Welcome to the wonderful world of R/C. When looking for items for your boat, car, truck, airplane, or helicopter, consider these helpful tips.

 If you are biding on or buying an ARF ( almost ready to fly) model, ask the seller what other equipment is required for the model. Many require an radio or motor, some times both. Radios come anywere from 2 channels to 14 channels, and usually in two classes surface and air. There are a wide range of motors to consider also from glow to electric.

A ready to fly model (RTF) may be more practical to someone new to the hobby. Electric model should come with everything you need to get out to the field. Gas model may require an addtional purchase of fule, glow plugs, plug warmer,  and a stater.

A field box may also be an item you might want to look at. These are usually wooden box that can carry everything you need out to the field such as tools, fule, batteries, your remote, ect.

When buying used items , look for sings of damage such  dents, discoloration, cracks, or missing parts. Be sure to ask the seller how old the item you are buying is and how often it was used. Make sure that radios work up close and from far away as well. Glow motors should have good compression and no discoloration. A Discolored motor is a good sign of a damaged motor. Electric motors should work and stay cool to the touch with no load on them. Be sure that both electric and glow motors come with all their parts and that nothing is missing.

Boats, cars, motorcycles, airplanes, helicopters, hovercraft, submarines, UFO's, robots, are just a few types of models found on Ebay. Again look for cracks , missing parts and ask the seller if the model has been crashed, repaired, if it has ever been used, or just been sitting in a closet,(Glow fule leaves a sticky residue that will make a glow motor seems frozen if not cleaned when put up for a long time).

Make sure that the field or pound that you plan or flying in allows these types of models. Plane and helicopters flyers may want to join a flying club. They are  many clubs in each state and i am sure that they have one near you. Make some new friends and go race your car or boat. Test your ploit skill against others in a friendly game of war, or just go and have fun.

This is a great hobby to get started in, or to get your children involved in. And remember your Kids do not really care what you do with him/her as long as you do something with them. They cant get anough of see a plane fly, or a car racing past them. The kids in the neighborhood will deem you the coolest dad around.

                                                                                                    Happy flying or boating or racing

                                                                                                        Jason P Authement

In case you wanted to know, I have been flying helicopter for over 15 years, built my first boat at the age of 12, and Play war with my son and daughter with our tanks and hum-vees.

My list of Models include a Hirobo Shuttle ZXX. A scratch built PT 109, A Dumas Chris Craft runabout, A paint ball tank and hum-vee, An ultra 300, A Glow powered boat that runs 80 m.p.h. and too many cars and trucks to list.