RcTimer Dji 450 Clone Frame

[Gaza07]

The RcTimer Dji 450 Clone Frame I just received this in the post this morning, the most amazing thing is it only took 3 days from being notified of the shipment 
It looks a very nice frame with a very nice price to $17.99 with free shipping, it is the V1 which means it doesnt have the built in power distribution like the V2 does, I ordered it from here http://www.rctimer.com/ I paid an extra $2.00 for registered shipping

Here's a few pics, I will post more when built 

[Gaza07]

I finished putting this together last night and it went went together very easily 
I have fitted my paris v3 with mpu6050 gyro/acc, I will get a test video as soon as I get time,
I was going to fit the flight controller in the bottom of the frame but changed my mind so ignore
the nylon pillars and flight controller position in the early pictures,
I used my own bolts to fit the motors as I wanted them to be a little longer as some of my old rctimer motors have dodgy threads in the bottom,
I think this is a very good frame at a very good price but maybe the v2 with the built in power distribution would be a better choice, I chose the v1 because the motors and esc,s were already soldered to the distribution board shown in the pictures,
I fitted the power distribution board high so as to leave room for the battery at the bottom 

[MadMax]

I have been tempted to buy this type of frame as it looks like it might crash well  ::)
are they as strong as an original DJI flame wheel because they are a lot cheaper, when you gonna test fly it 

[Gaza07]

They do seem like a good robust frame maybe a little heavier than others, I will let you know how strong when I crash it 

Heres the test video also posted in another thread

http://youtu.be/9N9S5lfliXU

[Gav]

I just received the V2 frame and I am really impressed.  This is a great frame and amazingly affordable.  Bit more than the V1 but at $24 you cannot go wrong.  It simply is not worth the bother of making your own frames when you can pick up incredibly cheap strong frames like this.  10 out of 10.

note I did ream out the holes in the top plate as some screws were binding but that took 30 seconds and when you compare the price to dji flamewheel then it's a ' no brainer '

one niggle though and that it you Still have the same ol problem of figuring out how to mount your gopro such that you clear the props from the FOV.  A friend of mine used another layer of fibreboard under neath with TRex 700 skids and that worked.

[Gaza07]

I agree for the money these are an excellent buy and I wish I had gone for the v2 as it was a pain trying to find where to put the power distribution board, I built mine as I had seen it done else where with the bottom plate mounted with the sticking out bits to the side  dont know what else to call them, then I saw a pic where some one had built it with the sticking out bits to the front and the back, and then stuck there gopro on that 
from what ive seen those tabs are to mount a large under carriage and should be front to back to be able to mount one 

[Gav]

sticking out bits, yes I think that is the correct technical term for them. welldone.

[MadMax]

I always thought it looked odd having the tabs / sticking out bits to the side 

[Gaza07]

Yea tabs not sticking out bits  I suppose they should be called under carriage tabs or mounts 

[Gaza07]

Well here's my frame a bit worse for wear but with the tabs lugs or what ever they are front to back,
and the go pro sitting on it to show what room there is, I think it would be fine 

[attach=1][attach=2][attach=3]

It would fit with the waterproof case on but not as well but, I wouldnt like to fly it without it as I think it offers a lot of protection 

[MadMax]

Looks like it was made to fit 

[pheasant_plucker]

After reading this I thought I would order myself a V2 frame. Only £16 with free shipping. My centre plates on my current one cost that!

Gerry

[Gaza07]

They are well worth the money and I would go v2 next time, I doubt I will mess with ali arms again, I also like the look of the hex 

[pheasant_plucker]

I think that the larger "Girder" type arms will aid orientation too. By the time I tot up the Centre plates, Aluminium tube and nut/bolts etc. I bet my current one cost twice that.

Gerry

[BYOD]

I would be interested to hear some more about the "crash" resistance on these frames, if you would not mind sharing that info, I have a good number of people that come to me for replacement arms for these kits as they seem to fracture very easy on hard landings! There is no dispute the shipping and cost makes these an almost throw away frame, however nobody likes to be waiting on spares when an arm breaks!

There were people talking about this over on another forum I have been a member of for the past few years, they were saying that there were "air bubble's" in the arms and this caused the weak points and the failure of the arm's.. I always thought plastic was plastic 

Regards

Martin.

[teslahed]

I've heard that a lot of the different clones of this frame were made with slightly different grades of plastic so depending on where and when people bought them they may have gotten more or less resilient frames.

Having looked closely at one from RCtimer myself i suspect the RCtimer ones are more than strong enough compared to most other frames. I think the best option for anyone who thinks they may crash a lot is to buy a couple of spare arms with the quadcopter so you don't have to wait for replacements to ship later.

In a bad enough crash something is always going to break - if the arms are the cheapest part that can take the hit it's best if they go first.

