Span 54.5 cm / 21.5 in
Weight 22 g / ¾ oz
The concept:
- Shark like unique appearance
- Low-wing monoplane
- Intermediate size
- Easy to build
- Excellent flight characteristics
- Few parts
- Slope glider
- Much lighter than its predecessor Tubarão Glider I
- New wing
Name is Portuguese (Brazilian) and means: SHARK
(tubarão is singular and tubarões plural)
The rear end of this and the other Tubarão models was drawn up in accordance with the rear of the famous French sport coupé Panhard CD from 1963. This being probably one of the best sport cars ever considering weight, speed and miles per gallon.
My first Tubarão model #2020 Tubarão rubb. was a pleasing success and led to other similar designs. See List of all available plans.
Building the balsa model Tubarão Glider II
Materials
Fuselage: B 3; wings: stiff B 1; wing supports: B strips 3 x 3; horizontal stabilizer: B 1; fin: B 1.5 or 2; linen band width 12 mm / ½ in; ballast: small piece of scrap metal or lead.
Assembly
Cut out balsa parts in accordance to plan. Sand well. Transfer outlines of cabin, rudders, elevators, ec. from paper to wood with pen. Cut out all necessary slots. Paint your model at this stage (photo).
Wing:
Wing consists of a right and a left wing-half. Fix one half on building board with pins. Cement corresponding half by paying attention to dihedral given in plan. Model was tested with different dihedrals. For windy conditions build wing with more dihedral, for normal weather less dihedral will do. When dry reinforce center area with linen band (photo) and again let dry.
If wing has the tendency to rest on one side, then it is too heavy on this side. To compensate the imbalance, disperse a small amount of white wood glue at the opposite wing tip area and let dry. Do it, if necessary, twice until balance is obtained.
Fuselage:
Cement fin on fuselage using pins to hold in place (photo). Always visual check twice that best symmetry is obtained.
Cement wing support strips into their given places. Hold with clamps or clothespins or with pins.
Empennage:
Cut out trim rudder on horizontal stab. Bevel along cutting line vee-shaped groove as trim rudder must later move up and down. Cement trim rudder to horizontal stab using linen band on the underside as shown on plan and let dry. Use only a minimum of glue.
Fix fuselage on so called third hand (photo). Cement horizontal stabilizer into its place in fin using pins to hold. Visual check symmetry from all sides. Let dry.
Final Assembly:
Turn fuselage upside down and fix it on third hand. Cement wing on wing supports using pins to hold in place. Doublecheck visually symmetry. Let dry.
A piece of lead or scrap metal may be used to balance model if necessary.
Remember correct center of gravity (CG) is essential for successful flights.
Make your first test glides over tall grass.
Palju edukaid lende! (Molts vols d’èxit!)
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