Pricing a cheap-ish TBS DIsco build + Advice on a lot of the selected parts. (U.K)

[Ddm5]

Right guys, currently need help pricing a TBS Disco build that will be used primarily for medium distance FPV, cruising, exploring, etc. Not looking to price the fastest or most expensive machine out there but I do have a mildly strict budget that doesn't include any FPV gear (It will come later). I'm looking for around 10-12 ish minute flight times and a range of around 500m minimum (Just to be safe, will fly around 100m's max until the FPV gear is purchased, and the max range of around 1000m (also just to be safe). I've settled on a list of parts but would like reassurance in terms of compatibility, etc.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Please read: My current budget is £500 for the basics to get it in the air, including the GPS (Could maybe be dropped)

Frame - TBS Disco | Just the top and bottom plate with 2 x Black arms and 2 x white arms.

Flight Controller - Naza Lite + GPS (For RTH and failsafe, etc) (Maybe drop the GPS for the Taranius below)

Motors - SunnySky X2212 KV980. (U.k place has them cheap enough with good customer service) (Also includes locking nuts since they're on CW threaded.

Props - 1045 SF Props | Black.

ESC's - 20Amp Afro ESC's. (Need advice) (Was also thinking about switching them for 30Amp ESC's)

Battery - 3S 2200mah Turnigy Nano Tech, was thinking about a 5000Mah 3S and using a 4mm bullet connector to XT60 for connecting to the board.

Charger - (Need advice, can't exceed £25 ish)

Transmitter - N/A | ( I honestly have no idea what transmitter and reciever I should pick up that's cheap enough and does the job well, stretching to a FrSky Taranius exceeds the budget and I would have to drop the GPS module from the Naza and purchase that down the road)

Extras - Onboard Lipo alarm | Optional, Lost model alarm | Also optional but as a measure.

 

[Quad]

How much is the Naza lite with GPS?

 

[Ddm5]

How much is the Naza lite with GPS?

Naza Lite + GPS Combo is £105 - £110.

 

[cranialrectosis]

If you know how to fly, ignore this. If not, keep to a lighter lipo while you learn to fly. Consider learning to fly with a naze or KK2. The NAZA will give you a flying robot. If you learn to fly first, you will be a better pilot, get better video and will be less likely to end up in the news.

A lighter lipo will do less damage to your copter when you crash.

 

[Ddm5]

If you know how to fly, ignore this. If not, keep to a lighter lipo while you learn to fly. Consider learning to fly with a naze or KK2. The NAZA will give you a flying robot. If you learn to fly first, you will be a better pilot, get better video and will be less likely to end up in the news.

A lighter lipo will do less damage to your copter when you crash.

Depends on what your definition of "Know how to fly", I've been semi learning over the past couple of months I suppose with a couple of Mini "Toy" quads, flying within my street as I live within a cul de sac, also learning at the moment with a large 450 ish sized toy quad that my father picked up for me for Christmas, not the fastest of things by any stretch but it has helped a lot with flying a much larger quad. Also I'll be using the Disco within our local park, or the much larger country park as we call it, or the tons of fields behind my house. Regarding the FC I thought KK2 and the Naze beforehand but I've leaned towards the Naza for future upgrades, etc. Regarding the battery I honestly have no idea, I was initially thinking about picking up 2 3S 2200's and running them in parallel in the future. But it's either that or the 5000 3S.

 

[helinor]

If you use a KK2 board you will only need a 5 ch radio.
The Naza will need a minimum of 6 channels, at least one being on a 3 pos switch to work as intended. If you will use the "home lock" funktion add another channel. The only "low priced" radio that will do that is the Flysky/Turnigy 9x. Only thing is it has no failsafe so best is to upgrade it with a FrSky module. Easy thing as the module pops right in, on the the Flysky model that is. Turnigy, being a re branded Flysky, will need an antenna mod for easy change of module . I use this on my F450 with Naza lite and GPS. Works great. I have also flashed the firmware on the radio to give me more options to program on it.

Another option would be to buy another frame that is cheaper and start on that. Then you can buy all the other things and eventually move it to a Disco frame later, maybe together with your FPV gear. I am building a HJ Alien X frame now,to test a mini KK board but this could also be built with a Naza. Mine will get a Naza when testing is done...

 

[Ddm5]

If you use a KK2 board you will only need a 5 ch radio.
The Naza will need a minimum of 6 channels, at least one being on a 3 pos switch to work as intended. If you will use the "home lock" funktion add another channel. The only "low priced" radio that will do that is the Flysky/Turnigy 9x. Only thing is it has no failsafe so best is to upgrade it with a FrSky module. Easy thing as the module pops right in, on the the Flysky model that is. Turnigy, being a re branded Flysky, will need an antenna mod for easy change of module . I use this on my F450 with Naza lite and GPS. Works great. I have also flashed the firmware on the radio to give me more options to program on it.

