| When do RC helicopters stop being toys, and start | | | | you join a club, and enter competitions. The ultimate |
| becoming a proper hobby? The answer is, they never | | | | hobby experience, though, is to build your RC helicopter |
| do! But to truly call RC helicopter flying a recreational | | | | from scratch. Once thought only the domain of gas |
| hobby, it must satisfy a few criteria. For a start, it must | | | | and liquid fuel craft, kits are now available for many of |
| be challenging. Many people start off with a simple 2 | | | | the RTF (ready to fly) electric radio control helicopters. |
| channel toy grade helicopter. But if you crash a toy | | | | This is a good way to get into the RC helicopter |
| helicopter and break it, it's irreparable. You might be | | | | hobby, since many of the parts are sealed |
| able to do a quick job with some sticky tape and glue, | | | | components, just as they are in modern cars. This |
| but it will never fly the same again. Chances are, it'll end | | | | means the motor, gyro, servos etc are the same as |
| up in the bin. | | | | you would purchase for an RTF repair. That being |
| If you crash a hobby grade (3 channel and above) RC | | | | said, some people don't consider their helicopter truly |
| helicopter, you can order a new part and replace it, | | | | built from scratch unless they build everything |
| just like you can with a car. You can install upgrades to | | | | themselves - even the transmitter and servos. You're |
| make your chopper look or fly better. For example, | | | | more likely to see them in an electronics shop than a |
| you can change the fuselage from plastic to alloy. You | | | | hobby model supplier. |
| can have great fun taking your RC Helicopter apart | | | | You can approach the hobby of RC helicopter building |
| and putting it back together again, just to see how it | | | | the same way you would a robot: it's half mechanical, |
| works. | | | | half electronic, with a lot of tools required. However, |
| Much of the fun of RC helicopter flying is in the sport | | | | every helicopter needs regular adjustment and |
| of it. Learning all those complicated aerobatic moves | | | | "tweaking" even if it came ready to fly. So take a look |
| can feel like getting a black belt in karate! Especially if | | | | at what tools you have already, before buying more. |