Tiger Shark (oz2892)

About this Plan

Tiger Shark. Radio control model. This is a 50% enlargement of the original 1938 Victor Stanzel design.

Quote: "Here is a truly historic model, brought back in R/C form, but retaining all the smooth, graceful lines that have made it a classic. Even R/C modelers who do not date back to the mid-thirties should be attracted to this beauty! Tiger Shark, by Harald Lanser.

Well, for you 'young timers', this is a 50% enlargement of a 1938 Victor Stanzel design. We old timers have all probably built one of Vic's little speedsters, the Super 'G' Shark, the Super 'V' Shark, or maybe a Baby Shark - all classics of their day.

The Tiger Shark was the original Stanzel model that led to all of the historic Shark series. It was flown with one line, plus a six-foot bamboo fishing pole to help control climb and descent.

Thanks to John Pond, I got a copy of the Tiger and 'V' Shark plans to build control line models, but I got into R/C before I finished. One photo shows the difference in size between the original and the enlarged R/C version.

Construction of the R/C version is very much like the original. The fuselage could be built of sheet sides, but it just wouldn't be a Tiger. Incidentally, the Tiger was selected from all the Shark designs because it seemed to enlarge better into an VC configuration. I used the Falcon 56 (oz2424) wing as a base because it cut down on construction time and also was better proportioned for R/C. Thanks, Carl Goldberg!

Construction: I suggest you build the horizontal stabilizer and elevator first, as the aft end of the fuselage builds around it. Use all hard balsa on the stab and elevator spars, also the leading and trailing edges.

Be sure to install the 1/4-inch hard-wood dowel in the stab spar and the 1/8 dowel in the leading edge. These dowels are vital! I found out the hard way. On the eleventh flight, I did one of my world-famous vertical rolls with a Split S over the top. I forgot to close the throttle over the top, and she was really smoking on the way down. I heard a buzz, slammed the throttle closed, and very gently pulled back on the stick. Was I glad I had gone high doing the vertical rolls, because the Tiger leveled out about five feet off the deck! When I got it down on the ground, I found the stabilizer spar cracked next to the fuselage. Use epoxy to set those dowels.

The cover aft of the cockpit is 1116 balsa soaked in hot water and molded over the formers, taping in place until dry. Lift off when dry and then glue in place.

The decking in front of the cockpit is done in strips about 3/16 wide, then the underside is painted with Elmers yellow glue, thinned 50% with water. This makes it very strong, as the glue soaks in well..."

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Quote: "Here is Harald Lanser's version of Victor Stanzel's Tiger Shark from Model Builder issue 04-82. The Tiger Shark has to be one of the sleekest low winged control line models ever designed. This enlarged version brings Stanzel's design into the r/c age in great style."

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