I've added three new craft to my hanger for this season, all of which, I have now maidened FPV:
(http://s32.postimg.org/jy555zjwh/IMG_20160508_185323.jpg) (http://postimg.org/image/jy555zjwh/)
A Firstar V2 2M, from HK, fitted with a runcam on a pan and tilt, a boscam 600mw AV tx, a cyclops storm OSD and an L9R reciever.
(http://s32.postimg.org/nl4hx6vsx/IMG_20160508_185237.jpg) (http://postimg.org/image/nl4hx6vsx/)
There were one or two issues with this kit, so putting it together was not quite as straightforeward as it should have been, also, the fact that the patent plastic wing connections don't look as if they would stand regular dismantling and re-assembly, means that with it's 2 meter wing span, I can't fit this plane in my car. This could have been a major problem, however, my flying field is next door to my garden, so I can carry the V2 fully assembled.
The first maiden was LoS, and it took nothing more than 2 clicks of down elevator trim to achieve a beautifully stable level flight. I then flew the V2 FPV and found it smooth and relaxing to fly, and with the storm on PA mode, it held a crisp steady course. With the engine cut, the folding prop allowed for genuine soaring, and the light breeze flowing up the gentle sloap of the field was creating enough lift to make losing hight difficult, I should have deployed the flaps for landing, because the V2 floated about 70M past my preferred landing spot, before I could get it on the ground. Testing the flaps will be for the next test flight!
The other two additions to my hanger are both small (180 sized) multicopters. A Blackbird quad and a Mantis hex, both from sos-mmrc.
The Mantis I got as a complete kit, with frame, motors, props, escs and an RCtimer OZE32 AIO FC. To this I've added an XSR rx and a 25 watt eachine AV system.
(http://s32.postimg.org/g6scy07pd/IMG_20160508_185012.jpg) (http://postimg.org/image/g6scy07pd/) I've fallen in love with this little carbon hex. It is beautifully manoeverable and responsive, and the little sos outrunners pack plenty of punch whilst still giving me over 4.5 mins flight time on an 850mah 3s lipo.
The Blackbird quad I got as frame only, and fitted the bits from the old 250 quad I've been racing for the last couple of seasons. It has a naze 32 funfly FC, Emax 1806 motors and 12amp escs, a runcam fpv camera and eachine 25watt av tx and an x4r rx.
(http://s32.postimg.org/yp7tqaozl/IMG_20160508_184945.jpg) (http://postimg.org/image/yp7tqaozl/)
I only flew this one for the first time today, and then only with 5" blunts cut down to 4"- I'm too impatient to wait for the proper 4" tri-blades to arrive :-[
It needs a bit of dialling in still, but all the bits fitted reasonably easily into the nicely finished and well thought out Blackbird frame.
The only thing is, I think I'll need to up the motor power to keep up with the new generation of racing quads!