Category: Instruct+

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RivKit Assembly Tips

Here are a few assembly tips to help the process go more smoothly.

  • As they say, SAFETY FIRST.
    Please wear eye protection and be careful with small parts around children.

  • Use a flush cutter, typically used for electrical work. It does a nice job of cutting the parts off the tree.
    Be careful which direction the snips are made because small parts can fly away.
  • Remember to bend the wings and elevators opposite of one another to make left and right parts.
  • You can use pliers to make bends.
  • Bend the spinner in half over another part to maintain a gap, the same thickness of the parts.
  • A single cleco helps hold the three parts together while riveting.
  • If you don’t have riveting tools, you can use screws.
  • Learn more at  https://rivkit.com/category/instruct/
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Fasteners

RivKits were originally designed to be assembled similar to how the RV-12 kit is primarily assembled by Teen Flight groups, with blind rivets, sometimes generically called pop rivets. However, many fastener types could work. You may want to choose your fastener based on the tools available to you.

Blind Rivets require a tool to pull the rivet stem. There are hand, electric, and pneumatic tools for pulling rivets.

Solid rivets are set by squeezing with various tools, including a bucking bar and rivet gun, a hammer, or various types of squeezers.

Allen Screw Kit

RivKits can also be assembled with a screw and nut, which require minimal tools. RivKit’s Allen Screw Kit comes with a hex key for tightening.

The original RivKits have 1/8″ holes requiring a larger fastener than the newer RivKit V2 which has a 3/32″ hole. The change was made because the 3/32″ blind rivets are easier for children to pull.

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New improved RivKit V2

The newly improved RivKit V2 kits, based on Vans Aircraft RV-8 and RV-7a kits, are laser cut and include bendable control surfaces and smaller 3/32″ rivets. The bendable control surfaces provide more realistic details depicting how aircraft are controlled in flight. The smaller 3/32″ rivets are easier to set. Check out the Parts of an Airplane PDF to help teach about control surfaces. Be aware, aluminum will break if bent too many times.