LitterBug's ZOHD Altus VTOL build

[LitterBug]

I have built and flown more than my fair share of Tricopters, and flown quite a few planes, so why not smash two together for double the fun??

ZOHD has taken the Altus, and the VTOL conversion kit, and put it a combined PNP/ARF kit. A note from the kit page: Note: Requires assembly. Flight Controller, Receiver, Battery, and FPV Gear are NOT included.

My plan is to use a Matek F765-Wing FC (no longer available), ELRS True Diversity 2.4 Ghz RX, GPS with Mag, misc 4S batteries, and HDfpv gear. Possibly add lidar later for autolanding.

Inside the box is the PNP Plane sans the stock motor pods, motors, and ESCs that requires minimal assembly and all the pieces parts for the VTOL conversion. (motors, escs, servos, motor pods, pivots, etc) I will show all the kit pieces parts layed out before any assembly in the next post below. ZOHD provides quick disconnect connectors for the wings to the fuselage. Very handy for packing it.

Here is the original video for how to do the VTOL conversion on a Altus with the Beta kit before it was released. The disassembly part of the video is not required with this kit because the non-pivoting motor pods are not included.

The motors do seem a wee bit undersized (2204) for doing much hovering, but we will see. I may update those and the ESCs at a later date. I will probably twist the wires and put some housing over them for better asthetics, airflow, and lower EMI. They just leave them loose and untwisted in the video.

Cheers!
LitterBug

 

[LitterBug]

What is in the box and the state of assembly out of the box.

The plane itself is assembled.minus the motors.

The Motors, ESCs, Servo modules/pivots, motor mounts, motor pods

The wings have quick disconnect connectors with battery power and 3 Servo/ESC connectors. Thunb screws hold the wings to the fuselage for easy removal

Big battery, GPS, and equipment bays with easy access.

Simple to connect modular design of the major components that fit tight and are held together by single screws.

 

[LitterBug]

Installing the VTOL motors and pivots.

The tail motor is a simple clamp. Tighten the bolts down symmetrically till it takes a little force to rotate/move the motor on the tail boom, center the motor so the prop shaft is perpendicular to the ground then tighten the bolts till it is firmly not rotating. Do not crush the carbon tube. Just enough force to keep it from rotating.

The servos need to be set up using a servo tester so that they are vertical/horizontal at the end points. Don't fret if you can't get the control horn exactly right, that can be adjusted in the flight controller later. These are custom metal housing servos with bearings on the back so the motor mount is firmly attached and free to rotate.

Route the wires in the side and out the back of the wing mount. The wing mounts are labeled L/R and have prop rotation markings on them for easier setup of the props later.

The wing mount connector signal wires are color coded for easy setup and troubleshooting. White -> Aileron, Grey -> Pivot, Yellow -> ESC.

After the wires are attached and routed cleanly, attach the other half of the motor/pivot mount with the 8 provided screws.

Slide wings on over the carbon rod and tighten the thumb screw down to firmly attach them.

Stand back and let a helper double check your work!

Cheers!
LitterBug

 

[LitterBug]

Reserved

 

[LitterBug]

Reserved

 

[Houndpup Rc]

I have built and flown more than my fair share of Tricopters, and flown quite a few planes, so why not smash two together for double the fun??

ZOHD has taken the Altus, and the VTOL conversion kit, and put it a combined PNP/ARF kit. A note from the kit page: Note: Requires assembly. Flight Controller, Receiver, Battery, and FPV Gear are NOT included.

My plan is to use a Matek F765-Wing FC (no longer available), ELRS True Diversity 2.4 Ghz RX, GPS with Mag, misc 4S batteries, and HDfpv gear. Possibly add lidar later for autolanding.

Inside the box is the PNP Plane sans the stock motor pods, motors, and ESCs that requires minimal assembly and all the pieces parts for the VTOL conversion. (motors, escs, servos, motor pods, pivots, etc) I will show all the kit pieces parts layed out before any assembly in the next post below. ZOHD provides quick disconnect connectors for the wings to the fuselage. Very handy for packing it.

Here is the original video for how to do the VTOL conversion on a Altus with the Beta kit before it was released. The disassembly part of the video is not required with this kit because the non-pivoting motor pods are not included.

The motors do seem a wee bit undersized for doing much hovering, but we will see. I will probably twist the wires and put some housing over them for better asthetics, airflow, and lower EMI. They just leave them loose and untwisted in the video.

Cheers!
LitterBug

Watching!😁👍

 

[LitterBug]

Watching!😁👍

Watch the top of the thread too. I will be updating the reserved posts with what works. Any failures and modifications will be detailed down below.

 

[Houndpup Rc]

Watch the top of the thread too. I will be updating the reserved posts with what works. Any failures and modifications will be detailed down below.

Will do, thanks!

 

[LitterBug]

Added what's in the box above

 

[tomlogan1]

I was tempted to go that route when my first iteration failed but am too stubborn to admit defeat. I will be following this, particularly the Ardupilot setup. Cheers.

