Hey, Nils aka blueRC here!
We recently published our new video "Build your own FPV drone - The building instructions for beginners 2022" on YouTube. There I show you how to build a digital copter completely by yourself - mainly a guide for beginners, but even as a professional you can certainly pick up a few tips. From unpacking all the parts to the first flight, we have recorded and documented every step so that you can join in straight away.
In this blog post you will find all the parts from the copter build video as well as some alternatives in case the parts used are sold out or to build a similar copter on a smaller budget.
Frame
My choice
I chose the HGLRC Sector5 V3 frame for the copter in the video.
I made the decision primarily because of the compatibility with the DJI system and the very good quality. the cool look, which matches my red/black/gold color scheme, is an extra bonus!
Alternative
A possible alternative is the iFlight TITAN XL5. Like the HGLRC Sector5 V3 frame, this is also designed for the DJI system and is also of solid quality, although the color is slightly different.
Budget alternative
The TBS Source One HD is somewhat simpler and comes with fewer attachments, but is still designed for the DJI system and is therefore a solid alternative.
Stack (FC/flight controller and ESC/controller)
My choice
I opted for the T-Motor F4FC + F55A PROII. Again, the compatibility with the DJI system was very important to me. This combination comes with a cable that can be used to connect a DJI AirUnit with a plug. This means less soldering is required. In addition, a very powerful controller is installed here (also called ESC, i.e. Electronic Speed Controller), which provides more than enough power for the motors.
Alternative
Alternatively, you can also use the Diatone MAMBA F722 stack, for example. Unfortunately, this is not explicitly designed for the DJI system, which means that you have to completely solder the connection cable.
TIP: You can also find a video about soldering on our YouTube channel.
On the other hand, this flight controller is an F7, which has a little more power and a few additional connections than the T-Motor F4FC + F55A PROII. In addition, this flight controller can be configured with WLAN via a smartphone.
Budget alternative
Unfortunately, there are hardly any cheaper options for flight controllers and controllers, which is why I have linked another stack here that you can choose if the others are not available.
This stack is the slightly simpler version of the previous one, the Diatone MAMBA F405 stack, so like the first one it is also an F4 flight controller and does not have the option of being configured via WLAN.
Receiver
My choice
I opted for the TBS Crossfire Nano RX receiver due to its simple setup and extremely reliable connection. When choosing a suitable receiver for your copter, you need to make sure that it is compatible with the remote control.
To be able to use this receiver, you need a remote control such as the Radiomaster TX16S with an external Crossfire module or a remote control such as the TBS Tango 2, which we also use in the video, with a built-in Crossfire transmitter.
Alternative
Alternatively, you can also use the new TBS Crossfire Nano RX Pro, which is largely the same as the normal version, but offers a higher telemetry output power.
Budget alternative
The FrSky receivers such as the FrSky R-XSR are slightly cheaper. However, the set-up process is somewhat more extensive and the range is not as strong as that of the Crossfire system. As already mentioned, the choice of receiver depends on your remote control. It is therefore essential that you pay attention to compatibility!
Motors
My choice
The choice of motors was very easy for me. The T-Motor P2306 V2 not only fit the 5-inch frame perfectly in terms of size, but at 1950KV (revolutions per volt) they also have the optimum power for the weight and propellers of the copter. In addition, the champagne color goes very well with the golden screws of the frame.
Alternative
As with the frame, the alternative is a product from iFlight. Here I can only recommend the iFlight XING 2 2207. These offer a slightly smaller size and slightly less KV at a similar price, but are still suitable for our setup and look very stylish.
Budget alternative
As a budget alternative, I recommend the iFlight XING E 2208. These have similar features to the iFlight XING 2 2207, but have slightly less KV. On the other hand, they are significantly cheaper and have a slightly less striking design.
TIP: If you want to know more about motors, take a look at this blog post by Lars.
DJI
My choice
The frames are primarily designed for the larger DJI Air Unit, but as this was not in stock at the time we built our copter, I opted for this cheaper but still very good option: the RunCam Link DJI HD transmitter module. This is slightly smaller than the Air Unit from DJI, but has a longer cable. In addition, the RunCam Link DJI HD module is significantly cheaper than its "big brother" from DJI.
Alternative
The Caddx Vista HD system offers an identical transmitter module with the DJI camera.
Propeller
My choice
The choice of propellers, which ultimately fell on the HQ Prop 5141 V1S, is based on a number of characteristics. Propellers are usually described in two different ways.
The first looks like this: 5,1x4,1x3
The first number stands for the diameter of the propeller in inches, in this case 5.1 inches.
The second number stands for the pitch or the pitch of the individual propeller blades in inches, in this example 4.1. The number stands for the distance that the propeller would move with one revolution (without air resistance, etc.) and determines the so-called "aggressiveness" of the propeller. More pitch (higher number) therefore basically stands for a higher top speed, but less torque/power at lower speeds.
The third number stands for the number of propeller blades, in this case 3. I would also stick with three propeller blades for the 5-inch copters, as they offer the perfect mix. The more propeller blades, the better the performance at low speed - but the fewer propeller blades, the higher the final speed.
The second notation is as follows: 5141
The first two numbers here stand for the diameter in inches, i.e. 5.1 inches, the second for the itch, i.e. 4.1 inches.
I opted for these propellers because, with a diameter of 5.1 inches, they offer a little more stability than 5 inch propellers and still fit on the frame. The pitch of 4.1 inches is already relatively aggressive for our copter, but it suits my flying style well and also offers a high top speed.
Alternative
Especially for beginners, slightly "weaker" propellers or propellers with less top speed are not a bad idea, which is why I recommend the HQ Prop 5131 V1S.
Budget alternative
As propellers are generally not very expensive, I generally recommend buying different ones and trying out which ones you like best and which ones suit your own flying style. You can also try out the Gemfan 5043 WinDancer, for example.
Optional parts
GPS
An additional component that you can use is a GPS module such as the TBS M8. With this module you can display the current speed, altitude, direction to the starting position or the flight distance in the goggles. You can also use the GPS Rescue Mode, which allows you to have the copter return automatically if the connection is lost.
TIP: We also have a video for you on the installation and the necessary configurations of such a module.
Beeper
If you lose your copter, you can make the search much easier with a beeper. The Vifly Finder 2 has its own battery and can therefore also draw attention to itself if the flight battery has fallen out in a crash.
TIP: You can find more tips for lost copters in our video"Finding a lost FPV drone - Our top 5 TIPS".
Last but not least
With these components, you can build a copter like the one in the video. Or you can choose other components in some places if some are not available or you simply like other parts better. If you have any questions about the assembly or the selection of parts, write us a comment on YouTube or send us an email to support@meilon.de .
Have fun and success building and flying!
Your Nils
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