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Basic Building Tips:

If you're a beginner, it's a big help to get the right tools to build and maintain your RC helicopter. Practically all of the screws, nuts and bolts are metric so you'll need a decent set of metric tools.

Setup Tools:

1) Allen Wrenches, you can start off with a set of metric L-Shaped wrenches. The standard sets are available at most hardware stores and many automotive parts houses. I prefer the Hex Drivers that look like a screwdriver but have a hardened hex tip.

I recommend buying a 1.5mm, 2.0mm, 2.5mm and 3.0mm sizes in the driver handle type. If you need larger than 3.0mm you probably want the extra torque an L shaped wrench provides. I have a set of drivers plus a set of L shaped ball drivers that come in handy when I don't have direct straight access to a bolt.

2) A decent set of screwdrivers, flat head and phillips, I also use a small jewelers set for those very small screws.

3) A 5.5mm Nut Driver will also be a very helpful tool. Most nuts on a heli are that size but there are others too. Most hobby shops carry a small metric 4-Way wrench that has four different metric drivers, this little tool is only a few bucks and is an absolute life saver.

4) A 5/16" (not metric) Nut Driver. This is for your glow plug. Get one that looks like a screwdriver, any hardware store should have one, maybe even Walmart.

5) I really recommend purchasing a balancer like the Hi Point balancer. It's around $20.00 and will check balance your fan, tail unit and main rotor hub. You can use this to finely balance those componenets which if out of balance can really cause problems anywhere from a slight buzz in the tail to heavy foaming of the fuel causing engine tuning problems or worse cause bolts to vibrate loose in flight or perhaps cause electronic problems due to un-necessary vibration. I even use it to check my spindle and mainshafts for trueness.

6) A Pitch Gauge, you REALLY need one to setup your heli properly. It is simply too difficult to guess at this. You won't regret the purchase. These can be found for about $20-$30, most hobby shops sell at least one brand of pitch guage. They will work on any heli.

7) Ball Link Pliers, you gotta have a set of these, expect to pay around $20-$30 for a decent set.

8) VoltMeter, I highly recommend a handheld voltmeter that can read battery voltage under a simulated load. Many brands available from $25 and up.

9) Loctite, you gotta have it so go get some. Typically one will need the "Blue Loctite" for most nuts and bolts but there are certain places where you will want the more permament Red Loctite. The Red stuff is typically used on bearings mounted to shafts so they won't spin inside the race. Also the same for the outside of the bearing only if it's going in a metal case. Otherwise you would simply use some thin CA to help hold the bearing tight in a plastic bearing block./case such as a Raptor.

10) CA Glue, you will want a bottle of Thin CA and one of Mdeium/Thick CA, this is typically for mounting self tapping metal screws into plastic and holding metal bearings to plastic cases, you'll find several uses for it.

11) Blade Balancer, although not required it is very nice to have one to check your main and tail blades for matched weight, CG, etc. It can find a balance problem BEFORE it gets on the heli and causes unforeseen problems. KSJ makes a really nice unit that is around 30 bucks.

12) Dremels are handy but usually not required, often a good sharp Exacto knife is your best friend.

13) Dial Indicator, again it's not required but it can go a long way in reducing if not eliminating vibrations induced from something not running true. I check my crankshaft before I install the cooling fan, then check the runout again after the colling fan is mounted. I strive for zero runout but that is rarely possible, if you can get your fan/cltch runout to 0.0015" or less you're pretty safe that it will run smoothly.

14) A flightbox large enough to carry all your tools to the field.

15) I have a pair of needle nose pliers, a pair of slip joint pliers, a pair of diagonal cutters, hemostats, snap ring set (depends on heli) and a small 1/4" ratchet set with a set of std. and deepwell metric sockets from 5mm up to 10mm. A small adjustable wrench (Crescent) is quite handy as well.

16) A decent set of venier calipers is also helpful, get a metric one so you won't have to do the conversion. There are cheap plastic dial calipers that can be had for around 10 bucks. You can get a better metal cased unit that will last much longer for arounf $30 bucks, it may have a dial, linear or digital readout. I use it to measure pushrods, servo wheels, bearings, tail tube and anything else that needs an accruate read down to a thousandths of an inch.

17) Have some shop rags or cotton wipes, hell a roll of household paper towel works to help keep the heli clean. Cleaning supplies like 409, etc are notmally OK, just don't spray it directly on electronics or bearings. e

Heli Mechanical Setup Tips:

Linkage, Plumbing, Gear Mesh, Engine, etc.

Heli Electrical Setup Tips:

Receivers, Servos, Gyros, Governors, Tachometers, Wire Routing, Battery Options-Nicad, NiMH, Lithium, Voltage Regulators, Chargers etc.

Advanced Setup for Aerobatics

1) Advanced Throttle & Pitch Curves, Exponential, Dual Rates, Idle Ups, Throttle Hold, etc.