Basic Drone Build
How to choose parts and assemble a basic 5-inch freestyle FPV drone.
Parts you'll need
- 5-inch frame: The most common size for freestyle/racing.
- Motors: 4 brushless motors, typically 1900–2400KV for 6S batteries or 2400–2700KV for 4S.
- Propellers: 5-inch, tri-blade is the most common choice.
- Flight Controller + ESC (Stack): An all-in-one stack is recommended for beginners.
- VTX + FPV Camera: Digital (HD) or analog depending on budget.
- Receiver: Compatible with your radio protocol (ExpressLRS, Crossfire, etc.).
- LiPo Battery: 4S or 6S, 1300–1500mAh is common for 5-inch builds.
Basic assembly process
- Assemble the frame: Mount the carbon plates and prepare motor/stack mounting points.
- Mount the motors: Screw the motors onto the four arms, route motor wires neatly.
- Install the stack (FC + ESC): Mount with vibration-dampening grommets, solder motor wires to the ESC.
- Install the VTX + camera: Mount at the front, route signal and power wiring.
- Install the receiver + antenna: Place the antenna where it has the clearest line of sight for best signal.
- Configure the software: Use Betaflight to set up the flight controller, calibrate the ESCs, and do a basic PID tune.
Safety notes during assembly
Always remove the propellers when configuring software or testing motors to avoid accidents.
- Double-check motor rotation direction and propeller orientation before your first test flight.
- Make sure all solder joints are solid with no shorts.
- Check the battery voltage with a meter before plugging it into the drone.
Next step
See the Drone Glossary for common abbreviations and terms you'll encounter during building and configuration.