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RV-12 Project - PlaneTools.com

Isham Inc. is building an RV-12.

We want to improve our RV-12 tool kit . . .

And the project begins with inventory - 4 hours.

Everything was there! 4-hours for inventory and sorting. We repackaged the sub-kits into separate boxes. This proved to be a good idea once we started the build. Finding parts was much easier.

RV-12 Empennage Kit Inventory

Empennage - Vertacle Fin - 12 hours so far.

Following the drawings we found a few problems with the tools needed.

When countersinking the #40 holes for the nutplates we discovered that a countersink cage will not work. There is not enough room for the cage on the inside of the spars near the flange, and the ribs are too flexible for the pressure of a cage. We used a 1/4-28 extension in a slow RPM drill to hold the countersink bit. This is called a "suicide" countersink. You have to do this process slowly and check several times to make sure the rivet head fits the hole.

RV-12 Empennage Machine Countersink Nuplate Holes

"Suicide" countersink set up shown above.

RV-12 Empennage Machine Countersink Suicide

Make sure the AN426 rivet head fits flush in the finished machine countersink hole.

RV-12 Empennage Rib Flute

When fluting the ribs, we learned that the curved jaw fluting pliers work much better than the deep "V" pliers.

RV-12 Empennage Fluted Ribs in Place

With the ribs fluted, the verticle fin is ready to test fit the skin.

RV-12 Empennage Verticle Fin Structure Clecoed

4-hours later the skin is in place. Now we will wait for our primer to arrive, take it apart, prime the inside and prepare for assembly.

RV-12 Empennage Vertical Fin final Drilling

Final drilling.

RV-12 Empennage Vertical Fin dimpling using the TATCO hand squeezer & dimple dies.

Parts disassembled and nutplate holes dimpled with the TATCO hand squeezer. Nutplates and rib dimpled to match. When dimpling the nutplates we learned that the small diameter female dimple die will not work. We will modify our kit so a die that works will be included.

RV-12 Empennage Vertical Fin priming of interior parts before assembly.

Inside parts of the vertical fin are deburred, scuffed, cleaned and primed.

RV-12 Empennage Vertical Fin priming the inside of the skin.

Primer needs to dry 48-hours before final assembly.

6 more hours for steps below.

Finished riveting the assembly using our upgraded hydro pop riveter. The cheap pop riveter required 2 or 3 pulls, this upgraded pop riveter pulled harder and one pull popped the rivet.

The vertical fin is done!

Hardware bagged and in place for the later assembly per the plan.

Forward fairing fits nice!

A TOTAL OF 20 HOURS FOR THE VERTICAL FIN.