It is a definate learning curve. A coaxial is a better starter bird. I would go with the MSR or CB100. Also the smaller MCX coaxials by Eflight are a good choice. I own a Lama4 and it helped a lot once I learned all the stuff about setting it up right. But I would go with the others now if that says anything to you.

Setup setup setup. Once you have your 450 and have it tuned right you will be surprised at how well it handles. The more you study and learn about these things the better off you will be.

Flight simulators are a must and it cost a lot less to crash on one of them. hehehe!! There are a couple free ones around. Better ones will teach you a bit better, but nothing like the real thing in the end. Still some skills can be aquired and honed on a simulator. I use the one from Esky that came with my HoneyBee KingIII. FMS RC flight simulator.

I did like you and jumped in with both feet. Wish I would have gone to the forums first and did my research. I could have cut my learning curve in half if I wasn't such a cart before the horse kind of person. LOL !!!

I'm going to go out on a limb and recommend you purchase a CopterX 450AE from Ehirobo. Last I looked it was $59 for the kit. Then you should get some descent electronics for it. I put together a nice bird with descent parts for fairly good price $250. But if you need the controller and batteries it will run you around $400 total scratch build for a RTF bird. if you buy a used Spectrum DX6i or other Radio you may hear you would rather try. Now you can build it cheaper and I did once. But I found that putting in metal gear servos, nice tail servo and gyro you will save that much and more on replacement costs. You ARE going to bang it up. Of course this is all my opionion from personal experience and others may have a different point of view. I own two CopterX 450s, A Blade 400, HoneyBee King III, Lama V4, Walkera 4#3B. I posted a few vids of my fun on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/cemize there are a few other vids as well so don't let that throw you. LOL!!!

Building your own bird will teach you very much and there is a good place to get videos and information here and on helifreaks forum.

Finless Bob has posted some priceless videos at http://www.helifreak.com/showthread....58&t=11373

Also the Trex 450 Bible is a good place at http://www.slyster.com/heli/trex450bible.html

Then find Radd's school of flight for some very good advice on learning to fly if you havent already been there. Feel free to PMme with any questions that you may have and I will try to help with my bit of knowledge. I am at this about two years, so I am still considered a novice compared to many on here. GOODLUCK! Happy Flying..... I love it!!