09-Jul-2016, 12:48 AM
On a Sunday a few weeks ago it was raining and miserable outside and I randomly fell into the HobbyKing website during a "Raining Cats and Drones" sale.
Yeah I fell for it and a bunch of random quadcopter/drone bits fell into my cart.
Then I decided to work out what I didn't buy, and whether what I did buyers actually going to work, to be honest I was by it all.
By now I've done some research and worked out that while I haven't bought the latest, greatest or best bits I have a reasonable nomination of tried and proven parts which I can proceed to destroy by flying into things.
So what did I buy?
I stuck a post on my Blog about it (http://excesstext.com/2016/06/23/ive-dec...uadcopter/) with all the gory details but in short:
- HobbyKing/Diatone 250mm FPV "Long" frame (FPV250L)
- HobbyKing KK2.1.5 Mini flight control
- Emax MT2204 Motor/Prop/ESC set with the 20A Mini Opto ESCs
- 1300mah 3S battery
Then I did more reading and thinking over the next couple of weeks and ordered more bits from HobbyKing yesterday (http://excesstext.com/2016/07/08/quick-q...er-update/)
- Matek mini PDB (I need the BEC power anyway so may as well do it neat)
- Assorted cabling bits to link the yet-to-be-bought receiver to the flight controller
- Programmer to suit the KK2.1.5 so I can flash on the newest firmware etc
- XT60 adapter to get my old battery charger (LiPo friendly) up-to-date and back to work.
Grabbed a prop balancing stand via AliExpress for all of AUD5 delivered too.
So far it looks a bit like this:
Yep not yet assembled. I intend on doing the basic assembly today/tomorrow - that is get the frame and motors together - have the CCW motors in the CW prop positions and all that kind of thing. Will then start laying out wiring and so on.
What's my investment so far?
About AUD90 which I think isn't too bad. By the time I buy more props (suggestions?) another battery or two the flying cost will be at most about AUD150.
Haven't mentioned radio gear yet because I haven't bought any. I know I could drop AUD60 on some cheap set but really really like the I deal of grabbing a Taranis and future proofing that side of things a bit. It's always easy to buy more Rx units to sit down the track, but multiple Tx's i find are a pain (I have a box of 2ch gear from cars). Naturally spending circa AUD320 on the Taranis isn't "budget" so I'm biding my time waiting for some kind of "sale" to fall into my lap.
What do you think?
Any hot tips asides from "don't forget the loctite" or "you got ripped"
Yes I haven't considered FPV gear yet.. Figure if I can't get this off the ground LOS spending more on FPV is a waste
Yeah I fell for it and a bunch of random quadcopter/drone bits fell into my cart.
Then I decided to work out what I didn't buy, and whether what I did buyers actually going to work, to be honest I was by it all.
By now I've done some research and worked out that while I haven't bought the latest, greatest or best bits I have a reasonable nomination of tried and proven parts which I can proceed to destroy by flying into things.
So what did I buy?
I stuck a post on my Blog about it (http://excesstext.com/2016/06/23/ive-dec...uadcopter/) with all the gory details but in short:
- HobbyKing/Diatone 250mm FPV "Long" frame (FPV250L)
- HobbyKing KK2.1.5 Mini flight control
- Emax MT2204 Motor/Prop/ESC set with the 20A Mini Opto ESCs
- 1300mah 3S battery
Then I did more reading and thinking over the next couple of weeks and ordered more bits from HobbyKing yesterday (http://excesstext.com/2016/07/08/quick-q...er-update/)
- Matek mini PDB (I need the BEC power anyway so may as well do it neat)
- Assorted cabling bits to link the yet-to-be-bought receiver to the flight controller
- Programmer to suit the KK2.1.5 so I can flash on the newest firmware etc
- XT60 adapter to get my old battery charger (LiPo friendly) up-to-date and back to work.
Grabbed a prop balancing stand via AliExpress for all of AUD5 delivered too.
So far it looks a bit like this:
Yep not yet assembled. I intend on doing the basic assembly today/tomorrow - that is get the frame and motors together - have the CCW motors in the CW prop positions and all that kind of thing. Will then start laying out wiring and so on.
What's my investment so far?
About AUD90 which I think isn't too bad. By the time I buy more props (suggestions?) another battery or two the flying cost will be at most about AUD150.
Haven't mentioned radio gear yet because I haven't bought any. I know I could drop AUD60 on some cheap set but really really like the I deal of grabbing a Taranis and future proofing that side of things a bit. It's always easy to buy more Rx units to sit down the track, but multiple Tx's i find are a pain (I have a box of 2ch gear from cars). Naturally spending circa AUD320 on the Taranis isn't "budget" so I'm biding my time waiting for some kind of "sale" to fall into my lap.
What do you think?
Any hot tips asides from "don't forget the loctite" or "you got ripped"
Yes I haven't considered FPV gear yet.. Figure if I can't get this off the ground LOS spending more on FPV is a waste