I'll let a dirty secret out of the bag, I'm not a regular viewer of UAVFutures YouTube channel and despite this being my third build I'd hardly consider myself an expert.  But the build plan and video seem quite logical and a solid starter point into FPV "Racer" style Quads.

I actually enjoying the building process more than the flying.

Why build the UAVFutures USD99 Racing Quad?

1. I wanted to build a try FPV Racer style cheaply but I also wanted a formula to follow
   
2. When I watched the build video I sort of cringed a little at the "slap it together, she'll be right mate" assembly and thought I could do it neater and explain things on the build side a little better.  
   
3. I love bargain shopping for parts and generally hunting deals.
   

Here's the YouTube Video from UAVFutures:


I'm going to deviate a little to chase the higher quality FPV experience outlined in the video, this is simply going to add a few extra $$ invested into the camera and VTX.

I'm also going to have extend a step further as I don't have FPV gear and assign another USD99 to a set of goggles and DVR capability.

Lastly I'll add another TX to my setup - while I really really like my Flysky FSi6S it's setup for for Mode2 - Self centering (for alt hold flying).  I'll probably get a Turnigy evolution for FPV use.  It keeps my investment in Flysky RX units current.

What the real goal is:
Build a complete & competent beginner FPV Racer from a known formula to a very high standard of finish, at an attainable "give it a go" price.  That price should be no more than USD250

The Basic Parts List (in the USD99 Build):
Frame:  Lisam LS-210 Frame Kit  (Currently USD15.99)
Power Distribution: Matek PDB with 5v/12v BEC & XT60  (Currently USD4.06)
ESCs: Racerstar 20A 4-in-1 ESC  (Currently USD23.99)
Motors: Racerstar BR2205 2300kv Motors (Set of 4) (Currently USD26.99)
Flight Controller: SP Racing F3 Acro (Clone) (Currently USD17.99)
Video Transmitter: Eachine VTX03 Mini Video Transmitter  (Currently USD11.99)
FPV Camera:  Eachine 1000TVL 1/3 CCD Camera  (Currently USD12.99) * Note this is the "up-spec option" from UAVFutures.

Purchase Total:  USD114.00 
Budget BLOWN! I'm guessing when the list was put together there was a bit more discounting going on than there is today!  However this is what bargain hunting and setting up "Price Watch" alerts is for!

The Required/Optional Extras:
These parts are either required to fly but not included in the USD99 build OR add-ons that I'm including for my own piece-of-mind/for show

Receiver (Required to fly): FS-Ia6C bundled with Transmitter
Transmitter (Required to fly):  Turnigy Evolution Mode-2 with Receiver  (Currently USD67.20)
Battery (Required to fly):  Multistar 4S 1400mAh 40-80C (Currently around USD20 each)

Optional Extra: Matek LED Taillight with Buzzer  (Currently USD4.99)

Purchase Total:  USD92.19 
Even if I re-use my existing batteries we are consuming our USD250 budget pretty quickly which won't leave much room for the most important part - the FPV kit to stick on my head! 


The FPV Gear for my head!
It's no good building an FPV Racer if you don't have Goggles and the ability to record some of the footage coming out of the FPV system!

"Box" Goggles: Eachine VR007 Goggles with Battery (Currently USD45.99)

Summary:
At Todays prices it's possible to just barely get the complete FPV kit together inside the USD250 desired budget.  My brain is thinking that buying goggles equipped with a DVR will be better than trying to have a Video Receiver and DVR set up additionally, or trying to mount a DVR onto the quad itself.  At this stage the DVR blows the budget right out of the water.

It also looks like I'll have to haunt the Banggood and Hobbyking websites waiting for some more of the epic deals to come along to ensure that everything comes in at the best possible price.

Lets Go Shopping!
Well  if you're going to start a thread you need to start the buying process don't you?

So I've ordered from www.myrcmart.com:

SP Racing F3 EVO Flight Controller (Clone) for USD11.99
Matex PDB with integrated 5v/12v BEC AND Current Sensor for USD6.49
RCX Racer 210 FPV Racing Frame which is the same as the Lisan LS-210 Frame UAVFutures uses but currently USD12.99

Total Spend:  USD31.74 (Planned spend for these was USD38.04 so I've saved USD6.30)

Even taking into account I've had to pay postage on this it's still considerably cheaper than Banggood for the same bundle with the same shipping methods covered at todays prices.  The extra couple of USD to have current sensing in the PDB may be worth it. 

