Shark-vs-Humbler?

[wwwarbird]

 I was just looking at some of Elwyn's photos in De Hill's current Brodak 2016 thread, one photo shows a "Shark" and another shows a "Humbler". I've wondered this before but never think to ask, what's the difference between the "Shark" and "Humbler" designs?

[Mike Keville]

No difference whatsoever.

[billbyles]

I was just looking at some of Elwyn's photos in De Hill's current Brodak 2016 thread, one photo shows a "Shark" and another shows a "Humbler". I've wondered this before but never think to ask, what's the difference between the "Shark" and "Humbler" designs?

"Humbler" was a play by the designer of the Shark on George Aldrich's airplane "Nobler."

[Sean McEntee]

"Humbler" was a play by the designer of the Shark on George Aldrich's airplane "Nobler."

If memory serves, the same goes with the "Ruffy", an answer to the "Smoothie"

[Zuriel Armstrong]

The Humbler in the picture belongs to Jim Lynch. It was built alongside of Lew's original Humbler that is on display in an aviation museum in Kentucky now. Jim measured and duplicated every dimension and shape of the original exactly. It's a beautiful wonderfully crafted model.

[Arlan McKee]

I asked Jim that exact question when we were flying together about 3 weeks ago.
He said the tips were different, the tail volume was a little different, and the fuselage is much thinner
when viewed from the top. Elwynn's photo shows the thin fuselage.
There were some other differences also that I can't recall.
It's a beautiful plane and sounds so sweet with a ST 60.

Arlan

[RandySmith]

The Humbler wing  is larger than the  Jetco Shark kit, so I have been told

Randy

[Dan McEntee]

   The Shark 45s that I have been flying since 1994 or 95 were copied from the Jetco kit and differ a lot from the magazine plans. Lew built sevral versions of the "Humbler" with different dimensions. Charlie Reeves has the recent version he built from Lew's original plan that is in the German camo theme paint job. I got to meet Lew at VSC one of the years he participated with one of his original models, one of his world champs planes that he had to cut the wing tip off to transport it, and it made my model look small. I think it's one of the best looking and flying designs of all time.
   Type at you later,
   Dan McEntee

[Paul Taylor]

I'm sitting in the truck with Jim Lynch. Below are his comments.

" to set the record straight... The difference between the Humbler and the Shark. When Jetco  kitted the Shark they told Lou the name Humbler was not a good name for the market. They changed the to Shark. The original name humbler was a take off from the Nobler. There are differences in the Humbler and the Shark.
My friend Charlie Reeves and I set down with the original pencil drawings and the construction was done from these drawings. Without going into great detail the difference is smaller flaps than the shark, larger winglets, larger stab at the root, differs in Tuttle deck shape, longer canopy, thinner fuselage starting at flap horn to tail post. The tail post is a 1/4 inch square. Wing ribs ribs and span are the same. When I talked to and Charlie he said make the cowling for an exposed head, a flush head or and enclosed engine head. I chose to completely enclose my ST 60 and you will notice a slightly dip of the cowl. Charlie Reeves also enclosed his PA 51. The spinner is 1 1/3 in and not a 2 in. I did make a removable gear but no change in size or location. In reference to the spinner I do have a 1 1/3 blunt nose but I just like the needle nose look. I can not help but think of my friend Lew every time I fly this airplane.
God bless you Lee I know you would be proud.
This  dimensions were confirmed off of Humbler that I had the the privilege of keeping in my shop before it was returned to its proper place." - Jim Lynch.

[tom brightbill]

Is there a source for actual "Humbler" plans?

[Paul Taylor]

Jimmy said there are no plans that he knows of.  Only pencil drawings.

[john e. holliday]

Maybe our CAD people could take the pencil drawings and come up with plans.

[Tim Wescott]

Jimmy said there are no plans that he knows of.  Only pencil drawings.

Are they clear enough that Jimmy could take them to Staples or whatever and get them scanned?  And would he be willing?  If the result is too big to post anywhere I'd undertake to -- at the very least -- doctor them up into something smaller, which can usually be done with a GIF file fairly easily.