Lanier 1/4 scale Laser 200 CHEAP!!  
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Lanier 1/4 scale Laser 200 CHEAP!! - 1/9/2008 7:09:16 AM   
FlyingPilgrim



Posts: 1254
Joined: 9/24/2002
From: Canton, MI, USA
Status: offline 		Tower has this kit for $99.99, recently marked down from $139.99. My guess is it is to be discontinued as soon as they sell out. Pretty good price for a legal 1/4 scale plane! Since I really don't need any more planes, I only bought one!

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RE: Lanier 1/4 scale Laser 200 CHEAP!! - 1/9/2008 7:39:56 AM   
Campgems


 

Posts: 1926
Joined: 2/18/2006
From: Arroyo Grande, CA, USA
Status: online 		You dirty dog. Here I was just getting ready to sign off and go to bed and now I'm $89.99 plus shipping in the hole. I had a $10 off promo code. I told my self that I would never buy another Lanier after the sour experience with the Explorer 40 trainer I started with, but for $90, I had to give this one a look. Just happen to have an O.S. 120 pumper that might work, and some big servos.

Don

Is this an addiction or what.


(in reply to FlyingPilgrim)
       Post #: 2

RE: Lanier 1/4 scale Laser 200 CHEAP!! - 1/9/2008 8:20:07 AM   
FlyingPilgrim



Posts: 1254
Joined: 9/24/2002
From: Canton, MI, USA
Status: offline 		I had reservations as well, but could not resist the price. I added the needed accesories to get the bill up to $150.00, used a $20.00 off coupon, plus a $30.00 gift card. Even if I have to cut new fuse parts from lite ply and engineer a balsa turtle deck, it's still a great deal! They are supposed to fly quite nicely, and I have a 1.08 engine that was waiting for a plane anyway.

(Sorry I "forced" you into spending more money)

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I know just enough to be dangerous

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RE: Lanier 1/4 scale Laser 200 CHEAP!! - 1/9/2008 2:13:13 PM   
Jim Dines


 

Posts: 1373
Joined: 2/27/2002
From: Keller, TX, USA
Status: offline 		I have built two of these over the years. Both were excellent flyers. One flew on an ASP 1.08, a good combination, the other on a Magnum 1.20 2 stroke, even better. Mine were both stock built using the kit supplied ABS cowl and turtle deck parts. All worked well. The Luan ply fuse sides that draw so much controversy actuall work very well: they are rigid and flex free in an area that needs those qualities. It is important to cut the lightening holes in the aft portion of the ply sides to reduce weight back there.

The last one I bought from Tower for $125, including shipping. It was a bargain, then.

(in reply to FlyingPilgrim)
       Post #: 4

RE: Lanier 1/4 scale Laser 200 CHEAP!! - 1/9/2008 4:47:17 PM   
Campgems


 

Posts: 1926
Joined: 2/18/2006
From: Arroyo Grande, CA, USA
Status: online 		I can't tell from the photos, is the engine side mounted or inverted?

Don

(in reply to Jim Dines)
       Post #: 5

RE: Lanier 1/4 scale Laser 200 CHEAP!! - 1/9/2008 5:50:37 PM   
Scar



Posts: 2276
Joined: 10/1/2002
From: Peoria Hts, IL, USA
Status: online 		My Laser flies great, too. Reinforce the landing gear mount a bit. I sunk some toilet seat bolts (plastic) into the wing, and use the accompanying wing nuts on the inside to hold the wings on. I went ahead and used the plastic parts, and am reworking the cowl now.

I will point out another interesting kit buy in the "Lanier Sale" - the 17.5% G202 for $50.

A couple others I'm halfway looking at are the large Cap 232 kit and the Taylorcraft. These are reduced in price, a bit, and when they are gone, they're gone.

Best wishes,
Dave Olson

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RE: Lanier 1/4 scale Laser 200 CHEAP!! - 1/9/2008 9:01:04 PM   
FlyingPilgrim



Posts: 1254
Joined: 9/24/2002
From: Canton, MI, USA
Status: offline 		Campgems, I think most people side-mount their engines on this, but no reason you couldn't mount inverted (for a 4-stroke) if you wanted.

Jim Dines, thanks for the tips, good to know the stock parts worked out well for you. Threads I have researched say to mount servos in wing area of fuse as opposed to tail for better balance. What was your experience?

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I know just enough to be dangerous

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       Post #: 7

RE: Lanier 1/4 scale Laser 200 CHEAP!! - 1/9/2008 9:47:41 PM   
Jim Dines


 

Posts: 1373
Joined: 2/27/2002
From: Keller, TX, USA
Status: offline 		My servos were mounted under the cabin area. Putting them at the tail just makes for tail heavy condition and adding more weight to balance. Built just as the plans show. The servo mounting is well designed and well laid out.

(in reply to FlyingPilgrim)
       Post #: 8

RE: Lanier 1/4 scale Laser 200 CHEAP!! - 1/9/2008 10:25:51 PM   
Campgems


 

Posts: 1926
Joined: 2/18/2006
From: Arroyo Grande, CA, USA
Status: online 		Thanks. Now to see if the Pitts will fit.

