Kids can Build Tricopters too!

by RCmaniac | May 14, 2013 | (8) Posted in Projects

Hello! I am a 12 year old boy from Spain. I am a huge fan of flitetest. When I found out that I could build a tricopter I told my dad what parts I had to order and he ordered then. Later, I paid him back with my own money that I saved over time. (I bought everything using my own money). As soon as the parts arrived I put everything together. I sodered and even did the dremeling parts of the build all alone! :) Here are a few pics of my finished product. Thank You Josh Bixler, Josh Scott, David Windestal and Chad Kapper for doing this for the RC world! Also special thanks to David for the awsome designs. Here are the pics: 

This is my tricopter materials draw under my bed.

This is my tilt meqanism which is the one David shows how to make.

This is a close up.

This is what my finished product looks like!

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COMMENTS

XFlyer on May 20, 2013
Hi, I'm fourteen and I have been flying a six channel helicopter since I was 10. It's great getting young people into it ! I have trained up a few of my friends and got them to buy planes and I suggest you do the same! Tricopters fly soo much better than anything else I have flown and I have sold my 6ch heli and invested in a tricopter with a GoPro and have just redone the maiden yesterday (it was down due to a loose connection I am thinking which is now fixed). I suggest balancing your props and mounting a camera is the next step. I look forwards to seeing some onboard! I have mounted my GoPro on it an hour ago and was doing curcuits in our backyard and I have completely eradicated my vibrations! I am soo proud of it too!!! I will upload some video soon once I get something interesting shot like the first XI rugby team...
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FlyingMonkey on May 20, 2013
This is fantastic. I have a friend (who is almost 40) and I'll send him this to help him see how easy building a tricopter can be. I use those same colored props, but I only use them on the front two rotors. I use a black one on the tail rotor. It helps me know which way is front while I'm flying.
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RCmaniac on May 20, 2013
Ok, thank you for commenting! Good idea with the different color tail prop. I might try it out!
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RCmaniac on May 20, 2013
Thank You! I also have a 6 channel helicopter, but after crashing a lot and spending a lot of money I invested in the parts to build a tricopter. I also mounted my gopro on it yesterday and got awesome footage I am still waiting for my FPV gear. What fpv gear do you use? I will upload some onboard footage. Here and on youtube, here is my channel:

http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCMsGyC2DPnmQLkff9C2ETg

Do you have Channel if you do tell me it and i'll check it out. Thank You very much for commenting and for your recomendations.
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RCmaniac on May 20, 2013
I forgot to mention I also bought a bixler 2 and I am able to fly it very good now. I still did not upload footage of my good flights, they are 6 minutes and takes to long to upload to youtube.
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XFlyer on May 20, 2013
I have a funjet and I am cracking over 200 kph on it on the straight... I also am deeply into 3d flying. I have also got my dad into the hobby so he buys most of the parts but I have to pay for new projects like tricopters and new models. I enjoy scratchbuilding models too. I built a 2.2m yacht in 6 weeks fully fibreglass and full working winch sililar to this link... http://www.wb2art.com/images/VIPERPIX.JPG
My yacht looks just like this. I built it from just a hull and blueprints and had to build all the fittings and the sails I had to get foils into. It was a great project it taught me a variety of skills. I have excelling in class I am working 2 year levels ahead of my year group I am in extension class at school. I am working at ncea level 2 but will be sitting ncea level one at the end of the year. I am not even meant to be doing ncea this year!!! I have a channel just click on my profile and there is a video of my previous tricopter which had lots of vibration and that wasn't with the GoPro. My new one has no vibration at all!
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RCmaniac on May 20, 2013
Wow!! Cool boat thanks for commenting!
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rtbreeder on June 18, 2013
I'm 13, and after working very hard this last winter shoveling snow, and mowing lawns in the spring, I FINALLY have enough to build the tricopter. I have just ordered parts from HK, but David's Tricopter frmes are out of stock. I was considering cutting my own frame from 1/8th'' plywood? Any ideas?

RCmaniac, hopefully my tricopter comes out looking like like. One thing I will be doing differently though. is I'm using 11x4.7 Glow-In-the-dark props. It'll turn some heads at night, thats for sure.
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johanjonker on May 21, 2013
I feel old now.. :(
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colflame on May 21, 2013
i know the feels bro :(
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lFritZl on May 22, 2013
.............Im "only" 19 and this makes me feel old
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teamleader on May 20, 2013
Hey guys, im 14 as well and have been flying for 4 years. It is great there are other young lads who take this hobby seriously. Where are you guys from? Im from Sydeny, Australia. I fly planes and drive cars, my collection includes 26 aircraft, 3 cars and one heli (never flown) good to hear more from you two My email is hayden.teamleader@gmail.com if you want to contact me.
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XFlyer on May 20, 2013
I'm from New Zealand across the ditch from you guys in Australia! I have a scratchbuilt lazybee, F22, Blu Dart (FT flyer), funjet, two yachts, mx2, pz large mustang, pz micro mustang, msr, tricopter, jazz 60 for slopesoaring, joker, spektrum dx6i, Airboat, Nutball,
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RCmaniac on May 20, 2013
Cool! Nice collection of things you got. Thanks for commenting! P.S i am in spain!
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Akcopter on May 21, 2013
WOW! that's really awesome!!.its so great to see such young people getting into the hobby ...by the way I love the quality of your build, did you CNC it yourself or did you buy david templete online..looks really good.I will be looking forward to some inflght Gopro footage...keep up the great work....
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RCmaniac on May 21, 2013
I bought the frame from flitetest. Thanks! The gopro footage coming soon!!! :) thank you for commenting!
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RCmaniac on May 20, 2013
I'm from spain. My email is rchelicoptermaniac@gmail.com. I have 1 rc car (nitro) one rc helicopter (erazor 450) 1 hobby level multirotor (tricopter), one rc plane (bixler 2)
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planemad man on May 20, 2013
hey im 13!!! im also a big fan of flight test.
i have been flying properly since i was 9.
i am into planes , a lot i cant realy fly helis but i want to build a tri to try it out (pun intended)
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RCmaniac on May 20, 2013
Very nice! If you want some help on building your tri please email me at: rchelicoptermaniac@gmail.com I will be happy to help you!
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rcrc on January 24, 2015
I am 15 almost 16 and am still a noob. I want to get into multi copters and have done a lot of research on the subject . There is no way I could do it on My own . And it's people like flite test and people on the Internet that post helpful information that makes it possible for noobs like me to go far in this hobby . So thank you !
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Kids can Build Tricopters too!