What’s this? My first roninUAV frame?!

Yup.

This build thread is a 3” roninUAV Sohei MK2. I feel like I’ve been waiting months to get my hands on this frame.

I’m trying to keep my hobby budget real close to $0. I had some credit card reward points that allowed me to get this frame and my choice of motors without spending any money (y’know, those “deals” where a credit card company is like, “we expect to make so much money in interest off of you, so we’re gonna throw a little bit back at you. We expect to make at least 16%apr, so, here’s 2 or 3% back. In order to entice you to continue spending with us, the terms are use those points to buy more things with your card so that you can pay us more interest- or if you want cash back, we’re happy to do that but we’re gonna cut your rewards in half to 1 or 1.5%. Go forth and consume!”

My motor choice was RCINPower 1506 4300kv. Total overkill for this frame, but, it should be frakking fun as hell with HQ 3x5x3 props on 4s.

In order to keep my hobby budget at $0, every other part of this build will have to either use stuff I already have, or I’ll have to sell or trade things I’m not using from this or other hobbies to fund it.

This frame has a lot more real estate than I need- I’m still running analog. One of these days I’ll go digital with Hdzero, and I like knowing that this frame has room for it.

For the fc/esc, I’m thinking I’m gonna use the Diatone Mamba AIO 35A F722 MK1 from my Sector25CR build- that quad only gets air time when I’ve broken everything else.

For the vtx, I’ve got a number of options. 
I’ve got a couple TBS Unify Pro 5g8 HV, but I don’t really trust them. I bought them used a while back- the previous owner covered them in some sort of epoxy like coating. It’s not conformal coating, or at least not silicone conformal coating like I typically use. One of them has an sma antenna extension soldered on, the other has obvious overheating marks on the shrink wrap. I haven’t even tried them because if I lose video, I might lose my quad.
I’ve got an ImmersionRC Tramp HV that will most likely end up in this build.
I’ve got a few ImpulseRC Helix VTXs that someone sent me from Australia for the cost of shipping- I’d like to try them out but I’d have to make a cable to configure them (and figure how to configure them).
I’ve also got a few random older vtx’s that aren’t smart audio or tramp capable- but they’ve got a button so I should be able to figure out how to set the band/channel/power.

Camera- Caddx Baby Ratel

I’m gonna hafta figure out how to mount a vtx antenna. The only filament that I can consistently successfully print with on my 3d printer is PLA- and I know from past experience that PLA breaks with pretty much every crash.

I’m pretty impressed with the frame- the arms are thicc. I don’t have any doubt that they’ll handle my crashes just fine. I think this thing is gonna be a proper basher- I think I’ll be able to push it beyond my limits without worrying about breaking it.
Seriously, for a 3”, these arms are chunky. Ronin didn’t skimp on the carbon fiber.

The patch was a nice unexpected extra. Back in the day I would have totally rocked it under a Suicidal Tendencies patch. If I ever start flying outside of my property, it will definitely get sewn or stapled onto whatever I end up using as my flight backpack/bag.

I’m gonna make this thing pretty, at least for its first few flights. For past successful hydro dipping experiments I’ve used Marabu Easy Marble- I’ve liked the final results, but, it doesn’t play nice with most clear coats. This time I’m gonna try spray paint.

I lightly wet sanded it with 280 grit sandpaper (while wearing a mask- carbon fiber dust is about as bad as asbestos and fiberglass). Washed it well, let it dry, and sprayed it with a white primer.
Once that dries I plan on dipping it into neon yellow, neon orange, fire engine red, and silver.

Awesome!!!

And Lemon, thank you for the private message calling out some issues you found with the frame.  That really speaks a lot about your decency that you didn't want to call me out in public.  I'd ask that you post close ups of the issues though.  Aside from the fact that we're all family here at IntoFPV, your feedback helps me a lot to improve my frames.  

From what you describe, it is very similar to what another member had with the Ronin Mk2 arms.  I have been talking to my supplier about addressing this and I've made changes to the design of the arms but maybe I need to do more.  I also think you mentioned an issue with the press nuts.

Thank you Lemon and enjoy the Sohei!!  I keep telling everyone it's quickly become my go-to frame because of its ability to carry 4K cameras but still have tons of power to rip!


[edit]  All I wanted was a Pepsi!!  But they wouldn't give it to me!!!!  

Just one Pepsi!

To anyone who’s considering buying a roninUAV frame and comes across this thread, don’t let the minor flaws in the attached pictures scare you off, Ronin’s frames are top notch. I’m pretty sure I could find minor flaws in any frame if I look hard enough.

Ronin- I don’t think these are design issues. I think these are issues with whatever tools your frame manufacturer is using to cut the frames.

Thank you Lemon and again, I really appreciated you reaching out to me in PM first and then agreeing to post those close ups.  Not gonna lie, it actually, physically stings whenever anyone calls out an error in my frames ... but I prefer that pain to the shame of knowing I didn't do what I could to fix it.

And you are right, these are mechanical issues from my supplier.  Unfortunately, when you are a tiny customer, you can't really dictate terms so much lol.  With that said, these guys have treated me really good and while they "say" they will address the issue, I also try to *design around* the issue.  In the case of the arms motor holes chipping, I reduced the center hole diameter by 0.5mm which does help a bit to mitigate the chipping.  That's just an example of how I've been addressing issues raised before.