Don

(in reply to FlyingPilgrim)
       Post #: 9

RE: Lanier 1/4 scale Laser 200 CHEAP!! - 1/12/2008 5:48:03 AM   
Campgems


 

Posts: 1926
Joined: 2/18/2006
From: Arroyo Grande, CA, USA
Status: online 		Huge box arived tonight. Just took a quick peek and there isn't much wood there. A look at the plans confurmed that. It is an interesting build concept. Basicly a strong square tube with the details attached. The tail is going to be the only building really. Looks like a lot of painting vs covering though.

The landing gear looks good. I think I'll beef up it's mount though. The split elevators with two servos are going to make me think a bit. I have one plane with them, and it isn't a problem with the radio, I'm just not sure I really need them. Have to think it over.

Looking at this guy, it isn't as big as my 4*60. Same wing span, but a shorter fuselage. That coupled with the split wings is going to make trips to the field a lot easier.

On the topic of size, any recomendations for servo size. I fly the 4*60 with Futaba 3151 digitals. This guy looks as if they, the 3151's, would be enough. I've got bigger ones in hand, if needed. For right now, I think I'll do this, 2 3151's for elevator and 2 for ailerons. Then one of the 9003's in a pull pull for the rudder. Mini servo for the throttle. Carbon fiber pushrods for the elevator.

Those who have built one, how does the cowl hold up, should I look at a Fiberglass specialities on in the future? Same for the wheel pants.

Don

(in reply to Campgems)
       Post #: 10

RE: Lanier 1/4 scale Laser 200 CHEAP!! - 1/12/2008 6:49:26 AM   
FlyingPilgrim



Posts: 1254
Joined: 9/24/2002
From: Canton, MI, USA
Status: offline 		I was equally shocked at the size of the shipping box - HUGE!!!
I did not have time to unroll the plans yet to check it out, but did sift through the paper wads to see if contents had any damage. The ABS parts looked to be thick enough to hold up well, I think I will use them to keep the project inexpensive.

As far as servo choice, I think I will use some Hitec 475's on ailerons, perhaps a single Futaba 3010 or 3305 for elevator and rudder. I would think anything from 75 to 100 oz. torque should be enough for this, since I don't do much radical flying. I've not used carbon fiber pushrods yet, but might try them on this instead of the fiberglass Dave Brown rods I've been using.

I am thinking of using Gorilla Glue (Urathane) to laminate the balsa to foam on the wings instead of epoxy. It seems to be the glue of choice for foam work from what I have read here at RCU. The other choice would be some 45 min epoxy, but I'm concerned about adding weight with epoxy.

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I know just enough to be dangerous

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RE: Lanier 1/4 scale Laser 200 CHEAP!! - 1/12/2008 7:28:45 AM   
Campgems


 

Posts: 1926
Joined: 2/18/2006
From: Arroyo Grande, CA, USA
Status: online 		One curious point, the Heavy ply(cant think of the name for it just now) sides need to have quite a few large holes drilled aft of the wing for lightening. The plans show it, so why didn't they laser cut them when they cut the rest of the stuff??? I guess that if this is the worst thing that ticks me on this kit, I'll be very happy.

It's been close to 38 years since I did a foam wing. Back then, we used a water based contact cement and used lite poster board for the skin. Hand cut them with a nychrome wire rigged on a bow with cloths hanger wire coiled of tension on the nychrome wire. Used a battery charger for power. Man was that wing heavy. I'm going to have to studdy up on the foam. Hate to screw them up, a replacement kit is $70.

Lets keep this thread going for a build thread on this guy. I know I'll have some questions.


Don

(in reply to FlyingPilgrim)
       Post #: 12

RE: Lanier 1/4 scale Laser 200 CHEAP!! - 1/12/2008 7:40:58 AM   
huck1199


 

Posts: 169
Joined: 1/5/2007
From: , NY, USA
Status: offline 		Just ordered mine yesterday. Will one of you veterans do a build thread? I built a Kadet 25 years ago and not real sure of my skills now. Just got back into the hobby last year and have been building S.P.A.D. and foam stuff, and learning how to fly again.

Huck

(in reply to FlyingPilgrim)
       Post #: 13

RE: Lanier 1/4 scale Laser 200 CHEAP!! - 1/12/2008 8:56:11 AM   
FlyingPilgrim



Posts: 1254
Joined: 9/24/2002
From: Canton, MI, USA
Status: offline 		I started to look for the (Luan?) ply fuse sides, but never made it to the bottom of the box yet. I want to see how heavy they are, and if I will use or replace them w/ lite ply. I bought a set of cheap Forestner bits off "the auction site" last year, and find them quite handy for drilling out lightening holes and getting a starter hole when you need to remove a larger area with a jig-saw.

I searched RCU for "foam wing cores" and got some info on different glues for laminating the balsa skins to the foam cores. Best suggestion I found was to sqeege (sp?) urathane glue (Gorilla or Elmer's) on the balsa skin, moisten the foam by wiping w/ damp cloth, then join with plenty of weight or by vacuum bagging (if you have the equipment, which I don't).

I'll have to weigh the turtle deck, then weigh some equivelant wood to see if there's enough difference to make it worth building up a wooden turtle deck.

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I know just enough to be dangerous

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       Post #: 14