Joining a club adds lots of benefits to this hobby. You will gain friends that you will have something in common with and the price of the club fees is probably a lot less than you think. It is certainly a lot less than what it will cost to replace a plane if you try flying on your own and crash. In some clubs it actually "pays" to belong to a club. The prizes for the fun flys and the free food often exceed the price of the fees. You will also learn more in a couple trips to the field than in 6 months of "reading about it"!! I would suggest if you are serious about this, do it right and join a club!!! [>:]