first build -- confused but interested

[liorco]

Hello there dear forum's members,

in the last weeks I developed an interest for quadcopters. as a newbie in the field I have absolutely no experience with this at all.
but I want to take the challenge and try to build and fly a quadcopter myself. I have got a vacation from my "job" soon so I have got alot of time to learn and invest.

I set a few goals that I want to achieve in order:
1) build and fly a quadcopter to have fun (and gain some piloting skills and knowledge in this field on the way)
2) to maybe attach a camera (GoPro?) on board and take some aerial photography (as photography is one of my hobbies)
3) to maybe one day replace the onboard flight controller with my own flight computer (maybe raspberry pi or an arduino) (as I am an experienced programmer and its sounds like a nice challenge to take)*

* note: I understand that the raspberry pi is far from realtime microcontroller but I've seen some success over the internet and would like to try it myself.

so in the last weeks I've learned some theory about motors, batteries, ESC's and flight in general but I still feel my knowledge is far from enough to build a quadcopter.

thats why I come here for advice.
(also I was not completely sure about where to place this post so please let me know if its not the right place)

I have seen a video of this guy (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csnYH_eq-Xk) doing about what I want to do so I took advices from him building this build over at hobbyking (I tried to keep the budget as low as I could as I am limited with this resource):

HobbyKing Multi-Rotor Control Board V2.1
Hobby King Quadcopter Power Distribution Board
D2830-11 1000kv Brushless Motor x4
HobbyKing 30A BlueSeries Brushless Speed Controller x4
F330 Glass Fiber Mini Quadcopter Frame 330mm
OR Hobbyking SK450 Glass Fiber Quadcopter Frame 450mm
8x4.5 SF Props 4pc R/H Rotation (Yellow) x2 (I heard this part is breaking alot)
OR 10x4.5 SF Props 2pc Standard Rotation/2 pc RH Rotation (Black) x2 (I heard this part is breaking alot)
HobbyKing HK6S 2.4Ghz FHSS 6Ch Tx & Rx (Mode 2)
Hobbyking 2-8S Cell Checker with Low Voltage Alarm
ZIPPY Flightmax 2650mAh 3S1P 45C
HobbyKing B3AC Compact Charger

(this whole build is estimated 180$)

parts links (same order):

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__19534__HobbyKing_Multi_Rotor_Control_Board_V2_1_Atmega168PA_.html
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__23140__Hobby_King_Quadcopter_Power_Distribution_Board.html
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__12921__D2830_11_1000kv_Brushless_Motor.html
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__13429__HobbyKing_30A_BlueSeries_Brushless_Speed_Controller.html
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__28172__F330_Glass_Fiber_Mini_Quadcopter_Frame_330mm.html
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__24291__Hobbyking_SK450_Glass_Fiber_Quadcopter_Frame_450mm.html
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__22312__8x4_5_SF_Props_4pc_R_H_Rotation_Yellow_.html
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__25824__10x4_5_SF_Props_2pc_Standard_Rotation_2_pc_RH_Rotation_Black_.html
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__16239__HobbyKing_HK6S_2_4Ghz_FHSS_6Ch_Tx_Rx_Mode_2_.html
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__18588__Hobbyking_2_8S_Cell_Checker_with_Low_Voltage_Alarm.html
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__16483__ZIPPY_Flightmax_2650mAh_3S1P_45C.html
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__22410__HobbyKing_B3AC_Compact_Charger.html

a quick "need" / "want" table:
- I need it to work
- I need it to be quite cheap
- I want it to be able to fly as long as it can
- I want it to be able to carry a camera
- I want to be able to replace the control board


finally my questions are:

1) did I miss something out? did I take something extra which I do not need? (considering I have no parts at all at my home)
2) should I replace a part for something differenet? (like the control board with the KK2.0? or the motors? or different battery?)
3) is hobbyking a good place to buy stuff? should I check some other websites? (hobbyking seems good because it has everything in one place)
4) Part compatability is a big issue for me as I do not know how to know what goes with what:
- is everything here is compatible with everything?
- will the ESCs works with the motors?
- will the battery works with everything?
- will the charger charge this kind of battery?
- the Props are the right ones?
5) do you have any experience buying from hobbyking? how is the delievery?



ANY input for any of the questions or the post or generally is very appreciated!

Thank you for taking the time and reading this post!

 

[FlyGirl]

Kind of a noob myself but I'll jump in with my 2 cents worth however that may be all it's worth in reality

Get the 450 frame. It's nice to have the room to put things on. The battery should be changed too. No reason really that I know of to have a 45C rated battery. 30C is more than enough. Up the mAh rating to get a longer flight time too. Just as a comparison, I am using 5000mAh 30c 14.8 4s batteries on my 450 quad and getting about 12 to 13 minutes. Start off with 8 inch props, the larger 10 inch ones tend to float especially in a breeze. I have had good luck with Gemfan props. Hobby King delivery from the USA warehouse if you are in the USA is fine. International warehouses take a lot longer.

Okay, that's all I got! LOL! I'll let the real pros comment...

 

[liorco]

Thanks for the reply! I will look into a different battery replacement
I am outside of the US and the EU warehouse is out of stock for what I think I need.
however I am used to Dealextreme delivery times which is usually 2 weeks, is it better or worse ?

 

[FlyGirl]

Thanks for the reply! I will look into a different battery replacement
I am outside of the US and the EU warehouse is out of stock for what I think I need.
however I am used to Dealextreme delivery times which is usually 2 weeks, is it better or worse ?

2 to 2 and half weeks I think is about right!

 

[liorco]

so I looked into possible batteries and after reading the forum's battery thread I think i'd go with a 3S 5000mAh 30c battery
(http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__8587__ZIPPY_Flightmax_5000mAh_3S1P_30C.html)
I figured that for that price I just better get both props to test with ...
also I was looking into building my own airframe (PVC/Plastic/Wood) so if (and from what I read its more a "when" question) the frame will break I could easily fix it from a local PVC/Plastic/Wood store in the area. it could also enable me to buy the KK2.0 board which from what i've been told is more adjustable.

someone over at reddit told me about http://www.ecalc.ch/xcoptercalc.htm which is a calculator for multirotos, is it any good?

what do you think?

 

[FlyGirl]

so I looked into possible batteries and after reading the forum's battery thread I think i'd go with a 3S 5000mAh 30c battery
(http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__8587__ZIPPY_Flightmax_5000mAh_3S1P_30C.html)
I figured that for that price I just better get both props to test with ...
also I was looking into building my own airframe (PVC/Plastic/Wood) so if (and from what I read its more a "when" question) the frame will break I could easily fix it from a local PVC/Plastic/Wood store in the area. it could also enable me to buy the KK2.0 board which from what i've been told is more adjustable.

someone over at reddit told me about http://www.ecalc.ch/xcoptercalc.htm which is a calculator for multirotos, is it any good?

what do you think?

Well, since I never built from scratch I would just be pulling answers out of a hat but I have seen people build their own frames with pretty good success. However, I can say that battery looks perfect for a 450 size machine.

 

[PeteDee]

Motors, I have had these and they are good but for a little more get 800-900kv motors and 9x5 or 9x4.7 slowfly props, either NTM or Aerodrive.
Get a KK2 board much better and easier to use.
450 not 330 is what you want.
4S for power and duration, 30C is plenty and lighter and cheaper than 45C.
Integrated power on the frame is way better than not.
Get the biggest baddest Tx you can afford with plenty of three way switches, two at least, spend up a bit and it will last for years, don't spend enough and you will be replacing it soon.
That charger is simply not good enough, you must be able to measure what is put back into the packs.

Pete