Author Topic: Lew McFarlands shark 45 from the 60s (Read 7913 times)

kenny stevens · « **on:** February 15, 2012, 08:20:59 PM »

This is one of Lews skarks he started to refinish. I think it had a leed out pull out at a nats. It was given to me by Lews wife to finish and fly in classic at the nats this year.

Steve Helmick · « **Reply #1 on:** February 15, 2012, 08:39:52 PM »

Very nice work. It would be really cool to add some sort of tribute to Seal Team 6, IMO.

Steve

afml · « **Reply #2 on:** February 15, 2012, 09:26:57 PM »

Awesome job Kenny!

WELL DONE!

Can't wait to see it in the air!

BTW......
You DO still remember HOW to operate dem dare NOISEY MOTORS don't cha??!??

"Tight Lines!"

Wes

wwwarbird · « **Reply #3 on:** February 15, 2012, 09:55:14 PM »

Very nice, and nice story too.

Shultzie · « **Reply #4 on:** February 16, 2012, 11:02:36 AM »

What an awesome tribute....plus what a beautiful work of CLPA art that you are re-creating. You show that you have that masters touch! He would be so proud!

kenny stevens · « **Reply #5 on:** February 16, 2012, 02:37:05 PM »

Thank you Don. I have a George Aldrige tiger for thie plane and a Doubble Star 56 ordered in case it needs more power. It weighed 42 oz less moter,prop and spinner ,and wheeles befor paint.

afml · « **Reply #6 on:** February 16, 2012, 05:17:55 PM »

So here I am look'n through an old model mag, when I spy a Jetco ad.....

"3 view layout of Lew McFarland's 1963 version of the Shark "45" which is due to join the Jetco line of models by the first week in May 1963.
Design modifications over 1962 version include slightly longer nose moment, increased stab aspect ratio and many numerous structural refinements to speed assembly and lighten the model."

Interesting.....

I wonder how many other modifications or version there were before being kitted by Jetco???

"Tight Lines!"

Wes

proparc · « **Reply #7 on:** February 16, 2012, 05:31:43 PM »

Kenny,

You're the man.

kenny stevens · « **Reply #8 on:** February 16, 2012, 07:50:14 PM »

That is the last Shark I saw Lew fly in the New Albany in about 2000. That plane is hanging in Lews office at the house. I looked at the picture that I posted and the AMA was on the wrong wing so tonight I carefully removed the lettering and put then on the correct wing.

Gene O'Keefe · « **Reply #9 on:** February 17, 2012, 08:09:55 AM »

Kenny....lucky you to have one of his originals ! He'll be looking over your shoulder when she rotates on her first flight.

Eric Viglione · « **Reply #10 on:** February 17, 2012, 08:49:46 AM »

Anyone who's seen Kenny's planes in person knows Lew's Shark is in good hands.
Can't wait to see it at the Nat's Kenny! Looks great!
EricV

Howard Rush · « **Reply #11 on:** February 17, 2012, 10:49:11 AM »

Quote from: Eric Viglione on February 17, 2012, 08:49:46 AM

Anyone who's seen Kenny's planes in person knows Lew's Shark is in good hands.

That's for sure.

Bill Little · « **Reply #12 on:** February 17, 2012, 12:08:43 PM »

Hi Kenny,

It is awesome that you have one of the originals. A great tribute to a fine person.

I know you will do it proud and hopefully I will get to Muncie and be able to see it!

Good Luck!
Bill

Dennis Adamisin · « **Reply #13 on:** February 19, 2012, 06:49:17 PM »

FABULOUS Kenny!

