I think any generic question like this requires specific questions to be given to the poster.

Are you flying by yourself at a park?, field or an AMA sanctioned field with rules, flight line, boxes?

Some AMA fields require you to be in a program with an instructor and buddy box.
For the park/field flyer, I think an inexpensive foam electric is best like the Hawsky. Easy to build and cheap to repair. Total the thing and your not out a bunch of $$$.
http://www.mycoolheli.com/reviews/Re...amHawksky.html

You may still be able to train on this at an AMA field. I have mine with a Spektrum AR500 loaded into it and a spare DX7 as a buddy box. I take my kids up from time to time.
I previously had a Tower .40 with an OS 46 on it and found it cumbersom to fuel, start, keep the kids back when I taxy etc. This is MUCH MUCH easier. I hand launch and belly land it.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTuUMaZkjeY[/youtube]