4 3b for beginner? Or Lama 2

[smickers]

Hi Guys,

I have read the sticky about this but I still have a question.

Is the Walkera 4 3b too much for a beginner. I have had a bit of experience with 4CH RC planes, and lots of time on aerofly and realflight on helis, though I realise this is still not anything like the real thing.

I have seen Walkera's Lama 2, 2.4 Ghz as an alternative, but can't help thinking I'll get bored quite quicky.

Am I right in thinking that the co-axials will hover without any trim or will they still need lots of adjustment.

Was just wondering what you guys think between the two?

Cheers

Glenn

[400blade]

the co-axials will hover without any trim so theres not much of a challenge and your right you soon will get bored of it id never flyed an helicopter before only planks till i bought my 4#3 it was a challange at first but now i can hover nose in and alot more wich i think the co-axials will do all to easy hence you getting bored soon after buying it not like the 4#3 wich teaches you to ballance the heliopter wich brings on your flight skills more than what the co-axials will

[smickers]

Thanks for the fast reply.

Am thinking of the brushless, as it is supposed to be more stable. Just need to find somewhere that sells it!

[Mojo]

Hi Smickers,

Welcome to this wonderful forum... I am quite new myself to this forum and the hobby and have bought the mCx (Coax) as a first heli.. I always fancied a walkera 4#3 but have come to realise that the smaller helis, especially the single rotor tiny ones are a lot harder to fly than bigger helis (from everyone advice and from experience on the Sim)..

I know you think you'll get bored with the Coax quickly (they can hover if trimmed correctly and stay in the air with no input from the sticks at all). But I tell you, I am still learning from my Coax..

It's not just about keeping it in the air and doing the odd landing and a circuit around the room, I started learning patterns and doing different manoeuvres and they are challenging! I am helped with the fact that it's so stable in the air, hence giving me a chance to concentrate on the stick input of the maneuver. Landing is starting to get more challenging as the better I get with it I challenge myself to land in tighter spots and on smaller object.

I still crash it regularly especially when attempting really ambitious maneuvers and odd patterns but that only helps in making me more competent with it as I find out about it’s limits and mine .

A final advice from a fellow beginner, most people here will recommend Phoenix as a Sim, and although it is the only Sim I have, I think it is the one to have. However, there are some maneuvers I’ve done on the Sim without a problem using a Coax, in real life I get a blade strike and the heli crashes, So there is no substitute for learning on the real thing..

I hope this helps you make a good decision.. Good luck whatever you decide.

Cheers,

Mo

[400blade]

give terrence a try at http://www.chinesejade.com/walkera.htm

[Ayrobat]

Hi smickers

Welcome to the forum.

If you are set on a small Walkera you may also like to consider the 4#3Q, it is a little bit more stable than a 4#3B due to the extra weight of the fuselage. I have flown 30ish batteries through mine and it's still going strong, it uses a different motor than the B model and doesnt get as hot, so should last longer. (Fingers Crossed, although I have got spares coming from Terence)

I got mine in the UK from >heli-torque< on ebay but have ordered my spares etc. from Terence at >Chinese Jade< who can also supply the full range of Helis.

ATB

Pete

[smickers]

Thanks for all the advice guys, this really is a friendly forum. I wanted something small that I can use indoors. I'm in the RAF and have a huge hangar as well to play with(when the jets are outside!).

There are definitely pros and cons with jumping in the deep end! If the Lama was loads cheaper, this would influence my decision a bit more but there isn't much in it with price, unless I go for the 3b brushless!

What to do!!!!

[Brian Gifford]

Welcome to the forum.

I'm with Mojo. I'm a newbie also. I've got an Esky co-ax, and it's a good learning tool for controlling a heli. If I had read this forum before I got my heli, I'd have got an mCX - they are small enough to fly anywhere. Also. as Mojo says, Phoenix is the best sim. I've tried a few others, and nothing comes close. My advice is get an mCX, when you are comfortable flying that go for a bigger CP heli. I'm loking at a Blade 400 3D, but there are lots of other options out there.
The experienced guys on here will guide you on what CP to get once you can fly the mCX. Also, if the waether's c**p, you can still have some fun indoors (Flying, I mean!)

Whatever you get, have fun!

[Holst]

Thanks for all the advice guys, this really is a friendly forum. I wanted something small that I can use indoors. I'm in the RAF and have a huge hangar as well to play with(when the jets are outside!).

There are definitely pros and cons with jumping in the deep end! If the Lama was loads cheaper, this would influence my decision a bit more but there isn't much in it with price, unless I go for the 3b brushless!

What to do!!!!

I have just got a 4#3B

They are very difficult to fly and ive crashed mine lots of times already.
However they are pretty strong and ive not done any serious damage (I broke the tail and replaced it with a solid rod and its much stronger)

I am flying mine inside a warehouse at work and with plenty of space its not too bad.
Flying it inside my house is too dificult at the moment, this is how I broke the tail.

I think you can learn using the 4#3B as long as you have plenty of space.. if you have a hangar then you should be just fine with the smaller heli.

[smickers]

Has anyone flown the new Walkera Lama 2? It certainly looks excellent, and having had a feel of the 2.4 Tx, it seems like a good option as it is the same price as the mCx, not to mention it means I could maybe buy the 4 3b barebone.

I won't be spending 79.99 on Phoenix as its a bit out of my budget to buy that and a heli. Plus I have a mac.

[brin]

hi glenn welcome to the forum mate as you will have a bit of space to play with you could also look at the new blade cx3 i have the cx2 and the 4#3b .the 4#3 will take a bit off getting used to for a beginner were as the cx2 or 3 will get you up and flying and learning orientation quicker and its suprising how fast you can get these helis going with a bit of space.just my 2ps worth.

[smickers]

Thanks for all the replies guys.

Everyone keeps advising on the CX2/3, has anybody tried the new metal head Walkera Lama2?

The reason why I ask, is because I would rather go for this than a Cx, so that when the time comes to go for a little 4 3b, I can just buy the barebone model, and use the batteries and Tx of the Lama2 as they are the same.

However if the cx3 is better, I will go for this.

I've decided to go for co-ax as a starter, as I hope the learning curve won't be as steep as the 4 3b!

Thanks

[Holst]

I think you will find a co-ax fairly easy to learn on as it will be much more stable than the 4#3B

Personally im gettng on very well with the 4#3B now. I can hover it inside the house and im even doing some turns as well. This is after about 6 batters and 2 crashes where I broke something (parts cost at the moment is about £10)

Practicing the basics on a sim will help you alot, I didnt buy pheonix as I didnt want to spend the money. I bought a £25 simtransmitter and used free software. Its not as accurate as pheonix but it helped me to learn the baisc stick functions and saved me from some crashes in the beginning.

I cant help with the lama / CX3 choice

From this vid the lama looks good
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQbDnc0mkg4[/ame]

[Mojo]

Hi Glenn,

I have never seen or flown the Lama 2, however, i would assume it is just about bigger than my mCX. The CX2/3 are considerably bigger (have a look on horizon hobby videos when they list their range). So maybe buying a bigger heli makes sense when you have a hangar to play in when the jets are out..
Regarding the point you made about the Tx/Rx compatability i can't really help you there but maybe you need to look into bigger coax Walkera helicopters (i think the lama V3/4) to see whether the radio gear would work with your planned future 4#3B upgrade..

Just a thought I know making a decision is the hardest thing when you have so much choice but you'll eventually get there..

Good luck

Mo

[Holst]

The lama 2 uses the same 2401 transmitter as my 4#3B brushless
So you should be able to use the 4#3B with the same transmitter.

However it wont work with the 4G3 3D heli