Studs.Life Primo - The Lit Racer

By Clintnation on Nov 25, 2018

10  324  5

Maestro sent me a frame when my previous Studs.Life Primo was lost to a setting Sun more beautiful than any video static you can imagine.
So I built up another Primo detailed below, and will probably build 2 more like this. Since it has quickly become my go-to racing rig.

Couple of firsts for me on this:
1) SmittyFPV developed this awesome Fixed Camera Pod for the Studs and it totally encloses the camera, protecting it extremely well. When I saw the design for the first time it was printed in black TPU, looking like a stealth quad. Though these days I always put LEDs on everything, so I decided to print the pod in clear TPU and wire up some dense WS2812 LEDs inside it and around the camera (11 total) for a programmable glowing pod around my FPV cam. Smitty printed his original pod at something like 55 degrees, I believe he made 65 and I am using a 45 for this build, easily swappable even in the field. I have not used a fixed camera angle for racing, but figure one less variable is a good thing. As far as the LEDs lighting the Pod I am reallly pleased with the results! LEDs can be programmed to do basically anything. Stay on any color, arm / disarm state, blink constantly, or blink based on inputs, battery status, RSSI signal, quad orientation. Options are numerous! This is the Larson scanner on blue. I also created a switch to turn the LEDs off from my radio.

2) RealPit VTX mounting Board by TinyLEDs and WhiteNoiseFPV. RealPitVTX switches are awesome and should be on every racing quad. Essentially a radio relay switch that toggles power to the VTX from a switch on your radio. Allows you to easily test hover, and work on your quad while a race is going on (still not recommended) or even better, turn off your VTX to not drain the battery while waiting on the start line, or running team relay races.

Check out the first video below, you'll see a red light come on around the 10 second mark, which indicates power is being supplied to the VTX, courtesy of RealPit!

Currently running the Helio SpringV2 overclocked at 216mhz ButterFlight 3.6.2 with 32k pid loops, stock PIDs, IMU-F on Starbuck Fully Unleashed (aka FU mode).

Photos

Part List

Frame

PRIMO (7 builds)
Studs.life
See Site

Flight Controller

HelioRC SPRING IMU-F Flight Controller V2
Droneracingparts.com
$41.49

ESCs

Aikon AK32 4-in-1 35A 6S BLHeli32 ESC *Backorder (2 builds)
Droneracingparts.com
$64.99

Motors

4 x DRP Special Edition "I Kwad NY" Motors by Brother Hobby (2 builds)
Droneracingparts.com
$91.96

Propellers

HQProp PC 5X4.8X3V1S (2CW+2CCW)
Droneracingparts.com
$2.99

FPV Camera

RunCam Micro Swift 2
Droneracingparts.com
$34.99

FPV Transmitter

TBS Unify Pro Nano 5G8
Droneracingparts.com
$24.99

Antenna

Lumenier AXII Stubby 5.8GHz Antenna (RHCP)
Droneracingparts.com
$18.99

Receiver

TBS Crossfire Nano Rx (2 builds)
Droneracingparts.com
$29.99

Misc Parts

WhitenoiseFPV TBS Unify Mounting Board w/ RealPit
Tinysleds.com
$7.99
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Discussion

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TeamWolfFPV   Nov 27, 2018  

Great build, love the LEDs. Do you have a photo of how you laid the LEDs into the pod?

Clintnation   Nov 27, 2018 

Thanks! I sorta just wedged them above the cam and Unify SMA holds in the other end against the canopy. Might hit it with a dab of hotglue here or there to secure it.

RZFPV   Nov 26, 2018  

how do u like that esc

Clintnation   Nov 26, 2018 

Solid. The best.

RZFPV   Nov 26, 2018  

how do u like that esc

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