Which DLG would you suggest between these:

-Vortex
-Blaster 3 Spread Tow
-Fireworks 4.2 Carbon Lite
-Fireworks Flow
-Steigeisen Lite
-Steigeisen Race
-Stobel
-something else?

I'm new to F3K, but not new to RC. I wanna buy a plane which I can grow with and compete next season.

I can get used Vortex in good condition (I'll see it this Sunday), if I don't buy that Vortex I'll have to buy something new in box, so I'm open for suggestions. For some reason I really like the Blaster and it's not too expensive.
Thanks

I think you get your answer here: http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1743753

buy whatever you can afford to break.....and fix.....and break.....and fix......repeat to infinity.

When I ordered my Concept, I looked at it this way:

1. It had a great report here and well respected.
2. It was still in demand


I felt that regardless which plane I buy, a flight on someone else's plane will not really tell me if I like it or not. It would only tell me if I like the plane with their setup and we all know that we all set planes up differently. Some slightly and some more so.

I figured I would purchase it, fly it for a month and make a decision. If I did not like it, I felt I could pretty much sell it for nearly the full price I paid for it and someone else would get a completed plane. win- win.

With the cash, I would invest in the next until I found something I liked.

All are great planes - in the right hands and with the right settings. you need to find out for yourself which suites your needs best.


I would start with flying someone else's plane that you are interested in. then do like I suggested - get one and fly it for a while. If you like it, keep it.

I think all of them are great planes. As for other suggestions, there is a thread on what's out there in DLGs that lists 70+. All are competitive in the right hands. Not everything suite everyone. For me, the Concept seems very stable adn launches straight and true. I have had little time on it so far since I had surgery but what time I did have, it seemed VERY stable in flight unless it encountered lift. It would lift a wing, pitch or... kick out its tail at a sign of lift. To me, this seemed to be more reliable to me at indicating lift that other planes I have flown but I will admit I haven't flown much. I wanted a stable plane I could take my eyes off of and not have to fly it all the time and yet have legs and that seems to be what I got. I am enjoying it alot but then again I am sure all 70+ planes in that list the same can be said.

Frank

Originally Posted by Nathan Schmoekel

buy whatever you can afford to break.....and fix.....and break.....and fix......repeat to infinity.

Speaking of which.........foam cores may be a better option. If I had done to one of my hollow moulded planes, what I did to my LS (Kevlar/foam), it would likely been a disaster.

Used may be another consideration.

moldies can be fixed too

Originally Posted by robi1kenobi

Which DLG would you suggest between these:

-Vortex
-Blaster 3 Spread Tow
-Fireworks 4.2 Carbon Lite
-Fireworks Flow
-Steigeisen Lite
-Steigeisen Race
-Stobel
-something else?

I'm new to F3K, but not new to RC. I wanna buy a plane which I can grow with and compete next season.

I can get used Vortex in good condition (I'll see it this Sunday), if I don't buy that Vortex I'll have to buy something new in box, so I'm open for suggestions. For some reason I really like the Blaster and it's not too expensive.
Thanks

None of the above if you're buying new. I've been into R/C flying for nearly 30 years now and I just started flying DLGs last year. It's not the same as most flying you've ever done. If you've flown thermal gliders other than DLG that will likely help with the basic piloting but nothing you've ever done will likely help you with learning the launch. If you've mostly been a powered plane flyer then you are in for some big adjustments.

Now, I didn't say any of that to scare you off. DLG flying is easy and fun but these planes take a beating even in the hands of good pilots. Beginners beat them up more but damn, is it ever fun and even right out of the gate it's fun.

So get a plane that doesn't cost you too much in the beginning. I say look for something used with a bagged wing. That will get you in the air quickly with a durable and easily reparable wing. Fly the heck out of it. Break it. Fix it. Get that launch down. Learn to thermal with it. Learn to land it without stalling it. Then... start looking for a higher end plane. Now, I don't think you should be looking for anything other than a 1.5m wingspan plane. Just get someone's old contest ship... Something like a Taboo or a Vandal is perfect.

If you absolutely can't get a used plane get a TopSky model. They are about as basic as it gets for an F3K plane but they are also fantastic! Think of them as yesterday's top level competition ship. Well, maybe not yesterday but if you were to go back a few years I believe that they would have been right in there with the best of them. If you can find a Predator 2 that's another good choice in this price range and the Predator 2 is quite competitive.

After you've flown you're first DLG and you are ready to move up, you can't beat a Blaster 3 for simplicity of assembly and performance. They are a little on the fragile side however. I had a Spread Tow version and it held up well. It by the way was my second DLG. I was pretty happy with the choice. After those two, get anything your heart desires and your wallet can afford.

Mike

Well, I got some similar advices when I was buying my first heli. "Buy a beater, you'll crash" etc.
So I bought HK450. Then I got the real thing, Align 450 FBL, and finally Outrage Velocity nitro (I don't like electric models)
I'm into helis for less then a year, and I can fly much better then people that are trying to fly 3D for years.
I don't make videos of me flying helis, because most of the time I fly alone, but I'll post a link here. In linked video I'm maidening my cousin's Outrage Fusion 50 I built, so I didn't smack it as I would if it was my own, so that video is not exactly representation of my skills (I was testing gains etc.).
Here's the video:

Outrage Fusion 50 maiden flight (3 min 53 sec)

I guess if I can fly helis, DLGs won't be a problem. And I'm a natural, have to take that into consideration
So this time, I'm going to take the right route for me, buy the best I can afford. I got a pretty good deal on slightly (I hope it is slightly) used Vortex, we'll see this Sunday.

BTW I'm flying planes on/off for more than 15 years (I'm 27 now)

EDIT: BTW I've never crashed a heli
EDIT2: I've already tried to launch DLGs, little Mimi and SALpeter. Didn't break nothing LOL

If you like the blaster, then get one. They are excellent models. There is nothing wrong with them, forgiving model with great performance. I also have never had problems learning to launch. I had a good mentor, however. I had a LightHawk (supergee 2 clone) and outgrew it quickly because I got too strong. I went with a molded model and my contest results jumped quickly. A good model will increase your pleasure a lot. You are a confident pilot, so jump in head first. If you plan to compete, don't waste your time with a model you don't want. Hope this helps.
Paul

Top three in the US and many other countries Stobel
Concept
Polaris

Well there you have it. Have you flown all of the rest? Have you even seen all the rest?

Ignorant. Simply ignorant.

Well I can see that Vortex is the new kid on the block in Europe, and it's pretty hot.

Vortex, Validol, Steigeisen, Salpeter, and others are extremely competitive and proven winners.

OK, I can't go wrong with it then I guess, I wanted to ask you guys here because I don't like to buy used stuff (especially stuff like this). This one has been used on competitions (just one season) - what to look for and what kind of damage should turn me off from buying it?
And, BTW I didn't mention - I have Long Shot 3 waiting to be built, but I guess I'll sell it after I build it and try it. Don't see the reason to keep it.

Well then since you are so awesome, I suggest you get a standard layup Blaster 3 and blast away with it.

Oh, and just for your information I fly 700 size helis and 2 meter pattern planes as well as 3d planes. I'm a fairly good stick too. Gliders are different. Your instincts will fool you into making mistakes. They won't be horrendous mistakes and DLGs are fairly durable but the little hits here and there add up. Tip strikes on launch can be brutal. I watched a very good pilot tip strike a fairly new plane at this year's Bruce... The wing folded and the boom snapped in half.

Don't take my advice if you don't want to but when you are standing there with a broken $700-$1000 plane remember I tried to warn you.....

Mike