Hi folks,
I'm having trouble deciding between 1st edition Gremlin (TJ carbon frame), or the new Sidewinder/Turbo edition? The older model is appealing when it comes to price... Also, since I'm a newb, if I get an older model and screw something up with the build, or break it right afterward, i'm out less $$$. However, I wanted to make sure there wasn't something super awesome about the Turbo edition that I'm really going to wish I had. Like, is the Turbo edition more durable? More powerful motors, etc. that makes it really worth the extra $100?
Also, I have a Spektrum DX6e. What model receiver should I be sticking in this build?
Thanks!!
LOL let me ask a few questions first to help get you set:
Have you EVER flown a quad before? It's perfectly ok if you haven't; however, they can be a bit of a handful if you're learning. Little things like realizing that you have to pitch forward a little bit and give throttle to get the quad moving, and that there's no glide factor for a quad (if you cut throttle to it, you now have a falling rock, not a gliding piece of foam!) so it's a little...different? style of thinking to fly it.
Do you have access to a quad simulator? Something like Liftoff, or Velocidrone, or FPV Freerider - those are good drone demos to get you an idea of learning to fly a drone. I put in over 40 hours on Liftoff, with my controller connected to my computer, practicing, before I actually took my quad out and started flying it. I would HIGHLY recommend that you do the same; it will get you thinking about how the drone will fly, even if it's not EXACTLY the same as real flying (because in real flight, there are things like birds trying to attack your quad, or gusts of wind, or sun that messes with your FPV camera, etc).
I'm going to make the recommendation that you go with the Gremlin vs. the Sidewinder. The Gremlin is a smaller airframe, meaning it's something you can fly indoors during the winter, but it's also large enough that you can cruise outside with it in light winds. Plus, because of its lighter weight, it's a little harder to break. Don't get me wrong, if you hit the wrong way, you can still break something. That's why the simulator is so valuable.
Also, the Gremlin runs on a 2S battery - this means it's a little slower than the average racing drone. For a starter, you DEFINITELY want it slower, so you can get your reaction times downlirst.
Lastly, the receiver that you want, since you have the DX6e, is a Spektrum Quad RC DSMX receiver with telemetry. That should connect up to your flight controller and allow you to connect nd ru properly!