I'd like to start a LAMA 4 Resource thread that has links to upgrade parts, mods, hops, etc. I added links to the places I purchased the items. I'm sure there are better places to buy them, but this where I bought them. I have been most impressed with Hobby-Lobby's fast service.

Please add to this thread with anything useful you have found and I'll try to keep it organized by bringing the info I can up to this original and first post.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
TUNING:

---------SWASHPLATE LEVELING---------

The single most important thing to do is leveling that swashplate! It's actually very easy to do. Check this out:

Klondike's Swashplate Leveling Tutorial

---------4in1 Adjustments---------

If your heli is rotating clockwise and you can't trim it out with the TX then you need to turn the proportional dial on the 4in1 COUNTER-CLOCKWISE. And, Vice-Versa.

If your heli's tail is swooping left and then right (but not rotating around) like mad and the tail in general is a little crazy then you need to adjust the gain on the 4in1

Make micro-adjustments on the 4in1 then test fly the heli. If it is still not acting right then make more micro-adjustments. Don't get too crazy with those dials! MICRO-ADJUSTMENTS!!

---------TRACK THOSE BLADES!---------
Bottom Blade Tracking

---------Make your V4 more agile and faster! - LONGER SERVO HORNS---------

Longer Servo Horn Mod for more forward flight

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WHERE TO BUY STOCK PARTS:

SlickZero.com (cheap shipping)
Hobby-Lobby
Miracle-Mart (Hong Kong)
RC Helicopter Shop (Hong Kong)
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UPGRADES:

--------------------------BLADES----------------------
Xtreme Brand Replacement Blades <-- Must have - #1 UPGRADE HANDS DOWN

HELP! - What's that tape for that comes with the blades??

Question: What tool do you need to install the blades?

Answer: 1.5 millimeter Allen key


--------------------------FLY-BAR----------------------

The shortened fly-bar helps with blade strike and is a very easy upgrade.

Shortened Fly Bar

-------------ALUMINUM REPLACEMENT PARTS-----------

E-Sky Brand Aluminum Parts:
Aluminum Inner Shaft <-- MUST HAVE. Keeps the fly-bar from flying off into oblivion. Also consider the below Xtreme Longer Inner Shaft. Both are very good.
Aluminum Rotor Head Set
Aluminum Swashplate <-- Second most recommended.
Aluminum Blade Grips <-- Seems to be NOT recommended by most. Stock are good enough. I see no need for this upgrade.

Longer Inner Shaft:

Many say these cause TBE for them. I didn't find that to be the case. The longer inner shaft puts an additional 5mm space between the two sets of blades which in theory helps with blade strike. I have found that this does help a little bit when combined with the shorter flybar. I do recommend this mod over the above Esky inner shaft. I also say this mod is a MUST if you add the above mentioned longer servo horns for more dramatic flying.

Longer Inner Shaft - Buy it here

--------------------------SKIDS----------------------

Boomtown Hobby Skids - $6.99 plus shipping

The Xtreme CX2 skids can work with the LAMA 4. It's not a perfect fit but they work.

Xtreme CX2 Skids

Heavy Duty Skids - indestructible Skids:

Available in both Black and White. These skids are great and much lighter than the CX2 Xtreme skids. The manufacturer claims they have a life-time warranty. You break, they replace. Mine work perfect and they have never broken.
WARNING: Unreasonable flat $9.99 shipping and handling from Canada. So, you'll pay $20 total for these. Worth it? Maybe. Shipping was reasonably fast.

Get them here:

LamaV4.com

----------------TAIL BOOM UPGRADES-------------------

Tail Boom Upgrades

As of this moment there are no true LAMA V4 tail boom upgrades available. But, we have found that some of the CX2 tails will indeed work with the LAMA V4 with no modding or some very minor modding. Including the CX2 Xtreme tail boom. Please dig deeper in this thread for some very detailed posts with images and instructions. There are some good options available to you if you invest the time.

**** UPDATE Stateline Hobbies is now selling tailbooms marketed for the LAMA V4. They are the same tail booms they have always been selling but now they are marketed for the V4. ****

I personally recommend the Stateline Hobbies tail boom. It's very light weight and works great (you have to flip the mount around to make it work with the LAMA V4 - see post later in this thread).

Stateline Hobbies Ebay Store
Stateline Hobbies Website

Others have been succesful with the CX2 Xtreme boom:

How to put the Xtreme CX2 boom on the LAMA V4 with pictures

Boomtown Hobbies

And, you can get Boomtownhobbies.com tail boom to work with some modding:

LAMA V4 with Boomtown's CX2 tail boom

------------------CANOPY UPGRADES---------------

The Xtreme CX2 Canopy will fit the LAMA V4
Xtreme CX2 Canopy on a LAMA V4

---------------------BEARINGS-----------------------

Upgraded Bearings

Boca Bearings

Nice thread!

Question: What tool do you need to install the blades? Also, do you think the response is good enough with the xtreme blades and short flybar that the v4 could fly outside?

