Beginners on Model-Helicopters.Com

Hi all. I am seriously considering getting a petrol helicopter but as this is all new too me i would like to ask a couple of questions. Firstly, how reliable are they and secondly are they expensive to repair and do they need expensive maintainance ?

many thanks Alan

Modern glow fuel engines are very reliable. There are some bad ones out there but most are good. If you are a learner, you will run the engine in the best because you will spend lots of time leaning to hover and not trashing the new engine. Some helicopters are more expensive than others to mend. Spares prices vary between brands.
usually the more expensive the helicopter kit, the spares end up more. Most popular helicopters for beginners with a glow engine are the Align 600 range. The spares are so cheap compared to the other brands. They are reliable and spares are everywhere. Maintenance is low unless you tip it over and damage bits. But part of the hobby is the mechanical side of building, setting up and maintaining the helicopter. So enjoy that aspect of it as well as the flying.

many thanks. i will look into it a bit further now.

I run a heli group in Leicestershire.
I currently have 22 members in my little club and absolutely every member excluding just one chap, flies the Align 600 in one form or another.
Personally I have a Trex 600 super pro which has all the nice black metal bling bits on. I have a Trex 600 sport, a Trex 700, a Trex 450 and Trex 250.

Like the rest of the lads, I fly the Align Trex 600 sport more than any. Its the cheapest 600 with belt drive tail. But I have done a few mods to mine.
1: Bought a sexy glass canopy to replace the supplied plastic on which looks bad after a short time because the stickers come off.
2: Metal main blade grips because I do 3d flying with my sport and I get a better feel from the machine with the metal grips.
3: Metal boom clamp under the horizontal fin because the tail does get a bashing and this hold the tail boom more solid.
4: Little plastic gyro tray so I could mount the gyro inside the canopy at the top.

Other than that, it's standard and its brilliant. If I smack it in, the belt to the tail will fold rather than the tube drive that could bend. It takes anything I can chuck at it. Perhaps the top dogs can bash a helicopter harder and need the tube drive and other bits and bobs, but for the normal pilot, I recon the sport is fantastic, relativly cheap and maintenance is next to non.

Just go for it.
And if you're within driving distance of south leicestershire, or anyone else is who flys (or might start flying ) helicopters, then come fly with us lot.