Need the "pros" advice!

Z

ZorAxe

Member
Hi guys,

My first post here and I'm very new to the world of multirotors. I've been doing a lot of research, and still have tons more to do.

So I'm wanting to build my own quad. Something stable which will hold a gopro. Would like about 10-15 min flying time. Would like to add fpv at a later stage. But that's not what this post is about.

There are a few places in my area that sell multirotor parts and I'd like to try buy locally then have to import.
I'm need someone to help me out. I need someone to have a look at the website listed below and tell me if the parts they stock are decent? I don't want to end up buying junk.

Any help will be appreciated.
Thanks guys

http://diyelectronics.co.za/store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=42
 
Where is local to you? I can't seem to find prices for anything on the site, unless R stands for rupees or something (isn't that what Russians use? Idk). But either way the whole site kinda gives me a sketchy vibe, nothing has reviews or really good descriptions. Have you looked at hobbyking? They have 2 U.S. warehouses so technically you wouldn't be "importing" anything, and this whole hobby is based on Chinese parts so that's not really anything you have to worry about. These days Chinese doesn't always mean poor quality
 
I'm based in South Africa. Our currency is Rands. Only problem with buying in US $ is our currency is very weak. So the parts aren't too bad once you convert but when you add the shipping fee it gets expensive. And the waiting time can take 3 months to clear at customs. Our country is not the most efficient (for lack of a better word)
 
ZorAxe said:
I'm based in South Africa. Our currency is Rands. Only problem with buying in US $ is our currency is very weak. So the parts aren't too bad once you convert but when you add the shipping fee it gets expensive. And the waiting time can take 3 months to clear at customs. Our country is not the most efficient (for lack of a better word)
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Ahh, do you know of a youtube channel called rcmodelreviews? I think that guy is in south africa, maybe you could contact him and see how he does it? (I believe he is in south africa, could be way off though). But hobbyking also has an international warehouse, i would check it out either way
 
Ok great. I'll have a look at hobby king. And I will also check that YouTube channel.

That website I listed is 100% legit. I bought my 3D printer from them and they are very helpful. I think they have only recently started stocking multirotor parts that's why their website is not very detailed.

What is a decent flight controller to start off with?
 
The brand of products all seem to be what you can find almost anyplace.

If you have the esc and motors matched to give some head room and choose the proper props it all should work well enough.

Its not un common for even more expensive brand items to fail just the same ...name brand equals a premium price but are probably built in the same china manufacturing plant with a different sticker on it.

As far as a controller, that depends on what you want or might want in the future..do you think 3 months from now you might want gps capabilities?

A common starter flight board is the CC3D...i havent researched it enough to give off features from the top of my head but, it is a commonly used flight board due to its simplicity of programming.

The Naze32 is also a common one but harder to program than a CC3D.

The KK2 boards are a bit touchy and can be harder to fly in general..its one of the cheapest by far but, not the best choice for a beginning flyer.

Flight boards differ in flight characteristic..Where one board might be for more aggressive flight in general (we will call this sport flying) (CC3D/Naze32), another might be more for slow and stable cinema flying. (Naze M v2)

You also have autonomous flying which you program the quad to fly based on a pre programmed route (3DR Pixhawk)..these are not cheap flight boards..lol.

I personally recommend the CC3D flight board to get you started.

Others are more qualified to help you choose motors and props and esc's so i wont go where im not confident in proper recommendations as of yet.

I am working on that though :p
 
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Great info. Thanks so much guys. All my research is leading me to the CC3D as well. Maybe in the long run it will be better to have 2 quads. One more for racing and another for video footage.

I'm still new to quads. I've got myself a Sky Viper S670 just playing around with getting a hand on things.

I'd prefer to spend a bit extra on something that I can interchange parts at a later stage, than buy something like a flight controller that is cheaper but will limit modifications later on.
 
May i ask if you've ever flown a quadcopter before?.

EDIT: nevermind the question, i saw where you own one already..lol.
 
Not a proper racing quad. Only flown the smaller micro drones. Not sure if that's the right word for them. I have a Sky Viper S670. But I'm wanting to move on to greater things. Something you can customize and modify
 
ZorAxe said:
Great info. Thanks so much guys. All my research is leading me to the CC3D as well. Maybe in the long run it will be better to have 2 quads. One more for racing and another for video footage.

I'm still new to quads. I've got myself a Sky Viper S670 just playing around with getting a hand on things.

I'd prefer to spend a bit extra on something that I can interchange parts at a later stage, than buy something like a flight controller that is cheaper but will limit modifications later on.
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Its a complete different world with diy quads..Its not as simple as we have it now with installing a battery and binding the radio and were off flying....where you might come close to yourself or someone else with the quad by accident or even on purpose, its much more dangerous with the more powerful quads..to get hit by one is a sure trip to the ER if that blades contacts your body...it will slice you open pretty deep and they weigh quite a bit more than our plastic toy quads..so hitting something can cause damage much easier to the quad or other property.

Not trying to deter you but ,want you to understand some of the differences for your safety and others.

Im still having fun with the toy quads..lol..Its fun to mix and match the better parts into one quad you cant buy anyplace...lol

Welcome to the forums by the way..its good to have you.
 
I appreciate any information I can get. I understand they are quite different in a sense. I know safety is very important as well.

Another question I have is frame related. How does one go about buying a frame? Is it based on the amount of components that will be mounted on the quad or weight or something else?
 
Frames vary for intended purpose...you can buy a fpv 250 racer frame or a 450 sized quad frame for cinema flying.

Frames are made from fiberglass, carbon fiber or even plastic..some are wood..some are aluminum...frame selection should be based on intended purpose.

I would use a 250 sized carbon fiber frame for high speed sport flying and maybe a 450 sized aluminum frame for stable video flying...Weight matters with stable flight.
 
ZorAxe said:
Would a fpv 250 be something ok to start off with?
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It can be..i mean i wouldn't personally start of with the most powerful motors i could find for it...Larger size will typically mean more stable flight.

Buy yourself a little JJRC1000 or an Eachine H8 mini to see what i mean by stability compared to your larger toy quad..These mini quads beg to be flown at high speed compared to larger size quads...a 250 brushless quad would be considered an aggressive flyer in the world of brushless quads but you can tame it down some with low power to start off with or even program a less aggressive flight characteristic through the cc3d flight board...you can program how much pitch and roll and yaw you get from the quad.
 
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I'm so keen to build one now. The more and more I read up and watch videos the more I want to learn to race! In a controlled environment of course :)
 
Lots of practice and repairs will get you to racing status..haha.

I still recommend one of the small "fiesty" quads to help you with that.

My JJRC1000 isnt happy unless its flown at high speeds..i do use a different radio than what they come with to eliminate the auto flip function but, that was only $20.00 to upgrade...Its certainly a handful but fun to fly fast...you can expect a 250 fpv racer to be ALOT more but it would help with your hand eye coordination compared to the toy quad you have now.
 
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