{"id":4298,"date":"2019-07-01T00:53:58","date_gmt":"2019-07-01T00:53:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.getfpv.com\/learn\/?p=4298"},"modified":"2019-07-25T22:29:12","modified_gmt":"2019-07-25T22:29:12","slug":"build-log-armattan-chameleon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.getfpv.com\/learn\/fpv-build-logs-and-guides\/build-log-armattan-chameleon\/","title":{"rendered":"Build Log – Armattan Chameleon"},"content":{"rendered":"

As the technology behind FPV quadcopters becomes more advanced and less expensive, the number of enterprising hobbyists buying into the sport increases proportionately. Generally, the natural progression through the hobby involves a new pilot buying a ready-to-fly drone, flying and (often) crashing it, and then deciding to build one out of hand-picked parts. This can be a daunting task, especially for those without a background in electronics. With the right tools and the right information, though, building and flying an FPV quadcopter can be a rewarding and exciting experience.<\/span>[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”4345″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” onclick=”link_image”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

This article was submitted through the GetFPV Community Program<\/a> by Eric Stopper.\u00a0 You can check out more of his content on his YouTube<\/a>!<\/p>\n

Disclaimer: This article was written solely by a member of the FPV Community. Views and advice in this article are that of the author and does not reflect the opinion or views of GetFPV.<\/em><\/p>\n

Enter the Armattan Chameleon<\/span><\/h2>\n

When I was looking at parts for my first freestyle build in early 2018, one frame that kept appearing in my searches was the Armattan Chameleon. It looked really cool and innovative with its built-in camera cage, I appreciated the concept of a lifetime bumper-to-bumper warranty in a quad that was probably going to take some abuse, and it didn\u2019t hurt that Joshua Bardwell lists the Armattan Chameleon as \u2018The New Top Dog\u2019 in his <\/span>Freestyle Frames Shopping List<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Armattan Chameleon has a sturdy, 4mm thick uni-body main plate with a motor spacing of 220 mm. Just by looking at it, you can tell it doesn\u2019t sport the typical 8-standoff \u2018FPV bus\u2019 shape you see in other quads; instead its 2mm top plate is supported by a unique camera cage and rear standoff made of 4mm 6061 aluminum strong enough to withstand all but the most vicious crashes. Regardless, the whole frame is covered by an <\/span>industry leading warranty program<\/span><\/a>. Its 20mm deck-to-deck stack height also centers its mass (with a top-mounted battery) right on the prop line, which means rolls and flips will be much \u2018snappier\u2019 than a taller quadcopter.<\/span><\/p>\n

As a word of caution, the Armattan Chameleon does not quite qualify as a \u2018beginner\u2019 build. The trade-off for a lower stack height is that you have less room to fit all of your components inside the frame. However, by pairing the frame with some Armattan Oomph Velvet motors, four individual Armattan BLHeli_S ESC\u2019s, and a Betaflight F4 AIO FC, I had plenty of room and I have more than enough power to rip any park I can find.<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Components<\/span><\/h2>\n

After deciding on the frame for your FPV quadcopter, you face the equally important task of choosing the electronic components to put on it. It\u2019s crucial to select components that will be compatible with one another and to do your research to make sure they will function properly for your desired flying style. Since this was my first build, I chose to use Armattan motors and ESC\u2019s with my Chameleon because they were a good stock option that would provide enough power for freestyle flying.<\/span><\/p>\n

Wiring Diagram<\/span><\/h2>\n

It\u2019s always a good idea to read and fully understand the documentation for your components before you start building a quadcopter. Luckily enough, FPVModel has a nicely illustrated wiring diagram on their <\/span>Betaflight F4 product page<\/span><\/a>. It shows how to wire both FrSky and DSM receivers, as well as a TBS Unify and a Runcam Swift 2, though you can adapt the wiring to any camera\/VTx combination you choose. Use this diagram in build steps 1-4 below to correctly connect all of your components to the FC.<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”4340″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” onclick=”link_image”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Components List<\/span><\/h2>\n

I chose these well-reviewed components for my Armattan Chameleon, and they have all been reliable as long as I have been flying it. You can choose any parts you like, but it\u2019s always a good idea to research them first.<\/span><\/p>\n