Shultzie · « **Reply #14 on:** February 19, 2012, 08:04:16 PM »

Quote from: Ed Ruane on February 17, 2012, 05:35:28 PM

Kenny I took that picture about 15 years ago at Tifton Ga. It may not be the first but it is from the 60's It may be before the take apart wingtip. It looks smaller than the one you are working on.
Ed

Not sure...but I think Lew's 68 model's wing had to be "sawed-off" in order for his Shark to fit in those notoriously imfamously airliner cargoizzzzed' container storage units...and then Lew had to glue the wing tip back on after he returned from the World Cup event in order to fly at the nats that year.
I will dig through my old Nats slides and scann that outboard wing tip which clearly shows that quickie fix modification. (Look carefully and you can see from the sun reflecting off that wing tip exactly where the surgery was performed on that beautiful Shark of his?
My memory bank suc

...but seems like my late friend...Tim Dunlop was talking with Charlie Reeves and Lew about that feeeeeazzzzzco' scene at one of the airports somewhere?

kenny stevens · « **Reply #15 on:** February 20, 2012, 10:32:44 AM »

This Shark had both inboard and outboard tips removeable . I glued inboard in place because of bad fit. This plane looks like Lew replaced the controle system so inboard tip removeable may have been necessary.

kenny stevens · « **Reply #16 on:** February 20, 2012, 02:20:09 PM »

I am looking forward to flying this plane a lot. I also have Less McDonalds 35 Steletto and flew it several times.Pics on N30 thread

Bill Little · « **Reply #17 on:** February 20, 2012, 02:43:39 PM »

Hi Kenny,

What engine are you using in the Stiletto 35?

Thanks
BIG Bear
RNMM/AMM

kenny stevens · « **Reply #18 on:** February 21, 2012, 10:17:19 AM »

I like the PA 40 ultra light and aerotiger 36 but no moter yet

Bill Little · « **Reply #19 on:** February 21, 2012, 10:55:44 AM »

Quote from: kenny stevens on February 21, 2012, 10:17:19 AM

I like the PA 40 ultra light and aerotiger 36 but no moter yet

Hi Kenny,

I haven't had the pleasure of owning a 40 UL, but have used the Aero Tiger .36 a lot. I really like that engine.

Good Luck with both models!
Bill

PJ Rowland · « **Reply #20 on:** February 22, 2012, 03:46:06 AM »

Thats why there is the ole' expression.

" No-one Paints sharks like a Stevens "

Im pretty sure its from the 60's ...

Speaking of 60's....

PA40, Aerotiger.36 all great choices. I just like more power

Bill Little · « **Reply #21 on:** February 22, 2012, 01:33:17 PM »

Quote from: PJ Rowland on February 22, 2012, 03:46:06 AM

Thats why there is the ole' expression.

" No-one Paints sharks like a Stevens "

Im pretty sure its from the 60's ...

Speaking of 60's....

PA40, Aerotiger.36 all great choices. I just like more power

Hi PJ,

The Aero Tiger and .40UL are for the ".35" Stiletto in answer to my question on that one, not the Shark.

BIG Bear
RNMM/AMM

John Sunderland · « **Reply #22 on:** April 09, 2012, 11:24:05 PM »

Once again, really nice Kenny!

I was lucky enough to fly against Lew once. His name was bandied about my house often when I was small. He was the man to beat in our area...and any other.

So, Lew showed up in Sellersburg Indiana on a whim I guess in 98 or 99. I hadnt seen him fly on anything but film since I was a child in 1967. Anyhow, I flew a borrowed Veco Hurricane on loan from Steve Starr. At the end of his first and only flight...very well flown and zippo for practice, he did three dead air loops, coasted another few or four laps and sat it down pretty. As we are posing for the pics at the end of the contest with Lew in first, Steve second and I third, I said " Well deserved Lew" and he leans over to me and says with a big old grin "Yeah but, if you had had appearance points you would have beat me!" I was just thrilled by that. He was such a genuine guy.

