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Hobbico is definitely the biggest distributor of radio-controlled drones in the US. They began in 1985 when two companies joined forces and created Hobbico. They have made its fair share of innovative, small sized drones over the past years.
Today the Hobbico holds the rights to over 300 brands in the hobby marketplace. The company has recently released a new drone – Heli-Max 1SQ V-Cam. It features on-board camera and a self-stabilization system. This drone is considered to be one of the best drones in its price class.
Product Specs
- Dimensions: 145 x 145 x 35 mm
- Weight (without battery): 31 grams (0.1 pounds)
- Wingspan: 123 mm (4.8 inches)
- Battery: 3.7V 250mAh Li-Po
- Flight Time: 12 minutes
- Charge Time: 60 minutes
- Controller Frequency: 2.4GHz
- Operating Range: 150 meters (492 feet)
- Camera: 1MP 720p camera
- Maximum Flying Altitude: 150 meters (492 feet)
What’s in the Box?
Heli-Max’s 1SQ is a Ready-To-Fly quadcopter and it comes with everything a drone enthusiast needs to get the vehicle into the air. It is very important to note that The RTF model is quite affordable. The package includes:
- The 1SQ V-Cam drone with digital camera
- A 6-channel 2.4GHz controller with two AA batteries
- One 250mAH Li-Po rechargeable battery (buying a second one would probably be a good idea)
- A USB battery charger
- A USB Micro SD card reader
- A 2 GB Micro SD card
- Four spare rotor blades
- A screwdriver
- A user manual
Design
The 1SQ V-Cam is one of the smallest drones you can buy and has a wingspan of 123mm. With the weight of 31 grams, this is also one of the lightest drones available. People at Hobbico used lightweight plastic to build its blades and frame.
This drone also comes with a thin plastic fuselage that will help you to tell which part of the drone is the back or the front. This feature will also offer the desired protection to the main wires and circuitry at the centre of the drone. The 1SQ V-Cam is equipped with LED lights that serve a great deal when flying in night mode.
Some users say that this drone looks like a mechanical spider from a Sci-Fi movie. The 1SQ V-Cam has four legs that jut out and rotor blades attached to each appendage. The drone itself fits nicely in the palm of a hand and it’s all pretty basic as far as looks go.
As far as color goes, the 1SQ V-Cam is available in white, blue, green, yellow and red.
Battery and Flight Time
The Heli-Max 1SQ V-Cam is powered by a 3.7V 250mAh Li-Po battery. This battery is tiny when compared to the average capacity of 650 mAh. To charge your drone you can use a 120V wall adapter or a laptop’s USB slot. It takes around 60 minutes to charge your battery.
The red light will begin to blink slowly when your battery is full charged. The 1SQ has a flight time of about 12 minutes so a spare battery may be a useful addition. This flight time is a slightly above average amount of time compared to the average of 8 minutes.
However, you still get to finish up your time in the air pretty fast even with two batteries.
Camera
The drone’s miniature camera is definitely one of the most interesting features of the Heli-Max 1SQ V-Cam. The camera is fitted to the front, which allows you to record videos and photos by pressing individual triggers on the transmitter.
Although the 1MP of resolution that the drone has is not exactly the best quality available you will still get some remarkable clarity as well as images which are vibration free. It is important to note that you may want to look elsewhere if you’re looking to use the camera beyond the recreational level. However, if you just want to fly for fun while capturing some videos and images, this drone is perfect for you.
The 720p resolution on the drone means that it can record in HD and you will be happy with this quality of video if video quality is not one of your top priorities. The manufacturer claims that the camera is able to record mono sounds.
However, most pilots have reported that the camera picking the wiring motors and wind noise during a given flight.
The Heli-Max 1SQ V-Cam also has a micros SD card. It is used to record everything that is captured by the camera and everything can be downloaded later to your computer.
Many users have reported experiencing some problems when capturing videos and images because it may be difficult to tell whether you are in actual recording phase.
The drone is equipped with LED lights that are meant to show when you are capturing a video or shooting an image. However, the problem is that the lights are located only on one side of the drone. This means that if you are positioned on the opposite side of the drone you may not be able to see the lights.
Also, in broad daylight, it will be very difficult for you to see this LED lights, so you’re left hitting the record button and hoping for the best. The camera is also able to tilt for different angles. However, performing these moves can be difficult and you will probably need some days of practice before you can execute them perfectly.
Some users have also reported that the 1SQ V-Cam is not stable when you press the trigger button so it may be difficult to capture still photographs.
The trick is to just drift towards a target, hammer on the photo button a couple of times, and then choose from the multiple shots later.
Controller
The 1SQ V-Cam is a remote controlled drone and it can be flown up to 150 meters away from you using solely a remote control for operation. The controller of this drone is quite friendly.
It is important to note that it requires only a couple of hours of practice to get accustomed to fly this drone. The transmitter will also allow you to switch between two modes and your choice will depend on your skills and preferences. One mode is meant for more aggressive drone pilots while the other mode will be suitable for you if you prefer smoother controls.
The aggressive settings work perfectly for professional pilots.
The drone uniquely has the TAGS-FX Sensor Fusion stabilization system with a 3-axis accelerometer. It is also equipped with 3-axis gyro that will help you in correcting the drift or any other unwanted movement of the drone (a roll, yaws or a pitch) while it’s in the air.
There is also a Helimax TX460-6 channel 2.4GHz radio. It has beginner and expert modes. The Auto-Flip button on the transmitter is able to do amazing flips. Also, when the transmitter sits on a flat surface for a couple of seconds, the TAGS-FX Sensor Fusion stabilization system is able to calibrate itself.
The transmitter has an LCD display and it displays flight status and the current controller mode.
Flight Performance
The Heli-Max 1SQ V-CAM is suitable for newbies and beginner pilots. Many users have reported that they are impressed by the stability of the drone. The 1SQ V-Cam is a very stable drone and a good one for learning how to fly.
You should first fly this drone indoors if you are new to flying drones and you can take it outside once you’re used to the controls. On a calm day, the outdoor flying experience is very similar to the indoor flying experience.
The drone is very agile and, despite its size and weight, it will fly really well in the presence of a breeze. However, the drone will tilt forward if you put the hard forward and transform the uplifting thrust to a forward flight.
Conclusion
The Heli-Max 1SQ V-Cam is an affordable mini-drone that is suitable for beginner pilots. This drone is a lot of fun and you will be completely impressed with its performance, price and quality.
The 1SQ V-Cam is a great deal as far as small drones go considering the price and the fact that it comes with everything you need to capture aerial shots out of the box.