The riveting of the RV-12’s roll bar structure is being done in place on the fuselage which is a departure from the assembly instructions which would have the builder rivet the structure while on the bench. Admittedly, riveting the structure while it is on the bench would likely be easier … however, some builders have had problems fitting the assembly onto the F-1231D roll bar bases after riveting. So my tact was to fit the roll bar assembly onto the bases, bolt the structure down onto the fuselage, then rivet guaranteeing a perfect fit.
Beginning the riveting of the F-1231A frames to
the F-1231B&C straps working from the center outwards.
The roll bar frames were riveted working outward from the center of the structure setting a few rivets at a time on the top and bottom while alternately working side to side down the roll bar frames towards the base. Don’t know if that was necessary, but that is how the parts were match drilled so that is how I chose to rivet. All the rivets that get set along the outside edges of the roll bar frame (excluding the bases) are CS4-4 flush rivets and the inside edges receive LP4-3 rivets.
Partially setting the inside LP4-3 rivets with
the hand rivet puller.
Using the hand rivet puller to set a CS4-4 pop
rivet along the outer edge of the roll bar.
The hand rivet puller was used on all the outer flush rivets because the tip of the puller did not entirely cover the head of the rivet, so I could see the position of the rivets in the countersunk holes while setting the rivets. All the inside rivets were partially set in small groups with the hand puller and finished with the pneumatic rivet puller. It was just easier to do this way than switching tools back and forth for every rivet.
Using the pneumatic rivet puller to final set
the inside LP4-3 pop rivets.
Making progress … almost done.
Finished riveting of the F-1231A roll bar frames
to the F-1231B&C straps (except for the bases).
