Monday, November 4, 2013

Pulley Brackets & Flaperon Mixer Assembly

After being away from the project for a few days visiting long time friends, it was good to get back in the shop and begin making more forward progress on the RV-12 fuselage. Work continued on the project by riveting the second F-1206D bearing bracket onto the F-1206G-L baggage rib followed by riveting the F-1206H baggage ribs onto the F-1206A bulkhead. Most of the rivets used during this portion of the build required bending the mandrel of the rivets and using the AEX wedge to gain clearances for the hand rivet pullers.
Riveting the F-1206D bearing bracket onto the F-1206G-L baggage rib with LP4-5 pop rivets.
Riveting the F-1206H-R baggage rib onto the F-1206A bulkhead with LP4-3 pop rivets.

After the riveting was completed on the F-1206G&H baggage ribs, the whole assembly was flipped over so the F-1224 baggage floors could be riveted to the F-1206A bulkhead and F-1206H baggage ribs followed by the instillation of nutplates in the areas where the access covers will reside.
Using the pneumatic rivet puller to rivet the W-1224 baggage floor onto the F-1206A bulkhead with a LP4-3 pop rivet.
Riveting nutplates onto the W-1224 baggage floor/W-1206A bulkhead assembly with #40 flush rivets.

At this point the plans instruct the builder to assemble the pulley brackets and flaperon mixer arm assembly. These components will be installed on the seat ribs marking the beginning of fuselage construction forward of the center channel. The pulley brackets are comprised of F-1250-L&R pulley brackets and F-1220A&B forward and aft intercostals which are normally riveted with LP4-3 pop rivets. Access for the pneumatic squeezer was good, so the pulley bracket assembly was riveted with AN470AD4-4 solid rivets in place of the LP4-3 pop rivets.
Using the pneumatic squeezer to rivet the pulley brackets assembly with AN470AD4-4 solid rivets in place of LP4-3 pop rivets.
Pulley bracket assembly riveted with AN470AD4-4 rivets as opposed to LP4-3 pop rivets.

The last item worked on today was the flaperon mixer arm assembly which is comprised of quite a few parts.  The F-1220A&B forward and aft intercostals and two F-1218 flaperon mixer brackets are riveted together to form a box of sorts which becomes the mounting platform for the F-1219A&B flaperon mixer arms. Access for the pneumatic rivet squeezer was acceptable, so the F-1220A&B and F-1218 parts were riveted together with AN470AD4-4.5 rivets in place of the LP4-3 pop rivets. After the parts were riveted together, the F-1219A mixer arm received two nutplates and was then bolted onto the assembly along with the F-1219B mixer arm using a couple of bolts, some washers, spacers and a nut that accommodates cotter pins.
Using the pneumatic squeezer to rivet the F-1220 A&B intercostals and F-1218 brackets together using AN470AD4-4.5 rivets in place of LP4-3 pop rivets.
Bolting the F-1219A&B flaperon mixer arms onto the flaperon mixer assembly.
Finished flaperon mixer arm assembly … just needs the bolts tightened.