So... what's on your bench at the moment?

@anon34183503
Sure you’re not getting commision on these :thinking:
LOL

That’s more like it. Thanks for the tip! I’m on their wait list!

God I wish! It’s just it’s a brilliant bit of kit made of really good quality parts. I did a full review and build for the magazine I write for

What about this one?

Oh… Its just the frame??

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That’s just the frame. It’s aimed at the kiss flight stack

They’re back in stock! Credit cards out…

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You should stock up on props and lipos at the same time lol

On my bench…?

A finished TBS Source One quadcopter :joy:
Started it 4th Jan but due to other chores it’s took till now to finish it.

This is the one for me to learn how to fly Acro, Betaflight 4.1.1, I usually put iNav on my 250’s
Yes, @notveryprettyboy I’ll be taking the centreing of the TX throttle stick :laughing:

For those interested in the spec’s:

TBS/UMT Source One 5" frame
EMAX ECO 2306 2400KV
Azure JohnnyFPV props
DYS F30 4in1 DSHOT
Matek F722SE
Foxeer Monster V2 2.5mm 16:9
Matek VTX HV 25/200/500mW
VAS ION V2 RHCP antenna
TBS Crossfire NANO receiver
TBS Crossfire Immortal T V2 antenna
BN-880 GPS
3D prints for GPS, VTX antenna, RX antenna

I’ll be fitting 4S 1300 45C Turnigy Graphene LiPo’s

Simulator, here I come… :exploding_head:

Parts procured from Flying Tech and Unmanned Tech,
(nod to @UnmannedCam who’s just joined this wonderful forum, welcome :slightly_smiling_face:)

Cheers
Steve

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Hey dude.

Build looks good.
Only thing I would suggest is to put your xt60 on a cable rather direct soldered to the board. In the event of a crash you have no strain relief and could damage the board.

/edit

You may find you puff those batteries pretty quickly too. Especially if you give the beans!

Hi James @anon34183503
Thanks for your comments, appreciated, I certainly agree the XT60 is a bit vulnerable, on past models I’ve used a fixing clamp…

image
… I think I can find space on the top deck to do the same again, watch this space :slightly_smiling_face:

Yes, 45C (58A) is probably not enough for some hard punch-outs. I had these two packs in stock and will have to be OK for me in the ACRO learning stage. Next buy will be bigger, 75C should be OK :thinking: can I ask what do you use?

Question for you, Karl, @notveryprettyboy Dave @evilbobbins and others.
Do you buy top branded quality packs and look after them carefully or do you buy the cheapest you can find and accept a shorter lifetime with them?

I suppose from an eco/green/carefortheplanet concern we should do all we can to minimise pack scrappage, but what actually happens in the real world :thinking: :thinking:

Cheers
Steve

For my 250/285 size quads I’ve been using the same set of Graphine Packs (3s and 4s) for the last four years or so. I wouldn’t say I’ve baby’d them nor have I thrashed them within an inch of their lives, but they’ve held up pretty well.

I was recently given some ACEH 4s 1050 packs for my Vortex 150 Mini and I quite like them. I intend to swap the XT30’s they came with for XT60’s to use in some of my “pocket rocket” fixed wings.

Nidge.

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I live in the quality batteries realm. I also tend to only keep my batteries for 2 years max.

I’m currently flying a bit of a mix of brands (more on this later.

My first flight backs were the older variant of this

They provided good enough value and lasted about a year of crashing and abuse before I sold them on. Would I recommend them for someone starting out? Yes I think so. They are tough and can take a beating. But they are also heavy.

I then got myself some acehe batteries

https://www.hobbyrc.co.uk/acehe-1500mah-4s-75c-150c-lipo-battery

These provided a noticeable improvement over the turnigy cells. But this was short lived and they very quickly started to show signs of age. Would I buy them again. Nope they just didn’t last long term.

After that I got some kero lipos
Now of all the batteries I have flown they have been my fave. Unfortunately they are basically a bit like rocking horse poop! No one stocks them so while I think they are brilliant batteries you can’t actually buy them!

Then I got some Tattu batteries…
Tattu funfly seem to work well but I have found that they don’t have the longevity I was hoping for with a premium battery.

I also got some at the same time as the fun fly and I really love the detachable balance leads these seem to fly ok and haven’t failed me yet. Will let you know what I think come the end of the season!

https://www.unmannedtechshop.co.uk/product/tattu-1550mah-14-8v-75c-4s1p-lipo-battery-pack-with-detachable-balance-cable/

Most recently I have got myself some 6s “the fpv” lipos from our man @UnmannedCam at unmannedtech

I can’t say if they are any good yet as the 6s build I have for them is still slightly backordered but they look good and the cells were well balanced on arrival. I guess I will update this once Iv out a few flights on them.

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I’m using GNB 1500 4s at 230c. About £20 each. Yet to see how long they last.

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It’s worth mentioning the “c” ratings are largely utterly made up!

Well, the sun is shining, the wind is horrendous, so no flying…
It’s a build day, after taking the good lady out for lunch, on my bench at the moment is…

My last remaining STreak250, having a few repairs/mods

  • better FPV camera.
  • replacement LED and buzzer board.
  • spacers to raise the top deck just enough to fit a new 4S 2200 battery.
  • some spiffing new props

What are you doing today in your man cave ?

Cheers
Steve
:slightly_smiling_face:

So the time has come for me to finally ditch my crappy £20 soldering iron which seems to barely be able to melt a marshmallow.

Anyone recommend a reasonably priced replacement…?

I’ve been using one of these for the last four years.

I didn’t buy it off eBay, just using the link as an aid to description.

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I do all my work with a ts100 these days. It lives in my flight bag and I use it on the go and at home…

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That’s a nice piece of kit for that price :+1:
Steve