Hello, at the moment I'm not really a 3D flyer, well... I'm not a 3D flyer at all, but I'm thinking of becoming a 3D pilot. Right now I'm into speed, and I know its all different in 3D so I was wondering if there are any suggestions to begin flying 3D? I have a .41 SU-31 and a .60 Extra in my garage, I haven't put them together yet, so if I need stronger servos, of a bigger engine than they say (like a .60 instead of a .40 or somethin') then I could use that info as well.

btw, I don't have a simulator that I can practice on, an there is no hope for me trying to get any expensive one like the Real Flight simulator...

if you have the money go four stroke. saito 82 on .40 is about the norm. build light, huge throws. unless the planes were designed for 3d the may not be suitable unmodified. also get the CG back as far as you can stand.

-richo

Welcome to 3D flying ... its fun. There are a few kinds of 3D planes:

i. scale planes (Extra, Edge 540) - they are built with larger control surfaces and lighter for 3D
ii. profile planes - what you see at OMP
iii. typical 3D planes - like Funtana, Magic etc

What is good to start with will be something that wants to prop hang easily. I find one the many planes I have flow it is the TT Spirit that hangs so easily. It also has no bad tendencies to snap when you push her hard (in short when you yank the elevator fast).

As for engines 4C is in now, best buy is your Saito 82 and you can also go for a YS63 if you feel rich, 2C engines are good also, you are best off with an OS50SX as that gives you a lot of extra reserve. The engines like TT46 will be fine for any plane of 4.5 lbs to 5 lbs.

Prop wise you can go for:

46 2C - 11x5; 12.25x3.75; 12x4
50 2C - 12x4
72 4C - 13x4W
82 4C - 14x4W

What make is your SU31 and Extra? I have seen trainers doing prop hangs even. Hehehe ...

in 3D you want your airplane to be as light as possible and have sufficient power. These things aren't ment for speed obviously so, always use throttle managment. Try to get the most possible throw that you can. Props play some what of a deal. If you have the wrong prop is will greatly change your torque roll characterisitics. The 3D prop of choice is usually, large diameter with a low pitch, this gives you more torque, more vertical power, and it will slow the airplane down some what.

Sorry for the late reply, finals in school are finishing tommorow...

Thanks for all the advice guys...

tIANci,
I have a Pheonix Models .40 Su-31, and a Seagull Models .60 Extra

Carleto - both planes are not the lightest to 3D ... they are more for sport aerobatic. Like I said go for a 'proper' 3D plane, something cheap and very nice would be the Phoenix Fun Star, then there is always the TT Spirit 3D (any good 46 2C is enough). Usually with your 40 sized 3D planes you really can run them on standard servos (Futaba 3003s, JR537s etc), if you are going to fly extreme 3D then those servos are not advised, you may tear your plastic gears up.

You do not need a SIM ... just fly her! What you need to learn is to use RUDDER, something a lot of us don't use. I learnt from flying foamies, a lot of foamies turn really nice with rudder.

If you want a good trainer 3D and don't mind building a quick kit, go to www.swanyshouse.com and grab yourself a Burrito. A good .46 BB will work great. They are tuff and they are great 3D trainers. Just a suggestion.

For learning 3D the GP U Can Do 3D is the best plane that I've seen so far. As far as learning 3D Frank Noll said something to the effect of- I'll teach you to torque roll for $100. Go buy yourself $100 worth of fuel. That's where sim's come in handy. You can save money on fuel and 'practice planes' by practicing on a sim. I've flown 3 hours on G3 and can notice that my flying is so much better than it was before. Scale planes are harder to do 3D with, but are workable.

tIANci, I Bought them a long time ago, I should have asked first, I realise that now, but in the wrst case scenario, I can cut a few lightening holes in them...

Where I fly, a lot of people use Magics.... are those ok?

...and while I'm still asking questions... would it be better to start with a foamie?

And as far as I understand about engines, the four strokes give a more stable input of power, correct? So it would be better to have a four stroke... right?

A foamy might help. I will never put a 4stroke in a plane due to the cost and my 2stroke runs just fine. I haven't ever seen a magic do 3D.(not saying they can't)

If you don't have funds for a sim, you probably don't have $150 -$250 I fly 2 Burritos with 2 strokes, a UCD 46 with a 4 stroke and have a Mojo that is yet to fly. The UCD is the easiest to fly but the Burritos are really easy too, just a little quicker. If you hock the farm to get a Saito for your 1st 3d plane and right off bash it in and wreck the crank, case, shaft etc your 3d days may be done for a long while. If you get a $70 kit and a decent low priced 2 stroke you can fly fine. You just have to live with the some guys maybe looking down their noses at your 'inferior; engine'. 4 strokes are good - I have a YS, lots of power, $$$ - but you don't NEED one to 3d and surely not to get started. A Super tigre 46 engine for example costs less than some of the parts on a Saito, and it isn't too hard to break an engine learning new stuff. Try to get an engine that has a reliable transition across the power band.

I would set the planes you have aside for a while, build a profile kit (takes 2 weeks some say, I need more) and fly for a bit. Pick up the other planes when you get bored or competent whichever comes first.

Ok, well I am thinking about starting out with a foamy, But I'm having contraversial thoughts, for one, I heard they fly totaly different, also, I'm getting different price ranges, I'm thinking of a combo from [link=http://www.towerhobbies.com]http://www.towerhobbies.com[/link] and that would seem to turn out pretty cheap but halfway down on the first page at [link=http://3dbatix.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=584&highlight=help]http://3dbatix.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=584&highlight=help[/link]
It says different, and I'm just wondering what would be better... and cheaper

I got an Edge and brushless from Fancy foam. It was not cheap but flies pretty much like a .46 glo plane but quicker. The big advantage with foam is you can fly in places where glo planes can't. If you go cheap (brushed motor, non poly batteries) the plane will be heavy and the motor will burn out soon.
I fly the electrics more than glo planes but get more of a kick out of the glo stuff.

Ok then, I'll start out w/ a foamie, then I'll go on to a profile of some sort, and after that, I'll try the planes I have right now. Does that sound like a good plan?

no

It would help if you had a lot of sim time early in the program, but good sims require good computers - more $$$. You can get pretty good with a foamy or 2 and lots of glue. I don't understand Whoops' contribution to the discussion.

alright then, as my dad denied me the money to buy a foamie and the gear for it, I have decided to start with a Twist. 5-5.5lb, .46TT just broke it in today.

twist is a good plane but I have flown and own better 3D planes. My Katana GS will out 3D the twist all day. You'll have fun with the Twist, I have a OS 70 SII with a 14x4 wide apc. I'd try a 12x4 on the TT46. OH BTW watch your landings on the twist ,several have snapped the fuse just behind the wing.