Thrive Supernova - Strange light UFO ImpulseRC Micro APEX 3" sub-250

By MamaJOE on Jan 17, 2023

6  668  0

The story behind the build

This is the evolution of my Flugturm S2 Build.
The originally goal was to put all the 5" features in a 3" build...but I realized that I missed one important point: crash-resistance
So it was bound to happen and I destroyed the Flugturm S2.
First I build it 4S, then I modified it to 6S and at the end I made it 4S again, taking in account the experiences I made meanwhile.

For the impatient among you...I think it's a great flying quad and take a look on it's special feature (tech-nerds my read the rest below):

Choice of components

I took the chance and tried to make it better this time to achieve I chose the Micro APEX frame.
The took the other components mainly from the Flugturm S2 but I prepared it for 6S and added some racewires LEDs.
For the camera I changed to a Nebula Pro Nano, what turned out to be a step backwards, later.
Version 1: 4S with Nebula Pro Nano and racewires LEDs
Version 2: 6S with Nebula Pro Nano and "Polar" LED-setup (LEDs on top)
Version 3: 4S with Polar starlight and "Supernova" LED-Setup (LEDs on top and bottom)
(Photos are sorted in order V1 to V3)

Why from 4S to 6S and back to 4S?
First I tought it would be fine to be sub-250, then I thought 6S would be fine...and it was. But the flight time was to short and for me a 3" build should just be sub-250. So I switched back to 4S but changed the Camera to a micro size to fullfill my specification to have all the 5" tech in this build -> a real Thrive inch
To make it a bit special I added this insane bright TBS LEDs on top and bottom of the arms and I love the result!
But you can turn them off with a push-button for "normal" flying.

Building

The build was straightforward, but the modifications took their time.
The biggest challenge was to get the weight under 250 g.
In fact I feeled like a drugdealer, hunting every tenth of a gram on the scale...

Flight quality

The flight quality after tuning is great. It feels very direct and truly some kind of "digital", but I like this.
The 6S build was crazy fast, but for freestyle I prefer the 4S setup.

Data

4S "Supernova" Setup

Weight with props: 169 g
AUW with 4S 650 mAh: 247 g
Flight time (650 mAh): approx. 3:30 to 5:00
v_max: 140km/h (straight flight, with constant altitude, 3025-3 props)

6S "Polar" Setup

Weight with props: 188 g
AUW with 6S 650 mAh: 301 g
Flight time (650 mAh): approx. 2:30 to 4:00
v_max: 180km/h (straight flight, with constant altitude, 3030-3 props)

Photos

Part List

Frame

ImpulseRC Micro Apex 3" Micro Frame Kit (8 builds)
Racedayquads.com
$50.99

Flight Controller

iFlight SucceX-D Mini F7 TwinG Stack - Mini F7 + 45A ESC
Copterfarm.de
See Site

Motors

4 x T-Motor F1408 - 2800KV
Drone-fpv-racer.com
See Site

Motors

4 x iFlight Xing2 1404 4600Kv Micro Motor (9 builds)
Racedayquads.com
$63.96

Propellers

HQ Prop T3x3x3 PC Durable Tri-Blade 3" Prop 4 Pack (3 Hole) - Choose Your Color (27 builds)
Racedayquads.com
$2.59

Propellers

HQProp Durable Prop T3X2.5X3 Grau T3X2.5X3GR-PC (4 Stk.) (2 builds)
Rctech.de
See Site

FPV Camera

Caddx Nebula Pro Polar Nano Vista, Kit d'unité aérienne HD FPV, système CaddxFPV pour lunettes DJI V2 (10 builds)
Fr.aliexpress.com
$160.61

FPV Camera

Caddx Polar Vista Kit Starlight - DJI Digital HD FPV System
Newbeedrone.com
$139.99

FPV Camera

CaddxFPV Camera Accessories OSD menu board(2pcs)
Caddxfpv.com
See Site

Antenna

TBS Triumph Pro (LHCP SMA) Long Range (6 builds)
Team-blacksheep.com
$19.95

Antenna

Polar Antenna For Vista (21 builds)
Caddxfpv.com
See Site

Receiver

RadioMaster RP1 V2 ELRS 2.4GHz Nano Receiver w/ UFL Antenna (24 builds)
Pyrodrone.com
$18.99

Batteries

Tattu R-Line 650mAh 4S 95C Lipo XT30 (11 builds)
Rotorvillage.ca
$22.99

Batteries

Tattu R-Line 650mAh 22.2V 95C 6S1P Lipo Battery Pack with XT30 Plug (9 builds)
Pyrodrone.com
$22.29

