Dart 450 build, need advice

C

CodyS

Member
I've got my shopping list assembled for a HK Dart 450 build and would appreciate any advice before I pull the trigger. I'm basically looking for a FPV drone for general bashing, not really racing or aerial photo. My experience thus far has been flying a Syma X5C in Mode 2 to get familiar with the controls.

Dart 450 Frame (560g)
Runcam Eagle 2 with a mounted Furious FPV Piggy (150g)
ImmersionRC TrampHV Video Transmitter (15g) to use with Quanum Cyclops V2 Goggles
FrSky D4R-II 4ch 2.4Ghz ACCST Receiver w/telemetry (50g) to use with a Tanaris X9D
NTM Prop Drive 28-26 1000KV (68g ea, 272g)
10x4.5 Plastic Slow Fly Props (60g) (should I go Carbon Fiber?)
Flyduino KISS 24A Race Edition ESC's (40g)
Kiss F3 Flight Controller v1.03 (10g)
Turnigy 5000mAh 3s 20C Lipo Pack w/XT-60 (360g)

I haven't settled on the battery and want to know the final weight of the completed project before considering. My initial thoughts are that this build will be heavy and underpowered. I'm open to suggestions.

Thanks in advance for any advice on this build.

Edits: added links, changed motors, added battery
 
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dragger201

dragger201

If it ain't broke, don't fix it??? You kidding?
Hey Cody............

Until you get used to this bird, I would stay with the plastic props. Once you get comfortable with everything and fairly proficient at flying it, then get CF props.

I would spend the $5 or $6 on this site and start plugging in the data to see what is what......
https://www.ecalc.ch/

It's fairly accurate and you can plug in different batteries to find what's the optimum for you..............
 
dragger201

dragger201

If it ain't broke, don't fix it??? You kidding?
Hey Cody.......yeah, links to eCalc don't really work to show the results. Anyway...........2 things...........try to get your thrust to weight to 2 or more. You might be able to do that by going with a 1050 prop.

Also, if you still have your X5........start practicing with that thing about 1ft. of the ground. It's the best way to understand propwash and it will help when you first start flying your big bird. By the time you get enough thrust to lift off, propwash is going to be kinda extreme and will want to make your bird do all kinds of weird poop...................
 
dragger201

dragger201

If it ain't broke, don't fix it??? You kidding?
..........or you might try with an 1145 or 1147 prop....................
 
C

CodyS

Member
dragger201 said:
..........or you might try with an 1145 or 1147 prop....................
Click to expand...

Thanks for all your help so far dragger! This frame is too small to accommodate those props. However I calculated with 1050 props and it moved the needle from 1.9:1 to 2:1. I'm also concerned about the motors I picked. HK says the frame will accept up to 22mm motors and I've stretched it to the bigger 28mm motors. Will I have issues mounting them? If not, would you recommend beefing up the motors even more?
 
dragger201

dragger201

If it ain't broke, don't fix it??? You kidding?
CodyS said:
Thanks for all your help so far dragger! This frame is too small to accommodate those props. However I calculated with 1050 props and it moved the needle from 1.9:1 to 2:1. I'm also concerned about the motors I picked. HK says the frame will accept up to 22mm motors and I've stretched it to the bigger 28mm motors. Will I have issues mounting them? If not, would you recommend beefing up the motors even more?
Click to expand...

Hey Cody..........after looking at that frame it doesn't look like you should have any problem with the 28mm motors. But I wouldn't go any wider/bigger.....

Do yourself a favor and get the Accessory kit. (https://hobbyking.com/en_us/ntm-prop-drive-28-series-accessory-pack.html). While there is much that is standardized, there is a lot that is not. I wouldn't take a chance on getting those motors and then having to find those hub adaptors. I mention this because I have 3 different kinds of brushless motors and all three have different hub adaptors. I looked at the specs on those motors and seen that the recommended prop is a 9inch. In that case, I would upgrade to at least a 30a ESC. Bigger prop requires more power. But that's just me and I use 30A ESCs. And also a good number of reviewers are using 30A ESC.

Ok, now an important question............what do you want to do with this thing???
 
C

CodyS

Member
dragger201 said:
Ok, now an important question............what do you want to do with this thing???
Click to expand...

I want to build a solid FPV drone for just general bashing around. I enjoy tinkering and I have enjoyed pouring myself into the research on custom builds. Having the flexibility beyond a RTF drone is appealing to me. Having looked at several FC options, I like the KISS concept the best for now with betaflight a close second. I like the concept of clean/dirty plates on the frame for eliminating vibration. Though it seems the downside of this frame is how heavy it is.

My biggest complaint with my Syma X5C is that it's so friggin light. I want something that has some weight, can handle a little wind and not blow away, escape TX range and fly helplessly into a 100ft tree. I have always flown LOS and I'm new to FPV. I plan on getting my son a cheapy toy FPV for Christmas and I'll do some practice on it.

It is going to take me some time to get my FCC license to fly this build FPV legally. I figure it will take me a while to build and get a feel for it with LOS flight so I'm not in a hurry to get the license.
 
C

CodyS

Member
dragger201 said:
I would upgrade to at least a 30a ESC. Bigger prop requires more power. But that's just me and I use 30A ESCs. And also a good number of reviewers are using 30A ESC.
Click to expand...

The ESC's I picked go hand-in-hand with my KISS FC. They are rated 30A max and 24A continuous. You think I'll be pushing them to the limit? The ecalc says I'm hitting 14A at max per motor. These ESC's have overcurrent protection so I know they won't burn up. However will that lead to underpowering the motors?
 
dragger201

dragger201

If it ain't broke, don't fix it??? You kidding?
CodyS said:
The ESC's I picked go hand-in-hand with my KISS FC. They are rated 30A max and 24A continuous. You think I'll be pushing them to the limit? The ecalc says I'm hitting 14A at max per motor. These ESC's have overcurrent protection so I know they won't burn up. However will that lead to underpowering the motors?
Click to expand...

Ok, found some info on those motors. You should be fine since you got a burst of 30a and overcurrent protection........Just remember that you are going to be running a 1inch bigger prop............
 
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