Multirotor, multicopter and quadcopter discussion - The Drone thread

Got my APC MRP (Multi Rotor Props) through over the weekend, they look fantastic.

Got charged customs as I purchased a fair amount, so I hope they're worth it!

doofer said:
Having a nightmare with HobbyKing Hong Kong Customer Service, they are refusing to issue a refund for goods they cannot supply and will only issue a 'Store Credit Note', which is completely useless to me as 1. They clearly don't have the stuff in stock even though the stuff is flagged 'In Stock' and 2. I'm now completely put off buying anything from them in future if they pull a stunt like this. :mad:
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Threaten a paypal claim?
 
That sucks doofer :s
I don't know your exact rights but I can't believe they are allowed to refuse a refund when they don't stock an item. Unless they are due it back in soon and still want to try and provide the goods you want?
 
I totally understand getting Pee'd off over that malarky. I've had similar experiences with them especially at the beginning when I didn't cotton on to only ordering stuff in stock. Since then though I've had very few issues with them. I agree - lodge the paypal, you'll get your money back but I wouldn't get put off dealing with them - the prices are too good to completely bypass them IMO.
 
Morning :)

Have read this thread from top to bottom and some lovely looking machines on here! Have also immersed myself in the shady world of RCGroups for a good read & research but though I would ask you guys unbiased opinions!

Have had a hubsan x4 for a few weeks now and loving it. Naturally, I've now gone mad for it and looking to build something cheapish, quick and nimble to learn to fly and maybe some acro stuff at a later date. Longer term, I will want to do FPV and AP for work but that will need an entirely different vehicle. Probably octo with fancy FC, gps etc. For now, I want to keep it simple so I can actually learn to fly one properly, without too many "driver aids"

And no. I don't want a dji phantom. they look a bit *cough* childish!

Spec is below and a link to xCoptercalc for the machine. I have a few questions :)

1) the calc shows a flight time of 4.5 minutes. Surely that can't be right? from my research, I would have thought around 8 would have been more realistic?

2) What am I going to need in the way of fittings for the powerboard/kk2.0? I'm guessing nylon standoffs but what size? My plan is to put the two boards back to back or on top of each other in the middle of the frame and then have the battery either on top or slung underneath. Last thing I want is to get the bits then have to wait a week for some tiny bits of plastic to let me finish it!!!

3) Is there anything missing or could be changed for better? I did look at Multiwii for the FC but think I'll prefer the onboard LCD of kk2.0 for field based adjustments.

4) I understand the 9x is a good tx and kind of future proof for other stuff I might want to do, but does anybody have any experience of the cheap rx/tx combos from giantshark. £20 vs £70 brings by build to just under £200 or gives me more money for batteries or a better charger.

5) Finally, think I might Plastikote the frame matt black as the colour is horrible and then use LED strips for orientation should be easier to see whats what then!

xCopter link

SPEC:
F330 Glass Fiber Mini Quadcopter Frame
Turnigy Aerodrive SK3 - 2822-1275 Brushless x4
Hobbyking KK2.0 Multi-rotor LCD Flight
Slow Fly Electric Prop 8045SF (4 pc)
Slow Fly Electric Prop 8045R SF (4 pc)
Slow Fly Electric Prop 8045 SF (4 pc)
Slow Fly Electric Prop 8045R (4 pc)
Hobby King Quadcopter Power Distribution Board
Turnigy Multistar 10 Amp Multi-rotor Brushless ESC 2-3S x4
Turnigy nano-tech 2200mah 3S 25~50C Lipo Pack x3
TX/RX (probably Flysky 9x from GiantCod)
Cables, standoffs, Heatshrink etc ?????


Atmel Atmega Socket Firmware Flashing Tool
USBasp AVR Programming Device
Turnigy 2S 3S Balance Charger.

Total AUW of around 700g
Cost: A smidge under £250!
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Thanks in advance!
 
M3 nylon bolts/nuts/stand-off's for the KK2.0 but you can just stick it on foam and mount it with Velcro or cable ties if you wanted to.

