Apex 6" Clone

By nerdCopter on Aug 09, 2021

2  159  0

Recommend not buying the clone if you can afford base ImpulseRC Apex frame. The clone's carbon is low quality and not chamferred. The steel bolts are brittle. The PLA prints suck. They took a good design and made it from the worst materials. That said, it works fine. I've replaced all bolts and 3D printed my own parts.

A list of 3D printables are in the parts-list.

Note to buyers: The front standoffs are 28mm and the rear are 20mm. It's not easy to find 28mm standoffs except on AliExpress.

Apex F7 and ESC stack from ApexFPV is really nice once you find the documentation. ESC's PWM goes to 96Khz, but i've not tried yet. Here is my collection: https://gist.github.com/nerdCopter/ebdc7840a243aa60d6ff9680860ea66b of docs.

I keep moving my Caddx Ratel back and forth between my Screech and Apex. i still need to buy cam :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:

Dec 2021:
Repaired a badly cracked arm with JB Weld Epoxy.
Upgraded to BetaFPV nano ExpressLRS 2.4Ghz TX/RX.
Enjoying DalProp T5146.5 V2 as well.

Jan 2022:
BrainWhite/Pidtoolbox discussing one of my BBL (@22:29): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14wlm7yhrOY&t=1349s
Here is the log: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xYA6ug0ZEYdwnw-iqAbDshuuLj47z-eg/view?usp=sharing
Here is the diff / dump, but there is room for improvement: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SH7vZN4fsQB-5ZGBuguh5I5fi3tWJ_rl/view?usp=sharing

2022/2023
Foxeer Cat 3
New rear arms (Apex OEM)
New bottom front main (Apex OEM)
3D printed a better Session 5 Mount than these pics.

Photos

Part List

Flight Controller

Apex F7 Flight Controller 30x30mm - DJI Plug N Play
Pyrodrone.com
$49.99

ESCs

Apex Eagle32 60A F3 4in1 ESC - 30x30mm
Pyrodrone.com
$65.99

Motors

4 x EMAX LS2207 Lite Spec 1900kv Motor (7 builds)
Getfpv.com
$75.96

FPV Transmitter

HGLRC Zeus Nano 350mW 16mm/20mm/25.5mm VTX (32 builds)
Pyrodrone.com
$14.99

Antenna

Foxeer Lollipop V3 5.8GHz SMA Antenna 2 Pack - RHCP - Choose Your Color (17 builds)
Racedayquads.com
$19.90

Receiver

BetaFPV ELRS Nano Receiver - 2.4GHz (23 builds)
Pyrodrone.com
$9.99

Receiver

FrSky R9 Mini 900MHz Long Range Receiver (57 builds)
Getfpv.com
$19.99

Batteries

Indestructible Quads "Black Label X" 6S True 100C Racing LiPo 1100mah Battery (4 builds)
Indestructiblequads.com
$29.00

Radio

FrSky Taranis X-Lite 2.4GHz Radio Controller with Free 18650 Battery Caps (2 builds)
Pyrodrone.com
$129.00

Goggles

Fat Shark Dominator HDO FPV Goggles (137 builds)
Getfpv.com
$449.99

3D Printed

Apex Kicks - 13mm Tall 16×16 Skids Skidz by nerdCopter
Thingiverse.com
See Site

3D Printed

Motor Wire Arm Guard by nerdCopter
Thingiverse.com
See Site

3D Printed

1000uf Capacitor Sling TPU mount by nerdCopter
Thingiverse.com
See Site

3D Printed

Diagonal RX TPU Strap for 20×20 stacks by nerdCopter
Thingiverse.com
See Site

3D Printed

Apex Clone Un-Chamfered POS LiPo Lead Saver by nerdCopter
Thingiverse.com
See Site

3D Printed

Custom Apex GoPro Session Mount Plate Bracket [BotaFX/Bandalero style] by nerdCopter
Thingiverse.com
See Site

3D Printed

GoPro Session 5 Mount BotaFX/Bandalero style mounting for 20mm standoffs by nerdCopter
Thingiverse.com
See Site

3D Printed

Sleeve-Style GoPro Session Mount for Apex, iFlight, Screech - Uses 20mm Standoffs by nerdCopter
Thingiverse.com
See Site

3D Printed

Quick and Dirty ELRS Dipole T-Antenna Mount (TPU/Flex) by nerdCopter (3 builds)
Thingiverse.com
See Site

HD Camera

GoPro HERO5 Session (302 builds)
Getfpv.com
$199.99

Video Receiver

ImmersionRC rapidFIRE w/ Analog PLUS Goggle Receiver Module (179 builds)
Getfpv.com
$159.99

Radio Module

ELRS Nano TX Module (10 builds)
Betafpv.com
$29.99

Battery Charger

2 x EV-Peak C4 80W 8Amp NiMH / LiPO Battery Balance Charger (2 builds)
Getfpv.com
$99.98
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