Anyone flying a Lanier Seabird ?
02-12-2003, 12:48 AM
#1
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Creighton, SK. Canada
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Anyone flying a Lanier Seabird ?
I've had a Lanier Seabird for quite a while,and I was wondering if anybody has a comment or suggestions about their plane to caution me for the first time i fly.
02-13-2003, 03:35 PM
#2
My Feedback: (42)
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Tampa,
FL
Posts: 139
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Anyone flying a Lanier Seabird ?
Keet-
I had one of those for a short time (until I flew it into a fencepost - dumb). Here are the things I experienced and issues I heard of when building/flying mine:
- Wing strength. The wings of these planes have been known to fold up in flight when experiencing higher positive G loads. Some level of reinforcement is recommended. I used fiber reinforced packing tape and 3M-77 adhesive along the bottom of the wing stretching from float to float.
- Water manuvering. This plane doesn't come stock with a water rudder, and if you're planning on flying off water in ANY breeze whatsoever you're definately going to need one - VERY hard to taxi without it. I made one from flat stock aluminum and mounted it to the rudder - worked nicely.
- Spray rails. This plane has a tendency to think it's a submarine without these - you'll have to make them yourself out of plastic stock in the kit (just follow the plans).
- Motor angle. Contrary to a standard 'motor in the nose' land-based plane that typically has a bit of built-in down thrust, this one needs a good bit of UP thrust - at least 3 degrees. With out this you're back to having a sub and not a plane.
- Overall weight. This plane is a bit of a pig - stemming directly from its construction. Lighten it up any where you can, and use an engine on the higher end of the recommended scale.
- Directional control. Some folks have had inline stability issues with this plane (I personally did not experience this). As a remedy, some have added vertical winglets (mini vert stabs) at the ends of the horiz stab with some success. My Seabird tracked very true hands-off. I did mix in some rudder (not a lot) w/the ailerons on my radio - nice clean turns.
Crash resistance. I know this one from personal experience. The plastic fuse is VERY easily shattered on impact - so be gentle. This is especially true when flying in cold weather when the plastic gets stiff and brittle. I was snow-flying mine when it met it's maker (wasn't even a hard impact).
Hope this helps!
Steve
ps- if you decide to not hang onto this plane, I'm still in the market for a Seabird fuselage (I still have a good wing and tail feathers).
I had one of those for a short time (until I flew it into a fencepost - dumb). Here are the things I experienced and issues I heard of when building/flying mine:
- Wing strength. The wings of these planes have been known to fold up in flight when experiencing higher positive G loads. Some level of reinforcement is recommended. I used fiber reinforced packing tape and 3M-77 adhesive along the bottom of the wing stretching from float to float.
- Water manuvering. This plane doesn't come stock with a water rudder, and if you're planning on flying off water in ANY breeze whatsoever you're definately going to need one - VERY hard to taxi without it. I made one from flat stock aluminum and mounted it to the rudder - worked nicely.
- Spray rails. This plane has a tendency to think it's a submarine without these - you'll have to make them yourself out of plastic stock in the kit (just follow the plans).
- Motor angle. Contrary to a standard 'motor in the nose' land-based plane that typically has a bit of built-in down thrust, this one needs a good bit of UP thrust - at least 3 degrees. With out this you're back to having a sub and not a plane.
- Overall weight. This plane is a bit of a pig - stemming directly from its construction. Lighten it up any where you can, and use an engine on the higher end of the recommended scale.
- Directional control. Some folks have had inline stability issues with this plane (I personally did not experience this). As a remedy, some have added vertical winglets (mini vert stabs) at the ends of the horiz stab with some success. My Seabird tracked very true hands-off. I did mix in some rudder (not a lot) w/the ailerons on my radio - nice clean turns.
Crash resistance. I know this one from personal experience. The plastic fuse is VERY easily shattered on impact - so be gentle. This is especially true when flying in cold weather when the plastic gets stiff and brittle. I was snow-flying mine when it met it's maker (wasn't even a hard impact).
Hope this helps!
Steve
ps- if you decide to not hang onto this plane, I'm still in the market for a Seabird fuselage (I still have a good wing and tail feathers).
02-13-2003, 03:42 PM
#3
My Feedback: (12)
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Jacksonville,
IL
Posts: 1,333
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Throttle servo?
Had one too!
Liked it.
Wing folded in half during a loop, so do what keet said, reinforce.
Also, if I were to build another I would put a mini/micro servo up in the tank compartment and the run a servo extension down to hook to RX. Easier ??? than the setup they use??
Do put on the spray rails.
Liked it.
Wing folded in half during a loop, so do what keet said, reinforce.
Also, if I were to build another I would put a mini/micro servo up in the tank compartment and the run a servo extension down to hook to RX. Easier ??? than the setup they use??
Do put on the spray rails.
02-13-2003, 05:23 PM
#4
Anyone flying a Lanier Seabird ?
The only one I ever saw left me without explanation: It would accelerate, get up on step, and stubbornly refuse to go fast enough to fly. It has a K&B .60 which should have been adequate, and in my experience once you're up on step the friction goes away...You may have needed spray rails, etc, but "on step" is past all that.
I was / am mystified.
I was / am mystified.
06-29-2003, 02:58 AM
#7
My Feedback: (37)
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Boise,
ID
Posts: 262
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Anyone flying a Lanier Seabird ?
I have one also. I haven't flown it yet though. I put a O.S. .61 SF Ringed Heli engine on mine. Should be enough power. Nice to hear about the wings I will reinforce mine before I fly it. Who knows, anyone Interested in It?
Bruce
Bruce
