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Brantel RV-12IS Build Thread

Brantel said:
Yes, my emp/tailcone kit was full of LCP’s. Only two of the red category though.
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On the high school's RV-12iS that I mentor, they had the same four listed. Two on the parts were still in the blue and the dates showed they were okay. One was assembled and I inspected it and it, too was okay. The remaining part failed the inspection (10x magnification) and clearly was LCP.

I asked the teacher to get a replacement for just that one and a week later he had all four, brand new, in hand. So they are shipping.

Dave
 
On this day of so much gloom and doom, I did the only thing that I could do in this situation and went out and finished my seat backs!

I’ve got a finished emp/tailcone, soon to be finished fuse, a wing kit begging to be assembled and a finish kit on order. I’m all in and trust that Vans will be around long after I am gone.
 

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Fuse kit is done!

With the exception of the fuel tank, my fuse kit is done!

This kit definitely earns its nickname of the “Nutplate Kit”!
 

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Fuel tank finished!

Finished up the fuel tank yesterday! The simple design of the RV-12IS fuel tank makes it pretty easy to complete vs the RV7 fuel tanks. Those took me about a month to complete them both. This tank took me only 3 work sessions to assemble. I ended up using 2.25 sealant cartridges. Wasted 3/4 of one :( I could have gotten by with 2 cartridges but had to break up my work sessions due to available time. Installed the SB port as well!

Will need to pressure test it after a week or so of curing. I inspected it pretty good inside on all the corners before putting the access hatch on. Also used a bright light inside the tank in the dark to look for possible leak paths. It is amazing that these things don't leak like a sieve considering the number of penetrations and the miniscule area for sealant on each of them. On my 7 I filleted each rib and coated over all the rivet tails on everything but the rear baffle where that is not possible. On the 12IS tank, its not possible on most of the bottom skin so I did not bother with that for this tank. The KAI's don't include that step either so I guess I will just trust the process.....
 

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So even though I have been deliberately building at a slow pace in order to allow Van's time to catch up, I am now finished with the basic airframe and am stuck awaiting delivery of my finish kit.

My local EAA chapter is also building an RV12. I ordered my finish kit ~5 months before they did and their finish kit shipped last week even though they are nowhere near ready for their finish kit.

It is very frustrating since I accepted my modified order within minutes of receipt of the notice and paid my final payment as soon as possible after they asked for it. Only Van's knows why but in my opinion orders should be filled in order of receipt as long as the customer is not causing the delay.

End of rant.....
 
Brantel said:
So even though I have been deliberately building at a slow pace in order to allow Van's time to catch up, I am now finished with the basic airframe and am stuck awaiting delivery of my finish kit.

My local EAA chapter is also building an RV12. I ordered my finish kit ~5 months before they did and their finish kit shipped last week even though they are nowhere near ready for their finish kit.

It is very frustrating since I accepted my modified order within minutes of receipt of the notice and paid my final payment as soon as possible after they asked for it. Only Van's knows why but in my opinion orders should be filled in order of receipt as long as the customer is not causing the delay.

End of rant.....
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Hey Brian - I ordered and paid for my finish kit at pretty much the same time as you. I emailed Anne at Van’s a week ago, and she said my kit is in crating but they are waiting for some additional parts. Guess they’re trying to decrease the number of back orders - but certainly is frustrating!
 
As a follow up to my last post...

My finish kit is now enroute to me. Ordered 6/23. Have no idea if the kit shipped with open backorders or not. Hope not!

Time to make this thing look like an airplane! :)
 
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Brantel said:
As a follow up to my last post...

My finish kit is now enroute to me. Ordered 6/23. Have no idea if the kit contains backorders. Hope not!

Time to make this thing look like an airplane! :)
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When I called about my delayed RV-12 powerplant kit this week Ann said the new policy is nothing leaves the factory with any backorders. Hopefully that's the case for you.
 
Brantel said:
As a follow up to my last post...

My finish kit is now enroute to me. Ordered 6/23. Have no idea if the kit shipped with open backorders or not. Hope not!

