450 Quadcopter - RCTimer.com

[Neons]

Tom. Fantastic. This is more inline with entry level Quads. The RC Timer Quad is a good price because of the CF props. I have about 8 flights on my Quad so far and have had the learning mishaps also. I have surprisedlly not broken any plastic props yet. The problem I have is I bought the stamped metal frame for my Quad as the Q450 franes were sold out.The metal frames can twist which makes the Quad drift if motors are out of line. I have to always measure across the motors an line them square to the frame. I have had grass snags and bangs easily bend the frame.

I just got in a new motors and a Q450 frame setup from Value Hobby. Shipping was $6.50 for all of my order.
http://www.valuehobby.com/multicopters/ ... frame.html

I also bought 4 E-Flight - 1000kv.motors, collets, Power Dist.board, props,and other parts for another aircraft. They were out of ESC,s at the time. I got another KK2 board and standoffs from Hobby King also. I only need 4 ESC's and I have amother better Quad. I can get it all peice meal complete to fly for under the $130 that RC Timer is asking. You just have to shop around. There is talk of a newer KK3 board coming out sometime with GPS built in and other options. The K2 board ver1.5 update makes for a great self leveling setup. The current boards are shipped with ver1.2 and the leveling is mediocor.It has to be flashed (updated)with the USB adapter available.

I brought it to the Sippican school and had Gary and Jon test it with good flights satisfication. Try Auburn Dome someday on Fridays mid day. I find orientation is the biggest drawback. I painted my forward frames Neon Red to help see it.

[Neons]

Good info. I am going to look more into the RC Timer pricing. My Quad ready to go is about $130. That is with the flash USBdevice. and short wires from the reciever, soldering bullets, nylon standoffs as little incedental items of need. Not bad, as it is hard to find an Arf in a Quad. I got my last order from Value Hobby in 3 days. I also like the HK Talon all Carbon Fiber Quad.

[Neons]

I have a couple links here that I want to put in here related also to upgrading the KK2 board from Hobby King. I started with all the basic setup that was given to me by the Quad Guy at Auburn Dome indoor sessions. So all the basic start up links are found in this forum under Helicopters. Well it is just a basterized helicopter to me. What do I know about egg beaters? So look in that Thread for the rest of the earlier info on Quads. Anyway, I now have oer a dozen flights on this contraption and it is tuned in real nice now. So much easier to fly now. The whole secret is to flash with upgraded software from the old 1.2vers. that comes with the board to the latest 1.4 or 1.5 versions. The 1.5 vers. has camera leveling addition. It takes no longer to put that one into the board. But after this is done you have one fine handling board in the chopper. The Self Leveling is superb now.

NOTE: Vers. 1.6 Has been released in June 2013.

The board gets flashed with a USB adapter available on eBay or right at Hobby King where you buy the KK2 board. Order it along with the board. Here is how it is done.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNb3u8yIIV4

There is a way to activate the KK2 board to read your battery and to signal you with a Piezo whistle that comes with the board. Here is the video that shows the simple setup by soldering 2 wires in the right spot.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqMNCAAs7ME

Now that this new board is flashed I am going to install it in another Quad I am setting up with further advances over my 1rst Quad that is less than a month old. That one is near perfect right now. This one has the new SimonK flashed Esc 20amp controllers from RC Timer. Look above a couple of posts and you will know more about the reworked Esc's. Claims to be much more smoother on the controls. I will find out soon after some tinkering. This is a gadjet freaks toy. Mr Fixit Type of flying .

More tips here on setups for the KK board from Hobby King..
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1556994

[Neons]

I ordered my Q450 Frame kit from Value Hobby with some motors. My new Quad was piecemeal together. The only thing I had to do was elongate the motor mount holes as they were from motors they had on hand and my choice. I also added a small power distribution board and soldered all my Esc wires to that board. It is also mounted on short nylon standoffs from Home Depot. The KK2 board is also mounted with nylon standoffs. My choice. It is imperative to mount the KK2 board with all nylon screws if the standoffs are used. Metal screws will short the board out.

My new Q450 is flying with the flashed firmware SimonK Esc's and flashed the KK2 controller board. The thing needed that it does not fully show in this video are Nylon stand offs and screws and 12 male and female 3.5 bullet connectors.So much better than my first Quad. Smoother and less sensitive.

This video shows an out of the bag from RC timer Q450 Quad kit from RC Timer. These are rugged and a great entry level starting point. Watch this guys coming setup and flite testing videos coming also. I will post it under Quad 450 in our club forum. You cannot beat these for a simple camera platform and portability. The small HD Keyfob cameras found on eBay are perfect The best KeyFob out is the new 808 #16 HD camera. They have 3 lenses to chose from. A,B, and D. B is slightly wider view than the normal view A. B has vignetting problems. D is very wide angle good for FPV.
Read about them here:
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1556994

Bob

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mncFXwIa ... ubs_digest

[tomapowa]

Awesome Bob!... those SimonK ESCs make a BIG noticeable difference in my eyes. I set up another fellas quad last month using cheap Hobby King 20A ESCs and it flew like crap... really... you could not keep it in one spot for long (wanders constantly). I bought him 4 new RCTimer.com 30A ESC ($1-2 more than HK's ESC), soldered them in and WHAT A DIFFERENCE! SimonK flashed ESC have a much quicker update rate (the rate it sends updated pulses to the motor) that it controls the motors better/quicker for a more stable flight. Ever since I upgraded his quad, 4 other quys in our Tiverton club upgraded and they are astonished of the difference in flight controllability. I TOLD THEM SO!

I was hoping to attend the Sippican fly-in this Sat. to test my large quad (simple hovers and maybe some sonar/altitude tests) but now can not as my plans changed. Me and my two older brothers are forming a band/trio... and usually practice Sat. or Sun. evenings... boo... we all played in bands years back but never played together... this should be fun!... If you ever hear "The Flying Laureanno Brothers" playing anywhere this summer, stop by and check us out!... mainly folk/rock. As if I did not have enough things going on in my life already... got to keep the mind busy and got to keep the body moving they say!

[Neons]

Copy of notations made on YouTube.
This is a Q450 Quad glass filled plastic frame. I used the KK2 board with 1.5 firmware. The Esc's are 20Amp SimonK flashed firmware. The Quad is pieced together with parts from 3 suppliers. This is my 2nd and newest Quad. I am still learning to handle it. I have about 15 flights on Quads at this date.. The camera is a 720 pixel KeyFob camera. It is velcroed on top of the red egg. I am still getting a little prop and vibration interference.. Better mounting is in order. Vibration is a plague to be reckoned with. Trial and error to get rid of it. I may balance the motor bell and props all together as a unit may work.

Video Trials Here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXPjqgvdGfA

[Neons]

I found this camera demo. I am working on a similar setup at some time to get stabilized videos and pictures. Isn't this neat?
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showpost ... ount=12488

Here us a favorite supplier of model =lane vacuum formed parts of all types. Get a Quad plastic dome here
http://parkflyerplastics.com/cart/index ... b15c20a2c9

or here in crafts. (Makes 2 domes)
http://factorydirectcraft.com/catalog/a ... submit.y=9