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The Lanier Laser 200, designed by Bob Godfrey, is a 1/4 scale model of Leo Loudenslager's world champion aerobatic airplane. The kit features plug in foam wings, ABS turtle deck, cowling, cockpit, and wheel pants. The plans are excellent but the written instructions only average. The kit is well packed in a large box. Lanier continues its policy of letting the builder select his own hardware. The foam wings were excellent. They were built up using normal foam wing construction procedures using HobbyPoxy II as the adhesive. The suggested method of securing the wings to the aluminum spar did not seem adequate. Instead, 12" long pieces of dowel were epoxied into the wing root and cup hooks and rubber bands were used to secure the assemblies. The Dan Parsons method was used to finish the wings. The 0.6 oz glass cloth attached with Enviro-Tex epoxy results in a very smooth paint base with virtually no weight penalty. The constructed tail group is frail so tail struts are incorporated to attain the required strength. The recommended struts are somewhat unique. Plastic coated wire, pull-pull cable, is used as flying wires which adds very little weight to the tail. The model came out nose heavy and so 2-56 push rod wire for could have been used rather than to adding tail weight to get the CG in limits. The fuselage is relatively simple to build since only the lower half is built of lite-ply and balsa. The ABS parts give the aircraft its shape. The cowling was reinforced with heavy fiberglass and epoxy. The lower rear portion of the fuselage is open structure which was covered with Ultracote. An OS 90 2 cycle/Pitts muffler combination was used to provide power. This turned out to be a good match for this airframe. The engine is totally enclosed in the cowl. The opening the needle valve was enlarged so that refueling could be accomplished without the need for a refuel valve. A JR radio system was installed for control. The model came out somewhat nose heavy, but was left that way for its initial flights. The test flight was made on a windy, turbulent day. The airplane did some strange things but was manageable and was landed without incident. All the control surface measurements and angles were checked seemed to be within allowable limits. When the cowl was cut for the Pitts muffler, a 4 inch square portion of the lower firewall was exposed to the airflow. This was thought to be having a detrimental effect on the performance and handling. A 45 degree baffle plate was installed to deflect the air. Subsequent flights were fine so it is not known what actually caused the initial problems. Since that time, the CG has been moved to the location indicated on the plans. Also, radio that has exponential capability was installed. After seven (7) flights on the Laser, it has proven to be a good, solid airplane. It is fun to fly and it goes where you point it. |
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