TOPIC: Building a Sharky

The last few days I‘ve built a Sharky from a kit supplied by Roger.



It’s the first model plane I did after ca. 50 years.
In the sixties I got a Graupner Fouga Sylphe along with an Jetex 50 C motor as a birthday present but I ruined the plastic fuselage trying to trim it. Using the wrong type of glue the nose nearly dissolved and I never succeeded in repairing it. I finally lost interest in building planes and used the motor on a model car.

Finding the old motor again after such a long time and searching online I discovered this website. Making contact with Roger I got lots of hints and a kit for the Sharky. (Thank you very much again, Roger !). I also have to thank Terry who did sent me an ignitor for the motor.
Waiting for some nice spring days, I now have to trim the Sharky for its maiden flight.

Roger adds,

many thanks for posting, Peter. Welcome back to aeromodelling. You have made a great job of the Sharkie, I note, though, you kept the RAF insignia and didn't use Luftwaffe livery.

I should add that my package to Peter was quite badly damaged in the post and Peter has mended the fuselage so well I'can's see the broken balsa!
Peter is a SAAB Fan so I'm hoping he will build a Lansen, Draken, Viggen and Gripen!

It looks splendid, great job, we are waiting for the flight report!

Best wishes,
Piotr

I'm really very sorry for not having posted any progress concerning flying the Sharky I built more than 1 year and a half ago.
Due to some reasons I did not have the chance to fly the Sharky as well as the MIG-19 provided by Roger.
Finally today I was able to visit an airfield for model planes and tried to get both models airborne.

First I had a problem getting the Jetex 50 working because it seemed that the old fuel pellets refused to start burning easily.
Using a different rechargeable battery with the Igniter Pen (Thanks to Terry) the fuel pellets became ignited and I had a nice flight with the Sharky on the second trial.
The MIG however turned to the side went straight to the ground twice while the motor came off the plane due to the crash. I was unable to fit it again immediately and the Jetex burned the rest of fuel on the gras. I have no clue why this happened for I was sure having balanced the MIG properly before. To my feeling, the Jetex 50 is too heavy for the MIG and the thrust might be insufficient, which only lasted about 7 seconds.
Did anyone try to fly the MIG with a Jetex 50 motor ?

Unfortunately I can't provide any photos. Maybe next time.
I'm thinking of getting me some TSP motors and try again.

Hi Peter,
Welcome back to the forum and congratulations on succesfully flying your authentically-powered Sharky! Some photos 'next time' would be splendid!
As you have found, the 'profile scale' MiG 19:



is a lot trickier than the ever-reliable Sharky. The MiG 19 needs to be trimmed DEAD STRAIGHT. Perhaps yours will go better with a lighter TSP motor. I would encourage you to buy some TSP L-2 motors from the Klima. I think they are on special offer at the moment.

Here's to next time!