Alright guys,

So the vortex is great for what I am comfortable with. It matches what I've flown in sims and I am learning plenty. Now with my first repair I am even feeling confident that I can maintain it. 

However, there is a part of me that really wants to try something with less weight. Something with pop. So I've been doing some research and found the Diatone GT2 200 which looks tighter than anything I could build on my own. After doing my homework for a few months I am aware that this is a decent little machine and I've kind of excited myself into really wanting one. 

So here are the specs: 
D-Link F3 flight controller (possibly updated if I get directly from Diatone)
302X 30A BLHeli_S ESC (input voltage: 3-4S Lipo)
D-Silver 2205 2300KV competitive motor
HS1177 600TVL SONY camera
SP3 48CH video transmitter (input voltage: 3-4S Lipo)
5 inch propeller
0.32KG (0.7 pound)


From a specs perspective this thing looks pretty good... The way I see it quads are sort of where computers were in 2002... A lot of the raw innovation on the components is starting to turn from "new" to "perfected" and build your own is still the best way to go, but there are some pre-built options out there starting to compare with the build your own monsters. 

Much of what is in this is actually better looking than the components that I likely would have bought to build one for myself. 

What do you guys think? Am I just fooling myself because I've seen a few good reviews from folks who got them for free, or is 240-280 for one of these things well worth it?

You should also have a look at the Eachine Wizard

That Diatone GT2 is a beast!

I reckon you'd be hard pushed to break it as well. That has to be the most impressive BNF race quad I've seen come out from China. Even though I prefer to build my own, my fingers are itching.

Thankfully, BG are out of stock!

Yeah, diatone is suggesting a 24th date for delivery.... I'm very tempted right now

If you really don't want to build something yourself (which I personally find uniquely satisfying) and you want bags of speed, power and manoeuvrability; the GT2 looks hard to beat. I love the really low profile design, the true X frame, the ability to use a proper CCD camera and the overall toughness of the design.

The only thing which is a really glaring omission is the lack of any way to add strain relief for the battery plug. That's a really stupid miss. The first thing I do on any of my builds is find some way to ensure that when the battery flies off in a crash, it doesn't take the battery pads off the PDB at the same time.

(10-Apr-2017, 07:08 AM)unseen Wrote: The only thing which is a really glaring omission is the lack of any way to add strain relief for the battery plug. That's a really stupid miss. The first thing I do on any of my builds is find some way to ensure that when the battery flies off in a crash, it doesn't take the battery pads off the PDB at the same time.

That's something I saw as well and figure I'll need to find some way to manage. There are a couple things that can be done but I don't know how effective they'd be unless I get one... so I might just have to... plus I'll have intoFPV straps which I am sure never lose batteries The other thing I don't like is that the frame is all one piece so if you break an arm you break the whole frame... but with 5mil that should be OK even if it does make me nervous after this past weekend.

As for building... I do want to build one eventually... but I still have to set myself up with a better work space and find the time so for now another ARF just seems more practical.

As for the Eachine wizard... it looks like an OK quad but I don't think it'd be much of an upgrade from my current quad. This GT2 looks like it'd be quite a leap.

Edit: Ouch! I can't even pre-order direct from Diatone...

That thing looks awesome! And imho you would really have to try to get one of those arms to break lol. I might try that frame for my next build actually.

(11-Apr-2017, 01:52 AM)Drone0fPrey Wrote: That thing looks awesome! And imho you would really have to try to get one of those arms to break lol. I might try that frame for my next build actually.

True, and if one broke it would be an excuse to transfer everything over which would be another step in the direction of building one myself. The truth is if I were to spend an afternoon practicing my soldering and re-build my confidence I could probably talk myself into building pretty easy. Then again... if I can get an order in for this one, a custom build will have to be number 3.

If you really want to improve your soldering skills without risking expensive stuff, the best thing you can do is get some Veroboard and a some surplus components and practise with that. Maybe also get a few super simple PDBs as well to practise soldering big wires onto thick pads that suck up lots of heat.

The right tools are really important as well. You need a good quality temperature controlled iron with various tips and enough watts for the job, along with some rosin cored 60/40 lead based solder.

Too hot and you'll vapourise the flux before it has a chance to do its job, too cold and the solder won't flow properly, not enough watts and you'll take too long to solder pads that soak up lots of heat and risk having the pad separate from the board and also risk cooking the other components while you're at it!

(11-Apr-2017, 11:57 AM)unseen Wrote: If you really want to improve your soldering skills without risking expensive stuff, the best thing you can do is get some Veroboard and a some surplus components and practise with that. Maybe also get a few super simple PDBs as well to practise soldering big wires onto thick pads that suck up lots of heat.

The right tools are really important as well. You need a good quality temperature controlled iron with various tips and enough watts for the job, along with some rosin cored 60/40 lead based solder.

Too hot and you'll vapourise the flux before it has a chance to do its job, too cold and the solder won't flow properly, not enough watts and you'll take too long to solder pads that soak up lots of heat and risk having the pad separate from the board and also risk cooking the other components while you're at it!

Im about half way there. I have a couple of irons, one is adjustable. Ill check on the solder. I just need the prectice mostly... Buyig some cheap PDBs might be a good idea for practice... Or I can just rip something apart... Maybe ill do both.

Pre-order placed direct with Diatone. The site says that they're expecting them to be in sometime in the next 1-11 days.