Vans RV12 Build Log
Empennage
Everything Rearward of the Baggage Compartment/ Sub-Kit 1 of 6
Empennage Attach Mockup4/19/2018 This is a bit frustrating, I just typed up a complete synopsis of this section and as I was closing out the website glitched and everything was gone! Weebly is simple to use but it has its issues, especially when trying to post and update, I will have to repost several times just to get the words to show up. Ok lets try this again. So section 11 has thrown me for the biggest loops thus far starting out with my last post when I claimed to not have the correct hardware. A review of the plans and my inventory sheets quickly revealed that I made a mistake on the horizontal Stabilator, the plans call out for 3-4 bolts on the front of the horns but 3-5 on the rear, well guess what I did. Yep, 3-4's on front and back, suddenly I had 4 extra 3-5s in my inventory box. A quick swap out of the bolts and a review of the plans to make sure I had everything else correct, to which delightedly I found no other hiccups. So on with section 11 of which the first dilemma I ran into was the trim servo motor attach brackets which do not fit around the servo motor, 1st picture. The brackets had to be cut down significantly and the plans do not mention anything about the brackets needing to be trimmed. Another issue was the middle screw hole that has to be match drilled from the bracket. Well the hole is so close to the servo motor that the screw will not fit due to the head on the screw. If that isn't enough the outer two holes that are already drilled do not line up with the brackets, so more trimming on the back side of the brackets had to be done to get the holes to line up. Talk about stressful! Once I got the brackets all trimmed up on the bandsaw I had to file down the screw heads on one side so they would fit next to the servo motor and Viola! On the next page the issues get even more complicated as the plans show a rectangular housing for the wiring, well the kit comes with a D housing and the wiring order is completely different. I emailed Vans and submitted a post on VAF for some clarification. A VAF member responded first with a link to a revision for section 11 on Vans website. Whoda thunk it, I was never aware Vans had revisions on their website after all the times I've been there. Well that cleared up all that mess, i posted snips of both plans below so you can see the difference in the housing brackets and wiring order. So the only thing left now before it all comes apart again is to complete the fiberglass VS and Rudder fairings on top. Looking forward to ordering the fuselage soon! More updates to come later
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January 2019
Empennage Total Build Hours: 82.24
Inventory: 1.45 Vertical Stabilizer: 13.26 Rudder: 7.5 Anti-Servo Tabs: 4:30 Stabilator: 24.11 Tailcone: 30.42 |