QAV 250 clone build

[bazzerh]

for improved COG you probably want the arms under the middle plate

[James.D]

for improved COG you probably want the arms under the middle plate

Thats the way I was thinking too, I';d rather have better COG and a bit of a faf to replace a broken arm. Hopefully that won';t happen much 
The design is not the best to begin with having all that battery weight high up. 

[bazzerh]

some others on here have pointed out that the battery on the top deck is pretty good as it counteracts the motors being under the props. the cog ideally would be dead centre of the 4 props  centres. quick and nasty way to assess this on your frame is just gently grab a prop and hold the quad up against a vertical line and eyeball where the centre of the quad is hanging on both axis. if u wanted to get precise use string and take pictures

[Hands0n]

Although ... to completely be the team Heretic here ... CoG on these little quads is not particularly important or significant.  Unless you';re wildly out of whack.    Looking around at so many of the mini-H builds the CoG is all over the place and yet has no impact on flight performance that seems to trouble the pilots.

On the bigger gear, 450 and above, it is more possible to get CoG out - but even then, with some severe and very deliberate abuse of CoG rules on Old Planky (my KK2.1.5 powered arrangement of Wickes finest Pine) I have yet to experience any truly detrimental impact of CoG rule breakage.

[Dino]

I want to mount some more LED lights on the tops of the arms so I want the motor wires to wrap around.
Yes I did drill the case for the bolts to pass through, Just make sure it';s the correct size drill bit and not to big or the FC will lose it';s seating position.

LEDs, got ya.
I CA glued M3 nylon nuts to the bottom of my CC3D case which works nicely, I didn';t fancy the faff with drill versus case lol.  It';s a shame that the holes in the bottom of the case aren';t M3 threaded already.

[Nige]

Coming on nicely James. The day we get to meet up and fly together is getting closer.

I wouldn';t worry too much with CoG or with battery being on top. Not effected mine in any detrimental way like Handson said. I have balanced mine to fly with 1600 nano techs. But if Ive gone through my 3 1600s I have 2 2200s I stick on. The only CoG issue is they sit a little far back and cause it to dift backwards ever so slightly. Not an issue when you gunning it FPV styley.

I have everything crossed that your motor/esc issue is resolved.

Nige

[James.D]

Coming on nicely James. The day we get to meet up and fly together is getting closer.

I wouldn';t worry too much with CoG or with battery being on top. Not effected mine in any detrimental way like Handson said. I have balanced mine to fly with 1600 nano techs. But if Ive gone through my 3 1600s I have 2 2200s I stick on. The only CoG issue is they sit a little far back and cause it to dift backwards ever so slightly. Not an issue when you gunning it FPV styley.

I have everything crossed that your motor/esc issue is resolved.

Nige

It';s good to know COG does not effect these quads to much, I might swap the spacers and arms round and leave off the extra LED';S  for now.
Hopefully I might get to finish the build this weekend to test the motor and esc.

[James.D]

Tested the esc & motor.  Esc worked fine but the motor was still having intermittent trouble so may need a new motor but going to try resoldering the wires first.
All my FPV gear is now ordered  so hopefully will have it flying before it turns up.

[James.D]

After resoldering the motor wires it';s still having problems so must have been a duffer from the start  .
Will order new one today and swap it out asap.

[Paul01]

You say it';s not spinning correctly, have you tried the motor with a different ESC and also have you checked that the screws are not shorting the motor?

[James.D]

You say it';s not spinning correctly, have you tried the motor with a different ESC and also have you checked that the screws are not shorting the motor?

Yes thats the reason I';ve rebuilt and rewired from scratch. Must be a dodgy motor winding.

[Paul01]

Well, hope you get flying soon, nice looking build. Also, it';s not a QAV250 clone it';s a blackout 250 clone (ZMR 250). Only mention as i though it was QAV clone until I was looking for spare parts for mine.

[James.D]

Well, hope you get flying soon, nice looking build. Also, it';s not a QAV250 clone it';s a blackout 250 clone (ZMR 250). Only mention as i though it was QAV clone until I was looking for spare parts for mine.

Oh yes so it is a ZMR copy 
Should be sorted soon enough thanks.

