Multi-Copters - General - Facepunch Forum

[QUOTE=joshjet;34381262]So I'm building a tricopter from [url=http://www.rcexplorer.se/projects/tricopterv25/tricopterv25.html]this[/url] guide, I was wondering if it would be a good idea replace the 10 by 10mm pine arms with the same size of square aluminum tubing? It would be a tad heavier, but I could hide the wires inside, and I think that it would be sturdier in case of a crash.[/QUOTE] I don't think there would be any bigger problems. It all comes down to the trust of the motors, but I think you should be fine. [editline]25th January 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=joshjet;34317737]Nice, have you put anything else on the frame yet?[/QUOTE] Motors, esc, control board. Waiting for battery and the turnigy 9x + receivers.

[QUOTE=Swebonny;34381365] Motors, esc, control board. Waiting for battery and the turnigy 9x + receivers.[/QUOTE] Could take a while. HobbyKing took the week off for the Chinese new year and they're always slow to begin with. About a month would be a realistic wait.

I'll be building one of these sometime before the summer. Then flying at the beach a lot probably. I'll be sure to also buy a GoPro and mount that baby on it.

I received my brushless motor and ESC last night to upgrade my Easy Star so it could accommodate the extra weight of the FPV stuff I'm getting. But like a true fucking idiot, I forgot to insulate the bullet connectors, and the second time I powered it up the motor fried.

Anybody know where the rcexplorer.se website went? I can't seem to connect to it. [editline]1st February 2012[/editline] Nevermind, I tried it, posted this, and tried it again and it worked. weird.

[QUOTE=joshjet;34487294]Anybody know where the rcexplorer.se website went? I can't seem to connect to it. [editline]1st February 2012[/editline] Nevermind, I tried it, posted this, and tried it again and it worked. weird.[/QUOTE] I believe it was taken down for a short while as someone who won the logo competition have submitted the logo elsewhere.

I think I'll buy the turnigy 9x next time I see it in stock since the stock runs out in a matter of hours.

[QUOTE=leontodd;34497240]I think I'll buy the turnigy 9x next time I see it in stock since the stock runs out in a matter of hours.[/QUOTE] I've had it backordered since last week. It's crazy how fast it's sold.

[QUOTE=Swebonny;34497290]I've had it backordered since last week. It's crazy fast how fast it's sold.[/QUOTE] I'm even on the mailing list for the item and today I opened the in-stock email 5 minutes after I received it and it's gone again.

But it's so damn cheap! New video is up, was invited to a mini-stately home to film. [media]http://vimeo.com/35896132[/media]

I just love how the camera is held on by just a rubber band.

[QUOTE='[EG] Pepper;34504311']I just love how the camera is held on by just a rubber band.[/QUOTE] It is double rubber banded ;) You have no idea how well it work's though, it's simple and easy to put on, doesn't add extra weight compared to making a proper mount for it and it's strong as anything!

I'm in my schools tv production class, and getting a fly-through of my school sounds like a great opportunity to get into multi-copters. I have very little(no) knowledge in constructing such things. Would it be hard to build one that could carry 950~ grams?

The camera I use is the Go-Pro which weights 94 grams, I can easily fit two of them on my Tri-copter at the same time and it would still perform as I want it too. To carry that weight your going to have to look into octo-copters or hexa-copters which have 8-6 motors. Your going to also need a big wallet to do this, to build or to buy one. Also having no experience building or (I assume) flying them you don't want to risk flying with such a heavy load and having it crash breaking your copter and load. It may be worth buying a five dollar key chain cam from eBay which gives really good results (I'll post pictures/video's soon) and you could easily strap that to a cheap tri-copter build or even just a toy helicopter.

[QUOTE=Dokaman;34505050]The camera I use is the Go-Pro which weights 94 grams, I can easily fit two of them on my Tri-copter at the same time and it would still perform as I want it too. To carry that weight your going to have to look into octo-copters or hexa-copters which have 8-6 motors. Your going to also need a big wallet to do this, to build or to buy one. Also having no experience building or (I assume) flying them you don't want to risk flying with such a heavy load and having it crash breaking your copter and load. It may be worth buying a five dollar key chain cam from eBay which gives really good results (I'll post pictures/video's soon) and you could easily strap that to a cheap tri-copter build or even just a toy helicopter.[/QUOTE] My school also has flip cams, but they're awfully grainy and I believe they lack the fps to match the movement of something flying. I have a fair bit of time before the end of my year so I could practice(as I plan too) tons. How expensive are we talking?

[QUOTE=credesniper;34505293]My school also has flip cams, but they're awfully grainy and I believe they lack the fps to match the movement of something flying. I have a fair bit of time before the end of my year so I could practice(as I plan too) tons. How expensive are we talking?[/QUOTE] ~$300. Less if you go bare minimum.