[Gaza07]

Well its your lucky day coz I just busted one a lot  ::)
I heard quite a bit when the clones first came out that the arms werent very strong and could flex far to easy, I think sive then they have changed the production because the frame I have I think is very strong, I have crashed it quite hard a few times with no more damage than a few props, but the other day I did plant it hard and broke the 2 front arms both arms broke in the same place, but I wasn't really surprised as it did hit hard there is a video of it on one of the other threads, I have taken some close up pictures for you to look at and comment on,
I can't compare the arms to the originals because I have never had any original one's, Do the original arms fit the clones ?
I would consider buying replacement arms in the uk to be able to get them quickly as ordering from china can take up to a month or more 
How much are the original arms ?

[attach=1][attach=2]

[Gaza07]

We posted at the same time but I agree there are and I've read it on other forums dodgy versions about but I'm pleased with the rctimer one,
But would keep an open mind as to whether the originals are better 

I've heard that a lot of the different clones of this frame were made with slightly different grades of plastic so depending on where and when people bought them they may have gotten more or less resilient frames.

Having looked closely at one from RCtimer myself i suspect the RCtimer ones are more than strong enough compared to most other frames. I think the best option for anyone who thinks they may crash a lot is to buy a couple of spare arms with the quadcopter so you don't have to wait for replacements to ship later.

In a bad enough crash something is always going to break - if the arms are the cheapest part that can take the hit it's best if they go first.

[Gav]

Gazza, with the gopro video...do you see the props in the video?  also does the waterproof case swallow up vibration compared to mounting the gopro directly to the frame on the tabs/sticking out bits?
cheers
Gav

[Gaza07]

I only put the GoPro there to see how it would fit I busted the frame before I had a chance to test it with the GoPro fitted 
As soon as I get replacement arms I will test it with the gopro but not while doing a flip 

[MadMax]

Looking at the pics you have taken the material in the arm doesnt seem to have any ait bubbles but it does get a bit thin at the motor end 
But going by the times Ive read that it has been crashed I cant see a problem 

[BYOD]

Well its your lucky day coz I just busted one a lot  ::)
I heard quite a bit when the clones first came out that the arms werent very strong and could flex far to easy, I think sive then they have changed the production because the frame I have I think is very strong, I have crashed it quite hard a few times with no more damage than a few props, but the other day I did plant it hard and broke the 2 front arms both arms broke in the same place, but I wasn't really surprised as it did hit hard there is a video of it on one of the other threads, I have taken some close up pictures for you to look at and comment on,
I can't compare the arms to the originals because I have never had any original one's, Do the original arms fit the clones ?
I would consider buying replacement arms in the uk to be able to get them quickly as ordering from china can take up to a month or more 
How much are the original arms ?

[attach=1][attach=2]

sorry to see you had a "hard landing"! The arms are not that bad in cost, I dropped a link to the page below:

Flame Wheel Replacement Arms

As said about the shipping, its best to get a few at a time, for one arm is a lot! As for fitting a clone frame I don't know, however I think that they would as they are a "clone" 

Regards

Martin

[Gaza07]

Thanks for the link Martin and your right the price is very good from you and as soon as I get a bit of cash together I will order a few from you 

[BYOD]

Welcome Gaz  , I know DJI lowered the price point on the F330, F450 & F550 frames a while back now so that they are better value and not a million miles off the clone costs like they were only a few months back..... used to be £50 for a F450 frame  .

Regards

Martin.

[MadMax]

I think dji only lowered their prices once the clones appeared, and actually had some competition, which has to be a good thing for the end user, its just a shame dji couldn't have set a better price before this happened 

[teslahed]

When you can build your own frame for £15 or £20 the DJI frame at full price seemed a bit of a rip off.

Now it's been reduced down as much as it has, the benefits of building your own frame seem far less - the main reason to build it yourself is just for fun now rather than to save cash.

[Gav]

yeah i have now given up on home build frames.  I still fly one quad with square ally booms and home cut G10 frame plates.  making a new boom after a crash takes 15 mins to cut drill and replace and that is the only real bonus.  like the dji / rc timer dji clone frames now.  really like the built in power distribution into the frame plates.

[Gaza07]

Well ive ordered some new arms from Build Your Own Drone the original DJI ones, so I will be able to compare the arms dot com  Sorry couldn't help my self 
We will soon know if the original arms fit the clones if they dont I may be forced to buy another frame 

[MadMax]

Look forward to your report 

[BYOD]

Well ive ordered some new arms from Build Your Own Drone the original DJI ones, so I will be able to compare the arms dot com  Sorry couldn't help my self 
We will soon know if the original arms fit the clones if they dont I may be forced to buy another frame 

I will look forward to hearing your thoughts, and comments on the arms. They I hope will be with you very soon.......

p.s. is this you:



Regards

Martin.