I'm completely new to the hobby as well. I've been flying fixed wing R/C for years, but decided to get into helis very recently. I got an Hirobo Sceadu .30 and I love it. I have four gallons of fuel through it and I have yet to crash it. No one has helped me at all. I bought the TruFlight 3D sim and used it with mu actual transmitter until I could hover in all orientations (including nose in). Then I bought the Model Helicopter Technique video about setting up and flight trimming. He uses a Concept 30 in the video, but much of the info is generic and can be applied to any machine. My heli flew perfictly the first time out, and I turned it around for a nose-in hover on the second tank of fuel. I would highly recommend the Sceadu, the video, and the sim. I think anyone could break into this hobby crash-free and without assistance if they pay attention to the video and spend enough time in the sim before their first lift off. I'm well into fast forward flight, figure 8s and circles. I don't really have the touch to perform these maneuvers with precision, but I certainly can practice them without crashing. Next time out I plan to try some loops and rolls just for kicks! I've only been flying the real heli for about a month of weekends.