Clueless

[Steve Johnson]

Hello and happy new year,
 I am new here and to this sport. I want to get started but I don't know what to do, any help in choosing a model, the correct engine, porp, etc.

[Dan Berry]

The best way is to meet guys who are doing it.
Where are you? There are probably some guys near you......

[Brett Buck]

The best way is to meet guys who are doing it.
Where are you? There are probably some guys near you......

   That is the most important question. It's hard to convey every little detail over the internet, and someone experienced can check your work.

     Brett

[Dave_Trible]

Hello Steve and welcome to our sport/hobby/craziness.  If you are just starting I'd suggest you just keep it fun and simple right now.  There are a lot of competition hounds here ( me included) so carried away with the 'hot setup' stuff- that's not where you are right now.  Sadly there are few good hobby shops around for you to go get stuff and maybe some expert help.  You might do a google search for your area to see what's there but you'll likely need to get much of your stuff from mail order hobby businesses.  A good source for much of what you'll need would be Brodak manufacturing.  Here you'll find simple airplane kits- like small to medium sized 'profile' or flat bodies airplane kits that build and repair quickly.  They also carry many of the other supplies you will need to at least get a good start.  Many more specialty items are available from cottage industry suppliers who can be found right here but just remember to keep it very simple in the beginning.  
Engines are another matter.  Control line engine manufacture is not much right now other than expensive competition engines.  eBay can be a good source for engines if you know what you are looking for.  That's where questions here will help you.  Since you are new  to this let me offer you this;  you pick a good beginner style kit from Brodak or wherever and tell me what it is.  I'll give to you the proper first engine and props to get you started.  
You'll find a world of info here from the best there are at this sport.  Just try not to get confused with too much info.  Remember there is no dumb question and we really do want to get you off to a good start.

Dave

[Fred Cronenwett]

Find a club in your area and they can be huge help in getting started. This is a link to the AMA website that will tell you what clubs are in your area, you can search by state or zip code. Even after 27 years in the hobby I am still learning stuff from club members.

http://www.modelaircraft.org/clubsearch.aspx


If you are near the St Louis area this our website and we fly all sorts of CL models

https://lafayetteesquadrillecl.wordpress.com/


Fred

[john e. holliday]

As already stated or asked, where are you located.   On here is a section in which some of us have posted where we are where we fly.   I fly with Dave Trible who got us our flying site we now use.  I've known him since he was a little chubby kid flying with his Dad.   I fly for fun mow a days and do a lot of building.    The best bet is to start with some thing bigger than 1/2A unless you get plans and build a coro-plastic platter.   I know what is it?   Any way don't be afraid to ask questions as most of us started out with the 1/2A stuff.  It was all I could afford as a kid.  Now I have planes and engines that may never get used.   So stay in touch.

[Motorman]

Sterling S-1 Ringmaster, OS Max LA25, 3 ounce tank, 9-4 masterairscrew, .015"x60' braided flying wires.


MM

[Fredvon4]

Steve as others said; Where you are will help us help you as well as some other personal information

Have you ever done this before? 

Many of us are older who started flying model airplanes when we were kids and then life, wife, kids, and job kept us away for decades, Some here have been doing this non stop since the early 50s

Do you have a specific goal?

Build and fly you own model: Buy and fly a nearly built Model? Play with glow engines? Try this with electric engines? Fly competitive in scale, stunt, combat, carrier, or just back yard fun?  Got kids that you want to help you build and fly or get interested in this hobby?


Budget? 
Getting your feet wet can be done relatively inexpensively if you net work with us older guys....many quite often will just give you the basic needs to get going and help teach you every thing from gluing wood together to competently flying a control line model with the fewest crash, fix, crash , fix cycles

On the other hand if you have the budget to build a fully outfitted building shop, kits, balsa, plywood, glues, weights and clamps, flat building boards, tools, covering supplies, paints and thinners and a whole lot of other hardware for the aircraft controls, fuel system, field box and on and on...

This can be real daunting and quite expensive to do ALL at once.  Many of us can steer you to a basic set of needed supplies and work area that you can slowly grow if you find this to be a long range hobby / affliction / obsession...big grin

[Dan McEntee]

  I have two words for you, search function! There has been ten years worth of stuff posted here about getting started, vendors and such. Spend as much time reading all you can put up in front of you both here and on Stuka Stunt Forums. If you are considering competition of any kind, contact the special interest group for that discipline for stunt, carrier,speed, scale, etc. You are not going top find out everything you need to know over night, and in this day and age of the internet you can kind of get over whelmed with information. The best info given so far has been to find any other C/L activity in your area and meet some people. it's just a whole lot more fun that way and better to see things live and in person. Otherwise, take your time learning while finding your way though the vastness of what is out there on the internet.
  Type at you later,
   Dan McEntee

[mike londke]

Welcome Steve, where do you live?

[Terrence Durrill]

       Steve.......Everything you need to know to get started without mistakes is on the AEROMANIACS SITE below.....take a look at this section on getting started for beginners.....GREAT STUFF   ....    

                                           http://www.aeromaniacs.com/Starting.html


          Other sites you might find useful are:
                                            
                                           http://brodak.com/control_line_flying

                                           http://brodak.com/secrets_control_line_flying

                                           http://brodak.com/solo_flight

                                                                                              HAVE FUN............IT'S A BLAST !        
                                          

[RC Storick]

Hello and happy new year,
 I am new here and to this sport. I want to get started but I don't know what to do, any help in choosing a model, the correct engine, porp, etc.

Welcome How did you find us?

[peabody]

Join PAMPA....they have a listing of members by State.....call a couple of them and ask where they fly...you'll learn a lot watching and someone might even have a trainer....

http://www.pampacl.org/