100 dollar tricopter?
- Thread starter QCPILOT
- Start date
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- tricopter build
RC-Flyer63
Member
I just built one and spent about $90, I made a wooden frame and designed my own tail swivel. so it can be done but it will be tight. I would allow yourself about another $30 - $50 just to be safe in case you dont have alot of small spare parts laying around like I did.
Mustang7302
Senior Member
That's tough... What kind of battery is it? You said you have a transmitter, how about the receiver?
Here is a option for a quad-rotor build:
$80 - X230 Mini Quadcopter Combo
$19 - Hobbyking i86L Multi-Rotor Control Board
Still needs receiver and probably some servo wire extensions (<$2) to connect the receiver to the flight controller. Plus shipping too, which is another ~$16.
Here is a option for a quad-rotor build:
$80 - X230 Mini Quadcopter Combo
$19 - Hobbyking i86L Multi-Rotor Control Board
Still needs receiver and probably some servo wire extensions (<$2) to connect the receiver to the flight controller. Plus shipping too, which is another ~$16.
What do you mean spare parts? like motors?
Wire, connectors, shrink wrap, nuts and bolts, zip ties, battery strap, etc... ya know all the little stuff that adds up and eats 25% of your budget. Then you need the usual stuff, A body, wooden dowels, control board, 3 motors, 3 ESC's, ESC programming card (optional, but recommended) Props, prop adapters, a better then average servo with metal gears, mine was $20. You also have to decide what kind of tilt control you want. The cheapest one to make is David W.'s (RCExplorer.se). Like mentioned above if you have some of the stuff laying around already you may squeak in for $100, but $150+ would be more realistic.
RC-Flyer63
Member
QCPILOT, I extras I refer to are what Limeavick said wood screws zipties, the $80 I layed out was for motors ESCs servo control board and connectors all the major stuff. I made my frame out of wood and had most of it laying around, I also had the radio receiver and battery so no cost there either. I used the small 24 gram motors from HK and made mine light and compact the frame is only 20" wide and about 18" long so the motors had more than enough power, if you look at the anycopter video the FT guys made you can see that is what they on those.
Here's a good article about the hidden costs of RC. It sucks you in like a black hole!
http://flitetest.com/articles/the-hidden-costs-of-rc-flying
http://flitetest.com/articles/the-hidden-costs-of-rc-flying
Mustang7302
Senior Member
I just spent $125 on tools for building:
None of this include things like heat shrink, connectors, extra wire, assorted screws and nuts too. So getting into the hobby to build has a lot of expenses past just the air frame, electronics, and power equipment; though once you have the tools you're typically not going to spend more on them again.
- 80W Soldering Iron
- Soldering Iron Holder
- Tub of Flux
- Helping Hands, with Magnifying Glass
- Hot Glue Gun, with Glue Sticks
- Six Outlet Power Strip, with Six Foot Chord
- Set of Pliers, Cutters, and Mini Screwdrivers
- 24"x36" Cutting Mat, with Measurement Grid
- 25 Feet of 1/4" Braided Cable Sleeve
- Heat Gun
- Solder
- Drill Press
- Cordless Drill
- Drill Bits
- Packing Tape
- Scotch Tape
- Painters Tape
- Electrical Tape
- Double Sided Duct Tape
- 6" Black Zip/Cable Ties
- Super Glue
- Utility Knife
- Razor Blades
- 36" Metal Straight Edge
None of this include things like heat shrink, connectors, extra wire, assorted screws and nuts too. So getting into the hobby to build has a lot of expenses past just the air frame, electronics, and power equipment; though once you have the tools you're typically not going to spend more on them again.
That was a wonderful article. I laughed, I cried, I felt his loss and his excitement. The author really grabbed me with that one. I hope he continues to contribute, that was some of the best reading I've done in quite some time...
Oh, Lord. Now its really going to go to his head...
