Frame Recommendations

[carlybaby69]

Hello,

So I have a bugs 3 that I have added FPV to it, GPS tracker, and antenna mods, getting into it shall we say. I recently had a small incident and have a cracked arm, she still flies ok but it has got me thinking about spares. However it seems impossible to get a spare bugs 3 frame, they all seem out of stock. (if you have any links to stock pls let me know!)

However given I'm getting into this hobby perhaps the bugs 3 frame is a little limiting. So I was thinking a good next step might be to transfer everything to a vanilla frame once she finally gives up. I've seen some good stories of people transferring the bugs internals to a ZMR250.

Short of jumping on this and buying a ZMR250 as a spare for now are there any good frames you can recommend? I hear the ZMR250 is a bit limiting once you move to bigger motors and 3s batteries. I'm not so interested in racing and like to do long range.

So in all just looking for a beginner to mid level frame that has plenty of upgrade potential and of course on a budget.

Thanks!

 

[RENOV8R]

In this day and age, the ZMR250 is like the '72 Pinto of the quadcopter world, very outdated. Personally, I fly only Flynoceros frames.

 

[Jeff Neese]

Bugs 3 frames are available. Look on eBay or just Google it.

 

[wafflejock]

Personally been using an iflight frame for quite some time now (at least a year maybe two) and has been rock solid no complaints really. There are lots of options but would check the usual suspects sites for reviews and decent site layout namely getfpv.com and racedayquads.com then check out frames and go from there and or search for some reviews on YouTube and comparisons. Mostly 5" frames are carbon fiber and 4mm thick then it's just a matter of do your electronics fit in the frame and how well does it protect your camera. 3d prints really come in handy for little carriages or protectors around things but if you depend on them too much will break either way just plan where you will mount the receiver and VTX and anything else not part of the main flight stack. "Flight stack" is FC and ESCs anything else you may want in there, basically all 5" quads will support at least two PCB boards stacked some can squeeze three or maybe more into depending on the height of the stand offs and other vertical parts between the bottom plate and top plate.

 

[wafflejock]

To note on the prints too TPU is an incredible material and won't break at worst it will tear and that takes a lot of force but used a lot of petg parts in the past and those don't survive many crashes.

 

[Dugdog47]

In this day and age, the ZMR250 is like the '72 Pinto of the quadcopter world, very outdated. Personally, I fly only Flynoceros frames.

One major difference is a ZMR won't explode if you rear end it lol.

I actually like the ZMR, there is plenty of room for any extra electronics and they're inexpensive and plentiful. Only real downside is the arms are fairly thin meaning they'll break in a crash.