eric's model flying blog

The GearBest GB X155 Kit is, of course, available through GearBest . This nicely priced kit includes a video camera, transmitter, and goggles too! So it is aimed at first-time FPV pilots, like myself. Let's see how a target group member copes with assembling all these bits and bobs into a flying machine... What you get is a big box with little bags of parts, and a couple of smaller boxes for the Runcam camers, the Aomway antenna, and a bigger box with the FPV goggles. Let's start with the motors, because they are one of the major performance components. In this kit, you will find 4 Emax 1306, 4000KV RS series motors. Thay produce a little more torque than the 6000-7000 KV tiny motors that are out there, so they can handle three-bladed props with slightly higer pitch. The props that come with the kit are 3035 three-bladed bull nose props with no particular brand on it. I ordered some Gemfan replacements for them, for when I crash (it's not IF, but WHEN ;) ) ...

GearBest kindly sent me a Ready-To-Fly 90mm brushless qaudcopter to review: the FuriBee GT90 Fire Dancer. As the name suggests, it is a fierce and fiery little spinner! I have not yet had the opportunity to fly the little quad outdoors yet, because of winter weather. And it is actually a little too fierce to be flying indoors, to my taste (I am not that good a flyer yet, so I need lots of room ;) ). Plus, our dog likes to go after that high pitch sound of those 1104 7500KV (!) motors. I did give it a try, but it was so responsive that I crossed the room before I knew it! So I am waiting for an opportunity to go play outside, but I wanted to share my first impressions from the unboxing with you guys (and girls) already. The little pink lady comes fully assembled, with a full set of spare 5-bladed (!) props, and a choice of receivers. I chose the FrSky compatible version , but there is also a FlySky version , and a DSMX version . Or you can choose a version without receiver . ...

Today, I'll be having a first look at this: The FuriBee F90 90mm "Wasp" quadcopter . A nice minidrone that resembles ... a Wasp! The model was kindly offered to me for review by GearBest . Mine is version 1, with a Spektrum receiver.There's also a version without receiver, and one with FrSky receiver, but that one also comes with a transmitter and goggles. I thought that would be a little over the top, but because I don't have a Spektrum transmitter, I requested and got a FlySky micro receiver with the package. What's in the box? In the relatively small box, we find quite a lot, actually! Besides the drone itself, there's a spare seet of 4 props, a 2S 600 mAh LiPo battery, a USB charger for that battery, and a manual of course. The whole setup is very light: only 67 grams, and that's including the LiPo! The Wasp has a "real" Flightcontroller (FC): a personalised version of the OMNIBUS F3 FC. That means, amongst others, t...

Here's a review of what at first sight looks like yet another toy drone. Is it really worth the $50 they ask for it? In the largest of the blocks lies the secret: a true flightcontroller that controls a meriad of functions. Of course, it will spin the motors, and try the best it can to keep it flying steadily. Gyroscopes measure any upset in any of the three axes, and the controller responds by adding or removing power to the appropriate motors to couteract the upset. That's basic flight controller functionality. But this one does more than that ... Let's find out!

After two crashes that required some minor repairs, and with only 7 minutes of actual flying time on the clock, I could finally fly my Tundra again after exchanging the propeller for a plastic one (as opposed to the original Carbon fiber version). There were still 10 days left of my summer vacation, so I had good hopes to be able to learn to fly some more in the following week-and-a-half. I limit myself to early mornings, and evenings just before sunset for two reasons: there's hardly any wind, and hardly any people around. After a couple of slow circuits with flaps 1, my confidence grew. I decided to try one with flaps 0. It all looked pretty much like I was in control. The plane flew a lot faster, but I keept altitude and directional control. Or at least, so I thought... When on base leg, ready to turn final, I suddenly lost sight of my plane! It had dissappeared behind trees i thought it would be in front of. So all i could do is level my wings as best i could (withou...