Time to make this thing look like an airplane! :)
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Mine shipped this week as well! Setting aside inventory time after returning from OSH.
 
mbell said:
When I called about my delayed RV-12 powerplant kit this week Ann said the new policy is nothing leaves the factory with any backorders. Hopefully that's the case for you.
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I have mixed emotions about that policy for sure.
 
Brantel said:
Update, finish kit arrived today and the packing list shows no back orders. Inventory will take a bit. More updates after that is completed.

It arrived ~ a year after I ordered it.
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My finish kit arrived today - ordered 10/2023. Guess I got lucky 🤨.
 
Just got the following update on the status of my powerplant kit order:

"RV-12 Powerplant Kits Delays - Explanation
Due to an issue with some radiators that are provided as part of the powerplant kit, we have a very limited number of powerplant kits that can be shipped. We are working through this problem with the third-party manufacturer, but this has caused some delays in kit delivery and has impacted your kit's date. We will communicate more information as soon as it is available."
 
Brantel said:
Just got the following update on the status of my powerplant kit order:

"RV-12 Powerplant Kits Delays - Explanation
Due to an issue with some radiators that are provided as part of the powerplant kit, we have a very limited number of powerplant kits that can be shipped. We are working through this problem with the third-party manufacturer, but this has caused some delays in kit delivery and has impacted your kit's date. We will communicate more information as soon as it is available."
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Maybe send the kits out and work on the radiator later?
 
I realized I have been slacking on keeping this thread up to date. Sorry!

Since the last update, the fuse is done, the wings have been completed and the airplane is sitting on its gear.

Canopy fitting is completed and I am now neck deep into the canopy fairing process.

Powerplant kit was originally estimated to be shipped by now but that was short lived and now I am estimated for 5/14/25. :cry:

Tons of pics over on my build blog if anyone is interested:

https://blog.n912bc.us/

Now back to sanding! :)
 
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Brantel said:
I think all kids should be forced to install and rig the flight controls on a small experimental airplane! It builds a character that can’t be duplicated with other methods!
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Also builds armfuls of cuts, scrapes, and bruises!
 
Brantel said:
I think all kids should be forced to install and rig the flight controls on a small experimental airplane! It builds a character that can’t be duplicated with other methods!
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We sure had the youth at our Zenith 601 build in Chapter 690 all over rigging the build. They certainly are characters...
:D
 
Brantel said:
Just got notice that my PP kit shipped. Sans exhaust and radiator as well as a few other parts.
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Fantastic! You might want to check the backordered parts list against the stock shown in the webstore. I found that everything except the radiator and exhaust were showing as “in stock”. When I called Van’s, they said they hold the back orders until all parts are in stock to save on shipping, but they would send me what they had if I paid the shipping. I readily agreed - but when the package arrived last week, it included everything (even the entire exhaust system) except the radiator - and they never charged me for the shipping. Worth a phone call.
 
My list of back orders include:

Throttle cable
Exhaust
Radiator
Battery hold down angle
Upper tunnel brace
Outer part of the heat muff
Radiator mounting bracket
 
Brantel said:
My list of back orders include:

Throttle cable
Exhaust
Radiator
Battery hold down angle
Upper tunnel brace
Outer part of the heat muff
Radiator mounting bracket
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Interesting - that’s a completely different list than mine (except exhaust and radiator). They must be using a lot of their parts stock on the SLSAs…..
 
Brantel said:
My list of back orders include:

Throttle cable
Exhaust
Radiator
Battery hold down angle
Upper tunnel brace
Outer part of the heat muff
Radiator mounting bracket
Click to expand...
Why am I struggling to recall exactly what the 'Upper Tunnel Brace' is? Maybe an alternative name for a part, or just a fading builder's memory. EDIT - Found it. Back there in the avionics section...of course!

Anyway, the rest of those items are annoying but would at least allow you to move forward with getting to work again and go back to things like the cowling. Nothing there to prevent you from getting a lot done unless that brace keeps you from hanging the engine.
 
