iFlight Nazgul Evoque (DJI with FrSky r-XSR Version)

[Bad Raven]

Dead Cat frame version.

Ordered from Banggood as few in UK and none with Rx fitted.

Sunday evening it was at DHL Bahrain
Yesterday evening it was at Leipzig
Arrived Luton then transferred to Heathrow overnight.
Apparently Customs is done while its on the move to speed things up.
Stated at delivery hub by 07:30 today.
Out for delivery 10:08
DELIVERED DHL 11:30 (No flagged warning on my app but I'd been watching tracking) ..................................................   BLIMEY!!!!      

Shipment left Banggood China 17th, arrived here 19th, Banggood really DID mean (Free) Express Shipping!!!   



Had to reflash R-XSR to non-ACCESS (ACCESS, Spit!), but they thought of that, you can extract the receiver contained in TPU shield) out the back, the installed plug lead is long enough to completely extract it out of the case, and they included the FrSky lead to remote connect, not that I needed it.  Went to my archive FrSky files and installed the latest non-Access.


They only set up Angle Mode for safety reasons, and the whole thing is covered in stickers pointing that out and where things are, whats behind which cover or through which hole, rotation (props out) and every service access need seems well covered.

The whole setting up was easy and its been hovered giving a picture on Goggles in the near 30mph swirling wind outside my back door.

So far, so VERY good!!

I note Banggood can't be selling many Analogue versions as its currently just gone on special at a really good saving.

[Bad Raven]

Well, I'd like to report that the maiden went well, but it didn't and it was down to loss of memory. I usually use PowerDesk utility which is excellent and I have used for ten years plus, but for some reason it does not like finding the CADDX Vista as a USB drive. This despite Windows finding it and being quite happy.

So, I used Windows Destroyer Explorer, and completely forgot that the stupid thing adds a .txt extension without being asked, so I ended up with a file that ended .txt.txt, and as it does not show that, I arrived at the field with a file loaded it could not use.       

So I gave the Hawk 5 a good thrashing. 

Sunny but 10C less than yesterday. Which at least proved the heated LiPo bag works, as on the same make, size, and age packs, my flying buddy was getting 3-4 mins, and I was getting 6-7!       Buddy went home to try to make one up from 12v heater bits he had left from a non quad project and a repurposed cool bag!!   

[Bad Raven]

It finally had some proper flying yesterday. It's seemingly competent and handles (with as it came set up) well. 

Its weight for size is noticable when handling it compared to the lighter Sport Hawk and Hawk 5, but not an issue in the air.

I flew it with 1550mAh 4S, 1800mAh 4S 130C and also tried 2200mAh 4S 160C, which fits nicely between the GoPro mount and the XT60 housing.

Looks so far like the 1800 is the top practical weight pack, as while the 2200 flew it well enough, and the extra weight was not punative in the performance sense, the flight duration was roughly the same, with having to carry the extra weight making it work harder and so not really improving the flight time.

Cartwheeled it on long field grass once, ran out of talent exiting a reversal with extra weight of the 2200, but it was unaffected other than one blade had to be eased back to track. These latest "polycarbonate" blades do not recover (have memory) like the older design Dalprops, but then they don't flex as much in flight, supposedly a good thing?

Today its time to try the DAL FOLDS. As I bought the Dead Cat frame version I don't need to worry about prop colour on the front in shot being distracting, so compared to the smoke grey provided it should give my spotter an easier time (and me when flying LOS). Fronts flouro trans yellow/green, rear's trans red, with flouro hubs. Very Gaudi (sic)! 

Purely for info, it comes with green TPU parts and all green LED setting. It's brighter with the LEDS inside the TPU ends set as white but then the arm light pipes are white.  I note that iflight sell Cyan, Pink, Yellow and the supplied Green sets, which even they call "Dark Green".  My preference for vision in sky and on ground (grass) is orange, but for now I have altered the whole set to blink, which from past experience makes for a much more visible model in the air at distance, as not much blinks naturally!!   

[badger1]

I've put folders on my 7" Source One with 2807 motors.  the bi-blades on the one with 2306 motors are fine, but a 7" with tri-blades gets a bit unwieldy.

they seem  work fine - they make a good noise anyway 

[Bad Raven]

Been using Folds on all my other 5" and my 6", not had any issues but they do stiffen if worked in greenery and they get hot, and I have had to "polish" the bores of a few to free them up and then use silicon lubricant.

Today, one flight, nothing special, but a good look at a "Polar" in low strength patchy sunlight conditions. Remember, these are fixed setting cameras, no control via Gopggles as DJI cameras would normally allow.

[Bad Raven]

SO, after quite a bit of comparative flying, I have to say my opinion is that the Evoque 5" is NOT as good as widely reviewed or initial hopes/experience.

