Author Topic: Jetco Dolphin (Read 12930 times)

Gary Anderson · « **on:** January 18, 2010, 12:28:43 AM »

Hi guys,

I found one of my old planes hiding in the corner. Its the Dolphin, not sure its worth the trouble to refinish. My Dolphin seems to be very lite, just needs all the finish material removed and refinished. Does anyone remember if this plane flew very well?

Its setup for a fox 35, not sure but I believe I still have the fox that lived in her. It reminds me of the Shark 45, I think its the way the end of the fuse is designed. The wings leading edge is straight, that's the way a lot of the sterling kits were designed. I wonder if there is many of these planes in the air??? Its my wife's fault, she told me to clean out the garage!!!!! You know what her answer is, THROW THAT PIECE OF JUNK IN THE TRASH!!!!!! The look on my face you would have thought I found a treasure. I appreciate any input about this junker, Gary

Robert Zambelli · « **Reply #1 on:** January 18, 2010, 03:04:20 AM »

Gary - I had one in the 60s and really enjoyed it. Powered with a Fox 29, flew like a Barnstormer but smoother.

As I recall, it was designed by Lou McFarland, who also designed the Shark.

Bob Z.

Dennis Adamisin · « **Reply #2 on:** January 18, 2010, 05:12:10 AM »

Dolphin is a good bird. I had one as myh first full fuselage stunter. Like Bob Z said, the Dolphin is Lew McFarland's design derived from his "Poorboy" which was published in the early 1960's. It was intended to be what we would now call a intermediate stunter - for someone looking for a good flying simple airplane to learn and or hone skills on the patern - prior to investing the time/efort in a Shark 45!

Its a nice size - won't give a Fox a hernia. Heck some of the light builders out there would probably fly it with a 25...

Bill Turner · « **Reply #3 on:** January 18, 2010, 11:21:18 AM »

Was also my first full bodied stunter. New fox 35 for power. It eventually went the way of the figure 9 but was sure nice before then. Have always wanted another, but haven't found one that the price is right.

Someday.

If you can put up some pictures. I personally would appreciate it.

Thanks lots and best in your refinish.

Bill

David Shad · « **Reply #4 on:** January 18, 2010, 11:31:27 AM »

Got one myself Gary...scratchbuilt and pretty light...got a Leonard Neumann tuned FP-25 in it and will fly in the
next month or so. I copied the Jetco kit...which I still have using Tom Morris techniques. Should be ready at
about 34 ounces. I'll put some pics on shortly.....after I go to the store for my wife.

Gary Anderson · « **Reply #5 on:** January 18, 2010, 11:49:46 AM »

Hi guys,

At the moment my camera isn't working. When my son comes bye I'll have him take some pictures. The plane is pretty ugly at the moment, all the paint has dried up and cracked, silkspan looks bad also. All the wood seems to be okay, I need to remove all material down to wood. I want to remove the hinges also, cloth hinges and I'm sure they will need to be replace. I need to check all controls to be sure I don't have to replace them. Is it against the rules to install adjustable lead-outs and weight box?

Everything looks straight and solid, maybe re-glue with thin CA????It only has a 48" wing span but looks bigger cause the way the wing is designed. The canopy is gone, so maybe make a wood one or make one out of a plastic bottle. I wonder if it would fly better if I increased the size of the elevator?

Thanks for your input and looking forward to more, Gary

Tom Niebuhr · « **Reply #6 on:** January 18, 2010, 12:24:05 PM »

Gary,
Both Old Time Stunt and Classic allow you to use adjustable leadouts and tip weight boxes. The reasoning is that in the old days many of us made these adjustments, with the use of an exacto knife.

Gary Anderson · « **Reply #7 on:** January 18, 2010, 03:13:58 PM »

Hi guys,

My Dolphin weighs 26 ounces without engine or tank, everything else is complete. I believe a fox engine weighs around 8 ounces and a tank around an ounce. When I strip her down I'll lighten her up a bit. I believe I'll install a up dated control system, weight box. I've checked search out on this forum and found several pictures of this plane, I'm not sure which color scheme I'm going to use but I believe this will prove to be a fun ship. I may try the evo 36 engine. My evo 36 seems to be a better engine than my foxes and the evo has a lot of nice features. Thanks for all your input and I will take before and after pictures. (Just to give ya a laugh) Gary

Serge_Krauss · « **Reply #8 on:** January 18, 2010, 11:47:44 PM »

A friend was going to provide me with a Dolphin so that we both could complete one and meet at VSC, Unfortunately, something seems to have prevented this. I believe that built light, it's a great first-full-fuselage model. We were going to use Fox .35's. ...maybe next year. 'guess I'll finish my original and build a quick "Peacemaker." If it weren't for VSC, I'd probably cheat a bit on the horizontal tail or stab area; a bit more wouldn't hurt. 'neat little plane!

