After 260 hrs., I have an approx. 1.5? long crack in the inside corner of the left fuselage skin (F-1270L) where the Upper Firewall (F-1201A) meets the Firewall Shelf (F-1201B). See photos:
Here is how I would fix that: cut the skin 1/4 in from the last line of vertical rivets, drill out all rivets, remove the piano hinges and the stiffener as well as the ventilation door. Use the cut skin as a template to cut a new skin plus 1/2 inch to overlap the vertical rivet line. Match drill all holes, rivet back everything into place .
Don't ask me how I know it's possible
... the only difference with a stock RV-12 is the skin overlap at the last vertical line of rivets before the firewall.
Here is a picture of the new skin, the only difference with a stock RV-12 is the skin overlap at the last vertical line of rivets before the firewall.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1D0m6n6NiQMyjkoFqO9yEG8I0mWz7lPji0b4YWBV1te0/edit?usp=sharing
So for those of us finishing our fuselage kits, should we be worried, or do something to reinforce the side skins?
Mine has the holes for the diagonal and horizontal reinforcements (which I guess is now standard in the newer kits), but I haven't gotten to that point yet....but plan to in the next few days.
Should I add some reinforcement now while I have pretty good access, or not worry about it?
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Mine has the holes for the diagonal and horizontal reinforcements (which I guess is now standard in the newer kits), but I haven't gotten to that point yet....but plan to in the next few days.
Not quite true Jean-Pierre. The other difference is that the skin is now relying on the last vertical line of rivets to transfer all the loads between the new and old skins at the seam, whereas before those rivets would probably not have seen much load as the skin was continuous. Does it matter? I don't know. But if you haven't already, I'd suggest running this repair past Vans just to make sure, as the load path is now different from the stock RV-12. They may say for example, that you need more rivets joining the two skins. It may be fine, but better to be safe than sorry!