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Building a RC heli, or remote control helicopter, can be just as much fun as flying it when you are done. The feeling of accomplishment you feel after you have spent time building a model and then watching it actually fly is unparalleled. Most rc heli's are scaled down from the actual real size version. It is possible to get a RC heli model that runs from 1/30 in scale to ΒΌ in scale. However the larger the model the more realistic it will look, though it will cost more to fly.

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Some of the more popular models are from Huges 500, Jet Ranger, Bell UH1, Chinook and Airwolf. There are many competitions were the contestants build a scale model and then fly it. The more the model resembles the actual helicopter the more points awarded. The best models have all of the details both inside and outside of the helicopter correct.

RC helicopters are frequently used in the entertainment industry as the cost is much less then using a full-scale helicopter. When the heli is in the air it is virtually impossible to tell it apart from a real one. It is possible to buy RC heli model kits at hobby stores or you can create everything from scratch. Building your helicopter from scratch can be very complicated and you will need to have a good understanding on the mechanics of a real helicopter.

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There are also kits that contain the very basics and you will have to put it together, and make your own cutouts and decorate the helicopter. In order to build a working scale RC heli you need to make sure everything is proportional otherwise it will never become airborne. You can calculate all of the needed proportions from a handful of measurements, the width, height, length and main rotor diameter.

You may need some specialized tools to build an RC heli from scratch that includes fiberglass molds, CNC machine and many hand tools. Many modelers use wood as structural reinforcement and you will need to invest in a good lighting kit as the lighting can add that extra touch to your model.