JAB1a

Hi Pete, If you order the Rabbit Flight Controller then it comes with a much better made power distro board hence why I did not add it to the parts list, the hobby king one is very cheap and nasty one (I brought one not knowing the rabbit came with one). When it comes to flight controllers the Rabbit is the best I have found and researched for the price it even supports a 2axis gimble while controlling a Hexacopter (other boards do this too). A nice cheap very reliable board is the KK2.0, its so cheap and very well made but does not have a Baro or compass but does support autostable and does not need a PC to setup or change settings. The CAIO Pro is an amazing board but the Rabbit beats it on features and recent updates to firmware. The only board I would recommend other than the Rabbit would be the DJI Naza but you will be looking at more like £200 once you have all the extra bits needed. Another board which is good is the APM 2.6, its got more features than you can wave a stick at and everything is changable and expandable. My money would be on the Rabbit everytime unless money was not a problem then the Naza is my choice. Frames from China are a nightmare, they never come with instructions so you have to search for forums or photos of peoples frames that are already made. I liked this as I could build the frame to match my needs rather than following the ridgid norm. Please keep me updated on your progress Pete, I am excited for you

Ideal Pete, Hope you had a good xmas and new year, if your building the quad then you are definutly gonna have a good year I say Here is a photo of the finished Hexacopter and my quadcopter that was built from this parts list apart from the frame and 2x extra motors. Maiden flight on the weekend went very well apart from the pilot needs more practice, all six props damaged in the first day of flying, hence why I would say get many...many props.

Some extra bits you might want aswell as these have been purchased by my friend while making his build: 16 AWG Silicone Wire Pair 50cm 500mm Black & Red 16AWG 16 AWG Silicone Wire Pair 50cm 500mm Black & Red | eBay 10 x PAIRS Of RC 3.5mm Gold Bullet Connector INC Heat Shrink For Motor ESC (get two of these) 10 x PAIRS Of RC 3.5mm Gold Bullet Connector INC Heat Shrink For Motor ESC UK | eBay 50pcs M3 x 6mm-6mm Nylon Hexagonal Female and Male Standoff Spacer HTS-306 50pcs M3 x 6mm-6mm Nylon Hexagonal Female and Male Standoff Spacer HTS-306 | eBay

Haha brilliant, looks like hes using it for full FPV aswell, the posibilities are endless! get some lego technic in there aswell and you are laughing. The grey centre sections look weird, not quite lego styled bits

cheers for the link mate, lets make that the last (or just create another thread) because its all against the hobby were this thead is for and not in debate on the safety/misuse of the hobby.....but thank you for the link anyway

Wicked ok, I will put the plan into action, quite excited about this might get started when I get home

Ok I will see what I can get together for you. I was thinking some 2mm material.... Real Carbon Fibre/Fiber Flat Sheet in 2mm A4 (Rigid Panel Not Vinyl Wrap) | eBay or 400mmx300mmx2.0mm Fiberglass Glass Fiber Plate Sheet | eBay can you CNC mill either of this stuff?

No i didn't see that, Its was more of an example to show PCStru what I ment. cheeky....Its silly because they could make a packet if they sold it on ebay saying its a UK produced upgrade for the X525 frame. This is however another layer you would have to add to your quad = extra weight, if we could make a modified bottom plate then there is minimal extra wieght added @pcstru cheers for the CNC/printer info, I was not sure how easy/complicated it would be. I will get my ideas to you asap to see if you think it can be done. what do you want, .jpg with my plan drawn over the top with measurments or is there a bit of software I can use to make your job easier? (google sketchup maybe)

wow ok I have just found the parts right under my nose on the same site as the radio TX Spare Parts - Quadcopter X525 Fibre Glass Plate D > Hardware > DIY & Spare Parts > MULTICOPTERS > Main Page > Pyramid Models "Extra CNC cut Fibre Glass Hardware Plate" would make all the difference for mounting battery and camera too but the top plate needs similar but coming out the sides not front/back.

@pcstru Most downloaded models tagged with quadcopter - GrabCAD here is a good place, but not being into CAD I have just ignored most sites like this but I have seen many different CAD designs for many different quads. I do remember somewhere seeing extra parts etc being designed for the x525 frame, I think it was a battery holder on the bottom, I will have a good search. I also know there are alot of files out there for 3d printers and quads, can those files be modified to be used on a CNC (if the part is made of flat sections?) I am stripping down my frame soon so will get some shots of the plates and add the modifications I think would be good and send them to you, wont be until the weekend I think thanks again for the offer of help

That is VERY tempting, I would also buy more than one battery and some spare props to extend your play otherwise you are just going to have to wait for parts Someone else using the X525 frame.... RC X525 FOLDING QUAD QUADCOPTER FPV MULTICOPTER HELI | eBay

