This is my first build. I bought a bnf Tinyhawk 2, then a 2.5 inch Tinyhawk Freestyle 2, and am working my way up to 5 inch. So this is the nect step and the next power level to master. Master, meaning I feel confident I can safely fly it without taking my head off or causing property damage. This is an Armattan Tadpole 3 inch frame. The 20x20 Mamba F405 Mk3 stack did not fit in the frame so I traced the bottom plate onto a piece of 4x4 twill weave carbon that I had in my scrap bin and widened the center and drilled mounting holes for the stack. The frame isn't perfect and it's about 50% thicker than stock. I cut it out by hand and just needed it to work, not be pretty. I've been happy with the quality of the two Tinyhawk cameras that came with those quads, so I added a Runcam nano 2. I wanted better range than the Tinyhawks offered so I installed an Frsky R-XSR receiver and a TBS Unify Pro32 Nano VTX. The props are Gemfan 3028 WinDancer but I also am trying out the EMAX Avan Mini 3024 props which seem to work pretty well and are more durable. The VTX antenna is a Cherry Rush RHCP. I used Zip Ties where I could and taped the motor wires down with Tesa tape. Dry weight is 114 grams.

I had problems with the VTX at first. I flew 2 batteries after the build just to make sure it would fly. The VTX was still in locked 25mw power. After the first 2 flights I unlocked it and set it to 400mw and flew for 50 seconds before the VTX blew up. Horrible video, to no video and I only had maybe 50 feet of range. Basically unflyable. I bought a new replacement VTX of the same make and model and have left it in locked 25mw mode because I'm afraid it will blow up again and I don't have a replacement on hand. It was possibly a bad VTX or possibly not enough air flow because it is a tight fit in this little frame. I'm thinking of cutting a new bottom and top plate and extending it in all 3 dimentions just a little bit to make more room in there. So far I am flying GNB 520mah 3s long type batteries and Tattu 450mah 4s batteries. XT30 connectors.

It looks like a wiring mess for now. I'm still enjoying the fact that I built something and it actually works. I will soon take it apart and trim the wires to the proper length and put it back together. I don't want them catching on any branches and yanking out, taking a pad with it.

This thing flies very smooth. I feel like the Tinyhawk Freestyle 2 is like driving a Ford Taurus, which is a nice driving car, but this Tadpole is like upgrading to a BMW, which is a much nicer, faster car. This is a huge power jump from the 2s THF2. I have checked my motors after 5 plus minutes of flight and they are cool to the touch. Granted, I'm no freestyle wizzard. I've only been flying since mid May, but I fly somewhat fast and do the flips and loops and zipiti doo dahs. If I take it easy and just cruize I get over 7 minutes of flight on the 3s batteries. This Mamba stack is rated for 3s-6s but I don't think the motors can handle more than 4s if I remember right.