No bones about it... there's a new project in the works!

[FlyingMonkey]

Something was in my mailbox today that I wasn't quite expecting...



Well, I just had to start putting it together.



Darn it, the square dowels I have are too small, a quick trip to Lowes and...



Ok, it wasn't that quick of a trip. A nearly 30 minute long phone call delayed me, but I was able to get some things put together before bed time...



Hey, it's a signed edition!



Maybe tomorrow I'll get some of the electronics installed.

 

[FlyingMonkey]

This kit is awesome so far. Chad hadn't quite put together any directions yet. They should be out soon. So I had to sort of guess how things should go together.

This system is so well thought out, that it was a simple matter for me to connect the pieces and snap them together.

Yes, snap, as in no glue. The fit is awesome. I had to use a pair of pliers to get that final click fit, but one together, it feels very secure.

The pivot tail section is impressive. Nice design, I can't wait to see how this does. I really like the double control rod system, it should provide a strong crisp control of the tail rotor.

 

[Ak Flyer]

That looks awesome

 

[Liemavick]

VERY Nice! Updates as progress proceeds please. Keep tabs on the cost if you dont mind

 

[FlyingMonkey]

Liemavic, I can do that for you. I ordered everything new for this project, and have the prices in my email receipts.

 

[FlyingMonkey]

Update, as requested.

 

[FlyingMonkey]

Did someone ask for more updates? Ok, here they are...





Yeah yeah, I know, the soldering isn't too pretty, but it seems to have done the job. (And yeah, I soldered the wires to the wrong tabs for the forward arms, I can fix that easy enough.)



It's getting there. (The blurrier the picture, the less details you can pick on... )

 

[Liemavick]

Im not picking on any details cause Im jealous as all get out. Whats the hold up, why aint that thing flying yet?? LOL Great progress Sir, I can see your excited as I to get her built.

Brian

 

[FlyingMonkey]

I used three of these motors at $9.50 each...

http://www.valuehobby.com/multicopters/multicopter-motors-and-escs/gforce-cf2830-kv800.html

and three of these esc's at $14.99 each...

http://www.valuehobby.com/multicopters/multicopter-motors-and-escs/hobbywing-skywalker-40a-ubec.html

and this Dave body at $20.00...

http://shop.flitetest.com/multirotors/original-tricopter-body/

and one of these power distribution boards at $19.99...

http://www.getfpv.com/pro-tricopter-power-distribution-frame-plate.html

Three 1/2" poplar square dowels at about $1.50 each

Various nuts and bolts all easily under $5.00 worth.

The FT Bones kit, well, we'll just say it fell off a truck.

I bought some props too, and wire, and I am sure there's something else I'm forgetting, but this is the major costs involved so far.

 

[FlyingMonkey]

Im not picking on any details cause Im jealous as all get out. Whats the hold up, why aint that thing flying yet?? LOL Great progress Sir, I can see your excited as I to get her built.

Brian

Stupid job keeps getting in the way... Like yesterday evening, after I got home I went to work on the project, but had to get back into uniform and go sit around a camp fire and talk to folks about stuff...



And then early this morning, I had to get up and go drive looking for tracks in the sand...




No sea turtle nests today, but there's always next time. Well, through some time in October at least.

 

[FlyingMonkey]

Bummer... bad ESC. Either I did something when soldering, or it was bad from the factory.

Either way, I'm out of operations until I either buy another one to match, or get an entire new set of electronics.

 

[Liemavick]

Pretty crappy work you have there, beautiful pics and surroundings. If your going to be distracted from the Tri copter build id say thats a pretty good one. Lemme guess Park Ranger?

 

[FlyingMonkey]

Ding, on the first try.

Trying to decide if I should just buy another ESC and hope the motor is fine, or try to buy all new components...

One would mean a few days of waiting, and $20.00 out of pocket, and the other could be 1-2 weeks, and closer to $100.00

 

[FlyingMonkey]

Ordered a replacement ESC... crossing my fingers on the motor.

And now we wait.

 

[Liemavick]

One thing that burned into my memory was Davids comment to purchase the ESC's all at the same time. He said there was a stronger chance all of them would have the same chips that were manufactured from the same batch. I dont remember if it was his build video or another discussion. Fingers crossed for you Brother.

 

[FlyingMonkey]

Yeah... I have a programming card coming with this one. That way I'll be able to try to zero them all out together.

I'm not quite sure how I managed to burn something up. I blame you though, for rushing me...

 

[Liemavick]

I'll take full credit for screwing you up, now get back to work. To add insult to injury I see they just released the "bones" video. :black_eyed:

 

[FlyingMonkey]

Yup, it hurts to see theirs working. I should have a flying version right now but nooooooo.

 

[Splatwillicrash]

Even if you have a programmer....

Yup, it hurts to see theirs working. I should have a flying version right now but nooooooo.

Even if you have a programmer, (like the turnigy ones) unless you were talking about reflashing the firmware you still may not be out of the woods. And if you get out of the woods, they may have updated the ESC's and you end up with different chips anyways.... lol. I tend to buy a spare for anything I build these days, especially the stuff I buy from a well known large international supplier. In the grand scheme of things I can swap it out if it is bad, and deal with the company a lot easier than having to wait and wonder. But that is just me. Good Luck on your build, and don't maiden it over the water!!! lol

 

[FlyingMonkey]

Splat, I went ahead and put in an order for a whole set of ESC's and motors... just to be safe.