Multirotor, multicopter and quadcopter discussion - The Drone thread

Have been looking into a quadcopter or hexacopter recently and really fancy picking something up now. I've no helicopter or quadcopter experience, but raced RC cars nationally for many years, so understand the relevant electronics, etc and have read up on quad/hex specifics.

I have been looking at the DJI F450 and F550 kits with the DJI Naza controllers/GPS and possibly a Spektrum DX8 Transmitter/Receiver combo (is 8ch overkill?). Now I understand this isn't exactly a starter kit, but I would like to get something from the outset that is capable of carrying a gopro on a gimbal and FPV kit at the same time (eventually). Also looking at the AeroXCraft landing gear and camera gimbal.

Can anyone offer any advice? Are there just as suitable kits out there for a lot less money?
 
Last edited:
Best advice I can give is practice with something cheap as they are hard to fly and you will crash!

Check out something like the Walkera Ladybird V2 quadcopter - it's fairly cheap and is great to fly and durable if you crash it, plus you can fly it indoors as it's so small so perfect to practice with.
 
I'm looking into ways of allowing people who can't use conventional transmitter controls (for one reason or another) to have some quadcopter fun! So I'd like to be able to control a transmitter from a PC, to control the flight of a quadcopter.

Ideally I'd like to be able to develop software in C, C++, C# or VB to control the transmitter....

Anybody else considered this?
 
I just bought all the parts for a quad from HobbyKing based on the Q450 frame and using a KK2.0 controller :D

Now I just have to wait for it to arrive :(
 
Mr. Peri Peri said:
Best advice I can give is practice with something cheap as they are hard to fly and you will crash!

Check out something like the Walkera Ladybird V2 quadcopter - it's fairly cheap and is great to fly and durable if you crash it, plus you can fly it indoors as it's so small so perfect to practice with.
Click to expand...

Went for the Ladybird! Just waiting for it to turn up.... Might have to give it a quick glance of paint over the ladybird shell, because im not sure i can stand how goofy it looks!
 
Well I crashed my hubsan mini a few times, and had to change the chassis! What a nightmare that was given the motor holes are so tight. Problem is I did all that, put it back together and turned it on...... only to be rewarded with smoke and a burning smell! :(
 
alexthecheese said:
Hnnnng I want one of these. Gonna read this thread and see what I might need to purchase... :o
Click to expand...
I've not built mine yet as I'm still waiting for parts but this is my parts list so far...

1x #TR_PC/2169 TURNIGY BESC Programming Card = $6.95
1x #XTR01/13597 USB Simulator Cable XTR/AeroFly/FMS = $5.18
1x #9171000003/21321 USBasp AVR Programming Device for ATMEL proccessors = $4.95
4x #SK3-2830-1020/37048 Turnigy Aerodrive SK3 - 2830-1020kv Brushless Outrunner Motor (DE Warehouse) = $81.60
4x #TR_P30A/10195 TURNIGY Plush 30amp Speed Controller (DE Warehouse) = $71.00
1x #9329000028/29742 Slow Fly Electric Prop 1045 SF (4 pc - Green) (DE Warehouse) = $3.57
1x #9329000029/29744 Slow Fly Electric Prop 1045R SF (4 pc - Green Right Hand Rotation) (DE Warehouse) = $3.57
1x #9329000026/29738 Slow Fly Electric Prop 1045SF (4 pc) (DE Warehouse) = $3.57
1x #ACC6/10452 Turnigy Accucel-6 50W 6A Balancer/Charger (DE Warehouse) = $39.99
1x #T2200.3S.35/14487 Turnigy 2200mAh 3S 35C Lipo Pack (DE Warehouse) = $19.10
1x #206000002/37227 Q450 Glass Fiber Quadcopter Frame 450mm - Integrated PCB Version (UK Warehouse) = $14.29
1x #9329000027/35243 Slow Fly Electric Prop 1045R SF RH Rotation (4 pc) (UK Warehouse) = $3.53
1x #Turnigy-HKLP/35174 Turnigy Battery Strap 330mm (UK Warehouse) = $1.75
1x #TGV-Detector/31795 TURNIGY 3~8S Voltage Detector (UK Warehouse) = $2.71
1x #9171000073/24723 Hobbyking KK2.0 Multi-rotor LCD Flight Control Board = $29.99
1x SPEKTRUM DX6I DSM2/DSMX 6-CHANNEL TX & AR6210 RX = £116
1 x Male RC XT60 Lipo Battery Connector + 10CM Wire Gold Plated = £1.59
3x 5 Female RC 3.5mm Gold Bullet Connectors INC Heat Shrink For Motor ESC = £7.47

Then some cable ties, velcro, adhesive foam pads and thread lock. Not added all the prices up yet as it may scare me and it'll be a pain to convert them from USD into £ :D One thing I still need to get is a laptop power supply for the Lipo charger.

edit: added it up and it comes to about £320 all in :)
 
Last edited:
Tingtangmakadingdong said:
I am interested in the DJI Phantom, it's RTR and costs £499, anyone tried one of these yet?

