I started building and flying quadcopters (not drones as there is no automation on mine) a while ago. I usually fly in the yard, but once in a while I get out and about.
Here is a video I took. It is FPV so the perspective is what I see while I fly.
https://youtu.be/-i2Pj6dgT10 (https://youtu.be/-i2Pj6dgT10)
I have a 250 racing quad that I built a couple of years ago with FPV on it. I littered my tree filled yard with many propeller fragments. It's a lot of fun but I simply haven't had time to fly it for the last year thanks to work and such.
I'm actually building my first racing quad with one of my buddies this weekend! Got an alien kit and have been practicing on fpv freerider so I don't just immediately crash it a million times. I'm a little nervous about the soldering as I've never done it before but it doesn't look too hard.
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The soldering really isn't too bad at all, just go slow and remember to wash the flux off afterwards. Definitely don't get frustrated and keep adding heat, that ends in tears.
Rosen core flux isn't a problem though it can gather dirt. Acid core solder shouldn't be used with electronics and should only be use in metal work. The trick when soldering is to have everything clean including the iron. If the iron tip starts looking bad, while it's hot, brush it across a damp sponge or a pile of damp paper towels to clean the junk off then hit it with fresh solder to tin it.
I have a radio control helicopter that I was given as a Christmas gift about 3 years ago by my sister. I tried to fly it several times and while I didn't damage it, my flying stunk. I put it up on the shelf and took it down a little over a week ago with the intention of flying it again. I discovered that it was incorrectly assembled at the factory and one of the servos when in the neutral position what holding the rotor hard over. It a simple fix with one screw but I have to dismantle half the thing to get at the screw. For now it's a back burner project as Susan's is more important.
LOL, I tried the simulator route...still crashed A LOT once airborne for reals...totally fun though!
I fly a DIY, the KT-210+. It is pretty fast and really fun.
(https://i.imgur.com/4nPDLaU.jpg)
I usually fly a DIY micro, the KT-Bug. 125mm and really fun!
(https://i.imgur.com/m69AtSk.jpg)
A link to a flight video.
https://youtu.be/OwDPKI-BPM0 (https://youtu.be/OwDPKI-BPM0)
Apologies for digging this up...
No quads, but I do enjoy other RC toys, specifically racing RC sailplanes. Sounds funny, but when you see them in action, they're quite a sight. Made of fiberglass foam and carbonfiber with a 8' wingspan, these suckers can hit speeds in excess of 120mph. This of course requires a stiff wind (25kts) and a ton of weight (12lbs of lead ballast). Fun stuff!
Love to all.
~Melanie
I've seen those sailplanes, they're really impressive machines.
And that 125 quad is just adorable.
Do you fly FPV or LOS? I have watched the sail planes and love the way they glide!
I do fpv
Sweet! I attempted to fly LOS and found that I really cannot fly anything other than FPV. I started a YouTube channel in order to share vids with some other pilots I know, but cannot seem to link any of them here.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxKFwocCh6NvKLuYXnYPcXQ
I am not really all that good at it, but enjoy it despite. I have been flying for about a year now. Most of my craft are micro (2" to 2.5") class quads, but I have a mini (5") as well. Just do not really fly the 5" much. Too nice and do not want to get it dirty!
I am also nowhere near coordinated enough for LOS flying. Especially with something as symmetrical as a quadcopter.
Right now I just have a 210 and I bought a cheerson nano quad for the fun of it. I really need to get out and fly some more but I've been crazy busy with work, moving, and such.
I get to fly during my lunch times as I am out and about for work. Have found some really fun places here and there around the county. The kit fits very nicely in the van with everything I need for a half hour of fun :)
I have been invited by a local group that flies on Saturdays at a local park. Might have to make some time for visiting!
FOV here - bright colors and an 8' wingspan makes things stand out nicely. :)
Quote from: Melanie Jean on April 09, 2018, 04:33:10 PM
FOV here - bright colors and an 8' wingspan makes things stand out nicely. :)
Awesome Melanie! I would be afraid that even with the bright colors, I would fly it too far out of view and lose it. I seldom fly with a dedicated spotter and more than a few times I have found my time occupied with deciphering the visual cues from the camera after a crash. So of nice to have a perspective from the craft to figure out where it ended up :)
Do you have any photos of your aircraft?
