How to get started with RC models? Your first model, flying and building without stress

RC models can pull you in for years. On one side it's flying, on the other it's engineering, a bit of electronics, some hands-on work and a lot of satisfaction when something that was lying in pieces on your table earlier really lifts off the ground.

At the start, though, it's easy to enter this hobby from the wrong side. Someone sees a beautiful model online — a fast plane, a scale model or an elegant balsa glider — and immediately wants to buy exactly that. The problem is that the best first RC model is usually not the one that looks the most impressive. The best first model is the one that lets you calmly learn the basics.

This post is the first part of a series for people who want to get started with RC models without the chaos. I won't pretend you can master everything in one evening, because you can't. But you can start sensibly: first understand the basics, then practise, buy a few reasonable things and only then get into building your own model.

And let me be honest right away: yes, I produce RC model kits to build. But if you've never flown any model before, the best first step very often isn't a balsa model straight away. First it's worth learning to fly on something simpler, tougher and less stressful.

First learn to fly, then build a model you'd hate to crash

This may sound strange coming from a company that sells build kits, but to me it's the honest order of things.

A balsa model gives huge satisfaction. You build the wing, the fuselage, the tail surfaces, install the servos, cover it, set up the radio and only then head out for the first flight. Such a model already has value for you that isn't only financial but also emotional. You put your time into it. You know how much work is inside.

That's why it would be a shame to crash it just because you're seeing a model fly towards you for the first time and suddenly the stick directions seem reversed.

At the start, the biggest problem isn't aerodynamics, airfoil choice or the perfect mixer setup in the radio. The biggest problem is orientation in the air. When the model flies away from you, everything feels natural. When it flies towards you, many people instinctively turn the wrong way. And that's enough to turn a simple flight into a quick meeting with the ground.

That's why a good path looks like this:

1. First an RC simulator or a simple foam model.
2. Then a few calm flights and learning take-off, turns and landing.
3. Only later your first balsa model or a more deliberate build kit.

The point isn't to put off building. The point is to give your first self-built model a better chance of a long life.

RC simulator — the cheapest first crash

An RC simulator is one of the best things you can do at the beginning. Many people skip it because they want "real flying" right away. I understand that, but a simulator saves a lot of nerves.

On a simulator you'll learn what matters most in your first flights:

• holding your flight direction,
• turning without losing control,
• reacting when the model flies towards you,
• approaching to land,
• using the elevator gently,
• instinctively cutting the throttle when something goes wrong.

You don't have to spend months on it. Sometimes a few evenings make a huge difference. A simulator won't reproduce 100% of the stress of a real flight, the wind and the distance, but it builds reflexes. And in your first flights, reflexes matter more than theory.

Recommended gear:

• an RC simulator for beginners
• a USB-capable RC radio (option with a 6CH or 10CH receiver) / simulator cable

If you already have a radio, it's worth checking whether it can be connected to a computer. If you're only just buying a transmitter, it's good to choose one that will also work with a simulator.

A simple foam motor-glider as your first model

If you want to start real flying, a simple foam motor-glider is a very good choice. Something like the popular Pioneer 1400-type models or similar RTF/PNP designs. It's not about one specific brand, but about the class of model: light, calm, electric-powered, made of foam, with a big wing and predictable behaviour.

Why does such a model make sense?

First, foam is very forgiving. On your first landings the model often takes a beating. Sometimes you'll touch down too hard, sometimes catch a wing on the grass, sometimes land further than you planned. A foam model can usually be glued back together easily and returned to flying.

Second, a motor-glider doesn't have to fly fast all the time. You can climb on the motor, cut the throttle and glide calmly. You have more time to react than in a fast low-winger or a small aerobatic plane.

Third, such a model teaches the basics that will later come in handy in every other RC plane: holding speed, turns, altitude control, landing approach and judging distance.

Recommended gear:

• a simple foam PNP motor-glider for beginners, e.g. Pioneer 1400 / similar (includes a radio)
• a simple foam trainer plane
• LiPo packs that fit RC models (if your kit doesn't include them)

Is such a model competition for a balsa kit? In my view, no. It's more of a first step. If, after a few flights, someone decides RC models aren't for them, it's good they didn't start with a long build. And if they get hooked, in time they'll appreciate a model built with their own hands far more.

Ready-to-fly, foam or KIT — what to choose at the start?

On the market you'll come across a few basic types of model.

RTF — Ready To Fly

RTF is a kit almost ready to fly. Usually the box contains the model, a radio, a receiver, a battery and a simple charger. It's the easiest route if you just want to give it a try.

The plus is simplicity. The minus is that the radio and equipment are often very basic. Good to start, but not always good for the long run.

PNP / BNF

PNP or BNF is a partly equipped model. It usually already has servos, a motor and an ESC, but you need your own transmitter, receiver and batteries. It's a good choice if you want to buy a better radio from the start and use it later with other models.