SK

Lee Thiel · « **Reply #9 on:** January 19, 2010, 06:25:49 PM »

First full fuselage was a Dolphin for me also. It had a Fox 29. Never did weigh it. but the 29 flew it well. Last one that I built had a Fox 35 and I thought it was going to be a good flier. Opps, forgot to clip the clevis on the flap horn to the elevator. Nice wingover to a point. Have another one built, almost ready for paint, and one more in a box.
Lee TGD

Alan Hahn · « **Reply #10 on:** January 19, 2010, 06:32:03 PM »

Quote from: Lee Thiel on January 19, 2010, 06:25:49 PM

First full fuselage was a Dolphin for me also. It had a Fox 29. Never did weigh it. but the 29 flew it well. Last one that I built had a Fox 35 and I thought it was going to be a good flier. Opps, forgot to clip the clevis on the flap horn to the elevator. Nice wingover to a point.
Lee TGD

The good die young.

Gary Anderson · « **Reply #11 on:** January 19, 2010, 09:10:49 PM »

Quote from: Ty Marcucci on January 19, 2010, 08:30:28 PM

Ah, spare parts.

Hi Ty,

I believe duct tape could be the answer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Brett Buck · « **Reply #12 on:** January 19, 2010, 09:45:56 PM »

Quote from: Gary Anderson on January 18, 2010, 03:13:58 PM

Hi guys,

My Dolphin weighs 26 ounces without engine or tank, everything else is complete. I believe a fox engine weighs around 8 ounces and a tank around an ounce. When I strip her down I'll lighten her up a bit. I believe I'll install a up dated control system, weight box. I've checked search out on this forum and found several pictures of this plane, I'm not sure which color scheme I'm going to use but I believe this will prove to be a fun ship. I may try the evo 36 engine. My evo 36 seems to be a better engine than my foxes and the evo has a lot of nice features. Thanks for all your input and I will take before and after pictures. (Just to give ya a laugh) Gary

Just as a gauge, the best of the old WAM "A" stunt planes was the late Bill Fitzgerald's Jetco "Dolphin", with a Veco 19bb. Reportedly, it flew much better than the "real stunt planes" of the day, although apparently it took another 10+ years (when Ted started running 4-strokes in the mid 80's and Hunt/Pappas came up with tuned pipe systems) for the full implications of that to dawn on anyone. Veco 19bb, stock muffler, stock venturi, Rev-Up 10-4, crank it up to near peak, and let it go.

Point being, while it probably won't hurt anything, an ABC 36 is pretty drastic overkill. And I don't know if you can get enough fuel in it.

As an aside, the original prototype Dolphin hung on the wall in Lew McFarland's hobby shops for years. It was a very pretty little airplane.

Brett

Bill Little · « **Reply #13 on:** January 19, 2010, 10:23:11 PM »

Derek Barry seems to always have a Dolphin and Todd Lee had a BEAUTIFUL example several years ago. Those were EXCELLENT flyers with the old Fox 35. It might just be the PERFECT stunter for a Fox 35! (or a Fancy Pants!)

I agree with Brett on the engine,(and I always believe more is better!) an ABC/ABN/AAC 36 would be too heavy for the nose, and fuel might really become a problem.

It is a plane I have always liked, but never built............

Mongo

Brett Buck · « **Reply #14 on:** January 19, 2010, 10:36:14 PM »

Quote from: Bill Little on January 19, 2010, 10:23:11 PM

Derek Barry seems to always have a Dolphin and Todd Lee had a BEAUTIFUL example several years ago. Those were EXCELLENT flyers with the old Fox 35. It might just be the PERFECT stunter for a Fox 35! (or a Fancy Pants!)

