Need help with choosing parts for first build

[BudManLXXIX]

First let me start by introducing myself. I'm Chris but you can call me BudMan of just Bud if you like. And I'm tring to build me my first DIY quad, because there just don't seem to be a ready to fly speedster I can zip though the skies and wow my neighbors that has all those safety net features , like those that come with my Hubsan X4.

I want a fast line of sight flying quadcopter like the bug 3 but even faster. That can do flips and aerial stunts also like the Bug 3. It needs to be big at least 300+ mm because I like flying high in the sky so I don't crash and I need to be able to see it. Because lets face it I'm still a newb and the higher I can stay the safer it is for others. I love the Bug 3. I love it's speed most of all. But I keep losing the suckers. I lose orientation by some bad maneuver and it gets to far away from me and bye bye Bug 3. I've lost 3 already and know it's only a matter of time before I lose the forth. The last one I even tried installing a fpv camera so if I lose orientation I could use the screen(My Phone) to reorient my self and bring it home. Lets just say it didn't work and I cracked my $500 phones screen in the process because my phone wouldn't fit in the holder with it's case on. So I want to build a quadcopter that fits my specifications because after scouring the internet for 2 days, I can't find one that comes close to what I want. I think it would be easier to just list the things I'm looking for in my build in a list below but first let me just state I don't give a crap about fpv or video recording. Already have a Hubsan X4 if I wanted to shoot some video. I just want to have fun zipping it around in the sky doing neat little stunts, but have a safety net for when I make a mistake. Crashing is one thing I'm just tired of seeing my money drift away with the wind and into the woods.

1: Needs to be big at least 300mm or bigger but no bigger than 450mm. 7" or 8" props. I want to see it in the sky.
2: Would like it to be even faster then the Bug 3 maybe even better acceleration too. At least 60+mph if that's doable. The faster the better.
3: An ability to turn off safety features and do flips and stunts when I'm feeling bold.
4: stable flight system, 6 axis gyro, compass, altitude hold, all that newbie stuff
5: Want it to have headless mode and GPS RTH, this is a MUST. Although I can live without headless mode.
6: To be on safe side would like it to have around 1000m - 1500m control range or at least a reliable RTH fail-safe if signal loss occurs
7: Plenty of pretty lights for the under side, as I sometime like to do some night flying
8: No more than $500 price range with everything including remote

I wish I could just smash my Hubsan X4 and Bug 3 together and have basically have the Hubsan X4 but with the speed of the Bug 3. And of course the flip button. Learning some pretty neat maneuvers with that thing. Kinda like my Hubsan speeds up when I turn the GPS off. But instead turns into a Bug 3 on Nitro or something. If I run into trouble I just flick the GPS switch back on and all is good.

If someone can suggest me a build list that can get me close to these specs I would be a happy camper. I understand there is more to just putting the parts together but I'll cross that road when I get to it. First I need to know what to buy because there are to many brands and options and it's got my head spinning. Thank you for your time and expertise. I am pretty tech savvy and even know a little bit of coding. I'm sure I can handle thing once I get some experienced advice and what Brand and size Motors and ESC I should get, what flight controller and PDB I should get. Or if I should get one of those All-In-Ones. So many options and I don't want to waste any more money buying the wrong thing or having regrets because I find out this is better than that. If I'd known what I know now, I would never have bought the 4 bugs and just went straight to the DIY build. But I guess I needed to buy at least one to learn how much I enjoy racing them around the sky.

I been flying for about a month now and I own a Bug 3(#4) and a Hubsan X4 W/advance controller. I got the feel for it, little more time and I'll be a great flyer. But I also don't want to keep losing my Bugs to the forest. I even went looking for the last Bug I lost with the FPV camera. My hopes was if I could get close enough to it my phone would pick up the wifi signal it was emitting and I could narrow my search area. 6 hours later, covered in mud and thorns, near crawling from exhaustion, I gave up. I already lost the top shell in a flight the other day. I brought her down for a landing when I got low batt warning and it was just gone. It's ok, cuz I got a saying, if Duck tape don't fix it , then your not using enough Duck tape.

 

[Dugdog47]

This iFlight xl8" frame looks like an absolute beast :


Together with some 1750v motors and some 7" props. You could get some multi colored props, put the green ones in front and the pink ones in back might help line of sight flight:

The kids are calling this combo "watermelon" lol but looks cool.

This quad would do over 100 mph easy, and would be capable of performing many stunts. The bugs3 would seem like a child's toy in comparison lol.

 

[Dugdog47]

The airbot f4 is my favorite fcb because it's easy to wire up and works great:

with these 1700kv motors would rock!
Lumenier ZIP 2407 1700kv

 

[BudManLXXIX]

thank you soooooo much. All my search inquiries showed nothing but stuff on racing fpv mini drones. I couldn't even figure out what kind of motors to start out with to even figure out what I needed to power those motors. You gave me a place to start. Thanks again for you suggestion.

 

[Dugdog47]

Hey no problem bro if it's something I would enjoy building myself I'll check out the parts list and share my findings.

One more thing you'll need are some 50 amp escs. I am currently using the 50amp "metal" 4in1 escs by racerstar and they've been flawless for 100 flights or so and they're priced right:

About $50 or so. Your not really going to find many "cheap" options for a 7-8" quad build.

 

[BudManLXXIX]

this is what I have so far

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/dl/invite/6w4TjSP

the motors and props I'm getting from here

https://www.getfpv.com/lumenier-zip-2407-1700kv-popo-pro-motor.html

as I could not find them on Amazon. I don't want to ask THE stupid question, but Can you see if I selected it all right stuff and am I missing anything. Was wondering if I should get rubber dampeners or something for the FC. And what kind, if so? And I'm a little confused as to the GPS module. Does the FC handel all the auto pilot stuff and I can just get a GPS modul and have RTH , or am I missing something?

Just saw your post on the ESC's will update my list with the correct ones tomorrow. really tired. GN

Oh and for now was want to try to run 4s 50c batt because I already have a 4s charger and the 6s batts are really pricey. It would still work right ? Running 4s's would be like running the 2s's on my bug 3 instead of the 3s's it can take, right? Later I can go to the 6s's

 

[Dugdog47]

Looks like a good list to me I doubt you'll have problems with these parts being compatible.

As far as the gps module goes I don't know about those as I've never used one on a build, sorry I can't help you there.

I will say that the quad you are planning to build using your parts list would be excellent for a long distance fpv quad, and a beast of one at that.

 

[BudManLXXIX]

I didn't think about it until yesterday, but my dad is also into building drones. So I called him. I had a long conversation with him. After conferring with him I think I'm going to go with a smaller prop build with cheaper parts. Because as my Dad put it and me being new to this, I'm going to f*** up somewhere. So I should start off with a smaller and cheaper build and work my way up to a more expensive build when I become more experienced. I think I have a pretty good idea now after all this research I've been doing of where I should start. I thank y'all for your suggestions and will keep you posted on my first build.

 

[Dugdog47]

Yes if you build it please start a new thread in the build section and post lots of pictures. There you can see some of my attempts at the perfect quad lol.

Most folks start out building a 5" as there are a lot of cheap parts for those.

 

[wafflejock]

Yah good to start with a 5" I think and have a micro around for indoor flying and sim for getting more time in on the sticks and to try out tricks without destroying all your gear by learning from trial and error in reality. Haven't done any big builds myself but I am starting to consider components myself for one to do more GPS controlled flying for photogrammetry and other things where that would make more sense. The 5" builds can be relatively durable though if you get decent components which aren't terribly expensive you'll likely just be replacing a lot of props while learning rather than rebuilding and replacing big expensive parts.