Lanier history lesson needed.
 

Been looking around here and on the web with no success for a brief history of Lanier sport ARFs. I recently bought a used Lanier ARF. I mainly wanted the nearly new OS four stroke in it but have been intrigued as to what the plane is. It is one of the older ARFs and is ABS plastic. White with blue and red accent stickers. It is a midwing design with a fully symetrical wing and full span ailerons. There is a mechanical flap mixer set up but hard to tell if it is factory or rigged by the previous owner. As I said I was after the engine and did not ask enough questions.:eek:

Any ideas?

Will try to figure out a way to get a picture up too.

Thanks!

RE: Lanier history lesson needed.
 

grumpE,

Lanier is owned by Bubba Spivey, whose father owns Spivey Toys & Hobbies in Birmingham, Alabama @ (205) 785-9690. He will be open tomorrow, and he can tell you everything you ever wanted to know (and probably more) about Lanier. I would not doubt that he probably has your plane on the shelf or hanging from the ceiling right now. Hope this helps!

RE: Lanier history lesson needed.
 

THNAK YOU!:D

Am trying to attach a pic to this also.

GrumpE

RE: Lanier history lesson needed.
 

Go to www.lanierrc.com and it will have the pictures and specs for all their planes including the older arfs. The older arfs were on the heavy side, but that did help when the wind kicked up. They are also low priced by todays standards. They did fly pretty well, just not a modern day arf.

RE: Lanier history lesson needed.
 

They were around before ARF's were popular or common, most RC planes were built from kits. I want to say before the '80's [X(]. There were no CA glues, just Ambroid, white wood glue and epoxy [:o].

RE: Lanier history lesson needed.
 

That is the Lanier Laser 200 now called Laser Early ARF. These kits were provided no hardware so the mixer you described was installed by the original builder. Though these early ARF's had a bad reputation for parts fit and longevity, a lot of people have said they actually flew pretty good. I started to build one of their trainers for my Dad about 17 years ago but got disgusted with it, sold it with only the wings joined and built him a Kadet Mk II kit instead.

John

RE: Lanier history lesson needed.
 

It could also be the TR 260. The pics of the Laser and TR 260 are from different angles.

RE: Lanier history lesson needed.
 

The other replies are pretty complete. I looked it and saw my TR260, but that's just 'cause that's what I had. Nice flying plane, I learned a lot about point rolls and inverted flight with it. The Magnum .46 was adequate, but if I'd used a .61 maybe it would have held a knife edge.

Of course, when the switch failed and it augured in, there wasn't much left of the nose, but I wasn't out much money. I don't regret buying it.

Good luck
Dave Olson

RE: Lanier history lesson needed.
 

Thanks to all.

I picked it up because it has an OS FS 90 in it that was only bench run to break in! Maybe I will just have to leave it there and keep practicing;)

I believe it is the Laser. Spoke to the original owners son and he thinks that is what he remembers.

Fun for me!

RE: Lanier history lesson needed.
 

I had the Lanier Jester and Caprice back in the eighties with the K&B 61.
They did fly good but sunk like a rock when dead stick.
I had to learn how to patch cracked plastic with these kits, the tail area under the horzontal was the first to crack, I would use strips of there plastic with epoxy or CA. The gear would get weak also in the wing.
They are ok kits if you dont plan on flying them much. I beleive newer versions now have balsa tail peices.
I know this is not a history lesson, but it is some trivia.
David