500mm Fiberglass Quadcopter Black Frame Kit - Upswept Dihedral Arms, PDB Included

Specifications

• Frame Type: Quadcopter (Swept X-Frame)

• Wheelbase: 500mm (Motor-to-Motor Diagonal)

• Arm Design: Upswept (Dihedral)

• Plate Material: High-Density Fiberglass

• Arm Material: Fiber-Reinforced Nylon Composite

• Motor Mounting Pattern: 16x19mm and 19x25mm (Fits 22xx to 28xx motors)

• Propeller Compatibility: 10-inch to 11-inch

• Power Distribution: Separate PCB included

• Bare Frame Weight: ~405g

Key Applications and Projects

• Autonomous Surveying Drones: Pairing this frame with a Pixhawk flight controller and GPS to fly pre-programmed mapping missions over large plots of land.

• Aerial Cinematography: Attaching a 2-axis or 3-axis brushless gimbal to the bottom rails to carry a GoPro Hero for perfectly stabilized, sweeping landscape shots.

• Educational Platforms: A fantastic, spacious platform for university students learning how to program custom PID loops or integrate external environmental sensors (LIDAR, Sonar) onto a drone.

Unlock New Capabilities (Project Evolution) The Long-Endurance Search & Rescue Rover: Stop flying for just 5 minutes! The 500mm frame is built for endurance. Evolve your build by equipping it with low-KV 2216 800KV motors spinning highly efficient 11-inch carbon fiber propellers. Mount a massive 4S 5200mAh LiPo battery to the bottom plate. Add a thermal FPV camera to the front vibration plate and a 433MHz telemetry radio to the top deck. You have just built a search-and-rescue platform capable of hovering for 20+ minutes, allowing you to scan thick forests or dark fields from a ground station laptop!

Package Includes:

• 1 x Fiberglass Top Main Plate

• 1 x Fiberglass Bottom Main Plate

• 4 x Fiber-Reinforced Nylon Arms (Black)

• 1 x Blue Power Distribution Board (PDB)

• 2 x Gimbal/Camera Mounting Plates

• 4 x Blue Silicone Vibration Dampeners

• 4 x Red Aluminum Frame Standoffs

• 1 x Assorted Assembly Hardware Kit (M3 Screws)

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)

Q: What does a 500mm wheelbase mean? A: Wheelbase is the diagonal distance measured from the center of the front-left motor to the center of the rear-right motor. A 500mm frame is significantly larger than a standard 5-inch racing drone (which is usually 210mm-250mm).

Q: What are dihedral arms? A: Dihedral arms angle slightly upwards from the central body. This geometric design creates a pendulum effect that drastically increases the drone's natural stability in a hover, fighting against wind drift.

Q: What size propellers should I use? A: This frame is optimized for 10-inch (e.g., 1045) or 11-inch propellers. Do not use 5-inch or 6-inch props; they will not generate enough thrust to lift this heavy frame.

Q: What size motors fit this frame? A: The motor mounts have standard slotted holes that accept 16x19mm and 19x25mm patterns. Brushless outrunner motors in the 2212, 2216, 2312, and 2814 classes (typically between 800KV and 920KV) are perfect for this build.

Q: Is this frame good for FPV racing? A: No. This frame is designed for stability, payload capacity, and smooth cruising. It is too large and heavy for acrobatic racing or freestyle.

Q: Does it have an integrated power distribution board? A: The fiberglass bottom plate does not have integrated solder pads. Instead, the kit includes a separate blue square Power Distribution Board (PDB) that you can mount in the center stack to wire your ESCs cleanly.

Q: What flight controller is best for this frame? A: Because it is designed for stable cruising and aerial photography, flight controllers geared towards autonomy—such as the Pixhawk 2.4.8, APM 2.8, or DJI Naza-M V2—are highly recommended over standard Betaflight racing controllers.

Q: What size battery should I use? A: A 3S or 4S LiPo battery with a high capacity (typically between 3000mAh and 5200mAh) is recommended to achieve flight times of 10 to 20 minutes, depending on your payload.

Q: Do I need to use threadlocker on the screws? A: You should only use threadlocker (like blue Loctite) on metal-to-metal connections. Never use threadlocker on the screws going directly into the plastic/nylon arms. The chemicals in Loctite will cause the plastic to become brittle and shatter under load!

Q: Can it carry a GoPro? A: Yes! The kit includes a secondary plate system suspended by blue silicone vibration dampeners, which is specifically designed to isolate action cameras (like a GoPro) from motor vibrations.

Q: Are tall landing skids included? A: No, this specific kit configuration does not include tall helicopter-style landing skids. The bottom of the arms feature small molded tabs that act as the primary landing gear, keeping the drone low to the ground.

Q: How much does the empty frame weigh? A: Fully assembled with all screws and the PDB, the bare frame weighs approximately 405 grams.

Q: Is the frame made of carbon fiber? A: No. As the title suggests, the main center plates are made from rigid fiberglass, and the arms are injection-molded from a strong nylon-glass fiber composite.

Q: Where do the Electronic Speed Controllers (ESCs) mount? A: Due to the large size of the drone, it is recommended to zip-tie your individual ESCs directly to the underside of the four black arms, ensuring they receive maximum cooling airflow from the spinning propellers.

Q: What are the rails on the bottom plates for? A: The parallel slots cut into the bottom plate are designed for routing battery straps securely, or for attaching optional aftermarket rail systems for heavier 3-axis gimbals.