Yes, it flies very well, but its SO heavy (especially compared to my modded HD Hawk5) that its duration is at least two MINUTES shorter flying the same moves with the same aggression and the same pack. A smaller pack makes the duration silly short, and a larger pack adding more weight does not help, its already carrying the best usable capacity (1800mAh 4S).

Buying it back end of the year, it could have been due to colder conditions. Sadly, its NOT!     

I'm actually seriously thinking about removing the Vista, etc, and fitting to my other EMax 5", the Sport Hawk.

Or what frame should I buy??

[badger1]

Or what frame should I buy??

a lighter one 

I wonder whether the heavier end of freestyle quads/frames - with 6S now seemingly being the norm now - is getting too weighty for 4S power?

[Bad Raven]

I wonder whether the heavier end of freestyle quads/frames - with 6S now seemingly being the norm now - is getting too weighty for 4S power?

Quite possibly, but with the number of packs I have, 6S is not a currently desirable change.

HOWEVER, the thing has 4S motors (see below), 4S set up, and certainly is no slouch, power pumps are simply not easily visually followed, it "beams" from bottom to top. It shows a little more inertia overtravel on throttle lift off at the end, so moves are more fluid, and its MUCH easier to throw backwards over a power loop than the much lighter (and of course different class) 3.5" Babyhawk II HD.

Also it does not seem to sag the voltage like its working that hard.  It just burns through the capacity faster, IMO unacceptably faster.

It comes with profiles for "with or without" a GoPro weight on it. They make no difference.

There is one thing that niggles:-  The motors are not marked, iFlight deliberately chose plain black.  So what if these are 6S motors by mistake or during shortage "lets just get some out the door"?   

The only 6S packs I have are a little small capacity (360 Fusion) or too big (500/600)

[badger1]

I wasn't suggesting that you go to 6S or that you were running 6S motors on 4S (although do you have a tacho/ESC telemetry to see what rpm you're getting?).

I was just speculating whether 6S is sufficiently more efficient (lower current for given power) to make a difference or whether people are flying 6S with the same size (1300-1500mAh) batteries as they did with 4S, just with 50% more capacity due to 50% more Ses.

[Bad Raven]

I wasn't suggesting that you go to 6S or that you were running 6S motors on 4S (although do you have a tacho/ESC telemetry to see what rpm you're getting?).

I was just speculating whether 6S is sufficiently more efficient (lower current for given power) to make a difference or whether people are flying 6S with the same size (1300-1500mAh) batteries as they did with 4S, just with 50% more capacity due to 50% more Ses.

Didn't think you were, just showing why I'd likely not be finding out!

HOWEVER, I do have a couple of 1550mAh 6S (360 Fusion) so it might be worth testing the theory.

[Bad Raven]

Well, I did put it on 6S, and it made sod all difference, and so here we are in 2023, and the Evoque still disappoints. 4 min absolute max flight time, when a similar GEPRC Mk5 manages 8 mins.   

Its so poor on flight duration I have finally cracked and ordered different motors.  Wanna guess what?

The Chinese Junk is about to leave port and start tacking upwind towards the UK, so you'll have plenty of time. (No, there were not any of these motors to be had nearer!)

[Bad Raven]

That Junk must have been hypersonic, as they arrived from GEPRC in China in five working days!!   

And the motors are..............  (drum roll)   

GEPRC SpeedX 2107.5  1960kv. The same as fitted to the GEPRC Mk5. For 6S of course, though if the Mk5 is anything to go by, they will happily run 4S as well with no changes nor obvious penalty.

Fitted yesterday evening. The Evoque had to be part disassembled , more than most would as the side plates stopped access to the ESC board and that meant top plate off, camera out, side LED wiring disconnect (at least they were on plugs!), a couple of screws off the base, then both side plates lift outoff the posts.  Not TOO bad really.

This is the only quad I have with the Polar Starlight camera (and a Vista), so while it was dark by the time I completed the swap from Xings to GEPRC SpeedX, I was able to briefly fly in speckly rain, mostly LOS due the rain. 

It's now 423.5g without battery, which is as good as 10g lighter than the Mk5 at 433.4g.

BOTH though a considerable weight step up from my much beloved EMax Hawk5 (with Vista, Finder, 3D fin canopy, etc) at 334.6g with EMax 2206.

Likely Monday or beyond before I can get to field and wring it's neck to really test it.

[Bad Raven]

The Evoque with its new shiny GEPRC motors had a test session today at field.  Ambient Temp 6C with considerable wind chill. Did not use the pack preheater bag.

And its poor duration with the iFlight XING motors has completely gone.  Even in the cold conditions it was managing 6 minutes plus from my 1350mAh 6S packs, DOUBLE its previous duration. NO loss of performance.

I ran one 1800mAh 4S and it managed close to 4.5 mins with some minor performance drop off.

I need longer straps to run my 1550mAh 6S.

SO, the 2107.5 GEPRC motors are a LOT better than the Xings.  As I surmised, the XINGs are RUBBISH............