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RV-12 Empennage/Tailcone Cradle

aallard

Member
I'm building an RV-12 (#722) and had been trying to come up with a good way to protect the empennage / tailcone structure. I wanted something that would support the structure while I did the final steps of the assembly process (attaching the stabilator/vertical fins, and other finish work), and then also provide a means of keeping the finished structure off the floor while I built the other kit sections (wings, fuse, etc).

This is what I came up with... a rolling cradle system. It took about an hour of time and around $30 in materials.

I made the template by tracing the F-1208 & F-1210 Frames on 3/4" plywood. A piece of 3/8" split foam pipe insulation is used over the plywood to keep from scratching the skin.

http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/9021/fusecradle1.jpg

http://img198.imageshack.us/img198/1721/fusecradle2.jpg
 
Very Nice! You built this in an hour? I could have made it much more difficult than that <grin>
Only thing I might do is add a triangular plate at each end to add lateral strength against the occasional neighborly "leaner", the cat jumps in, etc.
Looking forward to following your progress!
Dave (#121 sloooooow build) Finishing the finish kit.
 
I thought about the lateral supports at the base, and I agree with you. It's pretty sturdy right now though (I actually put some 2x4's between the two cradles and crawled up there and laid down... 185lbs).

The frame is screwed together with 3" decking screws. I'll add the lateral supports... I always err on the side of overbuilding anyway. :)
 
Something important to me and partly the reason I bought an RV12 kit. Have you noticed that there is almost never a partially completed RV12 listed for sale? And very few completed for sale either, this compared to other models and makes.
Nice work on the stand for #722. Vans must be pleased with the RV-12 sales figures.
 
You will not want to attach the tailfeathers before that part of the fuse is attached to the body of the plane. You can also hang the fuse tube from shop ceiling rafters with wire.
 
I saw this yesterday and thought it was genius. I'm going to be storing mine in a friends hangar and it needs to be portable. His ceiling is too high and standing it on end is not an option. I then took it upon myself to "steal" the design and build one of my own. Mine's a little shorter. I made it so that that the F-1208 & F-1210 frames are what sits in the cradles.

dscf3296u.jpg
dscf3298z.jpg
dscf3299d.jpg
 
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Jorge, glad you thought it was useful! Mine is the same length as yours. The picture I posted earlier was before I cut it down to the actual length of the bulkhead frames. I'll post some pictures tomorrow of my finished empennage sitting on the cradle.
 
One other thing to note about these cradles... They work much better than saw horses would during the assembly process, even when you initially start out with the skins upside down to attach the frames. After having used it for assembly, I would highly recommend building one for new kits in progress. Everything stays nice and secure during the build, and you don't have to worry about accidentally knocking it off of saw horses.

I will post detailed dimensions, parts list, and building instructions tomorrow.
 
Cutting plywood frames

I was wondering if you guys might have some guidance in cutting the plywood frames. I just finished the empennage/tailcone and no longer have access to trace the F-1208 and F-1210 frames. Thanks.
 
I was wondering if you guys might have some guidance in cutting the plywood frames. I just finished the empennage/tailcone and no longer have access to trace the F-1208 and F-1210 frames. Thanks.

Here is the parts list you will need to build one of these.

If you no longer have access to the F-1208 and F-1210 frames, these drawings should approximate the curves and dimensions to give a fairly good fit.

Parts List: http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/1944/step21.png

Step 1: http://img849.imageshack.us/img849/310/step1hw.png

Step 2: http://img819.imageshack.us/img819/9024/step2sz.png

Step 3: http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/3245/step3aj.png

Step 4: http://img834.imageshack.us/img834/3761/step4a.png

Step 5: http://img843.imageshack.us/img843/7029/step5ng.png

Step 6: http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/7408/step6e.png

Step 7: http://img191.imageshack.us/img191/6475/step7d.png

Step 8: http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/927/step8s.png

Step 9: http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/7253/step9s.png

Step 10: http://img832.imageshack.us/img832/9985/step10dz.png

Step 11: http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/8351/step11p.png

Step 12: http://img546.imageshack.us/img546/6367/step12.png

Step 13: http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/9443/step13.png

Step 14: http://img502.imageshack.us/img502/375/step14m.png

Step 15: http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/364/step15m.png

Step 16: http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/6461/step16.png

Step 17: http://img834.imageshack.us/img834/9039/step17.png

Step 18: http://img715.imageshack.us/img715/9052/step18j.png

Step 19: http://img717.imageshack.us/img717/3934/step19p.png

Step 20: http://img844.imageshack.us/img844/655/step20.png
 
Thanks

Your empennage looks great Adam and thanks for the plans. My son and I have been in the process for just about a year (not as fast as we would like) and are wrapping up the first kit in the next week or so.

Wing kit came last week and we got it unpacked and inventoried. We are running out of room in the heated part of our hangar and I was getting worried about what I would do with my empennage. Your cradle solution will work perfectly.

Thanks again.
 
Bringing up a really old thread here but I'm searching for cradle ideas for building the tailcone and fuse. I came across this old thread with a bunch of dead links to photos.

I'm wondering if there is anyone on the forum that recalls this thread and built similar, or knows where these pics may have been moved to?
 
Beat me to it. Thanks for the compliment too.

I'll probably end up doing something very similar to this. The only problem is that I look at it and it's nice enough that I start getting a few other ideas to add that end up overcomplicating things. Part of me was hoping that other one I asked about would give me an easier way out! :)

It looks like it worked out well, including the revision you made later to support the aft end. Would you do it the same way if you were building again?
 
I took a simple approach. I built a rolling table for the tail cone and adjusted the height to line just a hair below the rear bulkhead of the fuselage so I could roll the tail cone up to the fuselage. I was able to completely attach the tail cone solo by this method. Then I built a short table to sit on top of the tail cone table that will similarly align the stabilator with the tail cone. Have not attached the stabilator yet by hoping for similar results as with the tail cone.
 
I'll probably end up doing something very similar to this. The only problem is that I look at it and it's nice enough that I start getting a few other ideas to add that end up overcomplicating things. Part of me was hoping that other one I asked about would give me an easier way out! :)

It looks like it worked out well, including the revision you made later to support the aft end. Would you do it the same way if you were building again?

Yep it worked out well.
 
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