KIT — a build kit

A KIT is a completely different adventure. You get the model's parts, a plan and instructions, and you assemble the structure yourself. In balsa models, building is an important part of the hobby.

It's not the shortest route to flying, but often the most interesting. While building the model, you learn how the wing, fuselage, tail, pushrods and servo mounts work. Later, when something needs a repair, you don't look at the model like a closed black box. You know what's inside.

See my balsa RC build kits.

Why it's worth building a balsa model deliberately

A balsa model is more than a product. It's a process.

You take the parts out of the sheets, fit them to the plan, glue, sand, install the equipment, cover it and set the whole thing up for flight. Along the way you learn patience and precision. Modelling very quickly shows that "it'll be fine somehow" usually ends in a crooked wing or a problem when setting up the controls.

You don't have to be a master modeller to build your first model. You just have to approach it calmly. Read the instructions, check the plan, don't rush the glue and don't pretend that an inaccuracy will disappear on its own after covering.

The biggest reward comes later. The finished model stands in front of you, you check the centre of gravity, put in the battery, test the controls and then, for the first time, launch it into the air. It's a completely different feeling than flying a model taken out of a box.

That's exactly why I like build kits. Not because they're the fastest route. Because they give the greatest satisfaction.

What do you need to get started?

You don't have to buy half a hobby shop right away. To start, you need a few things.

If you're starting with a simple ready-made model, the basic set is:

• an RC model suitable for a beginner,
• a radio and receiver,
• a LiPo battery,
• a charger with a balancer,
• a spare propeller,
• a battery voltage checker,
• some tape and basic tools.

If you're starting by building a balsa model, the list will be longer:

• a modelling knife,
• sandpaper,
• a building board,
• pins or magnets for building,
• CA glue,
• wood glue,
• epoxy glue,
• covering film,
• a modelling iron,
• servos,
• a radio,
• a receiver,
• a battery,
• a charger.

It sounds like a lot, but most of these things stay with you for a long time. You don't buy a radio for a single model. Nor a charger. You just add to your tools over time.

Recommended gear:

• a basic 6–8 channel RC radio (ELRS)
• a LiPo charger with a balancer
• a LiPo battery checker

What not to buy in a hurry?

At the start it's easy to buy too much, or to buy things that look attractive but don't fit your path.

I wouldn't buy a very fast model right away. I also wouldn't buy a very small model just because it's cheap. Small models tend to be harder, because they react faster, handle wind worse and are less readable in the air.

I also wouldn't buy a radio that's only enough for one model. Once you know the hobby interests you, it's better to buy a transmitter that will handle several models, has settings memory, expo, reverses and reasonable receiver availability.

There's no point overdoing it with LiPo packs either. First buy 1–2 packs that fit your model. Only once you see how much you really fly and what your style is should you buy more.

The simplest path for a beginner

If I had to recommend one sensible route, it would look like this:

1. Read about the basics and watch on YouTube how to start flying RC models.
2. Buy an RC simulator and practise flying in a circuit and landing.
3. Buy a simple foam motor-glider or a trainer model.
4. Learn to take off, turn and steer the model when it's flying towards you.
5. Buy a more sensible radio if your first set was very basic.
6. Choose your first balsa model to build.
7. Build calmly, without rushing.
8. Ask an experienced pilot for a test flight if you have the chance.
9. Fly, adjust, repair and keep learning.

It's not the only path, but it's a very safe and logical one.

Is RC modelling hard?

At the start it can look hard, because everything shows up at once: the radio, the receiver, servos, batteries, the charger, the centre of gravity, the controls, trimming, wind, landing.

But when you break it into smaller parts, it all starts to make sense.

The radio sends a signal. The receiver picks it up. The servos move the controls. The battery powers the model. The charger charges the battery. The centre of gravity decides whether the model will be stable. The elevator controls the model's pitch. The rudder and ailerons help it turn.

It's not magic. It's a set of simple parts that need to be joined into a whole.

And that's exactly what's best about this hobby. You can start very simply and then develop for years. First the first flight. Then the first model you build yourself. Then thermals, competitions, your own modifications, designing, 3D printing, a better radio, telemetry, new builds.

What next?

This post is an introduction. In the next parts of the series we'll go through specific topics:

• what to buy at the start for RC models,
• how the radio, receiver, servos and ESC work,
• how to use LiPo batteries safely,
• how to build your first balsa model,
• how to prepare a model for its first flight.

If you're just starting, don't try to grasp everything in one day. The most important thing is not to get discouraged at the start. Begin calmly, choose a simple model, practise the basics and only then build something that will mean more to you than another ready-made plane from a box.

RC models taste best when flying and building go together. First you learn to control a model in the air. Then you build your own. And later comes that moment when you look at a glider flying over a field and know it's really your own work.

And that's what it's all about.

Affiliate note

Some links in this article may be affiliate links. If you buy a product through such a link, I may receive a small commission, but it doesn't affect the price for you. I only link to things that make sense in the context of RC modelling.