Dan McEntee · « **Reply #23 on:** July 23, 2012, 10:04:16 PM »

Just catching up on this thread, and wished I had the extra time and money to attend the NATS this year for the Lew tribute. I have always had a fondness for Lew's designs, especially the Shark, both the 45 and the smaller profile model. I've built two Shark 45's copying a Jetco kit, and was fortunate enough to meet and talk to Lew at VSC in 1997, I believe. Regarding the removable tips, I have a memory of him telling me that he had removable tips on the airplane so it would fit better in a model box for transport over seas. I think the airplane he was flying that year was one of his world champs airplanes. I was surprised by how much larger it was that my airplane. I think he said that he just tack glued the tips on, and cut them back off for repacking. Not sure I remember that correctly but may have done that to save the weight of any hardware involved. Very nice looking model.
But to be historically correct, you have one of his Humbler models, given the placard in the canopy. That was the original name of the design, to counter George Aldrich's Nobler?? And JETCO was the one that gave it the Shark name?? I think Lew told me that story back in '97 also. Not really important but one of those little tid bits of history that I like to hear about, especially when I get to hear it from the original source. I hope you can bring it to Paducah so we can see it there?
Type at you later,
Dan McEntee

john e. holliday · « **Reply #24 on:** July 25, 2012, 01:30:03 PM »

I had the privialge to see Lew's Shark at a contest in Cincinnatti at Lumpkin Air Field way back when I was in Cokumbus Ohio for a telephone school. Got to see the Shark up close and told him I had the kit. Was told do not build the kit. use it for patterns. It was the outboard wing that had been cut off for the trip over seas. Then it was reattached for the competition. Removed for packing for home and then reattached. You could see the seam. Terrific gentleman. also.

Bill Little · « **Reply #25 on:** July 25, 2012, 01:37:36 PM »

Quote

But to be historically correct, you have one of his Humbler models, given the placard in the canopy. That was the original name of the design, to counter George Aldrich's Nobler?? And JETCO was the one that gave it the Shark name?? I think Lew told me that story back in '97 also. Not really important but one of those little tid bits of history that I like to hear about, especially when I get to hear it from the original source. I hope you can bring it to Paducah so we can see it there?
Type at you later,
Dan McEntee

Hi Dan

Humbler Vs. Nobler, Ruffy Vs. Smoothie. This was from Charlie Reeves, Lew's flying buddy.
A bit of humor on Lew's part!

Bill

Glenn (Gravitywell) Reach · « **Reply #26 on:** July 25, 2012, 04:42:00 PM »

Lew designed a profile Shark? Any pics, plans, details? The 45 is a little large for what I like, but a profile may be better.

Balsa Butcher · « **Reply #27 on:** July 25, 2012, 05:03:40 PM »

Lew's profile Shark was the Shark 15. 36" wing span, 270 sq inches, flaps optional. Kitted by Jetco. Tom Dixon has plans. For a smaller Shark the Shark 35 is a good choice, currently kitted by RSM.

Bill Little · « **Reply #28 on:** July 25, 2012, 05:08:22 PM »

Quote from: Glenn (Gravitywell) Reach on July 25, 2012, 04:42:00 PM

Lew designed a profile Shark? Any pics, plans, details? The 45 is a little large for what I like, but a profile may be better.

HI Glenn,

Like Pete said, the profile was a 36" .15 size model originally kitted by Jetco. Walter Umland used to kit it more recently. The Shark "35" is an awesome flying model also and you could easily make a profile from it. Eric at RSM has laser cut ribs for it. Wingspan is about 52".

BIG Bear
RNMM/AMM

RandySmith · « **Reply #29 on:** July 25, 2012, 08:38:17 PM »

Quote from: PJ Rowland on February 22, 2012, 03:46:06 AM

Thats why there is the ole' expression.

" No-one Paints sharks like a Stevens "

Im pretty sure its from the 60's ...

Speaking of 60's....

PA40, Aerotiger.36 all great choices. I just like more power

PJ the PA 40 will put out the power of an ST 60 pretty easy.

Randy

afml · « **Reply #30 on:** July 26, 2012, 06:06:59 AM »

Quote from: Glenn (Gravitywell) Reach on July 25, 2012, 04:42:00 PM

Lew designed a profile Shark? Any pics, plans, details? The 45 is a little large for what I like, but a profile may be better.

Lew also designed a Slow Combat/Stunt Trainer called the "Sharkbat".
Profile, 35 size, constant chord wing.

"Tight Lines!"

Wes