Power Distribution

Replacement for 6 pcs Panasonic FR Series Capacitor 25V 1000uf Ultra Low ESR (6 builds)
Amazon.com
$6.99

Power Distribution

Fettec Spike Absorber - Unmanned Tech UK FPV Shop (10 builds)
Unmannedtechshop.co.uk
See Site

Power Distribution

Microschalter (einrastend) an/aus Clicky Button 112D Arduino DIY Elektronik
Ebay.com
See Site

Radio

Boxer EdgeTX Rotor Riot Edition Radio Controller - ELRS (3 builds)
Rotorriot.com
$259.00

Radio

21700 5000mAh Battery for TX16S
Radiomasterrc.com
See Site

Goggles

DJI Goggles 2 - Ultra Low Latency 1080p/100FPS 4K/60FPS Digital HD FPV (18 builds)
Pyrodrone.com
$449.00

Hardware

DIN 912 M3 Titan schraube M3x3 M3x4 M3x5 M3x6 M3x10 M3x12 M3x14 M3x16 M3x20 M3x25 M3x30 M3x30 Buchse kopf Hex 2,5 fahrer Ti GR2
De.aliexpress.com
$2.68

Hardware

Taste Kopf M2 Titan schrauben M2x3 M2x4 M2x5 M2x6 M2x7 M2x8 M2x10 M2x12 M2x14 M2x16 M2x18 M2x20 Hex Fahrer Ti GR2 QCTI Schraube (5 builds)
De.aliexpress.com
$2.64

Misc Parts

TinysLEDs RGB RaceLiteWire Mini LED (4pcs)
Team-blacksheep.com
$7.16

Misc Parts

CopterFarm Super Sticky Cow Tongue Pad Batterie LiPo (7 builds)
Copterfarm.de
See Site

Misc Parts

Matek Lost Model Beeper & FPV FC 5V Loud Buzzer (34 builds)
Racedayquads.com
$3.59

Misc Parts

Plasti Dip Liquid Electrical Tape schwarz 118ml 4oz black (9 builds)
Plastidip-sale.com
$13.95

Misc Parts

TinysLEDs 3-6s (5pcs) - WHITE
Team-blacksheep.com
$10.00

Battery Charger

2 x Power Genius SAFE Parallel board XT30 and XT60 2S to 6S with Fuse Protection (3 builds)
Pyrodrone.com
$19.98

Battery Charger

3 x BAT-Safe LiPo Tresor sicheres Laden und Aufbewahren der Akkus
Amazon.de
See Site

Battery Charger

ISDT PC-4860 Lipo Ladegerät Parallel Ladestation Unterstützung 4 Packs von 1-8S XT60 RC LiPo Akku
Amazon.de
See Site

Battery Charger

HGLRC Thor Lipo Battery Balance Charger Board Pro 40A XT60 XT30 Plug 2-6S Integrated with Lipo Discharger for IMAX B6 ISDT Q6 Na
Hglrc.com
$29.99

Battery Charger

Q6 Nano Lipo Ladegerät, DC 200W Smart tragbares digitales Ladegerät fü
Isdtshop.com
$29.99

Battery Charger

2 x Amacoam 2 Stück Lipo Batterie Sicherer Beutel Feuerfeste Explosionsschutz Lipo Battery Guard Tasche Sack Gebühren Schutz Tasch
Amazon.de
See Site

Battery Charger

K2 Air Bluetooth Fernbedienung LIPO Ladegerät, AC/DC 200W/500WX2 20A S
Isdtshop.com
$122.99

Soldering Iron

Tilswall Soldering Station, 65W Solder Station Welding Iron with Smart Temperature Control (392°F-896°F), Extra 5pcs Sol (2 builds)
Amazon.de
See Site

Backpack

Tarion Pro PB-01 Professional Camera Backpack
Tarion.eu
$149.99

Accessories

ETHIX Heated Deluxe Lipo Bag V2
Team-blacksheep.com
$64.95

Accessories

Kesser® Campingstuhl faltbar klappbar tragbar Angel Stuhl Camping Stuhl Faltstuhl bis 120 kg Strandstuhl Angelstuhl Klapphocker
Amazon.de
See Site

Accessories

LINGHUANG Avata Tragbar Aufbewahrungstasche für DJI Avata für DJI Goggles 2 für Motion Controller, Tragetasche Schutzhülle f
Amazon.de
See Site

Accessories

Onseuk Kompatibel mit DJI AVATA Goggles 2 Foam Pad Sponge Comfortable Eye Mask Drone Goggles Zubehör (Grau+Schutzhülle)
Amazon.de
See Site

Misc Supplies

Bier – Wikipedia
De.wikipedia.org
See Site
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