[QUOTE=Dokaman;34503403]But it's so damn cheap! New video is up, was invited to a mini-stately home to film. [media]http://vimeo.com/35896132[/media][/QUOTE] What are you flying in that video? Great video by the way. [editline]2nd February 2012[/editline] I'm an idiot and didn't watch the entire thing through before asking. Sorry.

[QUOTE=Dokaman;34505050]The camera I use is the Go-Pro which weights 94 grams, I can easily fit two of them on my Tri-copter at the same time and it would still perform as I want it too. To carry that weight your going to have to look into octo-copters or hexa-copters which have 8-6 motors. Your going to also need a big wallet to do this, to build or to buy one. Also having no experience building or (I assume) flying them you don't want to risk flying with such a heavy load and having it crash breaking your copter and load. It may be worth buying a five dollar key chain cam from eBay which gives really good results (I'll post pictures/video's soon) and you could easily strap that to a cheap tri-copter build or even just a toy helicopter.[/QUOTE] How much for one using a go-pro camera? I found a used one for a reasonable price.

[QUOTE=credesniper;34510086]How much for one using a go-pro camera? I found a used one for a reasonable price.[/QUOTE] Your still looking at around three hundred dollars to build a tri-copter. Even building it yourself out of cheap wood you still need the controller which can cost a lot. If you were more experienced you could do it for WAY cheaper.

You can also get an HD camera for about 40$. #11 keychain, only 11#. Its 720p. [url]http://www.ebay.ca/itm/808HD-11-HD-DV-KeyChain-Lens-Camera-Cam-H-264-720P-New-/160595839562?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2564420a4a[/url] Heres a sample video of it. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaCNoKaWZhw&feature=related[/media] You can also mod the firmware for more saturation control. [media]http://vimeo.com/23991451[/media] Either you get the GoPro 1080p or a 720p keychain and 190$ in the pocket.

[QUOTE=Dokaman;34529647]Your still looking at around three hundred dollars to build a tri-copter. Even building it yourself out of cheap wood you still need the controller which can cost a lot. If you were more experienced you could do it for WAY cheaper.[/QUOTE] Well I'm looking to get into the hobby, and enjoy challenges. Will tons of research and slow careful steps not prepare me enough for making one cheaply?

[QUOTE=alx12345;34529836]You can also get an HD camera for about 40$. #11 keychain, only 11#. Its 720p.[/QUOTE] So that keychain camera could be used for FPV too?

[QUOTE=credesniper;34531646]Well I'm looking to get into the hobby, and enjoy challenges. Will tons of research and slow careful steps not prepare me enough for making one cheaply?[/QUOTE] Yes! If you don't rush into it you will find lots of tricks and tips that will help keep costs low. For instance you can build your own patch attena which works better then a store bought one. I know this from experience. The key chain cam can't be used to fly since it can't display an output, although you can get FPV cameras super cheap. They are mainly security cameras taken from the domes you see in shops.

[QUOTE=credesniper;34531646]Well I'm looking to get into the hobby, and enjoy challenges. Will tons of research and slow careful steps not prepare me enough for making one cheaply?[/QUOTE] It's fun. The only mistake I made was to assume a build to be at 100-150 bux, but that's not the case for me. Seems to get around 300 bux like Dokaman said. Thanks to the good conversion rates between SEK and USD, it doesn't bother me that much.

[QUOTE=Deac;32661052]Some of those people in the video are dicks, trying to swat it from the sky and throwing shit at it.[/QUOTE] There also very silly, getting hit by propeller being driven by a brushless motor would hurt!

[QUOTE=leontodd;34532364]So that keychain camera could be used for FPV too?[/QUOTE] No, only to record video like the Go pro.

[QUOTE=alx12345;34533610]No, only to record video like the Go pro.[/QUOTE] Although the Go-pro can be used to send a live stream back to a groundstation. I fly my Tri copter through it as seen above. The fish eye lens can make things seem far away though so until you get used to it depth perception is hard.

If you can remember, how much did it cost you to make that wooden tri-copter?

[QUOTE=Dokaman;34534250]Although the Go-pro can be used to send a live stream back to a groundstation. I fly my Tri copter through it as seen above. The fish eye lens can make things seem far away though so until you get used to it depth perception is hard.[/QUOTE] The go-pro also has about a half second of delay, so a lot of people don't recommend using it for a dedicated FPV cam.

I am terribly sorry if this is old news, but I just came across this video and if multi-copters weren't awesome enough before, they are now. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQIMGV5vtd4&feature=player_embedded[/media] Unfortunately, they are just the product of a university's testing and are not for sale.