@plexer If you have the skill then definutly make your own. I must say this frame is bullet proof, so make sure you use a very strong material for the center plates. If you have access to a CNC like PCStru then you can get plently of CAD designs for basic quad frames. @FragglePete The hudsan is a great little quad with some advanced features. there are spares avalible a plenty and even quite a few FPV projects popping up with them. As they come out the box they can lift 20g extra weight, some of the sub-nano cameras and 200Mw Tx's weight about 4g I want one for when the weather is too bad outside so I can still get me 'fix'. I did not see the gadget show sorry. Im sure he was just doing something wrong! lol @pcstru I would make a copy of the above quadframe but add more surface area top and bottom for mounting things, even if the bottom plate was extended in all directions that would be an improvment

I have seen some stupid prices on Ebay for this frame, one was for 4hundered something pounds which has no justification. You should be looking at no more the 20quid for the frame. I suggest a hubsan x4 micro quadcopter for practice, would give you more skills/experience than a simulator and is also SO much fun @pcstru thats wicked to know, I am terrible at CAD but I might try and knock something together if I have the time for you to look at. Thanks for the offer

@FragglePete brilliant did you go for the frame listed above? its a great cheap frame and solidly built with room to expand and modify as much as you like. It would be cool if you could find someone with a CNC to make parts for this frame like a isolation frame to place on the top of frame for the battery and camera can rest on and counter balence eachother but be completly isolated from vibrations, there is a frame called the SpiderX which has the added bit like I am trying to explane... Spidex Quatricoptero

Thats a very hard question to answer as its depends on so many factors....battery condition, flight weight, weather conditions, proper CG setup, prop condition, flying style etc If I fly full FPV then I land after about 5:30mins. If i fly without camera or FPV then I land at about 7:30mins. If I am hovering around then at least 7mins but if you fly aggressive it can be less than 6mins. You can double up the 2200mAh Lipo and get about 12mins flight but the quad will be very lumbersome in the air and momentom will be your enemy. Average time is about 5~7mins. Without the camera on this setup I would say you will be looking around the 8minute mark. Just to put your worries at bay. I sat down with a friend the other night and he brought the exact same setup I added here part from he is making a Hexacopter so we brought 6x motors and 6x ESC and a different frame.

lol the first was technicly known as a 'turd clip' which broke the back left prop. Second was I flew when I knew water had got into the reciever, bad idea which lead to loss of signal. the third was testing 10" props in a very strong winds which flap and get blown by the wind which the Acc could not handel the forth is pure amature pilot error, I should of pulled the nose up well before turning 180 degrees. I have had no major damage, just plenty of props were harmed in the making of these videos

Hi all, Here is a compilation video of my antics over the year, there are a few added clips that are not on any videos I have done already like the crashes and chasing another fellow Edugeek'rs beautiful car across the moors. Best viewed full screen and in 720p

Thats great to hear @FragglePete I had to send hours hovering over the buy button because there was not just a simple list of parts that I know I needed. Plenty of simple plans but they assume you already know things like the right Kv motor for the props/frame you are using etc and alot are joined to main sellers websites so you are sent to an expensive version of the parts I have listed. I have finaly convinced my friend to make one so we spent the other night buying the parts to make a Hexacopter, its the same list as I made but we brought 6xmotors and 6xEsc and a different frame, its that easy with this setup. Please let me know how you get on or need any more info......Good Luck

Parts list added to new thread.... http://www.edugeek.net/forums/general-chat/105744-fpv-quadcopter-basic-parts-list-jabcopter.html#post906376

Parts list has been added to a new thead... http://www.edugeek.net/forums/general-chat/105744-fpv-quadcopter-basic-parts-list-jabcopter.html#post906376

