RC helicopters
RC helicopter buyer's guide
Everything to weigh before buying an RC helicopter: type, size, channels, RTF or kit, spares, running costs and where to buy in the UK. Updated for 2026.
RC Mods sold, set up and repaired radio-controlled helicopters, planes and cars in the UK from 2007. These guides share what we learned: what to buy, how to learn, how to stay safe with LiPo batteries and how to fix things when they go wrong.
RC helicopters
Everything to weigh before buying an RC helicopter: type, size, channels, RTF or kit, spares, running costs and where to buy in the UK. Updated for 2026.
RC planes
Trainer, park flyer, warbird, glider or 3D: what each type of RC plane is for, sizes, RTF or BNF, running costs and where to buy in the UK.
RC cars
On-road or off-road, scale, motor, RTR or kit, spares and running costs: everything to weigh before buying an RC car in the UK.
Electronics
How to charge, store, transport and dispose of LiPo batteries safely in the UK, how to spot a puffed pack and what to do if one catches fire.
RC helicopters
A fault-by-fault guide to RC helicopter problems: won't lift, spins, vibrates, drifts, loses power or won't bind, with the likely cause and the fix.
RC cars
Fault-by-fault fixes for RC cars: no power, glitching, poor steering, stripped gears, overheating and binding problems, with the likely cause of each.
Getting started
New to radio control? Choose between a helicopter, plane or car, learn the UK rules, find a club and practise on a simulator before you spend money.
RC helicopters
Everything for RC helicopter pilots: which model to buy, how to hover and fly, setup, troubleshooting and repair, from someone who fixed them for years.
RC planes
Everything for new and returning RC plane pilots: choosing a trainer, learning to fly, balancing, pre-flight checks and fixing foam after a crash.
RC cars
Everything for RC car owners: which car to buy, types and scales explained, brushed or brushless, nitro or electric, plus maintenance and fixes.
Electronics
Plain-English guides to the electronics inside every RC model: LiPo batteries and charging, transmitters, receivers, servos, ESCs, motors and gyros.
Brands
The makers behind today's RC helicopters, planes and cars, plus the classics of the 2000s: what each is known for, spares support and UK availability.
New to RC? Getting started helps you choose between a helicopter, plane or car, explains the UK rules (including the 100g Flyer ID threshold that came in on 1 January 2026), and shows how a club or a simulator gets you going faster.
Buying something? Our buyer's guides for RC helicopters, RC planes and RC cars walk through every decision, and the picks pages name the models we'd point a beginner towards, with honest notes on how each was chosen.
Something not working? Start with RC helicopter troubleshooting or RC car troubleshooting.
Charging batteries? Read LiPo battery safety before anything else. It's the most important page on the site.
RC Mods started in 2007 as a UK shop selling RC helicopters, planes, cars and parts, and repairing them. It closed as a shop in 2012, but the questions customers asked never went away, and most of the answers online now are either aimed at the US or written by people who've never held a soldering iron.
So the site is back as a free, independent guide: UK prices, UK rules, UK spares, and advice from the repair bench. The guides are written by RC Mods' founder, Paul Walsh. We're not affiliated with any brand, and the about page explains how we choose what to recommend. Rule changes and safety notices are posted in News, and the glossary explains the jargon.