Another option would be to buy another frame that is cheaper and start on that. Then you can buy all the other things and eventually move it to a Disco frame later, maybe together with your FPV gear. I am building a HJ Alien X frame now,to test a mini KK board but this could also be built with a Naza. Mine will get a Naza when testing is done...
View attachment 38906 View attachment 38907

To be honest as I've stated I've been throwing the idea around of dropping the GPS for the Taranius. I'll have 8 channels at my disposal and generally prefer it over the 9x, but I've also looked into the 9xr but that's another story I supoose. Initially thought about picking up an F450 frame to begin with and sticking with it for a while but I'm still unsure about what to do. My budget is the borderline of picking between different parts and it's a pain to decide, 9x in the U.k to my knowledge is a bit of a pain to get a hold of and a lot of the ones from Hobbyking seem to be a crock of shite by the sounds of it, many of the other sites that do stock the 9x don't have it in stock either and haven't for a while. Regarding the F450 size frame it honestly depends on what and where you pick it up in terms of clones or the actual F450 frame. Disco frame + Arms = £73, F450 (Genuine) is £30 ish. F450 / Q450 frame / clone is around £10 from hobbyking, quite the price difference to say the least. Also, what ESC's are you running on the F450 and what motors?

 

[helinor]

To be honest as I've stated I've been throwing the idea around of dropping the GPS for the Taranius. I'll have 8 channels at my disposal and generally prefer it over the 9x, but I've also looked into the 9xr but that's another story I supoose. Initially thought about picking up an F450 frame to begin with and sticking with it for a while but I'm still unsure about what to do. My budget is the borderline of picking between different parts and it's a pain to decide, 9x in the U.k to my knowledge is a bit of a pain to get a hold of and a lot of the ones from Hobbyking seem to be a crock of shite by the sounds of it, many of the other sites that do stock the 9x don't have it in stock either and haven't for a while. Regarding the F450 size frame it honestly depends on what and where you pick it up in terms of clones or the actual F450 frame. Disco frame + Arms = £73, F450 (Genuine) is £30 ish. F450 / Q450 frame / clone is around £10 from hobbyking, quite the price difference to say the least. Also, what ESC's are you running on the F450 and what motors?

Banggood has the flysky 9x in stock...
http://www.banggood.com/Wholesale-F...emote-Control-Transmitter-Mode-2-p-47904.html

Mine is combined with this FrSky module
http://www.banggood.com/FrSky-DJT-JR-2_4GHz-Transmitter-Telemetry-Module-p-954940.html

I use this Rx in CPPM mode, just one servo lead from Rx to Naza
http://www.banggood.com/FrSky-D4RII-24G-4CH-ACCST-Telemetry-Receiver-p-929069.html

My F450 is a HJ frame but now uses only lower plate from that. The rest is DJI red motors, DJI 30A ESC´s and DJI props all mounted on genuine DJI arms. Top plate is a Rctimer bottom plate and some additionally CF plate for adjusting CG when I have the GoPro up front.

 

[Ddm5]

Banggood has the flysky 9x in stock...
http://www.banggood.com/Wholesale-F...emote-Control-Transmitter-Mode-2-p-47904.html

Mine is combined with this FrSky module
http://www.banggood.com/FrSky-DJT-JR-2_4GHz-Transmitter-Telemetry-Module-p-954940.html

I use this Rx in CPPM mode, just one servo lead from Rx to Naza
http://www.banggood.com/FrSky-D4RII-24G-4CH-ACCST-Telemetry-Receiver-p-929069.html

My F450 is a HJ frame but now uses only lower plate from that. The rest is DJI red motors, DJI 30A ESC´s and DJI props all mounted on genuine DJI arms. Top plate is a Rctimer bottom plate and some additionally CF plate for adjusting CG when I have the GoPro up front.

Hmmm. Should I throw the 30A Afro's on?, also checked the pricing of the 3 combined, comes out at £100. Taranius with reciever is around £140.

 

[helinor]

Most 450 frames I have seen uses about 30A ESC´s with a combo similar to the one I got, 920KV motors with 10" props on 3S. Same for the Sunnys you will be using. I have 20A ones on my F330 with the same motors but with 8" props on 4S. Don´t know much about the Afros but on my Twitch hex build I am thinking of trying the Spider series ESC´s...
http://www.banggood.com/buy/Spider-esc.html

The FrSky combo I got is a bit more expensive than if you get this combo from HK. Only thing is the Rx can not go CPPM but it works OK too
http://hobbyking.com/hobbyking/stor...ack_for_JR_w_Telemetry_Module_V8FR_II_RX.html

BTW: Banggood has the Naza/GPS combo at 100£
http://www.banggood.com/DJI-NAZA-Flight-Control-System-and-GPS-Lite-Version-p-906572.html

 

[HawkMan]

HK has a disco frame as well btw, the Reptile500 v3. banggood also has some more variants including a more expensive carbon copy of the disco pro, but its carbon abd comes with a brushless gimbal.

you could also save money by going with a cheaper expandable FC, like the HK APM clones or a sparky.

