Christmas gift for RC enthusiast: DJI 450?

[lilly8]

Hi all,

I don't know anything about RC tech but my brother is a huge RC enthusiast and has a lot of planes/helicopters/cars/boats but not quadcopters yet. I was thinking of getting him one for Christmas but I'm a little overwhelmed and am looking for some advice. Any help would be very much appreciated!

My budget is around $500-600 and while the DJI phantom is something i'd probably get for myself, I think he'd prefer something that he can put together himself, tinker with, upgrade, etc. So I was thinking the DJI 450 would be a good option, but I don't know what I need to get to make it complete (or mostly complete) and how much that would actually cost... For example, I'm looking at Atlanta Hobby and they have a $360 kit for the F450 that includes a Naza Lite and GPS but it says it will need a transmitter, receiver, a battery, and connectors. Does anyone have suggestions? Is this a reputable site? Is it likely that a transmitter he already has for his helicopters would work?

Thanks!

 

[Bartman]

Lilly,

An F450 ARF kit would be a good first build but I'd pass on the NAZA Lite and get a NAZA V2. If he's flying RC then he can probably survive without the GPS option and still enjoy it a lot.

Atlanta Hobby is a retailer that you can count on, they seem to sell a lot of stuff although I'd respectfully ask that you shop with one of our advertisers here and then tell your brother about us after he opens his gift.

Enjoy the holidays.
Bart

 

[lilly8]

Thanks Bartman!

That makes sense, I saw a video the Naza v2 and it looked like it was flying better and I guess I really don't know what the GPS is for. He can get that later right?

I'll definitely check out the advertisers on here - the prices look similar.

 

[Bartman]

Thanks Bartman!

That makes sense, I saw a video the Naza v2 and it looked like it was flying better and I guess I really don't know what the GPS is for. He can get that later right?

I'll definitely check out the advertisers on here - the prices look similar.

he can add the GPS later.

don't forget to get him a multirotorforums.com t-shirt!

 

[Simon Templar]

I would agree with Bart about the Naza V2. Truth be told, there isn't a huge difference between v1 and v2 Naza's. Should you happen to stumble across a NEW v1 at a good price, it would save you some $$. (However...as a gift, the v2 makes the bigger impact, of course).

All of the above being said, I'd not worry about the "it will need a transmitter, receiver, a battery, and connectors" part. If he is already an RC flyer and builder, he already has the transmitter...and probably has a spare receiver kicking around...and the connectors are really just utility items that any builder already has a drawer-full of.


Best,

.....sT

 

[nabbs1]

can you be my sister also hehe

Yes this seems to be one of the better nicer sites around imo.

 

[bensid54]

I have the Naza light and a 450 flame wheel and have never had the Naza v2 but I really like my Naza light and at half the price I think it's a good place to start. A quad copter opens up a lot more doors for an RC lover and in my opinion they are cheaper crash wise than any other hobby grade flying RC I've ever owned.

 

[FlyGirl]

I have the Naza light and a 450 flame wheel and have never had the Naza v2 but I really like my Naza light and at half the price I think it's a good place to start. A quad copter opens up a lot more doors for an RC lover and in my opinion they are cheaper crash wise than any other hobby grade flying RC I've ever owned.

+1 to what Ben said....!