But yours seems to be a different issue with the lamination on that edge where you are pointing the arrow.  I will raise this with them.  I think i was so focused on the motor hole chipping issue that that particular arm got past me when I was vacuum sealing it.

That bottom plate press nut ... is embarrassing.  Sorry man there's no excuse for that at all.  Please let me know if you have issues with that one and I will send you another one. 

Thanks again man and looking forward to your basher build flight videos!!!  Send this thing!!    

I added a 3” in the title to distinguish this build thread from Robin’s build thread that had the same name.

Ronin- I don’t think the bottom plate is going to give me any issues.

I didn’t like how any of my hydro dipping experiments with spray paint came out. It’s too thick and goopy and ends up looking like crap. So, tonight this thing will get dipped in Easy Marble. I’ve got a couple different clear coats that I haven’t tried with it yet, I’m hoping one of them will give me a nice smooth top coat without messing with the paint job.

(23-Feb-2022, 07:37 PM)Lemonyleprosy Wrote: I didn’t like how any of my hydro dipping experiments with spray paint came out. It’s too thick and goopy and ends up looking like crap. So, tonight this thing will get dipped in Easy Marble. I’ve got a couple different clear coats that I haven’t tried with it yet, I’m hoping one of them will give me a nice smooth top coat without messing with the paint job.

Oh snap!!!  You are going to hydro dip this guy??  I can't wait to see this.  

I wanted to just use red, yellow, and a tiny bit of white on this thing- but I decided to also toss in a little bit of black. 

I’m expecting to repeatedly slam this thing into the ground- so I figured a little bit of black would help damage blend in if I start exposing carbon fiber.

The attached pictures were taken right after dipping- those raised droplets are water that will dry off.

I think I finally found a spray clear coat that works with this stuff. It didn’t start eating away at color on my test sprays on paper and plastic.

There really isn’t anywhere on my property that isn’t covered in dust/dirt/pet hair, so this thing is currently sitting in my 3d printer to dry where it at least won’t get hit with dust and hair as I fly by.

This stuff dries quick and should be fully cured in 24 hours, but I’m going to let it sit until Saturday evening. Then, I’ll hit it with some small diamond files to clean up openings/holes/etc, cross my fingers, and spray it with the clear coat and hope it doesn’t start dissolving the paint- or if it does, that it does it in a visually pleasing way.

It’s a bit too late tonight to continue to “send it”, so I’m gonna be responsible and rebuild the carburetor on my riding mower so that I can actually mow my lawn. I really don’t want to- I’m super allergic to grass and everything else that grows, but, long grass really sucks to crash/land in and my dogs really don’t like tall grass tickling their butts. I don’t hold that against them- I wouldn’t like it either.

Cool 

I like the colors. It looks really wild.  

Bro that is so SICK.  You gotta send me some hi res pics of that guy when you're done man.  That is SICK.  We need the fire emoji lol.  

(24-Feb-2022, 06:45 PM)the.ronin Wrote: Bro that is so SICK.  You gotta send me some hi res pics of that guy when you're done man.  That is SICK.  We need the fire emoji lol.  

I’ll take a few good pictures before I hit it will clear coat, just in case it all goes horribly wrong.

I had this idea of hydro dipping my goggles in some digital snow camo!!

Whelp, fail. 

It’s a shame, cause I really liked this dip. But, even though I did test runs with this clear coat, it did *not* work out well in practice. I would have been happier just using the clear coat that I’ve used in the past that shows brush strokes.

I’ve attached a before and after picture.

I’m gonna have to sand all of that lumpy crap down.

It was pretty. Now it looks like crap.

The only differences between my test runs and this thing are… well, a lot. Test runs were on paper and plastic that were dipped 30+ days ago, this was sprayed 72 hours after dipping. Temperature and humidity are vastly different as well.

Meh.

It doesn’t really matter, it’ll all turn grass green after a few flights, but I’m still gonna hafta sand it all down so that it’s level.

Still, I’m irked. I really liked how it looked. Maybe after I sand it all down it won’t look too bad. :/

Edit- if it still looks diseased after I sand it down, maybe I’ll sand it down some more and put a new coat of primer on it and start all over. Maybe. I really wanna get this guy in the air though.

Ronin was kind enough to send me some antenna mounts- thanks dude!

Hi Lemony,

Well, it does look different. On the other hand, it looks pretty cool with the "crinkle" finish.

 If it was me, I might consider just cleaning up the areas needed for assembly...
       where the arms are sandwiched, maybe clean out the countersunk holes,
       smooth out the motor mount areas on the arms {so they mount level}, 
       just the areas that might work better if sanded {maybe}...assemble 
       the frame and see how it all "fits" together. If it assembles, ok...
       See how it looks assembled. But that is just me.     

       What the heck. If you intend to sand it down anyway, why not just start with the
       important areas {important for the assembly}, put it together, and check it. What
       have you got to loose. If you don't like it...well...you have already started on the
       sanding. 
       Just a thought 

I have considered spray painting the frame. Then I think...Nah...too much work. 
On the other hand, you never know about me. I might get a whim and go wild
with a spray paint can {or cans}...probably do something crazy.