Originally Posted by jesolins

Hi D,
Welcome to multicopters! Try reading the TIPs and looking at the Beginner/Noob Info Threads section on the first post of this Mega Index to begin your journey.

You probably found the MQX very simple to fly with your heli experience and skill set behind you. The differences come in the tuning and maintenance and the decipline to do proper pre and post-flight inspections for reliabale multicopter flying. That of course becomes much more important as the cost of your system goes up when you start adding a more capable multicopter, AVP and FPV equipment.

Let me know if you want to sell your DraganFlyer X6. Did it come with the special Tx? I started my multicopter journey with the Draganflyer/Spectrolutions and some other multicopters such as the XUFO and Mikrokopter 10 years ago Time sure does fly when you are flying and having fun

Give me a link to the writeups you mentioned so I can get an idea of what you are looking for in a multicopter tutorial. It sounds like a good job for someone else though as keeping up this index with all the new developments is a time eater

Again welcome to multicopters!
Cheers,
Jim
Quadrocopter and Tricopter Info Mega Link Index

A local PD originally purchased the X6 as an alternative to a full size copter....I did have to make some minor repairs before I attempted to fly it ,I imagine that probably influenced their decision to shelve it.With a lack of experience flying copters in general ,my early attempts at flying it were not good ,so I too shelved it for a long while ,.til my skill sets improved to the point I'd feel comfortable trying again.While I have self taught myself to fly a variety of co-axials I've yet to try a "true" copter.While there are some good tutorials to help a newbie learn to fly conventional helis they dont seem to translate real well to Quads.Maybe its just me.
The MQX has been a blast to fly ,especially after I improved its visual orientation with a couple minor mods gleaned from these forums.At this rate I dont anticipate it will be long before I attempt to tackle the X6 again.

I wont be interested in selling the X6 anytime soon and yes it came with the "special" tx as well as the full compliment of tote box ,charger and ground station equip....as I was the only bidder and evidently the auctioneer thought it was only a "toy",you really dont want to know how little I paid for it at ...

From first post:

"--The Alien Air Jump Jet and Saucer quads ~$60-130, and the soon to be released Quadpod ~$TBD: http://www.snelflight.co.uk/ forums: http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=813134 and http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1319214"

Actual price: $37.70
http://www.goodluckbuy.com/rc-flying...e-control.html

Saludos,
Jose

Hi Jose,
Thanks for letting me know. I thought those were not being sold anymore. That one looks like it is probably a Saucer knock-off. From what I can see, the flight controller board is a little different than the original. Several years ago Thinkgeek sold them for$30 but it was a short special sale. Nice price for that indoor toy
Cheers,
Jim

Originally Posted by Doblao

From first post:

"--The Alien Air Jump Jet and Saucer quads ~$60-130, and the soon to be released Quadpod ~$TBD: http://www.snelflight.co.uk/ forums: http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=813134 and http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1319214"

Actual price: $37.70
http://www.goodluckbuy.com/rc-flying...e-control.html

Saludos,
Jose

Jim, I am sure I missed it so forgive me but is there an entry for gimbals? Looking for timing belt or gear drive offerings.

Hi P,
There is a Camera mounts and landing gear: section. Not sure if any of the links have what you need, but you might try asking in those threads.
Cheers,
Jim
Quadrocopter and Tricopter Info Mega Link Index

Originally Posted by pug398

Jim, I am sure I missed it so forgive me but is there an entry for gimbals? Looking for timing belt or gear drive offerings.

Jim, thanks. My vid tx just burned up so maybe I will rethink the whole thing. First off is to try to find a replacement 5.8 tx that works well with the generic 8 channel rx.

Originally Posted by jesolins

Hi P,
There is a Camera mounts and landing gear: section. Not sure if any of the links have what you need, but you might try asking in those threads.
Cheers,
Jim
Quadrocopter and Tricopter Info Mega Link Index

Snip from post one.

Originally Posted by jesolins

you have to purchase the boards from Germany, which incurs additional shipping and 19% German value added tax

Just to point out that European companies exporting goods to outside the EU should not be charging VAT (Value added tax).

The way it works is I pay VAT in my VAT registered business on the components I buy and I get to reclaim quite a lot of it. I then add VAT on my finished product which I pay the government on behalf of the European customer.
It's not a tax on my business, I'm only passing it on on behalf of the customer.
If that customer is outside the EU and doesn't have to pay VAT I don't charge it, because I don't have to.
I do have to declare it and provide invoicing in my VAT returns, but I'm happy to do so to get the sale.

If I import from say the USA or China, I have to pay import duties and VAT.

If you are dealing with an EU company from outside the EU ask about the VAT. It could save you 19%.

Switzerland while not a part the EU has similar laws (to streamline trade with the EU), so should not charge VAT to exports outside the EU either.

You'll have to deal with local import duties and taxes, but you want to make sure those are on top of 100% of the cost and not 119% cost.

BE SURE to ask about VAT.

Good points D,
That VAT was a nasty surprise several times when I was ordering X-BL and MK parts several years ago. Back then they passed it on to the customer. If htat has changed then it is well worth asking about it.
Thanks and Cheers,
Jim
Quadrocopter and Tricopter Info Mega Link Index

Please suggest a CF frame under $75-150$
only frame no electronics
should have ground clearance to fix camera mount (for camcorder)

Originally Posted by eagle19

Please suggest a CF frame under $75-150$
only frame no electronics
should have ground clearance to fix camera mount (for camcorder)

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...ame_550mm.html

You'll need to mod for ground clearance. I put pool noodle legs on mine over the talons.

nvm

anyone know where i can find these pin/plugs? preferably in the US.

S,
Those are single row header pins 2.54mm. Break or snip off the number of pins required.
-- www.radioshack.com (also has small breadboard pcbs)
-- www.mouser.com
-- www.digikey.com
-- http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from...All-Categories
Cheers,
Jim
Quadrocopter and Tricopter Info Mega Link Index

Originally Posted by scub

anyone know where i can find these pin/plugs? preferably in the US.

got the board at radioshack (huge slab for $3) couldn't locate the pins at two stores but i'll get them on on ebay for as cheap as they are.

thanks