Just joined - Please be gentle with me

[SierraGolfMike]

Hi Everyone,

From the title you will see that I have just joined the forum. I look forward to buying my first Quadcopter but need loads of advice and information first before I part with my hard earned cash. I am a member of other forums and expect this one to be no different, a great bunch of like minded people who like to help others and show off the results of their expertise to encourage the learners amongst us, me being the newest. So here I am ready for a steep learning curve, crampons at the ready.:tennis:


Cheers


Steve

 

[Macsgrafs]

Hi Steve.....welcome aboard. Fiurstly...we dont help anyone, we are to tight only messing with yah mate. What bsort of ship you after? Quad,Hexa, Octo, Tri???

Ross

 

[SierraGolfMike]

Thanks for the reply Ross, wasn't sure if this page was the one to use for asking for advice so I have posted on the general page. Anyway, my budget is not great (in fact just now it doesn't exist but soon I hope) but I was looking at something along the lines of the DJI F450 Quad which is basically the first one I saw, something around that price. Just want to know possibilities, what to steer clear of etc.

Cheers

Steve

 

[DucktileMedia]

To throw it out there, I have a brand new in box f450 that came with my Wookong. I am not using it and would part with it for $60. Welcome aboard. I also have an Xaircraft setup i can sell you that will work on the F450. I'd let that go for $100.

You will need a minimum of a DX6i, preferably a Futaba 8fg or JR 9503. You will get hooked and end up here eventually anyways.

You will need lipos/chargers. Most of the DJI stuff seems to like 4s over 3s since you can spin a smaller prop faster.

And everyone will tell you to get a simulator first. Your call but it is worth every penny.

esc's/motors/props....there are a thousand posts on this here. Thats about it. The F450 setup will realistically cost you $1000 at best.

 

[Bowley]

Hi Steve, check out www.quadframes.co.uk I'm sure they are from Invergordon so just a stones throw to check out the goods, some nice stuff available for a low cost build.


Steve

 

[quadcopters]

Hi Steve , You wont go far wrong with a F450 Kit for a starter quad , the frames are really good and they fly superb for the money .
I am normally around so if you need any help or advice let me know .
Geoff
http://quadcopters.co.uk

 

[Macsgrafs]

Thats a good price from our own IrisAerial...shame you dont have the bucks at present! no worries though Steve, its normally that way & may I add...hope you have endless pockets & a good Mrs Both will have you broke 24/7

Whats the SGM username bit for? GM0SGM?

Ross

 

[SierraGolfMike]

To throw it out there, I have a brand new in box f450 that came with my Wookong. I am not using it and would part with it for $60. Welcome aboard. I also have an Xaircraft setup i can sell you that will work on the F450. I'd let that go for $100.

You will need a minimum of a DX6i, preferably a Futaba 8fg or JR 9503. You will get hooked and end up here eventually anyways.

You will need lipos/chargers. Most of the DJI stuff seems to like 4s over 3s since you can spin a smaller prop faster.

And everyone will tell you to get a simulator first. Your call but it is worth every penny.

esc's/motors/props....there are a thousand posts on this here. Thats about it. The F450 setup will realistically cost you $1000 at best.

IrisAerial,

Many thanks for the offer, with the price in dollars I assume that you are in th US? Not sure if I would have to pay any taxes if you sent it over or what it would cost but I will look into it. What Xaircraft model is it so I can investigate and do you have any pics? Other that Transmitter, Receiver and batteries what else would I need? I am very interested in your offer.

Many Thanks

Steve

 

[SierraGolfMike]

Thats a good price from our own IrisAerial...shame you dont have the bucks at present! no worries though Steve, its normally that way & may I add...hope you have endless pockets & a good Mrs Both will have you broke 24/7

Whats the SGM username bit for? GM0SGM?

Ross

Ross,

The SGM is nothing more sinister than my initials.

Steve

 

[Macsgrafs]

Ross,

The SGM is nothing more sinister than my initials.

Steve

And there was me thinking that there would be 2 dark horses on here then

Ross

 

[SierraGolfMike]

I have been looking on Ebay and there would appear to be a wide array of frames for sale as well as motors and speed controllers all at reasonable prices. So for instance is it worth getting the DJI motors and ESCs or are the ebay ones just as good. Also what appears to be DJI frame clones. These are what I am looking at:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fiberglas...deo_TelevisionSetTopBoxes&hash=item4ab4414dfd

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HJ450-4-A...sGames_RadioControlled_JN&hash=item2c63508369

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4-X-Quadc...sGames_RadioControlled_JN&hash=item256c231b16

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4x-30A-Br...Control_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3a71078510

I would appreciate any comments and having been a victime of the old adage "The poor man pays twice" I suspect I know the answer, but you never know!

Thanks in advance.

Steve

 

[Bowley]

Perhaps for your first build you should steer clear of ebay and parts that you dont know are compatable. not everything works with everything else.
An RTF or ARTF setup will have parts that have been well matched and might get you going a bit quicker.
My first quad was a Gaui 330XS, A great little quad and tough as hell, the fact that the motor mounts pop off 'when required' saved me a fortune on motors and props.

Other than Gaui I would recommend the DJI Naza as a flight controller. the DJI 450/Naza is more or less the staple machine these days. If you want to see one before you buy and your about the Elgin Lossie area give me a shout.

 

[SierraGolfMike]

Perhaps for your first build you should steer clear of ebay and parts that you dont know are compatable. not everything works with everything else.
An RTF or ARTF setup will have parts that have been well matched and might get you going a bit quicker.
My first quad was a Gaui 330XS, A great little quad and tough as hell, the fact that the motor mounts pop off 'when required' saved me a fortune on motors and props.

Other than Gaui I would recommend the DJI Naza as a flight controller. the DJI 450/Naza is more or less the staple machine these days. If you want to see one before you buy and your about the Elgin Lossie area give me a shout.

Kinda thought that might be the answer, my only thoughts were to get motors with a bit more oomph to lift a camera easliy. As a stock kit what will the F450 lift weight wise?

Steve

 

[tstrike]

As a stock kit what will the F450 lift weight wise?

Steve

Depends, how heavy's your wallet?:nevreness: it's the gateway drug of multirotors.
The f450 will easily carry a gopro and a taller set of landing gear which you'll need if you mount your gopro underneath. They really are nice kits, with enough skill sets involved for assembly that you actually feel involved with the whole process vs. a bind/n/fly kit. You do need a windows os computer though.

 

[Bowley]

I carry a gopro in its PC housing, To be honest with just Xaircraft motors and 18A ESC's mine feels way overgunned, in manual flight mode.
To work out what you need to lift a certain wieght you need to get down to some calculation or just look at others are using to carry certain cameras, I reckon the F450 is good for gopros and light to med Point and shoots with a light gimbal. bigger camera = biger gimbal = bigger ship.
There is a good guide to payload capabilities on the droidworx site.