Gecko 🦎
By sergetania on Apr 01, 2019
It's not easy to build a 3" drone that is better than the drones I have already built and enjoy flying. A daunting task but I hope I might have accomplished it with the Gecko .
I am very thankful to the emergence and popularity of the split-type cameras. Personally, I think the cameras are STILL crappy (I thought it was ironic to see Tommy strap a GoPro on top of an acrobrat for the pro shoot he did) but I love bulding on frames designed to accomodate the split cameras. The Gecko is a great example. There is so much room when you don't need to sqeeze in a split camera! I could fit two of everything in that space! And a bunch of 3D-printed parts just because I have a hard time finding anything else useful to print :-)
After almost a year of flying in my yard I have determined that 1306 motors are the most optimal. Anything bigger is too dangerous, anything smaller is... just small. Therefore, I am watching the weight a bit trying to stay with 1306s. Maybe I am just lying to myself about watching the weight, wouldn't be the first time :-( There is nothing weight-saving in this build. Hence it turned out rather chunky at 153g. Oh, well, if it is suggish it is going to get upgraded 1407.
Time for a flight... and probably a mud bath!
After a few packs, I think I will keep this one on 1306s. I am very impressed how well it flies. Whatever it is, Betaflight 4, Talon F7, the Aikon ESC (which needed a capasitor), it is amazingly smooth and stable. None of my quads flies this well. For the first time, what I see in my goggles looks comparable to what I see in those cool YouTube videos (minus the pilot, of course!). Maybe it could use more power but it flies fine as it does.
After a few more flights, I grew tired of replacing the antenna tubes. Switched to a T-antenna with new 3D printed fixtures for rear end. I think it looks nice!
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Sweet build. I’ve got the same ESC/FC on mine, but with Emax 1408 2300kv and 6S. It flys well, but i need a higher pitch T mount prop (using 3x3x3 HQ now). Where did you get your RotorX 3044 props? I can’t seem to tind them anywhere.
Thanks!
That's the problem with t-mount motors. The prop manufacturers lag behind. I wish we had 3052 in t-mount.
I got mine at https://www.airbladeuav.com
but they are out of stock at the moment. You can ask them when they may have them in, they respond quickly in the chat. They also have 3035 but it's not an aggressive prop either.
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Super clean build! Too bad I didn't see this before I built my Gecko. But I have a question regarding your FC. I have the Talon F7 as well with a Rush Tank Mini. And I lose video feed the minute I move or rotate my goggles. I lead to believe that its a Pitmode problem. Was wondering if you had any input or how did you set it up on betaflight?