Big Lama Canopy

yabeweb · Hopping Maniac Joined: 09 Aug 2011 Posts: 21

Hello everyone, i recently bought my first RC help (without any experience) and tried flying by taking it very very easily, i chased the Big Lama cause i heard is very good for beginner and after a few crash (as expected) i ordered some spare parts... reinforced blades metal upgrade and some batteries as suggested by many users, now for the question, can i fit the canopy from the e-500

http://www.esky-heli.com/esky-e500-yellow-4ch-fp-rc-helicopter-rtf-24ghz-002759-p-11221.html?cPath=337_177_689

to the big lama?

Are there any canopy that are compatible (so that i can screw in like the original?)

Thank you very much

Andrea

yabeweb · Hopping Maniac Joined: 09 Aug 2011 Posts: 21

That or even the Hunter one...if it is compatible

Also another question is the extended shaft useful for a beginner in terms of handling (other than to avoid blade strike?)

pjdog · Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2011 1:54 am Post subject:

I saw a E-Flight Huey body on a Big Lama and it looked super good. The body with new landing skids is around $ 45.00.

The extended shaft will help you avoid main blade strikes but keep in mind a Big Lama is not the kind of helicopter you can boss around the sky. She's a real gentle flier and does best with slow flying.

jack

yabeweb · Hopping Maniac Joined: 09 Aug 2011 Posts: 21

admiral · Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2011 9:50 am Post subject:

mjg44mjg · Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2011 11:10 pm Post subject:

In reference to the extended inner shaft for the big lama..... I have a big lama myself and the very first flight out of the box resulted in massive blade strike and a hard crash.

Had to replace both shafts, all 4 blades, stabilizer bar, landing skids and canopy shoring...

When I ordered replacement parts, I got the extreme extended inner shaft with aluminium head.. I won't fly my big lama with the shorter shaft and the plastic head anymore...

To me, that extended inner shaft with the aluminum head is a must have... Wouldn't get any of the extreme main gears though.. I bought 2 inner shaft gears and 2 outer shaft gears and all 4 I got from helidirect.com were warped/bent beyond belief...

yabeweb · Hopping Maniac Joined: 09 Aug 2011 Posts: 21

Thank you all for your kind responses, i ended up buying this

http://cgi.ebay.it/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150631803063&ssPageName=ADME:L:OU:IT:1123#ht_1967wt_922

with also a set of 3d durablades so i should be fixed for some time now....while still learning to fly Very Happy

i 'll get the extended shaft as suggested..... it's really the canopy that annoys me ..it's nice i mean but would really like something more durable....and i might consider a light kit...it would help seeing the direction of this thing.....(i think as a learner that would help).

carr52 · Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 9:13 pm Post subject:

I'm trying to find a new cabin for my Big Lama also. Even the esky web site is out of them. Does anyone know where to find a replacement cabin/canopy for the Big Lama? Thank you.
Tom

mjg44mjg · Posted: Sat Apr 07, 2012 12:57 am Post subject:

carr, I have been waiting patiently someone to have a canopy for my big lama, that and the canopy shoring and no one seems to have any.... So, I bought an Esky E500... The canopy isn't interchangeable but all the other moving parts are so tonight I'm going to Frankenstein the two together, put all my aluminum parts and extended shafts and hardened blades on the e500 and see how she flies..

Just an idea

carr52 · Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2012 12:23 pm Post subject:

Howdy from SC, Just got an email that hobby-estore has the big lama cabin in stock now. Went there to have a look and yep, they have em. They dont take paypal. Bummer.
Tom

mjg44mjg · Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2012 7:27 pm Post subject:

Hey Y'all, the other night i finished my frankenstein project between the big lama and the e500..

Originally I intended on installing the upgrades I had for the big lama on the e500, but since the stock e500 flew so crappy out of the box, instead I installed everything I needed to from the E500 onto the big lama including the canopy and it flies great...

Come to find out that the only difference between the E500 and the Big Lama is the placement of the receiver and the canopy...

Same frame, same everything, different canopy, so for those of you having trouble obtaining a canopy for your big lama, get one for the E500, I think they look better anyway....

carr52 · Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2012 7:43 am Post subject:

The new cabin for my Big Lama came in. I now have it back up and flying again. Now I have to order a new extended shaft. Bent the last one in the fall from the tree. It was horrible. Took it out for its maiden flight today. Its great to see it back in it's stock cabin instead of that tail boom kit. Got the new cabin from hobby-estore.
Tom

carr52 · Posted: Mon Apr 23, 2012 11:28 pm Post subject:

Howdy from SC, my new big lama cabin arrived and I installed it and took it out to play. I'm a happy camper. Its back to its beautiful self. It flys so much better with the stock cabin. Had a pretty hard blade strike even with the extreme extended shaft but the extreme blades took it all in stride. Only thing that happened was I broke one of the little rubber hose things that hold the cabin on. I didn't have a spare so I started looking around for a subtitute. Found one I think will work. I stripped the insulation off a piece of #12 gauge stranded house wire. Works great. Its even a little more solid than the rubber ones.

Tom

carr52 · Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2012 8:44 pm Post subject:

Tried to fly yesterday. Boy was that almost a horrible mistake. The wind was whipping pretty good. I came to my senses real fast and no damage. Not gonna put my Big Lama through that anymore. On another note. My Tx is getting full so I'm thinking of a new one. Some say get the DX8. I've been wondering about the Futaba Tx's. I'll probably stick with another DX model cause I'm getting to know the in's and out's of it. Just thinking out loud.
Tom

Update: hobby-estore is out of the cabins. But now esky helicopters have them even cheaper. $13.95 USD.

carr52 · Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2012 9:23 am Post subject:

I just checked and esky helicopters online still have the canopy for $13.95? But alas my Big Lama fell to its doom. I was about 60 to 70 ft. High when I tried to make a really fast left turn around and had a blade strike. It made a kinda thump when it hit the hard ground. Still haven't figured out whats wrong with it yet. I did order the E-500 I've been wanting one anyways. I have 2 of the Big Lama canopys so I'll make it fit.
Tom

Update: My new E-500 is due tomorrow. According to the UPS tracking site. Looking forward to getting it and the Big Lama joined together into one. I'm using the Extreme landing skids and extended inner shaft and blades. From what it looks like the Big Lama Canopy should fit with a little work.