Lama V4 or Blade cx2?

[zole]

Hi everyone,
until now i have experience only with 3ch micro RC airwolf, I am 34 year old, and now I want to buy new heli. I want your opinions what will be best for me. I don`t know which is best Lama V4 or Blade cx2, or maybe should I buy T-rex 450 now?

[Balders]

You will get lots of advice most likely, those that say go with the CX2 and a simulator and those who say go with the Trex, and a simulator!

What is your budget?

I'm also a newbie, and my personal route was to go the trex450 and a simulator (Phoenix) route. I managed to pick up a complete RTF package very cheaply, but still budget for at least 3 or 4 times as much as a CX2. I'm learning a lot with Phoenix, and in my first flight outside (yesterday) it almost certainly saved me the price of a set of blades and who knows what else.

If you are thinking of getting in to this seriously, then the old saying "buy right, buy once" is often quoted on this forum. What is "right" for you though may be different to the next person. The CX2 is pretty much indoor only, the trex is pretty much outdoor only, unless you have a sports stadium handy to learn in.

Just my thoughts on the matter, happy to offer any advice, seeing as I was in the same boat as you a few weeks ago.

[heliTV]

Hi

I was also in the same boat a while ago and went the CX2 / Phoenix route and have now bought a Blade 400.

The CX2 is a great little heli and can be flown fairly easily by a newbie. If you go this route, try and find a reasonably large indoor space to fly in to start with - it's quite tricky when you start if you try to fly in a small room as you have little time to work out what's happening before a wall arrives. The simulator (I have Phoenix) is brilliant, although the CX2 model is easier than the real thing. One thing to remember about the simulator is that there's no small spaces - the sports hall flying site is still quite big which makes the contras really easy - Definitely worth buying though whichever route you take.

I think it is worth getting a contra (CX2/Lama) before a bigger heli even though it doesn't really help much IMHO with flying. The single rotor helis are completely different and a lot more difficult to fly - see my other posts!

What the CX2 does do is give you confidence that you will succeed in the end and also helps with orientation in the real world - having the thing coming towards you in real life is different to the simulator!

I think if I had started with the Blade 400 or similar, I would have given up by now. As it is, I still fly the CX2 at a small indoor club and my son has one too!

Hope this helps

[Jem]

CX2 Is The One For Me.

I'm new to heli flying and I spent 2 weeks on the net checking reviews and watching clips on YouTube, in the end I went for the CX2 and the Phoenix Flight Sim. I soon found out I had made the right choice by trying to fly a Blade 400 on Phoenix which was a lot harder to fly compared to the Blade CX2. You can fly the Blade CX2 outdoors ONLY if there is no or VERY little wind. The best place to fly is in a indoor sports hall, where I'm learning.
Good Luck!

[brin]

the good thing about an indoor heli is that when its raining you have got something to play with indoors , the cx2 over the lama anyday iv'e tried both but you could look at the walkera4#3b as well i hear they are a lot of fun there is a thread on the forum you shuld look at.

[beerdeor]

Hi let me tell you my story only been flying one year
last crimbo i got a fixed pitch dragonfly now i tried with this heli i really did but could not fly it one bit (sold on ebay)
in disgust i bought a lama v3 looked at reviews and was told it flies better than the v4 and is also chip as chips andflies very well imo
within 10 mins of owning the v3 i could hover it no worries so 2 months on that and i bought a honey bee king 2 which i believe thanks to the v3 i could fly out of the box but build quality was rubbish (ebayed that)
3 weeks ago bought a beam e4 lovely heli build quality to die for flys like its on a string
so for crimbo i will be asking for a phoenix to learn the clever stuff
thats just my experience of heli flying so far as has been quoted so far buy once buy right

jim

[moonmanflyer]

There is a new model out called the sprit cx, very nice looking heli, same as the cx2 as it is 2.4GHZ but looks like a mini trex 450.
Made by century and comes with all blue alloy upgrades for just under 100 quid.
I bought one at the 3D champs from Blink and i am well happy, just for something to keep me entertained over the winter months inside.

[shoot51]

I second that moonmanflyer ! I bought a Spirit cx a few weeks ago as my first heli, against the general advice and its great ! My local model shop was able to demonstrate the cx2 and spirit and give me a go (supervised). Been learning in an empty 12ftx12ft room and can hover a battery (8min) including nose in, and more ! Absolutely delighted should have done it years ago! Already lusting at 400/450 types. Hooked line and sinker!

[bobbyshafter]

Hi all,from the Big Apple .I bought a Lama V4 2 days ago lots of fun ,i am able to hover and forward flight ,30 min stick time. I need to fly outdoor,the lama is too sensitive to wind . Should i get the Esky honeybee fp ?

[canyafixit]

Hi everybody

I'm also new to this and I'm looking at what to buy. Can you learn from a simulator and go straight for a 6ch heli or would you recommend a 4ch first.
Also interested in the comments on which ones to buy

[Boggy]

1/ its perfectly feasible to use a sim and then fly a 6 channel heli!
2/ honeybee king two is ok not the best but as with everything you get what you pay for!!
3/ walkera

[canyafixit]

So you would recommend Walkera then Boggy
I see that most people use Pheonix flight sim, has anyone tried clearview i have downloaded the demo and it appears to be ok but I have limited experience to compare it too.

[Boggy]

clearview will get you started but phoenix is in a different league. if you go to their web site you can d/load a demo you will see the differance.

walkera do seemed to have improved of late but there are better heli's out there

[cambs flyer]

Hi mate & welcome to the forum.

As Ron said there's nothing stopping you practicing like mad on Phoenix (forget the rest) then start the very slow learning curve of launching the real thing.

Only anything below the Blade 400 class wouldn't be ideal as a first machine.

Personally I think having a little "flight experience" on indoor contras helps greatly if only to get you used to controlling something in the air, so when you jump to say a Blade 400 (example), it's not your first time flying as it were.

For a beginner you need a well made machine, and something that isn't going to bite you hard due to cheaply made components, for value and quality the Blade 400 RTF system is top of the tree in my book, then if it grabs you, you can upgrade her to your hearts content, just because she's cheap doesn't mean she isn't any good, buying your first serious heli is all about knowing what to buy, and the B400 is blinding.

Once your a good pilot, and many here did learn on the 'Bees and once you know what your doing you can fly the cheaper made machines with ease, as experience is the name of the game and there's no second chances you have to gain experience slowly.

Best of luck bud.

[canyafixit]

Thanks for the advice, I'll download the Pheonix demo.

What sort of cash do the blade 400's come in at, I'm obviously on a budget (same as everyone else at the mo) and I can get Walkera 68 or Belt cp type of heli's for about £130.

I know you get the same sort of questions on here all the time and most people recommend contra heli's first but I like the thought of a proper one with a tail rotor, but I dont want to sponser my local model shops next holiday in spare parts.