Hi all, After a few requests I have put together the basics of a quadcopter that will give you the scope and spec to upgrade and modify on the cheap. With these parts you can get up in the air with a flying weight of about 1Kg and then you can add (maximum) another 500g/1KG payload for camera's/FPV gear etc. The added bonus of this list is that it uses generic parts that if broken it can be brought at any good RC shop/ebay at a fraction of the cost of others. 4 X Hobbywing Skywalker 20A Electronic Brushless Motor Speed Controller 4x Hobbywing Skywalker 20A Electronic Brushless Motor Speed Controller ESC New | eBay £20~ 4PCS 2212 13T 1000KV Outrunner Brushless Motor for RC Multicopter Xcopter NEW 4PCS 2212 13T 1000KV Outrunner Brushless Motor for RC Multicopter Xcopter NEW | eBay £20~ 2 X Counter Rotating Props 9 x 4.5 Pair CCW CW Multicopter Various Colours (MP) Counter Rotating Props 9 x 4.5 Pair CCW CW Multicopter Various Colours (MP) | eBay £6~ Fiberglass & Aluminum 4-axial/Quadcopter X525 v3 Frame for KK MK Multiwii Red/Balck X525 V3 QuadCopter Folding Frame Friber Glass MultiCoptor | eBay X525 V3 QuadCopter Folding Frame Friber Glass MultiCoptor | eBay £15~ iMAX B6 Li-Polymer Li-po NiMh Battery Balance Charger Digital iMAX B6 RC Lipo NiMh Battery Balance Charger UK | eBay iMAX B6 RC Lipo NiMh Battery Balance Charger UK | eBay £23~ Power/ESC speed controller Board For KK Airplane Quadcopter Hexacopter KK MK MultiCopter Power / ESC Board V3 for up to 8 Speed Controllers | eBay £5~ Rabbit Flight Controller Board Quad Multicopter W/Care Free directional Upgrade Aliexpress.com : Buy Group3B:Rabbit Flight Controller & additional board(High precision barometer) & Ultrasonic from Reliable Rabbit suppliers on love Flight £80~ Turnigy 9X 9Ch Transmitter w/ Module & 8ch Receiver (Mode 2) (v2 Firmware) Turnigy 9X 9Ch Transmitter w/ Module & 8ch Receiver (Mode 2) (v2 Firmware) > Radio & Transmitters > Main Page > Pyramid Models £125~ Turnigy 2200mAh 3S1P 11.1v 20C 30C Lipo Battery x 2 XT60 UK Turnigy LiPo 2200mAh 3S 11.1v 20C 30C Brst UK SALE *X2* | eBay £25~ XT60 Connectors 10 Pairs With HeatShrink 10Male 10 Female XT60 Connectors Lipo Battery Deans Replacement 10 Pairs | eBay £9~ =£323~ This is the basics, I would research each part of you build just to make sure its right for your needs. I like tinkering so the frame was perfect for me but there are a huge list you can get. You will need things like velcro straps and duct tape for holding batteries and balencing props and the greatest tool Zip Ties etc and some batteries for the transmitter, the main lipo's will charge from a car battery or a home power supply (max 5A). Maybe call it a JABcopter lol Check out the end section of this video to see the beast flying in some VERY strong winds Most of these videos have been made with this setup jab1a - YouTube

Hi All, This was a very fun place to fly with lots to explore. The day was probably the longest I had ever been over water and even more scary/adrenaline pumping because it was Full FPV over a body of water that I did not know how deep it was, it felt like standing on the edge of a cliff and looking over lol. I wish the weather was good all day here but I had to film inbetween rain showers and Very dark lighting because of the clouds. FPV Quadcopter Burrator Reservoir Best viewed full screen@720p This is the second video from the day, the first is called "FPV Quadcopter Close Proximity Flight" Find it here jab1a - YouTube p.s I will post full specs and shopping list for this quad soon

Oh my god, what a load of tosh........you could spy into your next door neighbours bedroom.....I could do that with a £50 ladder with full eye resolution, you dont need a 720p £250 AR Drone to do it, why not legislate ladders as they are more of a threat to privacy than a drone. You dont need a drone to do those things now so why say you need to clamp down on drones before they start doing that. Im not saying someone has not done it already but the Tech has been out for a Long time now (as have ladders). The CAA already have rules and guide lines for the hobby so let them deal with it. Again its the media making a sensation out of scaring people and the sad thing is general population will believe the worst can happen as a result. I would take this seriously if they made valid comments about safety as to me it is quite dangerous.....but no....next report will be how terrorists are planning air attacks on goverment building using drones. The two guys with their business said the only real useful facts about 500meters distance (LOS) and 50meters from buildings and not near cars etc... Ok rant over, I would like to see the point from the other side but I am too biased lol

Ok you will have to give me a few days to get links and equipment details together for my build but I will post it in a new thread called My quadcopter clone or something like that the ability to upgrade my setup 'as is', is without limits (apart from cash). The DJI Phantom Quadcopter looks like an amazing bit of kit. the DJI Naza is one of the best flight controllers I know of under the £200 mark, the GPS will stop on a knife edge in PH mode. The only problem I see with this is its not using generic parts so if you crash/break anything you will without a doubt be paying over the odds, the frame does not look like there is much room inside for extra FPV equipment so you would be forced to buy there bits etc I think. Also the radio is an issue, I have not researched reviews etc but I stick with Spekrum all the way...never let me down.

FPV Quadcopter Close proximity flight Hi all, Here is a video from the weekend where I try and keep close to the ground while following a path. Really give you a sense of speed. The two clips with the railings were done LOS but the rest was Full FPV. N-joy