Last week, first parts for my new racing quadcopter started to arrive. One of them, was carbon fiber frame: Reptile X4R 220. Why this one? Like I stated many times: I'm cheap. Plus, I did not wanted to go with another ZMR250 build. This frame was easily available, within budget and good looking. So, few weeks later, here we are...

Reptile X4R 220 frame - parts

Specification:

  • 220mm motor-to-motor
  • Weight: 120g
  • 4mm carbon fiber arms
  • 2mm carbon fiber bottom plate
  • 1.5mm top plate
  • 35mm aluminium standoffs
  • adjustable camera mount (fits HS1117 and RunCam Swift)
  • integrated power distribution board (PDB) with 5V BEC

Reptile X4R 220 frame - arms and bottom plate

After 2 evenings with this frame, I'm almost finished with a build.

Pros:

  • overall quality is good
  • everything fits, no need to ream holes, sand or cut anything
  • more nuts and bolts than required

Reptile X4R 220 frame - arms

Cons:

  • top plate are rather thin. I would prefer 2mm top plate or maybe 2.5mm bottom plate too
  • power distribution board is an structural element of whole frame. If you want to use different PDB (I wanted to use Matek PDB-XT60) you might have a problem. Some improvisation will be required
  • In theory, each arm is kept in place by 3 M3 bolts. In theory... In practice, one of those bolts enters nylon standoff. Not metal nut, but nylon. So, instead of 3 bolts per arm, it is only 2.5 bolts or even less... too bad... Still, whole build is rigid enough...

Reptile X4R 220 frame - all things in place