New Toy....Quadcopter.

[gerrymoore]

Not sure if this is the right place for this but thought it might interest anyone thinking of buying one of these.

Its a blade 350 QX quadcopter. Came in plain white and was very boring so I painted it and added a 'head' (top off a toilet duck!!) to make it look like a giant insect....

I've fitted it with a Mobius HD video camera - you can see the rubber mounted holder underneath.

What's amazing about this quad is the 3 different 'modes' it has built in...basically for a beginner (like me) semi experienced, and fully qualified pilot! It has built-in GPS (of course) altimeter, 6 giros, and a little button on the radio control that if you get dis-orientated or haven't got a clue you just press the button and the quad returns to the spot where it took off and lands....all on it's own - amazing.

Only had a few flights but the video quality is fantastic. In beginner mode it will only fly 150 feet high but in the other modes it will go as high as you like - some people have flown them up over 2000 feet! Had some strange looks from the neighbours in their gardens as I flew it high above my house the other day!

Recommended fun.

 

[Robotstar5]

They look like fun. A work colleague has been experimenting with one, but I think he bought a lower spec model and has added the GPS etc and an Arduino computer as he like playing with things like that

 

[CompoSimmonite]

I fancy one - birthday coming up soon
How easy are they to fly ? I've got a helicopter I bought years ago and never managed to fly it - crashed virtually every time.
Are they affected much by wind ?

Paul H

 

[gerrymoore]

Compo...although these are 'toys' they are much too bloomin expensive to crash!! This model is designed for absolute beginners..in the 'smart' mode it's a doddle to fly. It's quite slow to react, will not go over 150 feet high and will not even come within 15 feet of you -so you can't fly it into yourself. With the return to home feature it's almost idiot proof - but notice the 'almost' - you still need your wits about you and to keep away from trees, wires, etc. I bought the Blade because I am a beginner..once you get better you can fly it like any other model - check out some vids on youtube.

 

[Wendelspanswick]

Price?

 

[gerrymoore]

Are you sitting down?? Quadcopter ready to fly with transmitter - around £350.00. Spare LiPo batteries £15 each. Mobius HD video camera - around £50.00 -- Wasp head from bleach bottle...free!!!

 

[grim_d]

You can build your own, and bigger, for under £200 if I recall correctly.

 

[mike os]

You can build your own, and bigger, for under £200 if I recall correctly.

details?

 

[Normsthename]

Snap!
I have exactly the same model
I see you have changed the rubbish Standard props out for the CNC Adaptors

Andy

 

[gordon stephenson]

One of the members of my archery club is a keen rc helicopter flyer,very difficult to handle,Flying forward and reverse, then forward and reverse while the copter is upside down, but he does crash now and again!!!

 

[grim_d]

details?

I don't have any personally but a lad at work brought his in, buy all the motors/controllers/props etc and put onto a basic balsa wood frame, with a few plates for mounting the controllers and batteries. Was bigger than the one pictured and flew fantastic. He said it cost under £200, wether on not that was with the transceiver or not I don't know.

Means you can customize it to your own spec. Must be forums/websites out there for it.

 

[Normsthename]

There is quite a lot of info on the 'Net to build one yourself.
All the electronics like GPS, Gyro etc are available quite cheaply.
With the software you can build anything from a Three bladed design upto an Octo (Eight) bladed beast!
People use 8 bladed designs to carry heavier loads like professional SLR Camera set ups etc.
Not really a beginner setup because there is quite a lot of calibration required to get it flying right.

Andy

 

[Normsthename]

You can buy a Hubsan Micro quadcopter, these are brilliant for flying around the Living Room!
They are available for £25.- £30
I have one and they fly brilliantly, in expert mode it will even do Flips!

Andy

 

[gerrymoore]

Hi Andy...yes I changed the props soon as I got it. I bought the quad quite cheap as a 'wreck' ..... one of the props had split in flight and it had fallen like a brick...these things don't glide! After repairing it I painted the stripes etc to hide all the glue!! Got the small CNC adaptors and the props off EBAY and now feel confident it wont be props breaking that cause the next crash.

Do you fly your Blade in stability or agility mode yet?? I'm still on safe mode for a good while I think!!

If anyone is interested, I have a brand new and boxed, never flown, SYMA X3 for sale very cheap...pm me. I bought it to learn on but ended up buying the Blade.

 

[Normsthename]

Do you fly your Blade in stability or agility mode yet?? I'm still on safe mode for a good while I think!!

I have flown it in smart mode and also the middle setting (Cant remember what its called.....)
Not tried it in Expert Mode yet.....where it will do Flips etc
Thats the next thing to try!

Andy

 

[Normsthename]

Just noticed that Horizon are releasing Version 2.0 Firmware for the Quadcopter.
Not sure what will change but you can register on there site.

http://www.horizonhobby.com/products/350-qx-rtf-with-safe-technology-BLH7800

Andy