Developer Comment by jasonshort on February 7, 2013 at 4:11pm

Best to use stabilize instead of Acro mode when learning. Or maybe you cut the power to make it flip? Also, Simple mode is handy for learners.

When starting out the throttle is key. Remember to find the center point that allows you to hover, then always return to that point.  Watch for any acceleration up or down. Uncontrolled acceleration is deadly when you are learning. 

Wiki Ninja Comment by Gary McCray on February 7, 2013 at 4:15pm

The nice thing about the TBS discovery is that you needed a Flamewheel anyway.

The top and bottom plate (kit) is $75.00 and fits the F450 arms and other stuff fine.

I have an F330 and F450 Flamewheel and I really like them, modular, cheap parts and tough.

A suggestion regarding prop breakage, get some of the 10" or better 11" GemFans, they are carbon filled and a LOT tougher than most of the other inexpensive props.

Since it doesn't look like you are using DJI motors, you won't need the special 10" DJI compatible GemFan Props.

Graupner's may be even better, but they cost a ton and represent a much more significant personal hazard.

I generally bleed from installing or removing the, let alone using them.

I also find the 11" props a lot more efficient than the standard DJI 10" props as well and fit just fine on the F450.

I'm not sure whether your battery will fit through the middle part of the copter, but I got a battery just small enough so that it would and it does help stabilize the copter a bit having the CG a bit lower.

Just tape a little plastic sheet around they battery (or bubble wrap if it will fit) and you can also cover your bottom plate power distribution board solder joints with liquid electrical tape or silicone.

Just a thought, not a big difference.

It actually looked like you were doing really good especially considering the wind, you might want to try and keep it closer to you fr a while while you are learning even with the 2 white and 2 red arms, maintaining orientation with these is tough.

Comment by Tim Green on February 8, 2013 at 8:31am

Your DJI frame is a clone frame - that's why it's so crappy (but they are cheap - right - you get a great price). Get the stock DJI stuff, and it's all good - no flex, everything fits correctly. 

Comment by Tim Green on February 8, 2013 at 8:37am

Hey - I cut myself on a prop trying to pick up my hexa after it slid into the dryer in my basement (props wouldn't stop spinning - not for throttle cut, not for throttle down.  I think it was cause I'd not erased my eeprom when I upgraded to 2.9.1 - but not sure)

These things do (must) command respect.

I do all of my indoor practicing tehered to the floor now.  And even flew tethered outdoors too, once.  Before winter took over.

Comment by Cody Tomblin on February 8, 2013 at 10:46am

Thanks for the comments and suggestions everyone, very helpful. I'm not 100% certain why it flipped like it did, but I was in stabilize the whole time until the end when I went to loiter. The suggested method when starting was to keep simple mode off at first although intuitively I wanted to use it but haven't so far. I have past experience with standard electric heli so not using simple mode isn't too bad I find the challenge is getting through the first few flights and calibration to get the quad fully stable. Since I posted this I have a number of short flights in the garage with no wind. I found that no matter what I did the "level" was off by ~10 degrees so I had to go in and set AHRS_TRIM_X/Y to zero and that was fixed. Now I'm contending with the throttle. I can find a sweet spot which lasts for 3-5 seconds then it starts to float up and down by about two meters doing a hop motion. If this continues after another battery or two I'll have to dig into what adjustments will be needed to fix this.

As far as the flame wheel goes that is great, I didn't realize I could grab the TBS Discovery plates would work fine with these flame wheels, maybe I'll grab that set of more room. Right now my 5000mah won't fit in between. I thought about fashioning something to make the feet a bit longer making room to mound the 3S underneath. Continued experimenting this weekend, we'll see how it goes! Oh and yup, I did go with the carbon filled GFs, Cheap and from these first two sets they seem like a decent daily driver. Thanks again!

Wiki Ninja Comment by Gary McCray on February 8, 2013 at 1:51pm

Hi Cody, On the Arducopter 2.9/2.91 Blog they discuss the hopping thing at least in relation to Alt Hold mode(s).

As I recall, one of the throttle PIDs P values needed to be adjusted.

Of course if you aren't in an Alt Hold mode, you have to manually hold altitude.

I have also found that if you accidentally dial in trim on your transmitter on yaw, roll or pitch that can result in level being off as well. Best to not use transmitter trims on APM anyway.

The Discovery is a great way to incorporate a camera or FPV because the wider spread of the front arms gives you a prop free straight ahead view without having to add a raised landing gear and lower camera mount.

Comment by I.S. on February 8, 2013 at 2:41pm

I also own a Flammwwheel 450 clone from Hobbyking like THIS
Is there really a difference on flex betwen the HK one and the one from DJI?

Comment by Cody Tomblin on February 8, 2013 at 2:59pm

After another couple of flights it has improved significantly as far as stability. I did ensure no trim is added on my transmitter and only making adjustments to the APM. I think it is just a matter of getting the feel for it initially and letting the calibration take place in the first few flights. 

Has anyone used the Reptile 500v2 frame? In comparison to the Discovery it is a lot cheaper (on ebay from HK for ~$40) for the arms, bigger plates (but without power traces it looks like), and tall landing skids. 

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