I would rethink the ESC's as 10A is not a lot, I would say a minimum 20A and remember to get BESC's to power the KK2.0 or you'll need a separate 5V supply which will add weight and extra wiring which is a PITA on small frames, also look at the Turnigy Blue Series as these are very cheap and can definitely be flashed to the SimonK firmware, not sure about the Multistar.

I also wouldn't worry too much about the colour scheme, fact is: You'll be breaking a few arms anyway and you'll really need the colours to help with orientation, I have red/blue LED and you just don't see them in bright sun light at a distance, you can barely make out the colours at distance too, once you get comfortable you can pick up replacement Black arms, but not sure on availability for the 330, loads to choose for the 450 though, if I were you I'd get a clone 450 frame x2 or 3 for spares, they are only £9 and from what I've seen the 450 parts are far more readily available than the 330 parts (I think the 330 arms are a different design???)

If you get one I'd highly recommend you buy some M2.5 8mm Cap/Button head bolts to replace the ones that come with it, as the ones I had were made of cheese.
 
Thanks doofer.

The multistar's do have a BEC so all good there, and they are atmel chips, so should be flash-able. I really wanted the Afro ones, but they're not in the uk warehouse and being as though I need the kit to flash the kk2, I thought might as well get those and just flash the simonk firmware. Not too worried about them being only 10A as the motors only run to 8A max I think. I suspect I will be building another 1 or 2 quads over the next 6 months so will probably get beefier, fancier esc's then.

Will have a look at the 450 frame.

Payday tomorrow, so expect a build log soon! (and many, many more questions I'm sure!)
 
Hi Gandhi, few answers for you:
1) I find ecalc is a bit pessimistic. My motors aren't in it but I've used some similar ones I get a few minutes more flight than it says. When you are learning you're likely to be sitting mostly level and just cruising up and down without really going close to full throttle or doing flips - this is effectively just hovering. I'd say I get 7-8 minutes when doing plenty of flips and full throttle burns on a setup that ecalc says 5 minutes for
2) Check the dimensions before trying to mount them together. I found the KK2 has different standoff positions to most other things - iirc 45mm rather than 50mm. Personally mine is just tied down to a piece of foam stuck to the chassis with an elastic band for a bit of extra security :p
3) Those motors are much lower current draw than expected! I'd still consider getting 20A ESCs however for a bit of future proofing. There is a link further up this page talking about simonk firmware, I'd look to get ESCs that can support this for updating in the future. For example the Hobbyking Blueseries 20A.
Check what connectors the battery, power board and motors have, you might need to order some extra bullet connectors and some extra cable.
4) Can't help here. But also interested in the answer. Trying to persuade some mates to get a cheap setup!
5) Consider building your own frame. I have this one and the arms break real easily when you crash (which you will when you start trying to do flips!)
This thread on RC Groups has some nice options made from cheap plastic piping. Both pretty light and strong, but importantly cheap!

Hope that helps :)
 
Go for the Afro ESCs from Hobby King, they're cheap and come preflashed with SimonK, much less hassle for your first build.

You'll also need...
Bullet connectors for ESC-Motors
Male-male servo connectors

I also have SK3 motors albeit bigger on my 450, they're OK but nothing special, fine for a first quad that you'll beat up though.
 
Cheers dude,

Yes, helps massively!

Will spec in some better esc's for a bit of redundancy. I see the simonk afro ones are available on ebay now for £18! Tempted, as I suspect once you factor in postage, duty, VAT etc if I get them from the HK warehouse, it will probably be close on cost!

Have been looking at frames for a while now for the future and quite like (in no order of preference!)

Turnigy Talon
The Hunter V- Tail
The Warthox frame from Flyduino

I suspect these will end up being powered by tiger or sunnysky motors and a mw fc but won't be built until the "c" word becomes less frequent!
 
