Lanier Comet nightmare
 

This is my first post, and this subject may have already been discussed, but here goes.
A short while ago I ordered a Lanier Comet from Tower Hobbies, and began to experience a nightmare that will probably haunt me for the rest of my natural life.
This was the worst kit in the world. Some examples:
-The kit contained two left main gear wires, so when assembled, one pointed up and the other pointed down! Lanier did send me new ones.
-The instructions, which Lanier shouldn't have gone to the trouble of printing, called for a 10, or 12 oz. tank, can't remember which, but I couldn't even get an 8 oz to fit; had to go to a flex tank, heated and "squshed" to come close to having a fit.
-The rear of the fuselage was not only twisted, it was so warped to the right, I had to build in about 4 degrees of left rudder, so it would fly straight even after applying all the left trim I could on the transmitter.
-The rudder that came with the kit was cut BACKWARDS. If I could have hinged the trailing edge, it would have worked.
-The end caps on both the vertical stabilizer and the main wing were installed improperly, and I had to just about ruin the airplane to fix them.
-I think I could safely say that nothing, and I mean NOTHING, fit the way it was supposed to.

I could go on, but that would be boring. I sent several emails to Lanier, which were mostly ignored. The one that was answered said: "Sorry you had troubles with your Comet." There was no offer to send a new kit, etc. I guess I could have sent it back for a refund, but the shipping would have probably cost almost as much as the kit.

I don't know how any of you feel about it, but I'll never, ever, do business with Lanier, and, as I told them, I'll do what I can to make sure that none of my friends get burned like I did.
Glen Wearden

RE: Lanier Comet nightmare
 

Glen,

Those are very old Lanier designs. I too built a few (notice I did say "built") that were equally challenging. I would bet my last dollar that Lanier will be so happy when those planes are gone from their inventory. I would also bet my last dollar that somebody ordered way to many from the factory.

The good news is once together it should actually fly well as my planes did. Do not let these planes (Comet, Dart, Jester, Rebel Bipe, and one I can't remember) scare you away from other Lanier kit or ARF models. I have assembled 2 Lanier Edge 540's that were very nice models. But these old ARF planes that you bought are far from todays ARF standard.

Good luck! I feel for you.

RE: Lanier Comet nightmare
 

Wow! I’ve assembled a number of Lanier R/C ARFs and love them all. I’ve assembled four Jesters and two Invaders. The Jester and Invader are both great flying machines. One of Jesters was powered by a piped 61 and put heavy load on the airframe. I tend to keep my R/C aircraft for many years so I fiberglass the inside of the fuselage around the engine area ahead of the wing and the section that holds the stabs. I also install regular wood landing gear blocks rather than the plastic ones provided in the kit. The Jester at 69.99 is one heck of a good value if you are willing to beef it up some to support our very powerful engines that we use today. Lanier R/C has always provided me with excellent service too. I’d give them a phone call to see how they could help you on the problem. I just hope they keep the Jester and Invader in production.

RE: Lanier Comet nightmare
 

Thanks everyone. You're probably right in that I just got one of the old ones, and they are better now. When the weather cools down and I can get back in the shop, I'm going to try and "spiff" the Comet up, and just jly the wings off of it. I have to; the only other plane I've got is a 4Star40. What a joy it was to build and fly.
Guess I just needed to "vent my spleen".
Glen

RE: Lanier Comet nightmare
 

This is what makes me laugh at some of the threads by todays "builders" about their arfs. My Jester and P-51 in the 70's and $60.00 were only a transition from kits to semi-assembled. Let's wait another 35 years and see if the arfs don't pop out of the box fully finished and they are just perfect.

RE: Lanier Comet nightmare
 

Do the instructions still recommend using expandable foam in the fuselage behind the wing saddle for extra stiffness? That was an educational experience...:D

RE: Lanier Comet nightmare
 

I just got my second Dart in the air a few weeks ago (first one lasted 20 minutes after stalling it in a tail wind). It was a alot to finish, and I modded it some. Like scratch built tail feathers. But man, was it worth the time! This thing SCREAMS with a bushinged TT 61. It is hands down, my fastest plane. It also does excellent pattern, and will climb till it's just a small dot in the sky. It's my first 'hot' landing plane, which will train me to land fast before I get my 80" Byron's CAP 21 finished next spring. I'm sure the plastic will break before too long, but I'm going to fly the snot out of her til then!

RE: Lanier Comet nightmare
 

My plastic Lanier TR-260 was not as difficult to assemble as Glen's Comet, and I had a handle on the tank & hardware demands when I bought it. At the time, I could not have asked for a better plane. I was only in my second year, as I recall, and I needed to learn a lot. The TR-260 fulfilled that purpose, in spades! On a Magnum .46 I learned to do four point rolls and a little inverted flight, and was doing the IMAC Basic pattern maneuvers. That plane was $58 (a closeout special,) and I think you can still get them for something like $70.

If I ever have time & space, I'll probably try another, just for nostalgia. I see a paint manufacturer is advertising some spray paint that sticks to plastic, and when I saw the ad I was thinking about a more elaborately decorated TR-260!

Good plane, not all that difficult to work with, and actually pretty durable.

Good luck,
Dave Olson

RE: Lanier Comet nightmare
 

I bought the Comet, Dart and Lazer from one of the online shops for $45 each plus $10 shipping late last year. After a painful 2 week period it was finished but what a pain to build. Flew great, fast aerobatic and fun and when it went in I was not upset, I was actually happy to see this old pile of junk eat dirt...:D

A friend of mine bought the Dart and after every flight he had to epoxy another crack in the fuse so he stripped it and added weight to the nose and we chucked it of the Dam by our field and watched it glide for a while until it went for a nose dive that left nothing intact of the fuse...:D

so for a plane that you might want to try stunts on and not sure of the out come, those old Lanier planes are the ticket...

RE: Lanier Comet nightmare
 

I'm new to this and hope I'm in the right place but does anybody know where I can find a Lanier Comet?

RE: Lanier Comet nightmare
 

They have been discontinued, so either eBay, or get yourself a time machine.