You can actually get a used 3 channel radio on the dirt cheap, around $30.00 since many people have them collecting dust. I still use my 4 channel radio, it has served it's purpose well, it has reversable channels, no mixing "I bought a 10.00 external mixer later on" and I'm really not limited as to what I can fly at all.

I rarely even use the 4th channel, you have Y cable that goes to the ailerons, that's only one channel, another for the elevator, and one for the esc. The rudder is something I rarely use when I enable a plane with it but I'm not flying 3d "yet". The disadvantage with it, you gotta remember what your plane was trimmed out to on the radio, and if you want to nip that one in the bud, just mark where it's at on the plane itself, or better yet, manually adjust it once you have it dialed in and you can reset your controls back to center.

I build most of my own planes, many have never been conceived of before design wise so alot of guess work involved with how to set up and fly them, the radio has never been something that's hindered things, and like the old timer said, too many get into this, buy too expensive of a radio and decide it's not for them. My point of view elaborates on that, and heck, you might even bring in a buddy to go flying with you, he'll need his own radio, so if you get something cheap, would make a good hand me down, it's more fun when you have someone to fly with.

You are going to love the feel of a true 3 channel plane, you get alot more control over it and they really are alot more fun then the toys.