Lanier Corsair and Texan 40 class ARF's are C**P! Assembled to specs, balanced exactly where instructions state, control throw as stated in instructions. Both were very tail heavy resulting in crashes. Repairable but BE WARNED. The Corsair finally flew with the CG a full one inch ahead of instructions placement. Still repairing the Texan (if I can) but I believe the CG will be equally far forward. Ground handling on the Corsair was also way off. I seriously doubt that I will ever purchase another Lanier product!

Bowmaker

Lanier = CR*P

Poor designs, horrible quality control, and varying materials from kit to kit. I have not seen a decent Lanier kit yet. And those 21st century models from them......FUGHETABOUTIT! THat F-86 is horrible. I have tried to like them. I bought a Lanier 1/4 scale Extra and their 120 sized Edge 540. Upon closer examination, I returned both right away. Do yourself a favor and skip Lanier.


Baretta92

My experiences with Lanier products do not mirror yours. Kits and ARF's have all been top quality (most recent is Giant Stinger ARF...outstanding construction, covering, painting and hardware).

Previously, their customer service has been tops for correcting damaged parts too.

Every manufacturer can have a clunker ARF, either an individual kit or particular model. You should contact them with your specific issues. If you have done everything by the book, are an adequately experienced pilot for those models, they will want to know of the problems and have an opportunity to correct it with you.

If that has not been done then negative venting here is doing them, and you, a disservice.

wow such harshness! Well if you had a bad exp then you did. I was considering their stuff but uh oh!

matt

What about their F4?

My comments are my opinion. If you would like to try Lanier then more power to you. I am offering up my opinion for those that may find it useful, but if you have had a good experience with lanier products then great for you. I have not. I got burned the first time with their extra. I thought I'd give them another chance with edge. No dice. I don't like getting burned once, let alone twice so that is why my comments are a little more critical than most about lanier. If it works for you then great. Go with what works.


Baretta92

I have their F4 and think it's a great plane. CG has to be kept on or around the forward mark but other than that it's great. I'm about to put a set of retracts in mine because I like it so much.
James

I have thier P47 and it was not the best ARF to build. There was a lot of things I did not like about it, but when it came to flying it was great. I put an OS70 on it and did not have to add any lead to balance. I balanced it per the manual and it tracked true and straight. Ground handling was good also (as good as any tail dragger warbird can be) I would buy another. Just my 2 cents
fossil

built their pro cub and pro twister loved em to pieces (literally!) seen their arfs and agree on the previous assessment.

Wow, my experience with Lanier has been great! I have a marvelous 1/4 scale Laser, great flyer, smooth on low rates, wild on high rates. My TR260 (plastic ARF) was a great experience, taught me to pull elevator gently! Also taught me to do four point rolls and inverted flight, etc.

Are they without faults? Well, no, but who is? All things considered, the price was right, they fly great, and I'm not afraid to try new things with them.

Just my 2 cents worth,
Dave Olson

Flies great!

That is the only Lanier plane I have had-

I have, er had a Lanier F4. It flew fantastic and looked as good as it flew. I had it powered by an OS .50SX with a tuned pipe. On it's tenth flight the wing bolts pulled through the wing tabs. The wing fluttered down with nary a scratch (other than the splintered wing tab). The fuselage came in like a meteor destroying my JR 950 receiver (which cost more than the plane), all of my JR servos including two 8411s (which cost more than the plane) and the motor was destroyed as well (which cost more than the plane). All in all, this was an expensive accident. An accident that could have been prevented if Lanier did a better job on the wing tab. It turns out that the grain of the balsa was oriented such that there was absolutely no strength in the tab, and it was a miracle that this didnt happen sooner. I will post pics tomorrow. There was no way for me to know as this area was fully covered in monocote.

I intend to speak with Lanier regarding this, but only after I have had a week or so to calm myself down. I am more than just a little pissed off.

IHad a what they called I guess a Cessna Lanier. I liked it. The only problem was I had to put a 1/2 piece high of wood under the trailing edge of the wing. It went strait up and had to hold full down elevator and barley got it back. No one said anything about it or warned me. That wasn't right to include that. If the plane takes off and goes strait up into a stall. I thought it was my ARF building and me and I did something wrong. But the piece of wood did the trick and it lasted for years. BUT I got another one as a gift a year or two later. I had the same problem...I expected it this time and handled it ok. But did the wood thing and it was fine. I did tell Lanier about it through he Hobby store in Alabama. I was born and raised in Alabama and was part of the Bama flyers back then. What fun we had...They take RC’n down there as serious as they do our football. I miss home...but the laws there are in the dark ages and Alabama has their own constitution! That is what is happening now down there the judge told the federal judge that he will not remove the ten commandments from his court room he brought in the middle of the night that weight 4 or 5 tons. But Georgia is a little better and that is where Lanier is. I have had no problems with them and my friends there buy a lot of their planes as far back as I go in 1982 when I first got in. That is all we had was Lanier planes. I know it is frustrating to get a plane and it is a lemon or that kit is no good. That happens. We have to delay our gratification and send or take it back and I know for me check me ego at the hobby door and get another one and wait...that is why I try to have three planes where I can go fly and wait on the replacement. Build in winter fly in summer!