Oh, for sure a Fox is enough power, and if that's what it's already set up for, that's probably what I would use. Not much problems with burps with it inverted and the airplane is certainly about the right size.

But if I ever build one, I think we can all easily guess what engine I would use.

Brett

Bill Little · « **Reply #15 on:** January 19, 2010, 10:41:49 PM »

Quote from: Brett Buck on January 19, 2010, 10:36:14 PM

Oh, for sure a Fox is enough power, and if that's what it's already set up for, that's probably what I would use. Not much problems with burps with it inverted and the airplane is certainly about the right size.

But if I ever build one, I think we can all easily guess what engine I would use.

Brett

Hi Brett,

How do you find the BBTU FP 20 to do inverted (or upright) mounted?

I have only used it sidesaddle.

Thanks!
Mongo

Brett Buck · « **Reply #16 on:** January 19, 2010, 11:04:18 PM »

Quote from: Bill Little on January 19, 2010, 10:41:49 PM

How do you find the BBTU FP 20 to do inverted (or upright) mounted?

Larry "Joey Jr." Fernandez says his runs fine that way.

Brett

Gary Anderson · « **Reply #17 on:** January 20, 2010, 12:31:39 AM »

Hi Brett,

Do you remember what length lines Bill was using, with the veco 19? I have a veco 19 I bought many years ago and its a sweet running engine. It doesn't have engine lugs, so I would have to use a strap on type muffler. I also have a OS 25 FP, which is a great running engine and it has a muffler. I also have several of the merco 35 engine which have a very nice 4-2-4 run. I have a few of the older foxes, 35's and 36-40??? slang plug. Mr. Frank Bowman reworked a few of these foxes for me, years ago, and they run very well also. Flying the 19 size motors doesn't seem to give the pull and feel as the bigger motors. I'm going to completely rebuild the Dolphin from the ground up, probably end up making all new parts. I weight each part and if its heavy I'll replace it. The plane isn't fuel soaked but its old and I'm sure the glue joints aren't any good anymore. I don't believe I can change sizes of the wing, fuse or back end, if I want to be legal. That's a big question I have, how would they know, unless they had something to gauge it bye?

? If it flys good the way it was designed, no sense of changing anything, just a thought, Gary

Bill Little · « **Reply #18 on:** January 20, 2010, 12:57:34 AM »

HI Gary,

I would probably try the 25FP. You can run it in a 2 cycle with a 4 pitch prop (10-4 APC is great for it), and it will purr right through the flight. No 2-4 break, but it works just fine. Launch in a strong 2, but not peaked out. I set them to peak, then back off just a couple clicks.

.015 X 60' with the 25FP is where I would start.

It is fun and it will be a fun plane!

Mongo

Jim Pollock · « **Reply #19 on:** January 20, 2010, 05:44:33 AM »

Hello,

I have a Dolphin under construction as we speak. I plan to use my TT .25 in it as I think the engine airplane combination to be about as perfect as it can get.

Brett. I know you came along in WAM many years after I competed so you can only go by your own experiences. However, I did a lot of winning in class "A" Advanced back in the 61-62 time frame when I wasn't otherwise consumed by the female gender. If you can, find some of the West Coast Model News Magazines from that era and look it up! I was flying a 31 ounce Pegasus with a 10.25 inch cord and 54 inch wingspan with a Veco .19, not the ball bearing version either. We only had to fly the intermediate pattern between the old time and George's pattern, but it at least still did have a square 8 at the end of it. I believe the modern pattern would have needed a bit smaller airplane and I think the Dolphin with a Veco .19BB or an FP .20 would be an ideal Class "A" airplane for the present generation.

Thanks for listening to an OF rant!

Jim Pollock Just one of the OF's! Back to sleep now...

Brett Buck · « **Reply #20 on:** January 20, 2010, 10:22:44 AM »

Quote from: Jim Pollock on January 20, 2010, 05:44:33 AM

Brett. I know you came along in WAM many years after I competed so you can only go by your own experiences. However, I did a lot of winning in class "A" Advanced back in the 61-62 time frame when I wasn't otherwise consumed by the female gender. If you can, find some of the West Coast Model News Magazines from that era and look it up! I was flying a 31 ounce Pegasus with a 10.25 inch cord and 54 inch wingspan with a Veco .19, not the ball bearing version either. We only had to fly the intermediate pattern between the old time and George's pattern, but it at least still did have a square 8 at the end of it. I believe the modern pattern would have needed a bit smaller airplane and I think the Dolphin with a Veco .19BB or an FP .20 would be an ideal Class "A" airplane for the present generation.

