I wish I found this site years ago. But hey, I'm here now. Better late than never. Name is Richie. I've been flying DJI drones off and on for about 8 years. I happen to move to a house that happens to be less than 5 miles from an airport. That has discouraged me from flying. I'm partially disabled and it takes a lot to have to go somewhere other than my big backyard to fly any of my drones. They have been collecting dust on my shelves for a few years now.
I want to get out so bad and fly again. I have, (my first drone) a DJI P3P. I got it for $50 plus a trade for a camcorder. So pretty much total of $150. I can tell it was crashed. It had a badly cracked and twisted arm. It had black electrical tape on it.
I knew nothing at all about drones. However, I'm an electronics repair tech in my home. I did a little research, this was back in 2017 I believe. The 4k camera wasn't working but I got it to fly. I thought it was going to be so difficult because I've never even touched a drone before, lol. I first practiced staring the props. (Which I couldn't figure out for almost 2 hours 
) I'm a bit stubborn like that. I try to figure everything I can, out by myself. I eventually figured it out. I felt so stupid as soon as i figured out something that should have taken me all of 5 min to figure out.
After that, I practiced take off and then landing. Would only go up about 10 feet. Then try to land it as softly as humanly possible. I got that down pat. Then l practiced flying in a circle 10 get above the ground. Then left and right and up and down. Then left and up and right and down and vice versa. I finally felt confident after about 3 days of flying.
I was showing everyone in my family. But then I got a little bit too cocky and tried to go between two tall trees while turning at the same time. I would say that was my biggest mistake. But it actually was the best thing I could have done. I wrecked it. But it hit so hard on the ground the camera snapped in half. The bad arm also broke in half. It was a useless pile of wreckage. That's when I decided to do a total rebuild.
The most expensive piece was, yup you guessed it, the gimble. ( Camera ). At that time it came out with tax, I believe it was $325.00. Give our take a few bucks. Then purchased a new body. New stickers and new flex cable for the gimble.
I figured out how to take it apart, totally. It took me, going slow and taking pics of everything before the full disassembly. Right at 10 hours. From start to reassemble and first flight. Everything worked like a brand new one. Had to sync it all together. Bought a mini sd card for pictures and videos. Then i went crazy. I bought a thick padded backpack. Three more batteries. 2 extra sets of props. 1 being carbon fiber. I thought they'd be better. Nope. I charger addon where I can charge 4 batteries at once. Carbon fiber bottom for stability and landing smoother. Different lenses to protect the gimble.
I've babied this drone till this day. I also bought a DJI P4S. At the time for $300. They were still being sold on ebay and mostly everywhere, they were going for $1000 the cheapest. It to was wrecked once. But everything checked out to be working great. Then I wanted a smaller one so I got another wrecked DJI mavric mini. That one needed a body as well. I haven't redone that one yet.
That's it. I finally got my P4 out today. Of course everything is totally dead. Including my iPad I use with it. Now I'll have to check the software. I see that's all changed. Now I'll have to learn a new app. I found a park more than 5 miles away from the airport. I can't wait!
Sorry this is so long. Later on I'll find the pictures of the teardown and rebuild if the DJI P3P and post so yall can see what a big mess it was when it was all tore down and apart. Lol Happy Flying! Be safe
I want to get out so bad and fly again. I have, (my first drone) a DJI P3P. I got it for $50 plus a trade for a camcorder. So pretty much total of $150. I can tell it was crashed. It had a badly cracked and twisted arm. It had black electrical tape on it.
I knew nothing at all about drones. However, I'm an electronics repair tech in my home. I did a little research, this was back in 2017 I believe. The 4k camera wasn't working but I got it to fly. I thought it was going to be so difficult because I've never even touched a drone before, lol. I first practiced staring the props. (Which I couldn't figure out for almost 2 hours ) I'm a bit stubborn like that. I try to figure everything I can, out by myself. I eventually figured it out. I felt so stupid as soon as i figured out something that should have taken me all of 5 min to figure out. After that, I practiced take off and then landing. Would only go up about 10 feet. Then try to land it as softly as humanly possible. I got that down pat. Then l practiced flying in a circle 10 get above the ground. Then left and right and up and down. Then left and up and right and down and vice versa. I finally felt confident after about 3 days of flying.
I was showing everyone in my family. But then I got a little bit too cocky and tried to go between two tall trees while turning at the same time. I would say that was my biggest mistake. But it actually was the best thing I could have done. I wrecked it. But it hit so hard on the ground the camera snapped in half. The bad arm also broke in half. It was a useless pile of wreckage. That's when I decided to do a total rebuild.
The most expensive piece was, yup you guessed it, the gimble. ( Camera ). At that time it came out with tax, I believe it was $325.00. Give our take a few bucks. Then purchased a new body. New stickers and new flex cable for the gimble.
I figured out how to take it apart, totally. It took me, going slow and taking pics of everything before the full disassembly. Right at 10 hours. From start to reassemble and first flight. Everything worked like a brand new one. Had to sync it all together. Bought a mini sd card for pictures and videos. Then i went crazy. I bought a thick padded backpack. Three more batteries. 2 extra sets of props. 1 being carbon fiber. I thought they'd be better. Nope. I charger addon where I can charge 4 batteries at once. Carbon fiber bottom for stability and landing smoother. Different lenses to protect the gimble.
I've babied this drone till this day. I also bought a DJI P4S. At the time for $300. They were still being sold on ebay and mostly everywhere, they were going for $1000 the cheapest. It to was wrecked once. But everything checked out to be working great. Then I wanted a smaller one so I got another wrecked DJI mavric mini. That one needed a body as well. I haven't redone that one yet.
That's it. I finally got my P4 out today. Of course everything is totally dead. Including my iPad I use with it. Now I'll have to check the software. I see that's all changed. Now I'll have to learn a new app. I found a park more than 5 miles away from the airport. I can't wait!
Sorry this is so long. Later on I'll find the pictures of the teardown and rebuild if the DJI P3P and post so yall can see what a big mess it was when it was all tore down and apart. Lol Happy Flying! Be safe