But I think the Company has good products. It has been proven in the field. Maybe take it back I am sure they would want to hear the problem and fix it and probably give you a whole new kit or an exchange. Give them a chance before coming to a decision on them.

Just my two cents

I had the Lanier P51 (not really scale) Mustang ARF. It is the only plane I have owned and crashed to the point of nonrepair. It flew like an absolute piece of cr#p. Very bad quality and horrible flyer.

I'll admit that this was around 1993-94?, I'm hoping that thier quality has improved since then.

Copterdrvr

I have had and still do have several Lanier planes, and I can say there one of the best on the market. I have just purchased a Giant Stinger. There service department is top notch ! They will return your calls, answer your E-mails, do whatever you ask and can and will answer all your questions. GREAT COMPANY WITH A GREAT PRODUCT.

I am currently and have been since July 8th making my case with a wing failure on a Cap arf. They have been friendly on the phone and understanding.... but I have never recieved any calls back from them. It has been up to me to pursue it. But today, they finally admitted that my wing failed do to the lack of glue. We came to terms today and they have made an offer acceptable with me. I'm glad everything has worked out and I will do more business in the future with Lanier.

Well, the corsair bought the farm. I did call lanier to comment and describe my experiences. The guy on the phone was polite but not very satisfying. End result; he is sorry I have had a bad experience and hopes I won't give up on them. Hmmm.....That is still kind of expensive trash in the bin. I am done with Lanier

I hear of more incidents like the one above than I do the good ones. I have not had the personal pleasure of talking to mr Spivey on the phone, but I have heard from those that have and they all argree that it is a very unrewarding experience. I am sure that there will be a couple of "Lanier was friendly to me or they helped me out" but those are few and far between.


Baretta92

I had there P-47 ARF.
I would not buy another one of there warbird ARF again.
Fuse was very thin and very weak at the tail area.
Also the tail area was warped and needed alot of sanding+ajusting on the fuse to get it lined up right.
Belly pan and wing flares were also very warped.
Plane came out tail heavy also.
Flew nice on a OS-.50SX,had about 15-flight until a stall on take off.
P.S.- it maybe just me but,
SAVE your money, even $50.00 is too much for there Warbird ARF`s.

I have the Lanier P-47 ARF fuse for SALE if anyone needs it. In nice shape.

I have had a very good experience with the Lanier P-47N. I have had over 140 flights and only one really bad landing...my fault...and now near finished the repair. My only negative comment is that the cowl is a little to thin...and I needed to beef up retract gear area in the wing (but I beef up all ARF retract gear area's...a very common weak area in ARF's).

Mine is powered with a Lee K & B .61 with pumper carb and Perry pump. I use Robart Heavy Duty mechanical retracts and Robart scale wheels, with Robo Struts. I also used a Slim Line in-cowl muffler, 90 deg. and ended up with just the cylinder head sticking out the side of the cowl...works great. I have installed a 16 oz. fuel tank and single point refuel. I added 3 1/2 oz. of lead to the nose fire wall for balance. All Airtronics servo's and gear.

I've needed to replace the Robart scale wheels three times so far, for they wear out rather quickly...and I'll admit my landings are less then glass smooth...but those wheels grip like no others I've tried and look way to cool. I just reordered a new set of HD retracts from Quantum Models for I managed to ware my first set out...

The model repairs easily, and was very pleased at its construction. I also epoxied all area's of the fire wall and fuel tank area at the kits first assembly and this has kept oil out of the airframe.

My Lanier P-47N has a built up wood and foam fuselage and a built up wing. All easy to repair. The only fiberglass on the kit that I have is the cowl.

The model tracks well in the air, and no matter what the speed, handles well. It slows up well enough and handles like any other tail dragger on the ground. Yes, you do need to use a little rudder on take off, and if you use a big prop like I do (Master Air Screw Scimitar 14 X 6 wood), you will need to install a bit of right thrust on your engine mount to counter the torque of the prop and engine combination. It has a wide tracked main landing gear and handles great on the ground too.

There has been a bit of negative input about Lanier, and I will admit their older models (25 years ago), were laking in construction materials, com paired to todays ARF kits. But they were cheap, they flew well and they were the only game in town at that time. I understand that they still build the older ARF's today, the same way...but the newer ARF's...the P-47, is a good kit.

I recommend the P-47N and love the model.

Soft landings always,
Bobby of Maui