More info HERE
Click to expand...
From what I've learnt from reading around it's a good quad that works out of the box with very little tinkering, the DJI Naza flight controller is also very good.

However, it's not really all that upgradable and if you want to move on to a custom quad in the future you're limited on what can be transplanted which is why I decided to DIY.
 
What would you say about the steadidrone quad? It's expensive but looks like it is a bit more resilient against crashes. The gyro gimble is pretty cool as well. #

Just to add, I'd like to do a diy build in the future but just don't have the time atm.
 
Zero5 said:
What would you say about the steadidrone quad? It's expensive but looks like it is a bit more resilient against crashes. The gyro gimble is pretty cool as well. #

Just to add, I'd like to do a diy build in the future but just don't have the time atm.
Click to expand...
It looks fine but it's quite expensive. I'd be tempted to go with a DJI F450, it's not as expensive as the steadidrone at just over £500 with transmitter. At most it'd take a couple hours to assemble, most multi rotors require at least some assembly, you get everything you need and it's very straighforward to setup. Spare parts are common, the Naza flight controller is very stable and the airframe is also very versatile.
 
Zero5 said:
What would you say about the steadidrone quad? It's expensive but looks like it is a bit more resilient against crashes. The gyro gimble is pretty cool as well. #

Just to add, I'd like to do a diy build in the future but just don't have the time atm.
Click to expand...

It looks seriously expensive! I'm no expert, but you could pick up something like the DJII F450 ready to fly for less than half the price!

EDIT: Beaten to it!
 
Last edited:
Col_M said:
It looks fine but it's quite expensive. I'd be tempted to go with a DJI F450, it's not as expensive as the steadidrone at just over £500 with transmitter. At most it'd take a couple hours to assemble, most multi rotors require at least some assembly, you get everything you need and it's very straighforward to setup. Spare parts are common, the Naza flight controller is very stable and the airframe is also very versatile.
Click to expand...

Thanks guys. I had looked at the 450 but as an rtf with gps etc it came to just under £900 so not really too far off the price of the Quad. Plus that one does have the stable gimble.

I guess a question I have would be can I pre-program a flight path into the 450 like you can with the quad? That would edge me back towards it and a thicker wallet. :)

Thanks for your help again.
 
Zero5 said:
Thanks guys. I had looked at the 450 but as an rtf with gps etc it came to just under £900 so not really too far off the price of the Quad. Plus that one does have the stable gimble.

I guess a question I have would be can I pre-program a flight path into the 450 like you can with the quad? That would edge me back towards it and a thicker wallet. :)

Thanks for your help again.
Click to expand...
I should have asked this before but what type of flying do you actually want to do with it?
It makes a big difference on what multi rotor is better suited. e.g. recreational flying, FPV, acrobatic/3D or aerial photography
 
Didn't realize there was a Multi-rotor thread on here, I bought myself a Blade MQX for my birthday as I have been thinking of getting into RC flying. But I can't seem to get my head around flying it when it ends up facing towards me and left and right is reversed.

The obvious tip is practice a lot, or think about FPV, but did any one else have such issues when they first started out and how did you over come them?
 
Last edited:
Col_M said:
I should have asked this before but what type of flying do you actually want to do with it?
It makes a big difference on what multi rotor is better suited. e.g. recreational flying, FPV, acrobatic/3D or aerial photography
Click to expand...

Recreational with the ability to record my flights with stable footage for use in videos I guess. I've been flying the Hubsan x4 and other smaller indoor quads and think its about time to move on to something a little bigger with the option of getting outside and slapping a camera onto the machine.

But I'm stuck again, I was pretty set on just chucking the money at steadidrone.l I guess I'm also after something that looks a little more complete, I could put one together myself or buy a 450 RTF but they would both look unfinished and messy. I know how that sounds but I'm just a bit particular like that. :(

The folding struts are a big thing too. I travel a lot and would want to take it along on most of my trips.

*edit 2* Maybe all I'm wanting here is some assurance that while it is very expensive it also looks like a good quad that has some degree of quality about it.
 
Last edited:
having recently purchased and flown the hubsan X4, im sort of interested in getting something a bit bigger perhaps.

i was looking at a DJI phantom which i can pick up for 415. good choice or is there better out there for less money? i'd prefer it to be ready to fly rather than having to build it myself. :p
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom