I'm new to the RC hobby, and recently built an FT Bat Bone Tricopter, then rebuilt it as a V-tail Quad. I've been taking it slow and trying to dial in the basics, but have been running into two main problems. 1. living in NYC, it's not easy to find an unpopulated area large enough to practice in, and 2. I've managed to damage props, landing gear, and motor mounts even while just learning how to hover. I realize that crashes are a part of the learning curve, but figured there had to be a way to get in more flight time, while incurring less damage to my quad. I believe I found my answer in the form of the Estes Proto X Nano Quad.
Lets get the bad out of the way first; the controller is very small, particularly if you like to pinch the sticks or have large hands, but it's still very user friendly and functions just like your standard controller. The other downside is that the flight time is relatively short, but it's understandable when you consider the seriously micro size of this quad.
Now the good: Simply put, the Proto X Nano Quad is a blast to pilot. Out of the box it is ready to fly. The platform is amazingly stable, and the controller gives you the ability to trim your platform. Because the quad is so tiny, you can practice with it just about any where worry free.
The stock set up doesn't include any bumpers/ blade protectors, but 3D printed bumpers can be found online quite easily. I found this Prop Bumper on Etsy for $12 shipped. The great part about this bumper is that it includes joy stick extenders. If you don't want to spend the money, there are tutorials on how to make prop bumpers out of paper clips.
Because the quad is so light weight, it's virtually impossible to damage. I dropped mine from ceiling height, picked it up and was back up flying again. The props are press fitted on to the motor shafts, so when you run into the wall (which you will) the props tend to pop off rather than break. In addition, the props are very flexible, again helping to prevent damage. I managed to chip a few corners of mine, but it's still flying great. If you happen to destroy a prop completely, the kit includes a spare set, and additional props can be found on Amazon for under $5. The controls are just like a large scale quad, but the consequences for mistakes are nearly non existant. I've had the Proto X for 2 days now, and am already getting more comfortable with hovering, pitching, rolling, yawing, and I'm even starting to coordinate my turns. I'm certainly far from skilled, but the progress I've made just in 2 days is mind blowing.
Before purchasing this $40 some-odd dollar platform, if I wanted to clock some flight time with my Bat Bone I had to wait for the weekend, hope I could find some open space, pray the weather would cooperate, and try my hardest not to criple my quad before my battery ran out. Now I keep the Proto X in my desk draw and fly in the office on my lunch break, or while on standby. I get about 5 minutes of flight, charge for 30-40 minutes and then I'm back up in the air.
If your goal is honing your piloting skills, and get as much stick time as possible, the Proto X might be right for you.
Also, do note that it has built in gyro auto-leveling that can't be disabled. While it's great for beginners, it won't help for raw control of a larger multi-copter, and doesn't allow for more advanced acrobatics like flips.
Even so, I heartily suggest anyone interested in flying multi-copters toss down a meager $30 and get into it!
P.S. - Here's the Etsy link for the bumper and stick extensions. Your link goes to the Amazon page.
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