Build BullApex 7 LR - customized Apex 7 build thread

[MomoBrut]

I was busy with other things and at the same time I was waiting for the delayed delivery of the Vifly GPS Mate. GPS Mate is a great thing, it allows the GPS module to be powered by the GPS Mate battery and is not dependent on anything else. So it allows for a seamless 3Dfix before I prepare the equipment for flight. I have been using it for a long time in other quad, it has proven itself, and it also works as a sufficiently loud buzzer. So I can finally finish the rear extension of the quad. I gradually inserted the GPS module Matek M10Q and on the other side the GPS Mate into this extension, the print was designed for it, so it fits there exactly. I ended up putting in both antennas, my own 2.4Ghz ELRS pole antenna and the HGLRC long range LHCP antenna for Vista.

[MomoBrut]

As a receiver I used a Happy Model EP1 Dual true diversity 2.4Ghz ELRS Rx. This receiver is a fully doubled Rx and I set the firmware to diversity mode. The connected rear pole antenna is in vertical polarization, the front BetaFPV dipole antenna is in horizontal polarization. This setup has proven itself very well in the long run. The receiver itself is shrunk and attached to the side plate with self-adhesive double-sided tape. Both the capacitor and the cable are secured with tightening strips, easy ...

[MomoBrut]

And it's actually done, there's only really little things left, it remains to connect the power cable to the Naked GoPro. I am sending a few photos of the finished BullApex 7LR. I am ready to fly when the weather is good.

[MomoBrut]

The total weight including the Naked GoPro is 583g only. For comparison, I list the weights of comparable 7 inch drones, which are listed without the GoPro weight ... iFlight Chimera 7 - 695g, GEPRC MOZ7 - 700g, GEPRC Crocodile75 - 628g and Rekon7 576g (but this one can only carry smaller batteries.)

[MomoBrut]

And I tested if all the battery configurations I intended would fit on the top plate. And, of course, the prerequisite for success is the center of gravity in the middle of the quad, which was completely fulfilled. The first photo shows a 6s3300 Lipo battery (498g). A 6s5000 Lipo battery (725g) would also fit in, but I don't have one and I don't find it interesting either, it's too heavy for the capacity. With 6s3000 Lipo will be this quad in midrange&freestyle flying mode. The second photo shows a fairly solid LR configuration, 2x 6s3000 Lion Murata VTC6 (612g). Finally, in the last photo there are 2x 6s4000 Lion Molicell (842g), with this battery the total flight distance should be somewhere around 27 km (approx. 27 min). Only real tests will show how it will really turn out.

[iFly4rotors]

Hi MomoBrut,

Nice Build.     Good Job. 

I like the custom camera mount.

Later, iFly  

[MomoBrut]

Hi MomoBrut,

Nice Build.      Good Job. 

I like the custom camera mount.

Later, iFly  

Thank you iFly. 

[MomoBrut]

The weather is really terrible these days, cold, windy, constant showers. Today the weather has finally cleared up. So I did the first few flights. The BullApex7 (BA7) allows for quite a bit higher PIDs than I have on the FR7, and it's needed because it's quite a bit lighter. During the first 5 flights with HQprop 7x4x3, I tuned the PIDs and filters almost perfectly, it remains to fine-tune the TPA and rates. Otherwise, it flies with the 6s3300 as a freestyle quad, which has its own inertia, a very nice feeling. I did another flight to calibrate the current measurement.

For the next two flights I tested the efficiency of this quad against the FR7, using the same battery and the same propeller (DP Cyclone 7056C Pro). First, elementary parameters such as weights:
FR7 without GoPro 700g, with Hero 8 825g,
BA7 without GoPro 550g, with Naked Hero 8 585g.
So without the battery, the weight difference between the FR7 and the BA7 is a whopping 240g, which is a huge difference. I tried to fly both quads along the same route, at the same speed and for the time until I first read the value of 3.5V/cell. Average speeds were between 68 and 70 km/h. BA7 lasted 12:42 in the air and flew 14.5 km. FR7 lasted 9:23 and flew 10.8 km.
The rest of the season, the weather will be rather unflyable, so I probably won't do more tests, but I want to find out the efficiency at an average speed of around 90 km/h, and most importantly, I need to try all the other battery combinations I have ... Due to the lower currents, it will probably be possible to use only one 6s4000 Lion battery on the BA7.

These tests that I did took me a total of 6 hours of time including preparation and analysis of results including logs, just crazy, an awful lot of time.

And I'm also putting photos for comparison of my larger LR drones, Apex6, BullApex7 and Fr7, so you can see the differences between them. And then once again deadcat which is FR7 and squished X which is BullApex. Each of them has a purpose...

