I would really appreciate feedback on the shopping list. I know this is a bit basic and simple RC stuff but maybe theres something that applies to the Pixhawk system I may miss.
I used to fly but left the hobby after having a whole bunch of stuff disappear to theft. I have recently become aware of the PX4 flight control systems and am really excited to get back into the hobby with a strong bias to the UAV / Mission Planner / side of things.
My intention is start simple, brush up skills, and then use the same hardware into something large and capable like a Skywalker X8 airframe.
I need to repurchase everything, right down to the servo plugs and thats complicated by being in Thailand with high import duties. There are LHS in country but many factors including communication hinder the local market for me.
Heres what I have narrowed down as what I think my best choices are.. Items I am guessing at or really dont have much of a clue are ***'ed.
Airframe
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Bix3 (hobbyking $70.36)
Adjustable Motor Mount (small parts CNC $15.95)
HobbyKing 40A blue series Brushless Speed controller (HK 19.95)
***D2826-6 2200kv Outrunner Motor (10.21)
***4x Turnigy TG9e 9g / 1.5kg / 0.10sec Eco Micro Servo (KH 2.13 ea) Long or short cable ??
Radio
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Turnigy X9R Pro (hobbyking 99.99)
***FrSky FF-1 2.4Ghz Combo Pack for Futaba w/ Module & RX (HK 38.92)
Batts & Charger
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Flight pack 2200 mah 3S x 2 (second for spares)
Radio 2200 mah 3s 1.5c
***IMAX B6AC V2 Professional Balance Charger/Discharger (HK 43.47)
First I simply want to get the above here, assembled, flying and debugged.. Tho I think with a bix3 it should be fairly simple, then for the Pixhawk I am just going full
Pixhawk
Neo M8N
3DR Telemetry
Airspeed sensor
MinimumOSD
Which comes out at about 250 USD using ebay and aliexpress. I expect to be months away from this stage anyway.
Does that seem like a reasonable shopping list ??
That Motor and ESC make sense for a Bix 3 ??
The radio.. I am clueless about modules.. Reading as much as I can now.. Does that Futaba module make sense (will support SBUS and be fine with Pixhawk) ??
Nothing is too trivial to mention.. Any changes or additions welcome.
Thanks in advance.
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Replies
I agree the Bixler is too tight for all the electronics, but it's quite a technical jump to a wing. A plane like a Skywalker 2013 is very easy to fly and has more than enough room for electronics. You haven't listed FPV gear yet, and you'll need that (The Minim has to have an image to overlay on).
It sounds like you don't yet have an RC Tx or Rx. You are correct in that you can feed Futaba's SBUS right to a Pixhawk. As a Futaba owner (I have an 8FG) I would have recommended Futaba in the past. No longer. I'd suggest anyone new to the hobby go with a Taranis. It's less expensive, much more capable and can easily be upgraded to UHF operation with Tx modules. I have enough money in my Futaba that I'll stick with it a while, but I'd rather have a Taranis.
Anyway, I'd be cautious about jumping into a wing as your return craft. They have their own special learning curve to climb, and you'll have your hands full learning the Pixhawk (but totally worth it when you do).
It was my intention to simply build the airframe.. Get back into flying for weeks / months (I am semi retired so have plenty of available practice time) and then, once the plane (and pilot !!) are trimmed out.. Work on adding the pixhawk system. Oddly I am less interested in the FPV side than the automation side.. I do have the usual gopro here but I am not looking to record flight.. The minimOSD was simply in the pixhawk bundle I have ordered.
So X5 wing or skywalker 2013 ??
Seems Aliexpress has many many 'new' skywalkers.. I am 90% getting the radio gear from this place, so combining seems best.. seem to have a few options (as well as the x5).
http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/New-arrival-2013-carbon-fib...
http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/NEW-2014-version-skywalker-...
The cheapest..
http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/New-skywalker-1880-carbon-f...
Finally most expensive but seems like the most recent, advanced, revised version..
http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/Six600-shaft-diy-rack-goble...
That looks like a decent, easy airframe to me ?? Good to get my skills back also. Would I assume thats probably the easiest airframe to get a arduplane pixhawk running on ??
Again, sorry for such simple, low level RC (non drone) questions here.. Thanks for all your time and help.
Sefton, I prefer the Bixler 2.0 to the skywalker 2013. The skywalker 2013 is an excellent fixed wing platform. I think it is one of the best values out there However it is a much larger fixed wing platform than the Bixler 2.0.
The Bixler 2.0 will weigh under 2 lbs. I have been building the Bixler wings with 10 mm carbon fiber tube wing spars and they have been very rugged. I have found that it is fairly straight forward to integrate the autopilot, telemetry, RC Receiver and a gopro into the Bixlers
I have not flown one of the Bixler 3.0s but have flown the 1.0, 1.1 and the 2.0. I like the extra wing span on the 2.0 Bixler. It is easy to hand launch and fly it by yourself. Easy to build up flight time and develop an understanding of the autopilot.
I have a skywalker 2013 here with an APM in it. There is lots of room in the skywaker 2013, but it is relatively large. Over 5lbs with cameras and batteries.
I have decided on the even larger skywalker 1880 with the T tail. I have plenty of space both for storage and for transport. Easy working space, room to add more, simple trainer flight characteristics all appealed for an easy introduction.
I have opted for a premium package of Sunnysky 2820 800kv, 60A esc, 11x7 props based on sellers advice. Few bucks extra but cry once right ;)
Taranis Tx and Rx.. Just leaves me the Lipo flight packs (3s 4000 or 5000) and power plugs, glue etc to get locally.. All in all fairly happy with pricing, and order items. Now its back to waiting on the postman.
Thanks. I need to get my head around motor esc prop calcs next. Lots of learning.
How does a Skywalker X5 with a 950 - 1250 kv motor turning a 8x4 prop with a 30 - 40A esc sound ??
Apologies for whats more RC questioning.. I cross posted here as I was shooting for airframe feedback, which I am getting.. But theres so many other variables I am just sort of guessing at rather than have a confident feel for the right numbers.
Why don't consider the skywalker plane? easy hand lauch (a woman can do it ;) ) easy to fly like a trainer (a woman can fly ;) )
A lot space for controller, FPV, cameras, etc.
Thanks.. Given the limited space in the Bix I am starting to lean more to one of the FPV wings.
Skywalker X5
Phantom FPV
Or similar... I can rack up a bunch of hours in the sim to try to build up some stick feel for them. I used to fly, and had a wing for slope soaring, but some of that goes back 30 years and I havent touched a RC controller for 10 or 12.
Am being told elsewhere the Bix3 doesnt have a lot of room for the flight controller and rest of the electronics.
Also considering the Slywalker X5 and the Phantom FPV airframes. Both seem to have plenty of space but I did want an easy hand launch trainer to get back flying with.
Thoughts on space in a Bix3 for pixhawk ??