tailcone is completed there is Section 11: Empennage Attachment. If I do it now I will have to store the wing crates in my garage which is not a problem but once I have done the empennage attachment I will have to undo the work to clear my workshop for the wings build. I do not see why I could not postpone Section 11 until I have done the wings and stored them but to make sure I have asked the advice on my fellow builders on VAF. We will see tomorrow what they say.

Tailcone finished, now what?

I just completed the riveting of the skins of the tailcone, a very satisfying task that resulted in something that begins to look like an airplane as the following pictures show:

On this picture you can see that the shelves in the background are empty: I have used all the parts: Time for the wing kit to come!

Now the classic view of the cascading ribs (every builder does it!):

I got another assist from Schmetterling when installing the trim wire as I described in this posting on VAF Forum.
Overall the instructions were quite useful with just a few omissions that could be worked around through educated guess or going to other builders sites like Schmetterling, my favorite. I found out that Schmetterling has a tendency to make the same mistakes that I do, so now I first read his log and learn from his ordeals which he does not hesitate to document in a very unselfish way. Thank you Schmetterling!

Tailcone: Page 10-04 = Mission accomplished!

Thanks to the wise guidance of my fellow builders on VAF RV-12 Forum, I finally overcame the issues mentioned in my last post. I did not need to buy new tools, I just used the Hand Squeezer and manual as well as pneumatic rivet pullers to complete the task. It was not easy which makes this milestone even sweeter.
The most challenging so far but I would bet there is more ahead!

Tailcone: Page 10-04 = Mission Impossible?

I don't see any way to set the following rivets with the Avery Hand Squeezer:
The rivets in question are supposed to go into the four holes that are just above the line of five rivets already set. There is not enough clearance to position the Avery Hand Squeezer because of the bracket in the way.

Yes, I know there is a smilie! Just a rivet that is making fun at my helplessness...

The dynamic of RV-12 builders

This photo album shows the progress of RV-12 completion: over one year 53 have been completed and the rate is now almost one per week:
RV-12 flying

Something to savor

While I am laboring on the deburring of the tail cone skins, I enjoyed the following article and movie about the RV-12:
http://www.aopa.org/members/files/pilot/2010/october/feature_rv12.html
... but I will have to wait to fully savor, oh well...

Section 9 - Stabilator Completed

Here is the finished product:

The rod sticking out is the counterbalance arm with its weights resting on the chair. Missing are the two anti-servo tabs that were built previously but not installed yet at this stage.


Surprisingly and notwithstanding the complexity of this component, I faced little challenges and had to drill-out just a few pop rivets (no solid rivets, thank God!). I think that there is a step missing in the instructions somewhere, although I may be wrong. I summarized this issue in the following picture which shows the instruction page with my notes:

If anyone who has been through the stabilator has a comment about this missed hole, I would love to here from you in the comment section below.