Anyway, nobody seems to care much about this thread, there are few posts, I don't know why, I guess everyone has moved on to whoops or what do I know...

[iFly4rotors]

Hi MomoBrut,

First, I want to say that your builds are exquisite and very, very clean.

From the beginning, my focus has been on sub-250 gram craft. At one
point I was interested in Long Range craft, but have abandoned the idea
as it just doesn't fit my scheme of things. That said, I do have one 7-inch
craft, my Rescue Quad, however, that was built as a special purpose craft
and not for long range. Consequently, I generally don't venture into the
Long Range section very often. 

One reason for my sub-250 gram focus was to avoid registration and Remote ID.
However, I have now changed my mind. After watching all the Rant videos, I
have realized that Remote ID is NOT the "devil" that the antagonists portrayed.
So, I decided to buy a couple RID modules, register under Recreational, and resume 
work on my Rescue Quad and my BEAST build which was on hold for the same 
reason. I actually have some other builds in the Long Range section that I will
continue to work on even though they are now short to mid range craft. 

Yes, I believe the focus for many builder/pilots has been somewhat "downsized"
and probably due to Remote ID and that the FAA may actually start doing more
enforcement than in the past. You know, if a person is just starting out, just keep 
the craft below 250 grams and only fly for fun, then no registration is required
and NO Remote ID. 

If a person is truly conscientious about obeying the law and FAA regulations,
then long range flight is simply out of the question since all UAS (drone) flights
are required to be within Visual Line of Sight. I think that the whole Remote ID
issue has encouraged pilots to actually read the FAA regulations. Some will
not comply, however, there might be many that do and they will likely move
to smaller craft that is more suited to smaller fly areas. 

Another factor that might be driving the hobby into smaller craft is the cost. As
you know, prices have skyrocketed. Plus, bigger is more costly; it just is. With
things costing more it becomes more challenging to be in the game. First, the 
initial cost to buy or build anything has gone way up especially for the medium
to large quads. Now, if a person loses a quad that is several hundred dollars and 
it might also have high dollar video gear on it; Ouch !! 

Also, new members may not realize where to start or put their build threads.

Hang in there and keep up the good work. 

Later, iFly  

[MomoBrut]

Thank you for your response. If I were to write everything that I think is my view on the matter, it would be a long, overlong and rather philosophical treatise. This is a build thread, so I'd like to keep it that way. I would like to note that not only US citizens come here, so not all of us need RID. And of course all flights must be VLOS, no doubt about that. And a bit of humor, the smaller the quad, the shorter the distance is the VLOS limit, don't you think? And seriously, my Scythe LR can fly more than 6 km from me, 225g AUW ... So it doesn't really matter to me if it's a sub250 or not ...

Life is short, do what we can and what makes us and the community happy, eventually everyone will find out that this is the important thing, maybe the most important one ...

[Diver]

I'm impressed with your clean build and the time you spent to post it with so many details. I have no words.

I was thinking to post my build at some point , but after watching your's .......... no way

Respect !!!

[MomoBrut]

Thanks, from someone who seriously flies LR, it's really nice, maybe you found some new info there. This isn't my first build thread, I've been doing these for a long time and not just quads.

Here on IntoFpv, in addition to BullApex, there are also the following threads about:
Apex6 LR APEX 6 HD long range | IntoFPV Foruminspired by bob57 and I'm very happy with it, btw my only quad with really good working biblades.
FR7 ELRS long range antenna for bigger drones (dipole maybe?) | IntoFPV Forum this thread started as a thread about antennas for ELRS, in the end I dealt with everything there including Lion battery DIY process, it's such a taste of everything.
Scythe LR 3.5” Scythe HD | IntoFPV Forum started by verifying the freestyle quad and the next version I did LR, here is a lot of information about GPS Recue and the problems associated with it and in general the problems arising from the fact that all the systems we use are within 2 cm of each other, so they are solved interference problems...

[Diver]

I don’t know if I missed it but, have you ever tried to build a mechanism, to control the camera during the flight?
I have made one in my built but it’s more like a proof of concept.
I mean, with your skills and equipment, you can make one much better than mine.
Something like this

[MomoBrut]

Somehow I don't have enough time, and what I do have, I try to invest in what I understand to be meaningful for me. Of course, it is possible to make a servo-controlled camera, but I do not consider it meaningful for me. This would bring me to the level of commercial drones, where it is common for the camera shot to be different than the direction of the drone's movement. I prefer a dynamic shot, a shot with a tilt, a shot that is alive, a shot that is moving and captures movement. If I wanted a flying gimbal, I'd buy a DJI drone.