That's all interesting, but I am not sure I understand why my mentioning Bill/Ted/McClellan Clan experience would be a rant-worthy topic. I never said they invented it or that they were the first to try it. A Veco 19 was listed as a recommended engine, with setup information (using the wrong prop, as I recall), on the Green-Box Nobler plans. They were , as far as I know, the first nationally-competitive modelers in a position to judge the relative merits compared to 6" pitch full stunters. I also note that they (and apparently their predecessors) failed to recognize the implications of it until much later when other examples presented themselves. They clearly did the best job of it - sometime in the 90's, I took away the WAM A Stunt record from, I think, Bill Fitzgerald, that had stood since the mid-70s. Of course it was with a 21 (which I didn't know at the time) so I suppose he still holds it.

So, no offense intended, if it was taken.

Brett

Les McDonald · « **Reply #21 on:** January 20, 2010, 03:49:39 PM »

My second full body stunt ship was a Jetco Dolphin. Back in those days "Ignorance was Bliss" so I had a great time flying it with a Torp 35.
I built the thing in a hotel room in Marysville California while attached to a unit at Beale AFB back in 1967.
Do any of you guys remember, I think it was, Arnolds Hobby Shop in Marysville, or was it Yuba City? Time for a nap!

Les McDonald

Gary Anderson · « **Reply #22 on:** January 20, 2010, 04:26:20 PM »

Quote from: Les McDonald on January 20, 2010, 03:49:39 PM

My second full body stunt ship was a Jetco Dolphin. Back in those days "Ignorance was Bliss" so I had a great time flying it with a Torp 35.
I built the thing in a hotel room in Marysville California while attached to a unit at Beale AFB back in 1967.
Do any of you guys remember, I think it was, Arnolds Hobby Shop in Marysville, or was it Yuba City? Time for a nap!

Les McDonald

Hi Les,
Great looking plane, the one I have looked great, at one time. I didn't build it!!!!! I'm going to rebuild her, probably using the old baby as templets. At the moment I'm doing a little different project, hope ya sitting down when ya read this, I've made another Stiletto body, stab, elevator and tail, rudder. Here comes the bad part, I'm using a wing out of a ARF Score!!!! not sure how she will perform but I'm sure it will be interesting. I'm sorry I do stupid things like this, just for fun. Power plant is a Merco 61, square bottom, uses around 6 ounces to do the pattern. I probably paint it the same color as my other Stiletto. Well I hope I gave ya a laugh, thanks for the post, Gary

Jim Pollock · « **Reply #23 on:** January 20, 2010, 08:09:36 PM »

Les,

Do you happen to remember a crew chief there at Beal named Doug Spoon? He was Chief for an SR-71 there. I worked with him at Fort McClellan Alabama for about 8 years before they closed it. He works at the former military golf course that was turned over to the city in 1999.

Jim Pollock

Ted Fancher · « **Reply #24 on:** January 21, 2010, 03:10:13 PM »

Quote from: Les McDonald on January 20, 2010, 03:49:39 PM

My second full body stunt ship was a Jetco Dolphin. Back in those days "Ignorance was Bliss" so I had a great time flying it with a Torp 35.
I built the thing in a hotel room in Marysville California while attached to a unit at Beale AFB back in 1967.
Do any of you guys remember, I think it was, Arnolds Hobby Shop in Marysville, or was it Yuba City? Time for a nap!

Les McDonald

Interesting, Les. I had no idea you were ever based in our area. In 1967 I went to the Nats and flew my "original" Pirouette (a stretched Ares with a swept rudder and my first ever double nostril "sorta Ferrari" cowling. But I also took a back up ship which was a Dolphin with a small case Johnson .35 in it (not an "s", a .35 like Riley made super combat engines out of). I can assure you it was plenty of power for the little Dolphin, likely not unlike the green head Torp in yours. It was really a dandy flying airplane. Note the partial span flaps. Corners were never an issue with mine, I'll tell ya!

