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First Easy Star Setup/Purchase Suggestions

Posted by Stan Underhill on December 30, 2010 at 11:56am

Hello everyone!  This is my first post to the site though I've been following for over a year.  I'm finally to the point where I would like to begin purchasing equipment for my first Easy Star Drone.  


Background: I have successfully built and flew my Blimpduido kit.  I've also been flying around for a a couple months the Hobby Zone Champ (RTF).  This has been the extent of my RC/Drone background though I have been playing around with Arduino on other projects for over a year.


I would like to purchase the Easy Star Kit and buy all the components separately due to my lack of knowledge in RC plane hardware.  This is where I would like to get suggestions for mid-range servos, controlers, recievers/transmitters, batteries, motors, etc... I'm not familiar enough with rc brands or quality.


I'm pretty sure I'm going to stick with the Easy Star due to the overwhelming positive reviews I've been seeing over the past couple months, however, any and all suggestions for the actual plane kit are welcome.  I'm mostly interested in areal photography and possibly video.  


As this is going to be my first UAV/Drone other than my Blimpduino I will happily take suggestions for the best way to approach the build, rc hardware, photo/video hardware, etc... I plan on purchasing the plane first and getting familiar with it then after about two weeks (aka payday) I'm planning on purchasing the "drone" hardware.


Thanks for your suggestions and I look forward to hearing from you.  Thanks!


Stan

Tags: uav, ardupilot, hardware
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Comments

  • Stan Underhill January 3, 2011 at 8:21am

    @Kamu: Roger that.  I was just reading about the RTF components and am now back to the ARF kit.  Thanks for the clarification and update!

     

  • Stan Underhill January 3, 2011 at 6:58am

    @Ron: Being a first time ES/RC builder, and if price wasn't an option, do you think you would opt for a RTF version if you had to do it over again?

     

    I ask because I am interested in putting one together myself, I have both the time and interest however, having looked at the link of photos you posted I'm concerned about (a) being a first timer myself and not wanting to glue a part incorrectly or 'twist' the frame so it doesn't fly straight or correct and (b) if I commit an error described in (a) my limited programming skills would be tested if the ArduPilot software couldn't easily correct my error when in flight.  Due to these concerns and also because I don't have an on-site R/C mentor I'm beginning to consider an RTF version of the Easy Star.  Thoughts?

     

    Thanks for the link.  The poster has excellent photos!

     

    @Martint: You've unintentionally found my weakness!  I've visited rcgroups.com before but must have missed the link you posted during my visits.  I've now signed up for an account due to all the great information. However, my weakness is both a virtue and curse (so my gf likes to say)...I love research!  I think the link(s) you provided just added another two weeks to my purchase date due to me not knowing enough about R/C planes and wanting to read everything I can before I purchase.  I know ultimately that I just need to purchase and test different parts myself but I feel I must have a small grasp on the subject before diving in.  

     

    Also, I mentioned before that this is my first RC build what are your thoughts on RTF versions vs Kits for first timers.  In full disclosure I'm not necessarily an R/C plane fanatic as much as I am a fanatic with the idea/possibilities of what I can now do and equip an R/C plane with so I don't feel 'guilty' if I were to purchase a RTF.  With that being said I am getting excited with the idea of experimenting with parts to see how long I can make an Easy Star stay airborne!  

     

    Thanks for the link.  Any and all comments/suggestions welcome.

     

    @Kamu:  Thanks for the parts suggestion.  When you purchased your Easy Star did you get the 'stock' Multiplex Power Pack?  I'm personally thinking of getting a RTF or a 'stock' Power Pack (power pack link: http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXPVF5&P=M ) as I plan on flying the plane without any ArduPilot equipment for at least a couple weeks or a month before I start adding new parts/ArduPilot so I'm thinking a RTF might be a good fit for me right now as I get used to the plane.  I can then continue researching individual parts and testing to see which need to be replaced. 

     

    @All:  Though my response times will very I will appreciate and reply to as many comments as I can.   I appreciate your insights and welcome any new information you would like to share, either personal comments or links.  Thanks again for you help and suggestions.

     

  • Ron Jacobs December 30, 2010 at 3:35pm
    I guess what I should have said was don't underestimate the Easy Star build. It isn't super hard, but given you are literally gluing your airframe together and in the process gluing it straight and true, you need to take some care with it.
  • Ron Jacobs December 30, 2010 at 2:03pm

    I am in the "middle" of building my first Easy Star and first RC plane. In my opinion, the Easy Star build is more complicated than it may seem. It certainly takes more than the "two hours" that is stated as the build time to get it flying.

     

    There is fairly significant prep work to do on the parts and then actually gluing together and getting the alignment right is a bit more difficult due to the "flexible" nature of the parts. I am in the process of gluing on the tail Assembly and my pre-gluing alighnment was great, but once i glued it it is out a bit so I will try to tweak it a bit during finish gluing,. I hope it works out ok.

     

    I strongly recommend using the white Gorilla brand polyurethane glue for parts that need some tweaking, especially the fuselage, as it allows for a bit more adjustment time than CA. the hardest part so far is aligning the tail assembly when gluing it to the fuselage. The polyurethane glue seems to dry up nicely and makes for a strong bond that is a bit more flexible than CA.The white Gorilla glue expands a bit so "clamping" is required for an accurate/strong bond.

     

    I didn't do it (yet) but some type of reinforcement of the fuselage tail section might be in order (a 6mm carbon tube or something like that would work. Although once it is glued and the servo rod tubes and aerial tube glued in, it stiffens it up fairly well.

     

    I am not even trying the Permax motor and have obtained a brushless inrunner to replace it. I purchased a Futaba 7C 2.4Ghz Airplane radio and receiver from Tower Hobbies. HT 81 servos for rudder and tail. I will be doing the aerelons (not sure I spelled that right) as well with Corona metal gear servos.

     

    I am installing air navigation lighting for visibility and Have an ArduPilot I will be putting in with XYZ for stability for now. APM/IMU is down the road a bit.

     

    Check out this build Clark County R/C Club Forum: Brushless Easy Star Build Thread

     

    Good luck

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