Originally Posted by wilsgrant

Nice thread!

Question: What tool do you need to install the blades? Also, do you think the response is good enough with the xtreme blades and short flybar that the v4 could fly outside?

You only need a small allen wrench to install the blades. I just got my blades last night. I'll let you know ASAP. Still waiting on the other parts.

I have flown mine outside one time now and had no issues. It was rather calm though.

Question: What tool do you need to install the blades?

1.5 millimetre Allen key (or wrench, as you colonials say! )

Would have been better if they'd included it in the box instead of the hopeless AA batteries.

Originally Posted by blkdog7

Shortened Fly Bar

the flybar that you linked appears to be the same as the stock Dynam Vortex flybar available here at bphobbies for half the price.

favorite parts resources:
bphobbies
helidirect

these two places have the cheapest prices i've found, excellent customer service, and fast shipping.

this topicf is a good idea
Since i live in Ireland its cheapes from me to get things from hong kong since they are able to provide the required 35 mhz version and 220 volt chargers.
I use www.rchelicoptershop.com he got my lame v4 here in 4 days.

My list of European vendors .... I have not used them but others have reported good luck with these guys, as far as I know.


http://aerotronic.nl/spare-parts-mod...age=EN&sort=2a

http://aerotronic.nl/lama-coaxiaal-p-153.html

http://www.alshobbies.com/shop/looku...6918&Desc=LAMA

http://www.buzzflyer.co.uk/

http://www.hdpower.co.uk/helicopter-...-23_55_53.html

http://www.hdpower.co.uk/esky-lama-v...opter-p-3.html

http://www.heliguy.com/Electric-RC-H...-2/Main-Group/

http://www.nitrotek.co.uk/

http://www.rcheli.co.uk/shop/

Sorry, may not all be BCX related, but I post these here for our 'non colonial' brethern. ( couldn't resist ... sorry - )

my upgrades include the "turbo kit"
http://www.rchelicoptershop.com/cata...ins-p-185.html
the 180 bb motors
http://www.miracle-mart.com/store/in...roducts_id=596
the extreme blades
http://www.miracle-mart.com/store/in...roducts_id=600

Guess more a "downgrade but il like to play safe
http://www.rchelicoptershop.com/cata...ee-cp2-p-70.ht


My experience with these upgrades is not posetive right now.
After installing the turbo kit i had tbe and so far are unable to get rid of it.

The only items i could recomend right now are the motors but only after you have worn out the stock ones ; as replacements they do not improve flight using the stock esky lipo (and other 10 c lipo's )
This is most likely a issue that the lipo's can not suply the current.
I often get the red light on the 4 in 1 even while my voltspy does not indicate low voltage


My current setup is esky alu swash and lower head/ bladegrips but the stock inner axle/ head bladegrips flybar.
My flybar is not stock anymore ; in a atemt to hunt down the tbe couse i cut off the u ends and use wheel collars (as used on landing gears of fixed wing planes) to hold the weights in place ; this allouws me to move them arround to change balance , or move them inwards to change the effect of the flybar.

Also have i opened up the 4 in 1 and the 35 mhz version has a seperate reciever wich i replaced with a spectrum ar6000 .
my tx is a specrumized jr 6102 (loads of info just search this forum)
this allouws me to have a trottle curve and i mix about 7 % trottle on rudder to keep it from going up down when turning.

My flight times are 7 min and the motors do get hot.

Again my advice if yuare a beginner ; keep it stock until you break or wear out parts and you are confortable balancing parts ect

Originally Posted by ktm520

the flybar that you linked appears to be the same as the stock Dynam Vortex flybar available here at bphobbies for half the price.

favorite parts resources:
bphobbies
helidirect

these two places have the cheapest prices i've found, excellent customer service, and fast shipping.

Actually, that's where I ordered my fly bar from! D'oh. I updated my link to bphobbies.com.

Added some more links.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll..._promot_widget

Is this good for the lama?

And where do I buy a radio control where the speed is on the left side? I got the speed on the right side. Is that left-hand mode?


-helliefan

Found the transmitter:

http://www.ehirobo.com/shop/product_...171136cd60f9fd

Witch one is best, right hand throttle, or left hand throttle?


-helliefan

Originally Posted by helliefan

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll..._promot_widget

Is this good for the lama?

And where do I buy a radio control where the speed is on the left side? I got the speed on the right side. Is that left-hand mode?


-helliefan

Throttle on the right side is called MODE 1. I have this too (bought my V4 in Hong Kong) and it is popular in the EU and ASIA.

Those parts are for the V3 Xtreme Tail Boom and will not work with the V4. That auction is incorrect.

I bought my V4 in Hong Kong too. My friend got throttle on left side.

What is best?


-helliefan

If you live in the US, stick to the left/mode 2. Otherwise, you're going to have problems later re-learning how to use the TX when you move to other helis/TX.