Model helicopters are a real challenge to learn how to fly. They require the mastery of two distinct flying skills, hovering and forward flight. Hovering is the first skill to learn and is completely unlike flying planes or gliders. Every successful helicopter flight begins and ends with hovering. Once hovering is mastered then forward flight is learned.
Forward flight can be very similar to flying a plane or glider.
Because of this it is very helpful if the beginning helicopter pilot learns to fly an airplane first. The engine operating skills aquired while flying airplanes will also come in handy. An instructor isn't necessarily needed to learn to fly a helicopter. What is invaluable however, is an experienced flyer to set up the helicopter pitch and engine settings and put in that first flight to make sure everything is balanced and operating properly. Even if it's a days worth of driving to have someone help you it will be worth the trip.