Col_M said:
Go for the Afro ESCs from Hobby King, they're cheap and come preflashed with SimonK, much less hassle for your first build.
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Do you have any experience of what the shipping is like from their US or INT warehouses? Not sure I want to wait 3-4 weeks, pay duty etc. They are cheap from HK, double the cost from ebay but less hassle and I can't seem to find them for sale elsewhere!
 
gandhi said:
Do you have any experience of what the shipping is like from their US or INT warehouses? Not sure I want to wait 3-4 weeks, pay duty etc. They are cheap from HK, double the cost from ebay but less hassle and I can't seem to find them for sale elsewhere!
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Not sure you can order from their US warehouse :confused:
If you order from their international warehouse pick "Direct Channel" shipping and it usually comes in a week or so.
I'm afraid in this hobby long shipping from Asia and is something you have to put up with, or pay more for stuff in the UK.

HK are having problems clearing the backlog from the LiPo restrictions problems so it may take longer right now.
 
gandhi said:
Do you have any experience of what the shipping is like from their US or INT warehouses? Not sure I want to wait 3-4 weeks, pay duty etc. They are cheap from HK, double the cost from ebay but less hassle and I can't seem to find them for sale elsewhere!
Click to expand...


Avoid the INT warehouse like the plague! My problems with the INT warehouse are becoming beyond farcical now, the fastest reply so far on their 24hr 'LIVE!' Support has been in 4.5 Days and was a bog standard Copy'n'paste reply, I am now waiting patiently for another reply before I go to PayPal dispute land. Never had a problem with the UK warehouse though to be fair.
 
Righto then, looks like expensive ebay esc's are the way forward then! Looks like I'm going to be the test pilot for el cheapo giantcod tx/rx combo then lol :)
 
gandhi said:
Turnigy Talon
The Hunter V- Tail
The Warthox frame from Flyduino
Click to expand...

Do really love the look of those Hunter V Tails :D But I think I'll try and do my own frames in my next few builds until I settle on a number of props and shape that I want to stick with.

I wonder if there are any threads anywhere talking about those cheap Giantshark controllers. This is the one that caught my eye for a cheap UK based transmitter.
I'll do some googling when I'm not at work :)
 
Yeah,

That's the one. Their 9x clone is only 40 notes more though. "What luxuries can I cull this month?" is now the question running through my mind!
 
I'm facing a bit of a dilemma.

I'm thinking about going pro with this hobby as you know, so I need to pass the CAA certification on the platform I intend to shoot with. It's no good taking the test on something and then changing platform as I will then have to take the test again and re-submit a flight manual.

So, I can't decide whether to drop £5k on an S800 EVO, A2 and Zenmuse or make do with lesser equipment and take the risk that I may have to re-certify if I can't do what I want to do. The damn Zenmuse is the killer. It's £2k on it's own but damn, it's good. Includes remote shutter release, HDMI converter and everything you need in one package.
I suppose I could bag the S800 EVO + A2 for £3k and then try and make do with a Tarot gimbal. I can't see the CAA requiring re-certification just for a gimbal change.

Gah!
 
Do the CAA not clarify anywhere what requires a re-certification? You almost make it sound like you'd have to re-cert for a different design prop! I'd have thought you'd get away with swapping base components, so long as it remains roughly the same - so in your case a Hex with a Gimbal for camera with X flight controller?

If it is more granular than that how far do they go? Different battery? New propeller?!
 
Well, from what I'm reading, if you change ANYTHING, you have to submit a new flight manual. If you change the configuration of the copter significantly (although they don't specify what this means) then you have to re-submit the flight manual AND take the flight exam.

The cert really is like jumping through a bunch of hoops which are just placed in the way for no reason other than to discourage people from flying commercially.

On another note, I just took advantage of the DJI special offers that are on at the moment. I bagged a GoPro Zenmuse, Naza V2 + GPS and an F450 ARTF kit for £536. That's mental as I can sell the Naza for £250 and the F450 kit for £100, meaning the Zenmuse only cost me £186. Not bad for something that normally costs £450 on it's own.
 
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