I was just in the Sport Flying forum, and there is a great big forum for the Lanier Shrike. After exploring the forum, I have some interest in building a shrike. This would be a 1st. kit. Unfortunatly, on tower it says that this is not a plane for the beginer modeler. Would this be a tough first build? I'm so tempted to get one because the price is so incredibly low!, only $40. I was also wondering if a LA .40 would be too much for the .10 size.

Thanks,

LT-40

LT-40,
To be totally honest with you the Shrike is a very easy kit to build. There are no surprises in the build and you shouldn't have any problems with it. But... It's not a beginner's plane. This plane can be a real handful once in the air. The reason for this is that it's very very FAST!!!!!!! It can get away from you in a heartbeat. As for the engine, a 40 would be way too much for it. I had a 25 on all three of my Shrikes and I had to add a bunch of weight to the tail to get it to balance properly. All that extra weight puts a lot of stress on the airframe. Look for a smaller engine would be my advice.

Hope this helps

Ken

It's not a first plane, nor is it a first, second, or even third kit. I've built two of these POS for friends, and I won't ever build another. As a kit, it's a dog and the instructions are the bone. It could have been so easily redesigned to be a stronger, MUCH easier to build plane.

Don't do it!

Dr.1

Thanks for the responses guys. Now I am a bit confused though. RCKen says go for it with a smaller engine, and Dr1Driver says don't even try. Any one have a third opinion? I am quite confident that I can build it if I take my time and follow the instructions carefuly. I am a bit concerned about flying it though. This would be my third plane after an LT-40 and a 4*40. The reason why I am interested in one is because I have an old radio/receiver laying arround, an engine and a fuel tank. I have been looking for a cheap, easy to build, fun fly style first kit. I think that I may end up giving it a shot. If it doesn't work out, thats only $40 plus I will still gain some good learning experiences.

Thanks again,

LT-40

If you're looking for a nice cheap kit for your LA 40 get a Tower Uproar. $45 bucks and perfectly suited to the LA 40 for power and weight. Do some searches and see how much people like it. Jim

When building the Shrike, read the instructions three times and be SURE you understand what they ask you to do.

The ones I built had OS .32s shoehorned into the front and they were ballistic! The .32 is probably actually more powerful than the LA 40.

I agree with the buzzard, look at some of the small .40 kits like the Uproar.

Dr.1

It would be best to build, and fly some other kits before a Shrike. They take some time to build right, and I 'd rather take a beating, than to cover one again. They are so quick, you REALLY have to fly ahead of them, they can be out of control, or out of sight in a bilnk. You can expect speeds close to 100 with a good set up, faster with a wilder set up. They are really only good for going fast, no real tricks, loops and rolls are about it, and mine falls like a rock when you cut the power.

I agree, the shrike would be an awesome 4th or 5th kit. this is a fast plane once built, but 1/2 the challenge is building it. Parts don't fit nicely together, there is a lot of sanding, and there are very vague with the instructions, you can find yourself 3 steps ahead and read something that you were supposed to put in when you started, and have to hack it apart to fix it. I did with my first 1, and since, i have scratch built 2 and those were nicer to fly, lighter and easy to build. If you want something that will slow down to give you stick time and something that will handle mild aerobatics, i'd say go with a 4*40 or a slow poke. just my $0.02

Parts don't fit nicely together, there is a lot of sanding, and there are very vague with the instructions

It's a crappy design, too. Sticking the wings on the side and butting the sheeting against the fuselage is just plain dumb. The wings should have been built one piece and the fuselage clamshelled on top and bottom of them. Don't make a mistake (easy to do) in installing the aileron torque rods or you'll be cutting and reinstalling them. As for shaping the engine cowl - good luck. Hope you don't run out of wood! The tail doesn't fit the wing trailing edge well, either, and the vertical fins are hard to align properly. The attachment doesn't seem too strong, but I guess they hold up in flight. Covering this beast after assembly is an absolute nightmare!

Dr.1

Ok, you changed my mind. I'll look for something else out there, and wait to do this one sometime in the future.

Thanks,

LT-40

Dr1Driver,
Tell us how you really feel, don't hold back, Ok?

LT-40, wise choice, try a FourStar 40, like Flytoolow said, they fly great and a good build project.

Love the build on the 4* and loved the flying!!!! those damn limbo poles don't like them tho!

The Shrike 40 builds easy if you know how to build. The instructions aren't for beginners nor is the plane.

The Shrike 40 builds easy if you know how to build.

In your opinion...

Well...so far, the people I've built planes for (giant-scale, pylon, fun fly, sport, trainers, and my own design fun-fly/sport plane) over the last 20+ years haven't had any complaints. Even the two guys I builts the Shrikes for loved them.

Dr.1

I think the worst part on this build was the wings. I bought a piece of shelving, cut it in half, and let the fuselage hang between the two pieces of shelving. Then the wing construction went easy. It was my fifth kit and not too bad after I read the destructions about 20 times. Came out nose heavy with a .15. I also cheated on the ailerons and used aileron stock instead of sanding the boards in the kit. I moved a servo back to get the balance point back a bit, helped but could go back just a touch more. I will not add weight. I have a 40 Shrike on the build pile and YS45re for it.
Take care, MikeB