(https://i.imgur.com/XLDMLdh.jpg)
I mostly fly the two on the left. The one on the right is too fast for the smallish spaces I have to fly in. It feels so freeing to be in the air and for a few minutes, all of life's silliness slips away!
Quote from: kaitylynn on April 09, 2018, 06:54:36 PM
Awesome Melanie! I would be afraid that even with the bright colors, I would fly it too far out of view and lose it. I seldom fly with a dedicated spotter and more than a few times I have found my time occupied with deciphering the visual cues from the camera after a crash. So of nice to have a perspective from the craft to figure out where it ended up :)
Do you have any photos of your aircraft?
Where do you sit when you fly them?
Quote from: Cassi on April 10, 2018, 12:40:14 AM
Where do you sit when you fly them?
My favorite flying spot has benches, so I usually sit at one of them. I will also sit cross legged on the lawn. I have a few other spots that I fly where I can open the slider door to the work van and sit inside while flying.
Most of the places I go are not really busy, though occasionally I will get a passerby interested in how they work and what it is like.
I have some hobby grade RC cars and a few toy grade ones that I've extensively modified. My Traxxas Rustler is my favorite, although it's not working at the moment. It has a brushless motor good for 70mph, but it uses so much power so fast that the battery connectors keep melting.
Quote from: 4A-GZE on July 24, 2018, 07:26:05 AM
I have some hobby grade RC cars and a few toy grade ones that I've extensively modified. My Traxxas Rustler is my favorite, although it's not working at the moment. It has a brushless motor good for 70mph, but it uses so much power so fast that the battery connectors keep melting.
Yikes! What type of connector? I have stressed XT-60's and they hold up super well, but I only fly 4S.
I'm not sure. I recently upgraded to some heavy duty Tamiya ones, but then the ESC died before I got a chance to try them out.
In the old days...Hey. We used to fly our planes with strings attached. My grandparents lived on a culdesac so we took my brand new fighter plane out for a run. Well that didn't last long. After a half hour trying to get the motor started we were set for take off. I am reminded of the theme from "The magnificent men in their flying machines" a movie from the 70's. "They go uppity up up, They go down de down down. Never to fly again.
OMG Dawn, that is how I started flying! Had a Cox 049 engine and hours of dizzy fun :)
My dad likes flying these tiny remote helicopters sometimes. It's cool to watch.
My friend Ari has a two car garage full of RC planes. A good guess is around fifteen. or several thousand dollars worth. He hasn't let me fly one yet but I only get to Vegas every so often. I did watch him for two hours slathered in SPF 30 in 90 degree heat. Not bad for November.
My plane on a string only lasted it's maiden flight. I didn't know they could fly 90 degrees. I do now.
I love RC! I haven't been able to fly for the past 2 years because for my vision. I'm getting a new pair of glasses soon. FPV, NSRCA, and CPA (low, fast and loud)!
I'm just getting into the hobby but mainly for surf fishing. I just bought a sjrc s20w drone to take my bait past the surf, would love to catch a tuna or a nice size halibut.
Jasmine
Quote from: Jasminex69 on October 04, 2018, 01:30:14 PM
I'm just getting into the hobby but mainly for surf fishing. I just bought a sjrc s20w drone to take my bait past the surf, would love to catch a tuna or a nice size halibut.
Jasmine
That sounds really cool actually! Drone fishing :) These things are fun to fly as well.
Kaitylynn
This drone is a blast and it turns out I'm getting it for free. Ordered it through Wish.com and it was a little on the small side, so they are refunding me the purchase price and I get to keep the drone. Using the refund to get a DJI Phantom 3 standard and I will use it for more than just surf fishing now.
Sweet on the free drone! These things are so fun to fly. I built a 6" long range quad while I was out on recovery leave using a bunch of spare parts. Just had to buy a little GPS unit, which was only $8...so now it has GPS as well.
https://youtu.be/YxjjAHMCE5w (https://youtu.be/YxjjAHMCE5w)
(https://i.imgur.com/uvVuv8J.jpg)
Heather and I are headed to Idyllwild next week and I hope to get some neat footage flying along a mountain ridge :)