I am flying around fine and can manage loops fairly well and would like to start doing more. I am not sure what the correct inputs are for good flips and rolls. Is a flip the same as a loop but with no forward flight to start things off?

When I try a roll it has a barrel shape and not an axial roll.

I am flying a .30 Raptor.

Try to perfect a axle roll and a loop before you go into flips. Flips require the right amount of cyclic and pitch changes.

"Is a flip the same as a loop but with no forward flight to start things off? "

Basically yes, but require the right input.

Collective pitch timing is the secret to doing nice axial rolls. When the heli blade disk is perpendicular to the ground you should be at 0 pitch. When inverted you should have a little negative pitch. Then back through 0 again when perpendicular before coming upright.

I practice by doing stationary rolls and when I do them while staying in the same place in the air the timing is right.

Try moving the collective slower through the range when doing a roll. I see a lot of new guys that are moving the stick too fast and end up with a barrel roll.