Ted

Les McDonald · « **Reply #25 on:** January 21, 2010, 03:26:35 PM »

Jim---I was "attached" at Beale and never worked on the base, just flew in and out and pretty much lived a civlian life.

Ted---Nancy and I lived in Yuba City and loved it. I tried to stay out there after the Air Force but the only job I could find was with World Airways in Oakland. I signed with Lockheed hoping we might stay near Sunnyvale but I wound up in Marrietta GA.
The only contest I went to was a WAM meet in Redding. Some guy had a beautiful traditional stunter with Stiletto graphics, oh wait that was 3 years before the first Stiletto. Okay I'll "Man Up" now-----I stole the name and the trim scheme, okay, I said it!

Les McDonald

Dennis Adamisin · « **Reply #26 on:** January 21, 2010, 04:40:29 PM »

OK my turn, this is the ONLY airplane I ever had powered with a Fox 35. Note body english, good starts required flipping hard enough with follow through, getting at least one foot off the ground...

Jim Pollock · « **Reply #27 on:** January 21, 2010, 04:44:50 PM »

Brett,

I was just having a little fun as an official old timer now. Ted got his official old timer license about 6 months ago.
i.e. official old timer card = US Government Medicare Card! There was no offense taken and none intended in that post with the Old Timer rant.... I just wish I was young enough to build a plane in about 1 Month like I did that Pegasus in April of 1961.

Jim Pollock

wwwarbird · « **Reply #28 on:** January 21, 2010, 06:10:23 PM »

Those '66 Nat's pics are awsome! Cool stuff!

Larry Fernandez · « **Reply #29 on:** January 28, 2010, 06:20:01 PM »

Quote from: Brett Buck on January 19, 2010, 11:04:18 PM

Larry "Joey Jr." Fernandez says his runs fine that way.

Brett

What Brett says is true. I had a couple of Still Stukas set-up with FP .20's inverted.( Perfect motor for that plane so I would think it would be just dandy for a Dolphin, HHHHHMMMMMMM.) However when I ran the FP .20 without the muffler cone, the runs became a tad unstable.
(I should never have loaned that motor to that punk in Reno)

Larry "Joey Jr." Fernandez

Bill Little · « **Reply #30 on:** February 03, 2010, 01:35:58 PM »

Quote from: Larry Fernandez on January 28, 2010, 06:20:01 PM

What Brett says is true. I had a couple of Still Stukas set-up with FP .20's inverted.( Perfect motor for that plane so I would think it would be just dandy for a Dolphin, HHHHHMMMMMMM.) However when I ran the FP .20 without the muffler cone, the runs became a tad unstable.
(I should never have loaned that motor to that punk in Reno)

Larry "Joey Jr." Fernandez

Hi Larry,

Thanks for the info! I have only used the FP 20 in a sidesaddle mounting and the runs are exactly like advertised! Wasn't real sure about the different orientation so I am really glad to hear that they work the same way upright or inverted. I was thinking about a Super Combat Streak with the upright FP 20. A decent knock around plane to practice with and maybe even fly Classic/Nos. 30 with!

Thanks, again
Big Bear

Randy Powell · « **Reply #31 on:** February 03, 2010, 03:33:58 PM »

Dennis,

I like the dress shoes with the white socks and shorts. Very classy.

Shultzie · « **Reply #32 on:** February 03, 2010, 07:35:56 PM »

Neva'nuff Dolphins....

Hey Dennis...remember Vance Dunlop that you met waaaay back in 68?
GADS!...Looking at how young you two kiddies were back then...makes me feel reeeeeeeally oldern' dirty-dirt!

Here is another Dolphin that was beautifully built by Bob Kautzan...round' 67 and was taken at a local contest in SE Tacoma.
Bob was a master of metallic finishes!

Dennis Adamisin · « **Reply #33 on:** February 03, 2010, 10:45:08 PM »

Quote from: Randy Powell on February 03, 2010, 03:33:58 PM

Dennis,

I like the dress shoes with the white socks and shorts. Very classy.

Once and forever a FASHIONISTA!

Schultzie - AWESOME Dolphin pix.

afml · « **Reply #34 on:** February 04, 2010, 05:57:49 AM »

Interesting tail feathers on the red one.

"Tight Lines!"

Wes

Author Topic: Jetco Dolphin (Read 12930 times)

Alan Hahn