 

[Ddm5]

Most 450 frames I have seen uses about 30A ESC´s with a combo similar to the one I got, 920KV motors with 10" props on 3S. Same for the Sunnys you will be using. I have 20A ones on my F330 with the same motors but with 8" props on 4S. Don´t know much about the Afros but on my Twitch hex build I am thinking of trying the Spider series ESC´s...
http://www.banggood.com/buy/Spider-esc.html

The FrSky combo I got is a bit more expensive than if you get this combo from HK. Only thing is the Rx can not go CPPM but it works OK too
http://hobbyking.com/hobbyking/stor...ack_for_JR_w_Telemetry_Module_V8FR_II_RX.html

BTW: Banggood has the Naza/GPS combo at 100£
http://www.banggood.com/DJI-NAZA-Flight-Control-System-and-GPS-Lite-Version-p-906572.html

Naza I'd prefer to get it from RadioC.co.uk since they have it for £105 plus the free returns and what not, etc.

I'll settle on 30A Afro's and try them out since I'll be running the 10 inch props on the 980 Sunny's as stated. (RadioC is where I'm getting the Sunny's from as well)

Radio and reciever are the main issues in my budget in all reality. The combo you linked seems nice but the 9x's from HK are a crock of shite, they're fairly cheap compared to other sites. RadioC has the 9x and the original at around £85, HK sells the 9x at £40 which is cheap, but as I've said by the review they all seem to have problems.

Also, forgot to mention, Banggood's shipping time is too long for me, if I get it from RadioC I don't pay delivery over £60 and it'll be there within 1-2 working days.

 

[Ddm5]

HK has a disco frame as well btw, the Reptile500 v3. banggood also has some more variants including a more expensive carbon copy of the disco pro, but its carbon abd comes with a brushless gimbal.

you could also save money by going with a cheaper expandable FC, like the HK APM clones or a sparky.

Hmmm. I was originally debating between a 250 size and 450, with the 250 I was half planning on throwing a GPS on the full Naze32 board. Flight controller wise, I'll have a look into the HK ones. Regarding the Reptile500 the frame looks alright, but the quality looks fairly meh but it could do the job.

 

[helinor]

Hmmm. I was originally debating between a 250 size and 450, with the 250 I was half planning on throwing a GPS on the full Naze32 board. Flight controller wise, I'll have a look into the HK ones. Regarding the Reptile500 the frame looks alright, but the quality looks fairly meh but it could do the job.

A 250 or a 450 is quite a big difference in how they fly... Think you will need to decide what you will be doing with the flyer...
Here is a guy that uses the TBS look-alike frame, the Diatone version, and is very happy with it. He went to this after using the Alien X frame that i build now.... Maybe i need to buy me another frame... Found the Diatone in my local hobby store...

 

[C0d3M0nk3y]

with the 250 I was half planning on throwing a GPS on the full Naze32 board.

This probably isn't what you want if you're looking for GPS functionality. It works a little bit on the Naze32, but it's not great.

 

[Ddm5]

This probably isn't what you want if you're looking for GPS functionality. It works a little bit on the Naze32, but it's not great.

I looked into it a bit at the time but as you've said, it isn't great and hence why I switched back to going with a 450 quad.

 

[Ddm5]

A 250 or a 450 is quite a big difference in how they fly... Think you will need to decide what you will be doing with the flyer...
Here is a guy that uses the TBS look-alike frame, the Diatone version, and is very happy with it. He went to this after using the Alien X frame that i build now.... Maybe i need to buy me another frame... Found the Diatone in my local hobby store...

I'm aware of how much of a difference there is between the 250 and the 450, 450 would suit me more personally. I'll assume I'll need to purchase a PDB if I go with the reptile frame?

 

[HawkMan]

Well you can make or just buy a regular harness, it's big enough and has room, but a PDB with bullet connectors is cheap and first directly on the front mount point on the frame so it's a good thing to get.

 

[helinor]

I'm aware of how much of a difference there is between the 250 and the 450, 450 would suit me more personally. I'll assume I'll need to purchase a PDB if I go with the reptile frame?

I am using a 6-way break out cable, or harness if you like. 4 leads for the ESC´s and 2 for extras...

 

[Ddm5]

I am using a 6-way break out cable, or harness if you like. 4 leads for the ESC´s and 2 for extras...

Got a link for the breakout cable?, also would you recommend using a UBEC for the FC or just take the power direct from the ESC?