My first build. Finally, an OSD!

This build came out of watching an iforce2d video where he recommended having ArmattanProductions CNC your custom designs. I decided to start a design of my own on OnShape.com, but along the way, I came across this frame which already incorporated many of my ideas. Secondly, being my first build, I figured I'd be better off buying one and using it as a learning experience. Took a while for them to machine & send ($10 shipping), but overall, I had no major issues.

Mainly, my motivation was to reuse/salvage parts bought in the process of keeping an old BNF limping along, as well as transition to more of a racing style frame.

I didn't need as much vertical headroom, so went with a low-deck approach, but in consequence, a taller "Z" in the split frame (compare to intended layout: (photos))

WEIGHT: Frame came in at 67 g, as advertised. There is a 45 g version as well.
Overall build came in at 267 g. Each motor+ESC was 34 g. If you were going to build a super light-weight version using the 45 g versions frame, supposing you also saved ~4 grams per motor, then it would come out to 229 g AUW.

NOTE ON ESCs: Forgive the janky Motors/ESCs, as these were borrowed from an old quad. Had I new motors, I would have put ESCs farther inboard and could have also consistently oriented their mounting. I'll upgrade to 6" props when eventually replacing the motors.

FIRST FLIGHT: Hover tests went fine. First flight was horrible. Could be just me as I'm definately not used to light quads that take off like rockets and just float up there, especially on a windy day. It sailed along very quitely--couldn't believe these were the same motors!--but then ran into failsafes much too soon (FS-8AS issues?) which eventually did me in.

CRITICISMS: The cross brace may help yaw oscillations, but attaching it further outboad would be far superior in straight-on crashes. The break point is quite obvious: just inboard from the motors, and exacerbated by the hole for the cross brace itself. But even a brace wouldn't help much from bottom-impacts, in which case, true vertical arms (as opposed to mimicing them) would likely take such an impact better.

EDIT: FS-8AS was just 20% beneath the FC and far from ESCs, so not sure why it had dropping issues (as confirmed in blackbox). Remounted with a bit more heat shrink per pic below. Protected by front cross brace and battery from below. Also, note this pic correctly puts the front cross below the front arms, so as to have the sandwiched supports adding rigiding on opposite sides of the 4mm wide main arms. Those ESCs & motors are still looking pretty ugly though! (limited lifespan in Arizona heat, but these have held up).

No issues after a few flights.

UPDATE: Resorted back to the intended design in which the z-style frame has less split between the two halves. The exaggerated format I orignally built flew forward fine, but had issues trying to maintain a low speed hovering.