Quadcopter

Ever since I've failed, sometimes spectacularly, to fly rotary wing aircraft I've always wondered about Quadcopters but, whenever you go on to Hobby King there's such a bewildering number of bits and pieces you don't know what the hell to order!
So, when I was offered a quadcopter kit, complete, for an apparently reasonable price (90quid) I grabbed it, and got burned!
Here's the story.

Garry Pollard wrote: Its a soap opera
Next episode will be on here tomorrow. Bet its better than Corrie

Garry

Corrie???
Back by popular demand!
The whole thing arrived in this box


And this is what I found inside

Notice the complete absence of ESCs and motors, The foam box at the top right is the controller, what is immediately apparent is, it's not a build but an assembly! The motors are in fact underneath the bits! I'm still waiting for the ESCs. The arms come already assembled.

I've had a falling-out with hobbyking - I ordered a Salto kit from the UK warehouse. The order was acknowledged, as per, and a despatch email sent, and I waited, and waited, and waited.
(and waited). After a month I sent an email saying non-delivery, which was acknowledged.
Another fortnight went by, then a very battered card box turned up from Hong Kong!
When I opened it, there was a glass Salto fuz, a pair of wings, a broken Vee tail, a steel bar, and a bag of screws, all individually bagged and taped to the bottom of the box.
No instructions of any description. The fuz is not drilled for the locating pegs for the wing, although it is for the steel joiner, and it is not drilled for the tailplane mount. Nor is there any way of getting in to the underside of the tailplane mount without butchering the fuz.
I photographed the bits, and sent the images to HKing.
After a lot of back and to, and another load of emailed photo's, they've offered me a partial rebate.

This came from a local guy, he admitted he'd forgotten the ESCs but never sent them to me!


This is the controller, I'm already worried because there's signs of soldering on the back!


The arms come pre made and must be bolted to the centres. Hobby King stuff never comes with instructions! On the web site you must go to the item, then scroll down to the bottom of the page, then click on the 'Files' tab, everything you need is there to be downloaded.

The arms





First mistake, I assembled all the arms onto the centre pieces!

You can't get the ESCs in!
Note one arm is a different colour, this will be the leading arm when flying forwards. The Control board comes pre-programmed to fly + configuration, that is one arm leads. You can re-program to fly X configuration, which I understand is more stable.

The copter itself is the V1, priced at $11



The motors are marked BL-2212/13 and are no-name brand



The control board is the Control board version 2.1 $12.99



and the ESCs are TowardPro 18amp $9.99
The web site says they are TowerPro, this is a lie, they're knock offs!

Stephen, had I bought direct from Hobby King it would have been Ok, but no. I bought direct from a middle man who frankly ripped me off!


The inner bits have to be separated

And the UC legs

Looks very flimsy to me!

The motors are simple to fit, a large number of 3mm nylon screws and nuts are supplied, once again my local man ripped me off and I had to order more from HK.


I found that I could get the ESC inside the arm.


As the assembly goes on you're conscious of adding weight, do not be tempted to use steel nuts and bolts!