And so the Next Big Thing is Little Long Range Things...? Well, OK, why not. Things come and go in this hobby all the time, it's one of the reasons it has held my attention for so long. Very good, I'll build a tiny long range machine then, just like The Man says.

I did mix it up just a little. I turned the FC 180 so that the pigtail was at the front, which I think was tidier, and gave more room for the Caddx Vista. And I don't really like the vertical Immortal T, it's a bit inconvenient for throwing into a backpack. Similarly I went with an SMA connector rather than the shipped Caddx antenna, again for ease of transportation, and because I want to get a much longer antenna on there.

Because the stack is so short, well it's just one board, there is plenty of room above it, so I printed a little platform that I could then double-sided-tape the Crossfire Nano and battery-beeper to. That way I have nothing touching the top of the FC, not even any wires running across it, which pleases me - no noise getting in that way, at least.

The AIO Whoop FC was both great and a bit of a pain. The layout is very neat and logical, I was impressed, which made for some tidy wiring. But those pads are small, and it's getting more difficult to solder them up. (Don't Get Old, Kids! It's Rubbish). I have no idea how robust this board will be, but this will at best be a cruiser, so I doubt I will put it under too much strain.

Unfortunately the GPS is currently not working, I think the module itself is damaged. It powers up, shows up in BF, but never achieves a lock, and the lock light on the module itself stays sullenly dark. So I think it's busted. Which is a shame as I do want to play with the GPS, especially Return to Home. Needless to say, another module is on order. Ugh, this hobby...

The machine is 4S capable, but I have decided to start with 3S as I am looking for longevity not velocity (although some velocity is welcome, and expected), and am running 1000mAh packs. The dry weight is 171g, and with the battery 235g. So take that, FAA!

I managed to get out this morning to do a couple of initial test flights, and early returns are encouraging:

This is entirely un-tuned, stock BF 4.2.4, and it's really pretty good. A bit bumpy in the corners, but it locks into the straights with impressive tenacity - you can take your fingers off the sticks for extended periods, and it trundles along quite happily. It's obviously not a speed machine, but I was pleased with its general quickness, it scuds about quite nicely. And of course the smoothness of the video footage is rather the point, so that's working out. And then nearly 6 minutes of flight time really isn't bad. Oh, and it's quiet too, as far as these things go. Overall lots of plusses, I'd say.

But in truth, gliding this thing around in the morning light made for a very pleasant break from the dash and the clatter of the freestyle racing drones. It was restful, meditative even. I liked it. I'm pleased I built this machine.

Kudos to @Whiffles for his excellent build and guide!