Smitty's TriCopter Build

Yeah, I know what you mean.
I'm thinking maybe February for another swap meet.

That sounds like a good date.  Might be time to part with the stuff that Christmas made redundant.

This post is in response to another topic but applies to this build.
To cover or not to cover. That was the question.
This TriCopter build will have a cover. Just not sure which way to go.
I began thinking a mini off road buggy body could work.
Then I came across these options...


One of these salsa containers, inverted

These are cheap and plentiful.


OR


This would fill my need for whimsy.




BTW, after watching a multirotor youtube where upon landing one of the ESC's burst into flames, I've decided not to cram them all together under the control board.

I don't think mounting them under the control board is a good idea no matter how you cover the electronics or not.  Maybe a radial mounting strategy away from the control boards if you still intent to mount them inboard as opposed to mounting them out at the motors.

I like the alien ship of your two cover options.

Yup! the ESC's are going on the boom arms.
I'm still undecided on the ufo cover.

Smitty/GPS  -  If you mount the ESC's out on the boom, you definitely sacrifice some agility and I think make it harder to fly.  You'd really like to have all the weight right at the CG (center).  I wouldn't worry about an ESC fire.  Yes it can happen, but I only remember one around here in the last ten years.  Your LiPo is going to be in the center and it's the most likely to cook.  You're far more likely to crash this thing than toast it.

...Tiger

Thanks Tiger, your words ring true.
I'm nearly ready to begin the build part of this build.
I now have a propane heater in the garage. Toasty!
Just need a little more cleanup and to set up my laptop and camera.
Stay tuned for more!

We're ready. 

Any new developments with your Tri-Copter Smitty?

Every time I think I can start, I get derailed by something else.
The most recent distraction was putting lights on my power chair.
It was a safety issue, because I use my power chair to go between the house and the clubhouse after dark.
All fixed up now.
I used 2 12v LED malibu spot lights for the front and a 12" knight rider LED strip for the rear.
They will see me coming and going.

How is your flying going?  Do you fly your Novus much?

I'm so frustrated by the weather.
I can't seem to muster the gumption to traverse the accessible route to the garage in the rain.
can you imagine... one sentence with 4 $2 words! LOL
Then it's just too darn cold, even with a heater to stay in the garage for very long.


I've decided to sell or trade the Novus FP at the swap meet.
The TriCopter is still a box full of parts.
The upside is... it's there when I get to it.


I had every intention to work on my hobby stuff today.
The worst part is, I doubt tomorrow will be any better.

Hey Smitty, Did you ever receive your OpenPilot board?

Yup, got that back in the first week of December.


I really believe that I have all of the necessary parts.
Just need the motivation (warmer, dryer weather) to begin.
I'm not too concerned about it. If I can't do it this winter, it'll wait for spring.

Yeah, every time I look out the window I lose motivation to go out into the cold garage and work on stuff, even if I did get something done I couldn't go out and use it.

Isn't this weather what kitchen tables were made for?

I've decided to jump on the multirotor bandwagon.  I ordered a OpenPilot CopterControl board but I guess it will be a while before I receive it.