Shark XV Build Thread
06-10-2017, 05:46 AM
#230
The Shark XV has turned out to be a great little model and survived the trip to the SMALL Fly-In in Little Rock, but just barely. I flew it the first 2 days with the Cox rubber ducky 7x3.5 prop. It yields decent all around sport flying performance without overreving the .09. I then tried a couple of flights with an APC 6x4. My tach battery was dead, so I didn't get any static readings but it was spinning noticeably faster. In the air, the plane flew a bit faster, climbed with more authority, and held knife edge. Upon landing, one of the more observant guys standing by pointed out that the exhaust residue had gotten noticeably darker on those runs, a probable indicator of accelerated engine wear. At that point, I decided that the added flight performance wasn't worth the risk of wearing out this engine prematurely. The plane was originally designed for a .15, after all. On the last flight, toward the end of the run, the elevator servo failed. I had trouble pulling out of a dive but was able to nurse it back up just before the fuel ran out. By then, the servo had quit responding altogether. She was in a fairly steep dive with no hope of pulling up. I turned it toward the outfield area where the grass was tall and soft. I was pleasantly surprised to find NO damage when I got to it! Later that day, she was awarded a trophy by the SMALL crew for Best Cox Powered Model. What a way finish a great week of flying model airlplanes and hanging out with some great folks under the ominous stormy skies of Little Rock!
My son captured a small bit of video of the Shark flying but it's a bit shaky and interrupted. I'd like to post up a more fluid video of the start, launch, flight, and landing when I can get a chance to fly and reshoot.
This is a well designed and great flying model airplane that grooves along nicely, holding it's line well. I've found no bad habits and am able to slow it down reasonably well for a deadstick landing. As for installing the TD .09, I have no regrets and will continue to fly it in this configuration. I hope rainedave will see this and know that his design lives on.
My son captured a small bit of video of the Shark flying but it's a bit shaky and interrupted. I'd like to post up a more fluid video of the start, launch, flight, and landing when I can get a chance to fly and reshoot.
This is a well designed and great flying model airplane that grooves along nicely, holding it's line well. I've found no bad habits and am able to slow it down reasonably well for a deadstick landing. As for installing the TD .09, I have no regrets and will continue to fly it in this configuration. I hope rainedave will see this and know that his design lives on.
Last edited by Tee Bee; 06-10-2017 at 05:52 AM.
06-10-2017, 06:26 AM
#234
Celebrate
Thanks to everyone on the thread who supported and encouraged me during this build. A special thanks goes to Steve "Little Rock" Staples for donating the great running throttled TD .09 from Joe Wagner's collection! Thanks to the SMALL crew for all the help I received getting it sorted and dialed in last weekend and for the recognition!
Thanks to everyone on the thread who supported and encouraged me during this build. A special thanks goes to Steve "Little Rock" Staples for donating the great running throttled TD .09 from Joe Wagner's collection! Thanks to the SMALL crew for all the help I received getting it sorted and dialed in last weekend and for the recognition!
06-10-2017, 12:04 PM
#235
TB- Thanks for the summary and your overall thoughts. I know Dave would appreciate. His goal was an easy to build affordable aircraft that also flew well. He loves the Joe Bridi Kaos models where he got his build methodology for the fuse and wings - simple.
Is the throttle ring on your TD .09 from a Medallion .09? I always wondered if that combo would work.
I need to dig out my set of SS XV plans and use one of my TD .09's.
Brian
Is the throttle ring on your TD .09 from a Medallion .09? I always wondered if that combo would work.
I need to dig out my set of SS XV plans and use one of my TD .09's.
Brian
06-10-2017, 01:35 PM
#236
Thanks, Brian. Good question. The throttle ring was ready set up on this engine when I got it. There was a bit of a fit issue due to lack of clearance between the throttle ring and the needle valve body which was rectified with some careful filing.
06-11-2017, 07:30 PM
#239
Brian, I'm not sure about the cylinders. I looked at my stash of Medallions and TDs made over various years. Most of them looked identical on the outside except that the TD exhaust ports were oriented differently, more front and back. The Medallion exhausts were on the side. The overall shapes of the outside were about the same with a couple of small differences in the machining. I didn't remove all the glow heads to look down the cylinders. Too lazy for that tonight. I don't see why a TD cylinder couldn't be made to work with a throttle ring.
On a different note, I'm almost done editing a video of the Shark XV. Hopefully my cruddy computer will allow me to finish and upload it this week.
On a different note, I'm almost done editing a video of the Shark XV. Hopefully my cruddy computer will allow me to finish and upload it this week.
06-12-2017, 03:38 PM
#240
Troy,
I was thinking the same thing... the outside diameter of the cylinder between a Medallion and TD are the identical, so the throttle sleeve will fit both. The internals are different, ie the porting inside the cylinder.
Best combination would be TD cylinder with throttle sleeve for higher performance.
Brian
I was thinking the same thing... the outside diameter of the cylinder between a Medallion and TD are the identical, so the throttle sleeve will fit both. The internals are different, ie the porting inside the cylinder.
Best combination would be TD cylinder with throttle sleeve for higher performance.
Brian
06-13-2017, 03:00 AM
#242
Brian, I'm not sure about the cylinders. I looked at my stash of Medallions and TDs made over various years. Most of them looked identical on the outside except that the TD exhaust ports were oriented differently, more front and back. The Medallion exhausts were on the side. The overall shapes of the outside were about the same with a couple of small differences in the machining. I didn't remove all the glow heads to look down the cylinders. Too lazy for that tonight. I don't see why a TD cylinder couldn't be made to work with a throttle ring.
On a different note, I'm almost done editing a video of the Shark XV. Hopefully my cruddy computer will allow me to finish and upload it this week.
On a different note, I'm almost done editing a video of the Shark XV. Hopefully my cruddy computer will allow me to finish and upload it this week.
06-24-2017, 04:58 AM
#244
Excellent! Thanks for checking in, Dave. I'm really enjoying this model as it suits my flying style well. Hope you're doing well. I've still got a 1/2A Sure Shark short kit in reserve, so your designs WILL live on. All the best to you.
06-26-2017, 11:33 AM
#248
Dave --
Glad to see your name again --- it's been too long. Don't be gone so long this time. Interestingly, there was a post by ajcoholic in another thread this week. Two posts by some of the old RCU gang in a single week. Brings back old memories.
Tee Bee --
Super video. You've done a bang-up job with the build and flying. Thanks for the post.
andrew
Glad to see your name again --- it's been too long. Don't be gone so long this time. Interestingly, there was a post by ajcoholic in another thread this week. Two posts by some of the old RCU gang in a single week. Brings back old memories.
Tee Bee --
Super video. You've done a bang-up job with the build and flying. Thanks for the post.
andrew
12-02-2017, 07:55 PM
#250
Still having fun with this airplane! Here's some crummy iphone video shot from a distance this morning at our local club field. Not the best video quality but it does show the overall performance of the airplane with the TD .09. I've settled lately on an APC 6x4 prop after some experimentation. It seems to give the best all around performance on this particular model. Good speed and the climb allows for some nice big loops and such.