Discussion
Not really s scale model, but a couple of us have got these at work:
http://www.red5.co.uk/q4-nano-quadcopter.aspx
For anyone who likes the simple pleasure of watching/controlling something that's flying, they are brilliant. Really easy to fly around indoors, and very stable too.
http://www.red5.co.uk/q4-nano-quadcopter.aspx
For anyone who likes the simple pleasure of watching/controlling something that's flying, they are brilliant. Really easy to fly around indoors, and very stable too.
Have become a bit of a craze in our office. Had the inaugural office air races after work, watching 4 of them race around the office is brilliant fun 
When there are a few of you one thing to watch out for is that they enter bind mode when you turn them on so they can bind to another tx that isn't bound.
If anyone is interesting in getting one you can get them for £25 on eBay and in different colours.
When there are a few of you one thing to watch out for is that they enter bind mode when you turn them on so they can bind to another tx that isn't bound.
If anyone is interesting in getting one you can get them for £25 on eBay and in different colours.
dr_gn said:
I agree.
Scary how quickly things like this become dated these days.
True, but with each advancement its making things easier which is a good thing in many ways. Scary how quickly things like this become dated these days.
Some will argue that its making it too easy but I would rather have more people to enjoy these things with than hone my skills with something harder to fly on my tod.
Impressive isn't it.
Horizon Hobby have a system called SAFE which they have in a few of their planes (incl. 3D), it adds experience modes and a panic switch that will level the aircraft (even if inverted or spinning). Seems to be a lot more aircraft getting stuck in trees then crashing now though
Edited to add: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpYC2dKYe9I
Horizon Hobby have a system called SAFE which they have in a few of their planes (incl. 3D), it adds experience modes and a panic switch that will level the aircraft (even if inverted or spinning). Seems to be a lot more aircraft getting stuck in trees then crashing now though
Edited to add: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpYC2dKYe9I
Edited by sirbadger on Wednesday 21st January 07:25
Yup. I fly slope soarers, and when the indestructable foam wings (Wild Thing) came out, I thought they were fantastic to learn on and just for fun. Truth is it does take something away from the experience when there are no consequences of crashing a model you've built yourself. I think flying standards drop too - for a start you don't have to learn how to land properly, just fly it into the ground.
dr_gn said:
Yup. I fly slope soarers, and when the indestructable foam wings (Wild Thing) came out, I thought they were fantastic to learn on and just for fun. Truth is it does take something away from the experience when there are no consequences of crashing a model you've built yourself. I think flying standards drop too - for a start you don't have to learn how to land properly, just fly it into the ground.
I have a wild thing in the garage, its not been out for years but its great fun I do agree with the standards dropping, its evident with the q4 in our office with people going 'gung ho' and not having to think about the consequences or learning to fly it in a controlled manner (I've given up asking people to turn their tx on before the model...). Unfortunately I don't think you'll get away from that as things get cheaper and easier.
The ease of operation of the new breed of large camera ready quad copters is only going to cause issues for all I feel.
Picked one of these up from the local model shop yesterday as a post christmas treat (well, a "surviving the post christmas payday shop with the missus and ordering a load of wedding stuff" treat), took it into the office this morning to charge and try... but forgot to take any bloody AAA batteries for the receiver - had a quick blast after tea.
I've sad a Syma mid sized one previously that was unfliable - too big for indoors, too small for north-east coastal weather, and numerous ebay small ones that varied from ok to comically bad (one would only do counter-clockwise circuits in the air, no matter what you asked it to do)... this seems a step up in every regard, and sounds like a hoard of angry hornets.
I've sad a Syma mid sized one previously that was unfliable - too big for indoors, too small for north-east coastal weather, and numerous ebay small ones that varied from ok to comically bad (one would only do counter-clockwise circuits in the air, no matter what you asked it to do)... this seems a step up in every regard, and sounds like a hoard of angry hornets.
Strangely I find it easier to control in intermediate as you have more control although as you say it's a bit twitchy.
The blades do pop off and are easy to chew up but modelsport/wheelspin do packs of 4 for £1.50 so a cheap fix. Apart from damaging blades I had a motor die on one but 5 mins with the soldering iron and a new motor fixed that
Upgraded to the £30 x4 today, it's seems a lot more stable.
The blades do pop off and are easy to chew up but modelsport/wheelspin do packs of 4 for £1.50 so a cheap fix. Apart from damaging blades I had a motor die on one but 5 mins with the soldering iron and a new motor fixed that
Upgraded to the £30 x4 today, it's seems a lot more stable.
Edited by sirbadger on Tuesday 27th January 07:20
I've had one of these for quite a while but the battery pack seems to have died on it (pretty soon after I bought the thing too!)
Getting it to charge in the first place is a challenge as the connector doesn't seem to fit very well but once on it appears to charge ok.
Once charged it gives the low battery warning (flashing lights) literally within seconds of switch on. Shame but I don't suppose there's anything I can do to fix it.
Getting it to charge in the first place is a challenge as the connector doesn't seem to fit very well but once on it appears to charge ok.
Once charged it gives the low battery warning (flashing lights) literally within seconds of switch on. Shame but I don't suppose there's anything I can do to fix it.
kooky guy said:
I've had one of these for quite a while but the battery pack seems to have died on it (pretty soon after I bought the thing too!)
Getting it to charge in the first place is a challenge as the connector doesn't seem to fit very well but once on it appears to charge ok.
Once charged it gives the low battery warning (flashing lights) literally within seconds of switch on. Shame but I don't suppose there's anything I can do to fix it.
if its a Q4, then you can buy replacement batteries for them. I bought some from local model shop, about £3.50 or so each.Getting it to charge in the first place is a challenge as the connector doesn't seem to fit very well but once on it appears to charge ok.
Once charged it gives the low battery warning (flashing lights) literally within seconds of switch on. Shame but I don't suppose there's anything I can do to fix it.
Amazon sell em to. pop the cover off, unplug old one, attach new one. Simples
kooky guy said:
I've had one of these for quite a while but the battery pack seems to have died on it (pretty soon after I bought the thing too!)
Getting it to charge in the first place is a challenge as the connector doesn't seem to fit very well but once on it appears to charge ok.
Once charged it gives the low battery warning (flashing lights) literally within seconds of switch on. Shame but I don't suppose there's anything I can do to fix it.
I had a problem with charging (it wouldn't), but it turned out I was using the wrong type of USB. I charge mine now with a Garmin GPS charger and it's fine. Charges in about 20 minutes and flight time about 5 minutes.Getting it to charge in the first place is a challenge as the connector doesn't seem to fit very well but once on it appears to charge ok.
Once charged it gives the low battery warning (flashing lights) literally within seconds of switch on. Shame but I don't suppose there's anything I can do to fix it.
Mutts said:
if its a Q4, then you can buy replacement batteries for them. I bought some from local model shop, about £3.50 or so each.
Amazon sell em to. pop the cover off, unplug old one, attach new one. Simples
Brilliant. It didn't occur to me I'd be able to replace it! I miss whizzing it around the lounge, annoying the cat.Amazon sell em to. pop the cover off, unplug old one, attach new one. Simples
kooky guy said:
Brilliant. It didn't occur to me I'd be able to replace it! I miss whizzing it around the lounge, annoying the cat.
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