Beginners

You need information
Model Clubs
Some of the best information will be found on visiting a model club. Talk to a variety of modellers to get a selection of opinions before you make up your mind about buying anything. Try to talk to the people who are using the product to get first hand information about it. Some people will gladly recommend a variety of items but you'll also find out about the duff products that are to be avoided! Not all manufacturers claims are strictly true!
Model Magazines
There is a lot of good advice available from a number of model aircraft magazines. Buy one or two and have a look at the articles, there are usually some in there for beginners. Check out the prices in the adverts, see what's available. The prices on offer in magazines are usually cheaper that the shops which is fine if you know what you're looking for but beware if you don't! Remember you're buying equipment by mail order, not necessarily advice! Some mail order outlets are extremely good, ask around the club to find out which ones.
Model Shops
There are a few model shops in our area but, more than likely, you'll need to travel to find one. They usually give good advice and if they are local to you they will no doubt want your business again and so will try to give sound, practical advice as well as providing you with the products you need.

British Model Flying Association
The BMFA is the governing body for aeromodelling in Britain. If you visit their website you’ll find information about local clubs in your area, the BMFA acheivement scheme and getting started in aeromodelling.

Club Instructors and Achievement Schemes
Our Club has a British Model Flying Association (BMFA) registered Club Instructor, Richard the Treasurer, who is available to give help and advice to novice flyers.
We also operate the BMFA 'A' and 'B' certificate achievement scheme. This encourages model flyers to improve their flying abilities.
Our Two BMFA Club examiners are Mike and myself, Bob.
For more information about this either contact us directly or the click on one of the BMFA WEB SITE links to go directly to their web site.

Choosing the correct model aircraft
Always a difficult decision to make! What you want to see flying around the sky and what you need to learn to fly with are usually two different things. We aim to point people in the direction of a high wing trainer type for stability, ease of building (and repairing) and robustness. Some will have 3 functions controlling engine, rudder and elevator and some with 4 functions with ailerons as well. A large number of aircraft are now almost ready to fly (ARTF) being pre-built and covered and needing only assembling and fitting out. Some are kits to build made from balsa wood and plywood, some with veneered foam wings. The choice is yours but seek advice, if possible from the person who will be helping you during the learning process.

Choosing the correct engine
The engine size will be chosen to match up with your chosen aircraft. Talk to other club members about different makes of engine as although they may all look the same you might find that some have a bad reputation for reliability and ease of starting. In general terms, you get what you pay for!

Choosing the correct radio equipment
Look at the different types available and also their prices and also look at what is in use by other modellers. In general you will need at least a 4 function set to control ailerons, elevator, rudder and engine. Even if you only start with a 3 function aircraft, you'll probably move on to a 4 function one very soon. As for all the other goodies that are available on the sets, be guided by others and price. You might not need all the extras now but in a years time who knows!

Buying Second Hand Equipment
I can't think of a model aircraft flyer who has not crashed a model for one reason or another.
Aircraft
Usually a damaged and repaired aircraft can be spotted and avoided. what is not as noticeable is an aircraft that has been built out of true (not accurately). Warps, twists and bends can make an aircraft extremely difficult to fly and are not that easy to spot even for an experienced modeller.
Engines
The vast majority of engines are at the front of the aircraft and when they hit the ground .... exactly! However they are extremely robust and any damage can usually be seen. If in doubt ask to see it running!
Radio equipment
There have been vast leaps in technology in radio control equipment over the past few years. The prices of radio sets have, if anything, come down and the quality and specification, gone up! Unless I knew the owner and the history of the radio set I would not buy a second hand radio set. A minor fault caused by the last crash might not be noticeable on the ground and could result in a large repair bill once your pride and joy takes to the skies.

And Finally. When you're ready to fly it get help from an experienced club member.

DON'T TRY FLYING THE AIRCRAFT ON YOUR OWN!

If you do you will most certainly crash it! Although most will fly very easily, if the model is the slightest amount out of flying trim (and they all are), it will hit the ground before you've thought about what's needed to correct the problem. In other words ... EXPENSIVE and potentially VERY DANGEROUS!

Now the bad news!
A large proportion of model aircraft will end up crashing. Mostly due to pilot error, occasionally it's down to equipment failure. Very few are retired due to old age. A lot of accidents cause minor damage and are repairable, sometimes the airframes are written off but fortunately the engines and usually the radio equipment survive! If you take up this hobby, be prepared for this to happen to you!

What will the Club do for you?
We have the use of a large farmers field to fly from. For safety and noise concerns the models need a large open space (ideally nothing within 400m around you in any direction!) with no power lines or houses or people wandering about.
By joining a model club you not only get the use of the clubs facilities but will get guidance and help through the various stages of building and eventually flying your model. When you need advice there will be someone to turn to who's been through it all before and knows some of the problems you're facing.

Have you seen model aircraft flying?
Have a look down to our flying site (or someone else's), usually the best times are Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Have a talk to the modellers who are flying there and see what they are doing. Check out what they use, see how they do it.