Setup for a beginner looking to race?

[stlouistechy]

I have wanted to build a UAV/Quadcopter for a couple years now, and after seeing new 250 Class FPV tournaments have started in my area, I think I have found my reason to get started. I would like to build/purchase my first race rig, but I have never flown before. From what I understand, starting out of the box with a race rig will be pretty rough. Do I need to plan on a few months in something simpler to pilot before purchasing race ready hardware?

So far, I think I am interested in picking up Lumiere's QAV250, then finding a controller and googles. Should I look at a different set of ECS/FC/Motors to start out with on the QAV250, then upgrade when I am competent enough to handle more sensitive hardware?

I am hoping to find others out there that have flown similar rigs, to let me know just what I am up against. Thanks!

 

[John Doecliff]

You can start right out with a 250 racer. What you will want is to "de-tune" it down a little. The QAV is perfect. Motors and ecsc's shouldn't matter too much but theres no point in getting high end stuff to learn on, Get a FC that you can tune yourself like a cc3d or naze 32. Cool thing is you can get all after market stuff and build it pretty cheap. Then get better quality when your better.

 

[ungabungas]

Did you ever pick up the QAV250? If so, are you using a GoPro with it?

 

[Bartman]

I have wanted to build a UAV/Quadcopter for a couple years now, and after seeing new 250 Class FPV tournaments have started in my area, I think I have found my reason to get started. I would like to build/purchase my first race rig, but I have never flown before. From what I understand, starting out of the box with a race rig will be pretty rough. Do I need to plan on a few months in something simpler to pilot before purchasing race ready hardware?

So far, I think I am interested in picking up Lumiere's QAV250, then finding a controller and googles. Should I look at a different set of ECS/FC/Motors to start out with on the QAV250, then upgrade when I am competent enough to handle more sensitive hardware?

I am hoping to find others out there that have flown similar rigs, to let me know just what I am up against. Thanks!

if you haven't flown anything you might want to try something small, simple, and inexpensive just to get your feet wet, so to speak. while you're working your way through the basics of flying you can sort out what it is that you want to build.

in the 250 class, most competitions will host a "Spec" class of racing which is usually going to be a 250 sized airframe with one particular motor & prop size using a 3 cell battery pack (usually about 1300 mah). You can buy something like the Hornet 250 from AeroXcraft, ready to fly, and it will be very durable and might even qualify as a race vehicle depending on where you race or who you race with. We've also got a 250, ready to fly, FPV racer from Walkera but we have't flown it yet. It comes complete and claims to be race ready but again it's a matter of whether or not you can get it to fit into any particular categories of racing.

The best bet is to get with some local fliers and just chase each other around an informal course with whatever you happen to have for a heli. Build some skills, get the hang of rebuilding crashed heli's and you'll be ready for more formal racing before you know it.

I've offered to set up sub-forums for local groups for anyone that wants to try to form one. Just let me know and we'll get you all set up.

Bart

 

[stlouistechy]

Thanks for the responses gents, great advice.

I definitely like the idea of learning on a new build racer, saving money on a toy I won't use after training, and reducing the power on my QAV250 while I learn slowly speeding it up as I can handle it. I already figured I'd be beating and breaking the hell out of my new toy, but isn't that the best way to learn?

After some hunting around all I can find on de-tuning or stepping down my setup has to do with a step down chip. Can this be done in the tuning settings of the Naze 32 controller, or do I need to plan on additional hardware to slow things down a bit?