So, you want a quadcopter? Part 1

Quadcopters and other multirotors have brought lots of new people to the RC hobby, and for a good reason. Multirotors are one of the easiest ways to get started with aviation, they are fun to fly and they offer a good platform for any photography or video interests you might have. I started with multirotors 2 months ago, and I've noticed a few things that may help other newbies, so here we go:

First off, get a nanoquad. They are cheap, they are great, they are fun. You get airborne straight away without huge investment, and you will start picking up the necessary flying and fixing skills without any big risk.

Once you are comfortably flying, you will want to get a real multirotor. Quadcopters in the 450 form factor are great for beginners - they are affordable, powerful, practical and versatile. Many are agile and fun to fly, and they can be used for aerial video with GoPro.

There's several options to start with:

Again, buying a Ready To Fly (RTF) kit gets you started right away. It costs slightly more, but you may initially save quite a bit of time and effort. The disadvantage is: how do you get one fixed when it crashes? And crashes do happen, eventually, believe me - there's just so many ways things can go wrong once you're airborne. Always fly carefully and avoid all risks in the beginning!

Another popular way to start is to design your own quad and source the parts from the Internet. This requires some serious research, and you should prepare to spend weeks before you even get all the parts. However practically all parts from motors to frame to the flight controller are off-the-shelf parts with a wide and affordable selection. Building will take some of your time, but you will also need some tools along the way, depending on the frame choice. Do you have screwdrivers in different sizes? Do you own a Dremel? Some kits might require few tools but for example with a plywood frame you'll generally need to prepare to buy various glues, drill holes, and so on.

Various tools and accessories can cost a bunch if you don't already have them. Keep in mind that in addition to the copter itself, you're likely to spend significant amounts on the transmitter, batteries and chargers, and other necessary equipment. Make sure to stock common spare parts, such as propellers, arms and motors!

Buying a readily available kit saves considerable time. You will lose some of the fun in designing your own, but there are many kits suitable for beginners and you have some guarantee that the parts you get will work together.

An interesting option to start with could be buying second hand. It's a quick way to start and quite likely the most affordable one. The selection may be quite limited, depending on your area. You may need to troubleshoot some issues, do some fixes or modify the quad, depending on your purchase. However if you go the DIY route, or even the RTF route, you must be prepared to do this in any case. Check that anything you buy is suitable for beginners and not too expensive or complicated. Popular DIY or even RTF frames such as Flame Wheel, Turnigy, Phantom etc may be your best bet.

Continued in part 2