Shrike 40
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| A shriek of Shrikes. My copy is the mainly yellow one |
Engine: OS 46la
Type: V fast sport
Description
This particular model has something of an interesting history attached. Build by my club mate Eddie a good few years ago, from an old plan, using ribs that I calculated on my computer. Eddie let me fly it on one occasion, and I instantly fell in love with it. After a year or so Eddie then sold it through Andover Models, where I saw it for the second time waiting for a new owner. I did not buy it then, as I had other interests to persue. Then many years (probably about five) I was back at Andover Models and I saw it again. However, it took me some time the realise that it was a model at all. Having spent a considerable time laying around in a shed, it was covered in thick black gunge, and difficult to distinguish from the oil-stained walls of the ground floor of Andover Models.
After no time at all I left with the model, and back home started the cleaning process. Using only white spirit the gunge came away to reveal that long-lasting covering, Gloss Tex. The model looked as good as new, and half a day later sported an OS 40la, four standard servos, one receiver and battery pack.
Down at the flying site my friend Peter turned up with his Shrike 10, and together we managed to burn up the sky for a whole morning. Suprisingly enough the smaller model was slightly faster, but then he has installed an old OS 25!!!
I can't praise this design enough, it is stable, responsive, easy to fly, and comes in three handy sizes that easily fit in the smallest car. Perhaps the real test is that the model is still available from Lanier RC after many many years on sale, and is continuing to survive in the ARTF era.
If you are an intermediate flyer have a look at the Lanier RC website, and don't just buy one size, buy all three, and
prepare to have lots of fun!
Engine
Even battered old OS 46la run like they want to, and this one was canibalised from the wreakage of my Extra Slim Twin. Great engines for sport flying, easy to start,
easy to maintain, and with enough power for most sports models.
Score: 11 out of 10
Most exciting moment
None yet, but my friend Peter was flying a 1/2a size Shrike many years ago that was powered by either an OS 10 or 15. The roll rate was phenomenol, and
after a very fast low-level run followed by loads of twinkle rolls he pulled the elevator stick to climb away - oops that should have been a push! Well, he says that he never did find the receiver,
and the engine had to be dug out from about twelve inches of farm soil.
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