[Nige]

Glad you finally found the problem James.. hope the new motor is OK.. well chuffed to hear you ordered FPV gear.. we will have to meet up at some point when your finally airborn and learn/crash together lol

Nige

[James.D]

Glad you finally found the problem James.. hope the new motor is OK.. well chuffed to hear you ordered FPV gear.. we will have to meet up at some point when your finally airborn and learn/crash together lol

Nige

Cheers Nige, sounds good.
Can';t wait for new motor and FPV gear to arrive so I can finally get it finished.

[Nige]

what FPV gear did you go for?

[James.D]

what FPV gear did you go for?

I went for the Quantam goggle kit from HK, didn';t want to spend a fortune till I know I get on okay with goggles.

[Nige]

Funny coz I';ve just sold my fatsharks and bought the same as you. After trying Tupoar';s On Sunday I realised i liked the bigger screen.

[James.D]

Hmmm thats interesting that you prefer the bigger screen. What camera and vtx are you using?
Also my thinking was if I couldn';t get along with goggles I';d take the screen out of the goggles and fix it above my transmitter on a bracket like this

[Nige]

I';m using a Piot HD V2 camera and fatshark 250mw vtx.

The thing with goggles is you have to keep at it.. it will be very very strange and disorientating at first.. but keep at it.. because once to start to get the hang it is amazing..

[Trev2971]

Im still torn between my goggles and a 7" quanum screen (which is amazing), not used the screen for over 2 weeks as I really want to use the goggles,

we will see who wins in a few weeks I suppose

[James.D]

Im still torn between my goggles and a 7" quanum screen (which is amazing), not used the screen for over 2 weeks as I really want to use the goggles,

we will see who wins in a few weeks I suppose

I';m sure most people must go through the same thing eh. I';ve never flown FPV yet so going to be in the same boat pretty soon I guess 
What do you think are the good and bad points of goggles/screens?

[Friskle]

For myself personally, Re: goggles, i can see fine with them, but dont like the feeling of being totally blinkered, being completely closed off is hard to get used to.

[James.D]

For myself personally, Re: goggles, i can see fine with them, but dont like the feeling of being totally blinkered, being completely closed off is hard to get used to.

Hmmm I fear this is the problem I will have too as I like to know whats going on around me, A bit like riding a motorbike with no mirrors 
I just won';t do it.
I';ll give the goggles a go though see how it feels.

[Nige]

With a screen you can FPV but then look up and see the quad at any time. This is a comfort blanket for some. Thing with goggles is they give you that real immersion into the quad. You can imagine your sat right there on the front of the quad flying it. Not with a screen.
I guess tho some people don';t like that feeling of being vulnerable while flying their quad. Personally the more immersive the better. 

[kilby]

Depends on the kind of flying you are doing too.

Chris';s helmet mounted screen is a useful compromise of immersion and being able to get some view of your surroundings.

Skyzone have a camera mounted on theirs so you can switch to an external view

[James.D]

Got the new motor changed now and finished the build but for FPV gear that I';m waiting for.

[Marty852]

Mate, great to see your posts and pictures.

I';ve been searching everywhere for details and tips, so the input on this forum is great. I';m a HK based Brit, but happen to be in China as we speak. Just found a supplier who has sorted everything except the radio gear and FPV. Waiting for delivery, eta 1 day. :)

The esc';s and props are the exact same as what u have, everything else seems different at least packaging wise. Can';t wait to get into it as well as see how urs goes. Good luck with the first flight.

[Nige]

aww man!!! saw there was an update on your build log James, crossed my fingers and hoped to read you had it airborn at last.. 

I';m all excited for you.. you must be close now!!

Nige

[James.D]

aww man!!! saw there was an update on your build log James, crossed my fingers and hoped to read you had it airborn at last.. 

I';m all excited for you.. you must be close now!!

Nige

Thought I had it sorted a few days ago finished the build, connected with laptop to setup on GCS everything went as it should, all motor spin up going the correct direction. Tryed a test fight in kitchen and it just flipped over straight away.
Tried a few times now with the same result   
I';ve give up on it to be honest as it was becoming stressful the exact opposite of what it was meant for. I';ve decided I';ll move back to a plane as I';ve had much better results and I can use my newly purchased FPV kit on that.

I was hoping for more fun out of this hobby but all I get is headaches 

I wish you luck Nige setting up your flying club and thanks for your help. 

Anyone want to buy a 250 quad?