N8DAV8R said:
Why am I struggling to recall exactly what the 'Upper Tunnel Brace' is? Maybe an alternative name for a part, or just a fading builder's memory. EDIT - Found it. Back there in the avionics section...of course!

Anyway, the rest of those items are annoying but would at least allow you to move forward with getting to work again and go back to things like the cowling. Nothing there to prevent you from getting a lot done unless that brace keeps you from hanging the engine.
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Yep, none of these should stop me from hanging the engine doing a significant amount of cowling work.
 
Brantel said:
Look what showed up today!

Missing radiator, oil cooler and exhaust.

Got a free calendar and a thank you note on the back of a Vans coaster. 😛
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So you'll be flying in couple of weeks then😁. Glad to see you getting closer to completion, it's been a long slow roll for you..
 
DBRuth said:
So you'll be flying in couple of weeks then😁. Glad to see you getting closer to completion, it's been a long slow roll for you..
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LOL, I still have to send Van's another fat check so SteinAir's marketing slogan will be true!
 
So it looks like I am getting a 205x radio with my avionics kit. I was told today that engineering is working on the design changes and after that is done, Vans will send my kit to Stein for their part of the work.
 
Brantel said:
So it looks like I am getting a 205x radio with my avionics kit. I was told today that engineering is working on the design changes and after that is done, Vans will send my kit to Stein for their part of the work.
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Nice! Got my avionics kit last November, and have the 200 B radio. And then had to send it back to Garmin for a replacement due to a SB.
 
Received a mystery box from Van’s today. It had my BO’ed oil cooler and throttle cable in the box along with another free calendar. I now have two free calendars.

Still waiting on a couple brackets, radiator and exhaust.
 
Just got one of those UPS shipment notifications that Van's is sending me a mystery box. Sure hope it is my exhaust and radiator!
 
Brantel said:
Just got one of those UPS shipment notifications that Van's is sending me a mystery box. Sure hope it is my exhaust and radiator!
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Check the package weight. I got the same notification last week and hoped it was the radiator until I saw the package only weighed a little over a pound. Arrived yesterday - turned out to be the backordered aluminum foil heat shield for the lower cowling. Oh well……..
 
jsalley said:
Check the package weight. I got the same notification last week and hoped it was the radiator until I saw the package only weighed a little over a pound. Arrived yesterday - turned out to be the backordered aluminum foil heat shield for the lower cowling. Oh well……..
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First thing I did :)
It’s possible based on the reported weight.
 
Turns out it was the exhaust and a few other BO parts. Still no radiator or radiator bracket and heat muff center outside manifold.

I am now on week 17 day 4 since I ordered my avionics kit that was advertised as 8 weeks which is the same thing that’s being advertised today. 🫤
 
Brantel said:
Turns out it was the exhaust and a few other BO parts. Still no radiator or radiator bracket and heat muff center outside manifold.

I am now on week 17 day 4 since I ordered my avionics kit that was advertised as 8 weeks which is the same thing that’s being advertised today. 🫤
Click to expand...

I know the struggle. I ordered my avionics in August '21, got them the following April.
 
Brantel said:
Turns out it was the exhaust and a few other BO parts. Still no radiator or radiator bracket and heat muff center outside manifold.

I am now on week 17 day 4 since I ordered my avionics kit that was advertised as 8 weeks which is the same thing that’s being advertised today. 🫤
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Hi Bean Man, so great to see you & Miss Chantell @ OSH...:cool:
 
Brantel said:
Turns out it was the exhaust and a few other BO parts. Still no radiator or radiator bracket and heat muff center outside manifold.

I am now on week 17 day 4 since I ordered my avionics kit that was advertised as 8 weeks which is the same thing that’s being advertised today. 🫤
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Installing a Dynon system? I'm on week 29.
 
Well after taking a 3 month break, I don’t have any excuses for not getting to work and get this thing done. I now have all my kits, engine, prop, avionics etc. I have also obtained a hangar to rent which is a Godsend!

I still have a couple small items on BO at Vans with the original radiator. I gave up on ever getting the original radiator and spent another $2700 on the new design.

Currently painting the interior which is something I have been procrastinating about!
 
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