green river rc

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This is the Lew McFarland version, it's built from a borrowed set of plans (Thanks Vaughn!) Will try to fly it tomorrow.

vauxhall

Looks great, good luck with the test flight......John

downunder

Looks good...and I know it's only a small photo but is that a Norvel 15 in it?

green river rc

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I flew it yesterday morning and all I can say is... OH BOY that thing is fast! Yes downunder you are right, that is a Norvel .15 bushed engine with the carb wired open. I was afraid it wouldn't be enough for it because it's my old battered and retired R/C combat engine. The plans called for a .15-.25 engine so I thought it would be a good match for it. Actually I think it will be fine, it just needs some slowing down with a different prop, (was using a 7x4 APC) and maybe some 60' lines, I tested with 52's. Right at the end of the flight the carb bolt fell out and it was left dangling by the fuel line and the wire. That of course ended the flight and the days test.

David

gcb

David,
I believe when Lew McFarland designed that plane the .15's were baffled and did not put out nearly as much power.

Next time you get to Lexington, ask him.

George

Jim Thomerson

I've built two Shark 15's, one scratchbuilt and the other a Walter Umland kit. The kit one came out two oz lighter than the scratchbuilt. I have adj. leadouts and weight box. Power was TD 09, Cox grey 7 x 3.5, Sig Champion 10% nitro fuel. 57 ft 012 lines. Both flew very well. I had some engine problems with the second one which I never completely understood. The first one eventually had one too many pilot errors. The second is now a wingless airplane due to a hang-up on the control handle. I don't like repairing, so it will sit a while before I fix it.

green river rc

My Feedback: (2)

I now realize the plane may be over powered. We have another scratch built Shark .15 that was bashed into a PT-19 that has an old Fox .19 for power and it seems perfect to me. I wonder what would be a better engine choice, or should I just throttle back the RC Norvel and give it another spin? I'm 98% RC airplane guy but I'm still fascinated to the old circle planes and I don't know why! (Scratching my head)

downunder

You could either throttle it back a bit or try fitting a larger prop like an 8x4 to load the engine more. These engines like to rev out so a prop that's normally a bit large for them should have quite an affect on the revs.

vauxhall

Welcome back David. Took me 40 tears to return to C/L, more fun than ever now, I really enjoy feeling what the plane is doing through the lines, and all the action happens close to the ground !!! I've got to tune up me reflexes to where they were in 1965, not easy, but I'm getting there.
Have a great Christmas.........John

gcb

I wish you luck!!!!

George

green river rc

My Feedback: (2)

You guys have reflexes? Maybe that's what I need.

grb, I try to talk C/L with Lew but he's into r/c now, he does keep a few of his kits in stock though.

V. Sharp

Gentlemen:

Do any of you know anyone that makes GOOD metal controlline profile fuel tanks? I (and Green River RC) are looking for 1 oz. 1 1/2 oz. 2 oz. 2 1/2 and 3 oz. slightly oval tanks for profile controlliners -- such as my 1970 plans Shark .15 we both have now used.
We need uniflow or tanks that that can be made into uniflow. We have had BAD luck with some of the commercially available tanks we have found. I am looking for something like the OLD Perfect tanks -- I modified bunches of them in the distant past. I am being prodded by Green River RC to get back into a little bit of controlline, and am finding out that everything in controlline has changed -- it has only been 35 years!! Anybody got any ideas?

Thanks,
Vaughan Sharp

vauxhall

Hi Vaughan, might be something U need here.......John

http://acmemodel.com/tanks.htm

downunder

Try the RC clunk tanks. If you don't want to use the clunk (although they work extremely well) then just fit a brass line to the outboard rear at the centre line of the tank. For the uniflow bend another brass tube close to the end of the feed line. The beauty of this is you can see exactly where each line is going and can make changes simply by twisting them in the rubber stopper. Use a third line as a vent when filling the tank and plug it when full.

One of the tricks when using the third vent line is that you can also twist it to vary the amount of fuel you put in the tank before it overflows.

gcb

Yep! The old Perfect tanks are now made by Brodak Mfg.

George

V. Sharp

Thanks, Fellas!!!!

You have provided me with gobs of great information! With this, and the prodding from Green River RC, I'll have no excuse not to build another Shark .15. My first one (The plans we are using)
was purchased from Lew McFarland in 1969 or 1970, was powered by a Fox .15, and A friend and I actually wore the plane out! I have built several variations on that theme, including the Fox .19 powered "PT 20" that Dave's Son is now flying.

Green River RC and I are both heavily into R/C, but every once in a while, we like to show off with a control line demonstration. ;-)

Again, Thanks!!

Vaughan Sharp

V. Sharp

Question for Jim Thomerson --

I have a Webra red head 1.5 Diesel -- how would that compare in power with a TD .09 ?
Would the Webra pull a light Shark .15?

Thanks,

Vaughan

Jim Thomerson

If your Webra will turn an 8 x 4 11,000 or better, it should be fine. It is a matter of matching the line length to the speed of the airplane, rather than saying a certain size engine needs a given line length. Tried to post a picture of one of my sharks but no luck. There is a picture of it somewhere on some thread on covering.

V. Sharp

Jim --

Thanks for the reply. I will get some fresh fuel and bench this fine old engine and see what kind of performance it will do. The last time it was flown was on a Junior Nobler. I do things rather slowly, but will keep all advised. (Green River R/C will keep prodding me until I get it done!! :-))


Vaughan

green river rc

My Feedback: (2)

You need to take your dizzy pills and fly mine

culver

Is there a source for plans available, I have a Fox 15 with a need for an airframe.

green river rc

My Feedback: (2)

Call Lew McFarland at X-Cell Models (859) 373-0004, last I heard he was making copies of of all his planes.