Looking to build first quad

[LiveTrash]

Hello everyone,

I'm looking to build my first quad copter. I've never flown one before but have played around with quite a few RC flight toys in the past and would love to have the versatility, speed and control of a quadcopter. I've always been a go big or go home kind of guy and would prefer to jump right in to something medium range and work slowly at learning to fly and getting comfortable with it.

I'm not really familiar at all with the different components but after watching a few videos, I came across a FliteTest video that had some links in it to their store selling packages.
This being one of them: Just add this to the end of the store.flitetest website. /power-pack-e-quad-pack-kiss/#product-description

I'm comfortable with the price of something like this so long as I'm getting quality hardware. I'm hoping the more seasoned members can chime in and let me know what is good and what isn't. With a sale price like that package, is that a fair deal or am I better off buying the components separately?

I would much rather prefer to build my own than buy some plastic-looking thing from the store. I prefer to have the open design with a nice looking carbon fibre frame. I like the idea of the programmable flight controller to add a certain level of ease and difficulty to the flight of the quad.

From other electronics work I've done, I've always seen brushless motors as superior. Are they something preferred in the quadcopter world or is that sort of a personal preference?

Do these flight controllers allow changes such as self-levelling on/off (probably a major part in learning to fly the thing without crashing it) Or is that a standard feature? Does a specific flight controller need to be purchased to allow a custom firmware to be loaded on to it or is that something standard as well?

Any input is much appreciated. I'm figuring out quite a bit from reading over posts on this forum and various articles I am finding elsewhere.

 

[Jackson]

Start by watching some build videos. Both are decent and will answer many of your questions.

 

[LiveTrash]

Start by watching some build videos. Both are decent and will answer many of your questions.

Will do, thanks!

 

[Gyro Doctor]

I'm comfortable with the price of something like this so long as I'm getting quality hardware.

That kit doesn't really offer much of anything in terms of savings. "Get FPV" has that FC (Flyduino) for $35, those ESCs for $22 each,
and the motors for $26 each, which totals to $147. But the QUALITY IS THERE (although I'd personally prefer a different controller myself).

Those Lumineer motors are pretty good from what I hear. The specs look good and the price is also reasonable.

The KISS ESCs are only rated at 24 amps and the motors feed at 22, but they're self limiting at 30 (so they won't fry) while the motors peak at 32.
That's kinda tighter than I like on the my ratings, but knowing that the ESC will not self-destruct AND won't let the motors either, it's a nice fit.
I usually run with 30 amp ESCs on just about everything (Hot Rod style) but these also have D Shot (@600 no less !) which is pretty sweet and,
while not quite as fast as Multishot, being digital means less "noise" and no need for calibration either, so that combined with their other features
makes them also a good choice.

That flight controller also pairs well with those ESCs as it built to "talk" to them and also has simplified (proprietary) preloaded flight firmware
to get noobs up and flying faster than needing to learn Cleanflight (or Betaflight) as well as being able to be flashed with Cleanflight later, should you wish.
It's not as powerful or feature packed as the latest F4 controllers, but you don't really need all that just starting out anyway.

Overall, I'd say that kit is a very good start into your first experiences as a quad pilot