| So you think you would like to try some radio control | | | | The same consideration applies with an RC car - |
| action? The radio control hobby is an exciting one, a | | | | where can you best use it? There is no point in |
| real rush of adrenaline! The thrill of successfully bringing | | | | spending up big on a screamer of a drift car unless |
| that plane down or taking that corner at high speed in | | | | you can access somewhere to use it. On the other |
| your speed machine is one you just want more of. | | | | hand such a surface would be useless to a monster |
| Radio control hobbies are varied from beautiful yachts | | | | truck which really needs some rough ground to shine. |
| gracefully sailing on lakes to silent gliders and on to | | | | Then you need to think whether electric or gas |
| noisey drift cars and even huge model jet airliners. The | | | | powered models are going to be right for you. They |
| common factor being they are all controlled from a | | | | both have their various advantages. Remember that |
| handheld transmitter. | | | | gas models tend to be more powerful and noisier but |
| Radio control models have been around since the | | | | need tuning. It's not really a big deal but a little chore to |
| 1950's and getting better all the time with advances in | | | | be aware of. Electric models are quiet and lighter but |
| circuit technology and battery technology allowing | | | | batteries can be expensive, even allowing for the |
| more and more dependability and control. With the | | | | re-use you get with rechargeables. |
| miniaturisation of electronics it's been possible to do | | | | The availability of spares for your model should also |
| more with less power. Modern RC models use 2.4 ghz | | | | be a factor in your decision making, no matter how |
| systems making them less likely to suffer interference | | | | careful you think you are, you are going to have |
| from other sources. | | | | accidents and you will need spares! |
| Before diving into buying a model however there are a | | | | Have a chat with the guys at your nearest hobby |
| few things to think about and clearly these vary with | | | | store. The guys there are always looking to talk about |
| the particular flavor of RC you are smitten with. | | | | their hobby because they’re fanatics themselves |
| The idea of getting airborne fast is an attractive one | | | | and they want to promote their hobby by bringing |
| but without the right preparation and training it could | | | | newcomers into their hobby, the marvelous world of |
| well prove to be a short and expensive flight. It really is | | | | radio control. |
| best to learn to fly with someone else, better still with | | | | Sydneysiders might like to check out the RC Cars or |
| an instructor who can start you off with a simulator | | | | RC Planes at Hobby Heroes in Sydney, run by a self |
| before moving on to a buddy box system, which is | | | | confessed RC freak who likes nothing better than to |
| really a dual control system, one for you the student | | | | assist newcomers to the RC world! |
| and one for the instructor to get you out of trouble. | | | | |