 

[LitterBug]

Added installing VTOL motors and pivots above

 

[Houndpup Rc]

Installing the VTOL motors and pivots.

The tail motor is a simple clamp. Tighten the bolts down symmetrically till it takes a little force to rotate/move the motor on the tail boom, center the motor so the prop shaft is perpendicular to the ground then tighten the bolts till it is firmly not rotating. Do not crush the carbon tube. Just enough force to keep it from rotating.
View attachment 255578

The servos need to be set up using a servo tester so that they are vertical/horizontal at the end points. Don't fret if you can't get the control horn exactly right, that can be adjusted in the flight controller later. These are custom metal housing servos with bearings on the back so the motor mount is firmly attached and free to rotate.
View attachment 255579
View attachment 255581

Route the wires in the side and out the back of the wing mount. The wing mounts are labeled L/R and have prop rotation markings on them for easier setup of the props later.
View attachment 255580

The wing mount connector signal wires are color coded for easy setup and troubleshooting. White -> Aileron, Grey -> Pivot, Yellow -> ESC.
View attachment 255582

After the wires are attached and routed cleanly, attach the other half of the motor/pivot mount with the 8 provided screws.
View attachment 255583

Slide wings on over the carbon rod and tighten the thumb screw down to firmly attach them.
View attachment 255584

Stand back and let a helper double check your work!
View attachment 255585

Cheers!
LitterBug

Lookin great!😁👍 (I wanna get one of these someday!)

 

[Houndpup Rc]

Installing the VTOL motors and pivots.

The tail motor is a simple clamp. Tighten the bolts down symmetrically till it takes a little force to rotate/move the motor on the tail boom, center the motor so the prop shaft is perpendicular to the ground then tighten the bolts till it is firmly not rotating. Do not crush the carbon tube. Just enough force to keep it from rotating.
View attachment 255578

The servos need to be set up using a servo tester so that they are vertical/horizontal at the end points. Don't fret if you can't get the control horn exactly right, that can be adjusted in the flight controller later. These are custom metal housing servos with bearings on the back so the motor mount is firmly attached and free to rotate.
View attachment 255579
View attachment 255581

Route the wires in the side and out the back of the wing mount. The wing mounts are labeled L/R and have prop rotation markings on them for easier setup of the props later.
View attachment 255580

The wing mount connector signal wires are color coded for easy setup and troubleshooting. White -> Aileron, Grey -> Pivot, Yellow -> ESC.
View attachment 255582

After the wires are attached and routed cleanly, attach the other half of the motor/pivot mount with the 8 provided screws.
View attachment 255583

Slide wings on over the carbon rod and tighten the thumb screw down to firmly attach them.
View attachment 255584

Stand back and let a helper double check your work!
View attachment 255585

Cheers!
LitterBug

Seems like Rosie thinks it looks nice too! 😂

 

[tomlogan1]

Added installing VTOL motors and pivots above

Ardupilot installed along with Heewing Flight Controller & GPS. Have not been able to arm it to my FlySky receiver using the FlySky FS-I6X or the Radiomaster TX16S. More to do....

 

[LitterBug]

Ardupilot installed along with Heewing Flight Controller & GPS. Have not been able to arm it to my FlySky receiver using the FlySky FS-I6X or the Radiomaster TX16S. More to do....

I always set up and use switch arming. I HATE stick arming.... I will have to dig through one of my profiles from other builds.....

 

[tomlogan1]

I always set up and use switch arming. I HATE stick arming.... I will have to dig through one of my profiles from other builds.....

Thank you. Still buried in the documentation.

 

[tomlogan1]

I always set up and use switch arming. I HATE stick arming.... I will have to dig through one of my profiles from other builds.....

This should work, no? I'm not using a Pixhawk but the settings look good.

https://medium.com/curious-manava/how-to-set-arm-disarm-switch-in-mission-planner-and-rc-for-pixhawk-9e1b0bf66c2b

 

[LitterBug]

This should work, no? I'm not using a Pixhawk but the settings look good.

https://medium.com/curious-manava/how-to-set-arm-disarm-switch-in-mission-planner-and-rc-for-pixhawk-9e1b0bf66c2b

Yes, you assign ArmDisarm directly to a switch channel. I also disable stick arming. Would hate to be doing some crazy maneuver only to accidentally disarm....

 

[tomlogan1]

Arming via switch channel effective. Now I can arm the system. Still playing with some of the parameters but stumbled upon my issue: To use Flysky (at least with my receivers) I need to set the controller to ibus and use the horizontal ports on the top of the receiver.

 

[tomlogan1]

I believe Litterbug will have his maiden flight before I get all the *options" figured out tested and implemented. I'm moving at a snail's pace because I've never done a flight controller and some of it is almost overwhelming, but I'm too stubborn to say **ck it and buy the ready to fly version.