Likewise using the SP F3 EVO gives me an decent feature set for a racer plus microSD based Blackbox capacity and Barometer for less than the basic SP Racing F3 clone sold by Banggood.

Delivery will take up to a month - no different to my Banggood experiences for the same postage type.

I'm a big fan of MyRCMart, especially for their superbly priced brushless motors.

Good to see that they are even beating Banggood on price these days.

Awesome to see someone following this down as it was part of what pushed me over the edge on my build to get started with more serious shopping.

Also Thanks to you both for introducing me to MyRCMart, I hadn't shopped there yet so I'll definitely have to add it to my list of suppliers

I look forward to seeing how this build goes! Great work Tom

I will confess I've been itching for a reason to order from myrcmart.com but hadn't as so far Banggood and Hobbyking met my needs (I live so close to Hobbyking AU that the courier delivery option is next working day for AUD6.40)

However myrcmart has serious discounts on some things from time to time.

Also - they shipped out the above order same day - and the tracking number is already working. Usually takes Banggood Airmail a few days to even get out of the warehouses!

Wow! My brain completely glazed over the fact that UAVFutures used a Naze32 R6 for the "cheap" build. I'd just jumped to using/selecting the SP Racing F3 clone because it in my mind was/is great value for a fully featured flight controller (in acro only or baro equipped deluxe).

Starting to feel better now about tipping the budget.

Am also going to deviate on the chosen model of Video TX (Look at Josh Bardwells video on the VC03 with its massive channel count) and find a similarly priced 25/200mW unit that isn't using a bunch of dubious frequencies.

I guess you could say I'm sticking to the spirit of the build but using a bit more of the colllective wisdom of others to guide my path.

I went with the ImmersionRC Raceband 200mW VTX because that's what most people are flying when I am around with others so it's easier to avoid stepping on their feeds.

Right now banggood has em on sale for the next 17 hours (as of this post) for $16 USD

http://www.banggood.com/ImmersionRC-Race...mds=search

(23-Apr-2017, 11:57 AM)Aaron Wrote: Am also going to deviate on the chosen model of Video TX (Look at Josh Bardwells video on the VC03 with its massive channel count) and find a similarly priced 25/200mW unit that isn't using a bunch of dubious frequencies.

For just a tiny amount more, you can get one of these: TX526

That transmitter has a proper shield over all the RF components and only outputs within the standard 40 channels. It will probably melt if you run it at 600mW, but it's cheap, cheerful, reasonably well made and vaguely legal.

(23-Apr-2017, 12:36 PM)unseen Wrote: For just a tiny amount more, you can get one of these: TX526

That transmitter has a proper shield over all the RF components and only outputs within the standard 40 channels. It will probably melt if you run it at 600mW, but it's cheap, cheerful, reasonably well made and vaguely legal.

I'd go with that one instead... shoot... too bad mine has already shipped.

(23-Apr-2017, 12:38 PM)Carl.Vegas Wrote: I'd go with that one instead... shoot... too bad mine has already shipped.

The only thing that bugs me about those Immersion transmitters is the huge connectors that they use. If space is at a premium (and it nearly always is), they make it really hard to fit the VTX into your build.

If I'm picking parts for a new build these days, I always go for one of the TBS Unify Pro transmitters. They are really small, especially if you have enough 5V power to feed the standard one, but even the HV version is small by comparison with many other transmitters.

The fact that you can set frequency and power level from your OSD and never have to worry about being able to get to DIP switches or buttons ever again is the killer feature for me and completely justifies the higher price.

The good news is, if I don't like it it only cost me 16 bucks and I can always swap it out. $30 is still cheaper than I would have paid if I ordered in the US.

(23-Apr-2017, 02:12 PM)Carl.Vegas Wrote: The good news is, if I don't like it it only cost me 16 bucks and I can always swap it out. $30 is still cheaper than I would have paid if I ordered in the US.

The one I have sitting in my spares box came with the rest of the parts for the first ever quad that I built. I can imagine it cost a lot more than $16 or even $30 at the time!

Can someone please rate this thread 5 stars... I accidentally clicked 1star and cant seem to change it :/
Dont want to turn anyone away from a good thread

(23-Apr-2017, 07:21 PM)Drone0fPrey Wrote: Can someone please rate this thread 5 stars... I accidentally clicked 1star and cant seem to change it :/
Dont want to turn anyone away from a good thread

LOL! I tried to give it five stars, but the first click of the mouse didn't work and then it registered three stars which I can't change either!

Oscar!! Why are we not allowed to change our minds?