Hey guys, I've been flyin' the ole alpha for a while now. Even though I havent got over my body language (see thread [link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/BAD_HABIT_I%27M_DOING_%28not_bad_but_silly_looking %29/m_2159258/tm.htm]BAD HABIT I'M DOING BUT SILLY LOOKING[/link] ) he he he, I'm sure I can handle a 3d plane. I have my eys set on this...... [link=http://www.hobbypeople.net/review/123740man.htm]modeltech magic 3D[/link] I would like to put my Alpha trainer stuff in it and use my jr computer radio. I got into this trainer to learn to fly 3D planes, now I just want to do it. I have people at the feild telling me that I need some other plane because I'm flying the Alpha really hard (for a trainer) I would like your comments on IF I SHOULD OR IF I SOULDEN'T and why.


THANKS FER YER COMMENTS!!!!!!

Kokamo......AKA....Joe

If you're flying the Alpha really hard, there's no reason why you shouldn't be able to step up to a Magic (on low rates of course) for a second plane. Go for it. It's not that much of a stretch. The magic is the beginner 3d plane. You'll be fine.

I had both the Magic and Magic Extra ... both are nice, only 'problem' with the Magic is please DO NOT use an old receiver like me ... you will have no space!

For the same price you could go with the H9 Twist and get a bolt on wing. High stress maneuvers like snaps, blenders, and high speed rolls can really stress a wing and rubber bands will not take that well. [sm=eek.gif] The Magic uses bands to hold the wing on according to the link in your post. Good throttle management would be a definite must.

Here is a great thread on the Twist

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_16...tm.htm#1674813

I also had the alpha and made a big jump up to the Pheonix Models G-202. I think the twist would be a great plane for your 2nd. Plus it looks a lot better than the magic

I think the Twist would be a great 2nd plane as it can be flown as slow or in some cases slower than most trainers and it floats oh so well. I find mine to penetrate crosswinds well. The only bad tendency it has is it tends to pitch down when rudder is used in either direction but with a computer radio that can be mixed out. Other than that it's a great plane that takes a fair amount of abuse in the air.

With a head wind you can literally land it right at your feet and roll out is about 5 feet or less. With the right prop takeoff's at full power can have it leaving the ground in about 5 or 10 feet.

I use an OS46AX with a 12.25X3.75 APC prop and vertical is great and the 12.25 diameter allows for great braking effect for landing or all out straight down diving.

Please don't get a Magid 3D! They are ugly!! I dislike them whenever I see them! Please god let them all crash! Just kidding but I think you can do better.

I would would build a SPA3DT........it's an awesome 3D trainer and it cost about $12 bucks to build. I built my first one in an hour and I have three. You can find plans at www.spadtothebone.com. I power mine with Super Tigre .51's and I use 12.25x3.75 APC and MAS 11x4-11x7.......depending on availability. I also quickly advanced from glow trainer to 3D and am just lovin' it! Good luck and "hang" in there!
XS

ok, I've been looking around quite a bit and made up my mind on a u-can-do-3d .40. I hope this is what i'm looking for. Any suggestions on my pick?



THANKS!!!!

Joe

Also look at the funtana's they fly a lot like the bigger planes. Agood plane if you what to move to the gas planes in the future. Dennis

Kokamo, the U CAN DO 3D 40 is a great plane.... not any kind of 3D trainer, but if you dont kill it right away you may enjoy it for a long time. Keep in mind some basic differences between a trainer and a 3D design. A trainer will withstand a substantial amount of abuse, a 3D is built light, much more fragile and doesn't take much to break. Simply flying too fast can kill a plane like the U CAN DO. So go into it as well prepared as you can, and enjoy. My personal recommendation is the Twist 40 as a good transition to 3D. It's far more forgiving than a U CAN DO. Good luck to you.

A flight sim capable of 3D e.g. Aerofly Pro will be of great benefit

Why not build a profile to learn 3D like an OMP Edge or a Burrito? These are planes designed for 3D. Or you might be able to find an ARF profile or someone to build you one.

I don't agree that the UCD is not a good 3D trainer.

I had a Modeltech Magic as my second plane. Ugly, yep. It flew pretty well but was somewhat limited.

If you're very confident in your trainer I believe you could fly the UCD well. Just start on low rates. Low rates will be much more responsive and twitchy than your trainer ever could be and flipping it to high rates lets you tumble and toss it in any direction at well. I have the .46 with a Saito .91 and I absolutely love it. It will do any 3D maneuver in the book, except harriers have a lot of wing rock and I needed to mix out the nasty coupling in knife-edge flight.

I have both the UCD 40 and the Twist and I like the Twist better although the UCD is a little easier to fly since the longer tail makes it more stable. The Twist is a really nicely made airplane though. I discarded the engine mounts and cut a 1/4" plywood U-shaped motor mount to put the engine on. This makes a very strong nose that can withstand much more abuse than a firewall mount because it ties the sides together with the firewall and engine case. The predecessor Pizzaz had this type of mount up front and I dropped that on the nose several times without tearing out the firewall. I doubt most 3D planes like the UCD would take similar abuse. You'd be surprised how a glow plug can cool down and flameout when the temps get into the 40's during the winter. -Tom