Max Gibson Scout Drone: Your AI Carrier Pigeon
Concept assembly guide derived from the staged build plan. Not a certified engineering drawing. Prices are estimates (Oct 2026); nothing here is a purchase. Every step and every BOM line links to the part. Downloads: step-by-step PDF · BOM PDF
Step-by-step build (one action per step)
Stage 1
- Assemble the 7-inch frame.Part S1: Light 7-inch LR carbon frame (Chimera7 class) ×1 · ~$40 · Buy: Amazon search
- Bolt one 1300KV motor on each arm.Part S2: 2806.5/2807 1300KV 6S motors ×4 · ~$70 · Buy: Amazon search
- Mount the SpeedyBee F405 V4 stack on the 30x30 standoffs.Part S4: SpeedyBee F405 V4 BLS 60A stack ×1 · $76 · Buy: SpeedyBee
- Solder motor leads and XT60 to the ESC.Part S4: SpeedyBee F405 V4 BLS 60A stack ×1 · $76 · Buy: SpeedyBee
- Flash ArduPilot to the F405.Part S4: SpeedyBee F405 V4 BLS 60A stack ×1 · $76 · Buy: SpeedyBee
- Mount the M10Q GPS on the printed mast; wire to a UART.Part S5: Matek M10Q-5883 GPS/compass ×1 · $43 · Buy: Boulder MultiRotor (Matek)
- Bind the ELRS Lite receiver (override only); wire to a UART.Part S8: RadioMaster Pocket ELRS + BetaFPV ELRS Lite RX (override) ×1 · ~$80 · Buy: Amazon search
- Flash the Pi Zero 2 W card; mount it with the 5V 3A BEC.Part S6: Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W + 64 GB microSD + 5V 3A BEC ×1 · ~$33 · Buy: Raspberry Pi
- Connect Pi Zero UART to the FC for MAVLink.Part S6: Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W + 64 GB microSD + 5V 3A BEC ×1 · ~$33 · Buy: Raspberry Pi
- Mount Camera Module 3 in the TPU pod; connect ribbon to the Pi Zero.Part S7: Pi Camera Module 3 in TPU pod ×1 · $25 · Buy: Raspberry Pi
- Fit the Remote ID module and register with FAA.Part S10: Remote ID broadcast module ×1 · ~$35 · Buy: Amazon search
- Strap on strobe; tidy wiring with standoffs and straps.Part S11: Misc: silicone wire, XT60, straps, standoffs, strobe ×1 · ~$15 · Buy: Amazon search
- Fit the 6S 21700 pack under the frame.Part S9: 6S1P 21700 Li-ion pack (Molicel P45B), XT60 ×1 · ~$65 · Buy: Amazon search
- Fit props last; run a tethered hover test.Part S3: 7-inch bi-blade LR props, 3 sets ×1 · ~$12 · Buy: Amazon search
Stage 2
- Swap or add the Radxa Zero 3W for on-board detection.Part S12: Radxa Zero 3W (detection upgrade) ×1 · $28-43 · Buy: Amazon search
Stage 3
- Add the spare 6S pack to the kit.Part S13: Spare 6S pack ×1 · ~$30 · Buy: Amazon search
Stage 4
- (Optional) Stack the SIM7080G HAT for cellular alerts.Part S14: Waveshare SIM7080G Cat-M HAT (cellular add-on) ×1 · $31.99 · Buy: Waveshare
- (Optional) Add the ideal-diode brain battery for hot swaps.Part S15: Pololu ideal diode (brain hot-swap battery) ×1 · ~$45 · Buy: Pololu
Optional
- (Optional) Plug the InfiRay P2 Pro into the companion USB.Part S16: InfiRay P2 Pro thermal camera (optional) ×1 · $249 · Buy: InfiRay
Bill of materials
| ID | Stage | Part | Qty | Price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S1 | Stage 1 | Light 7-inch LR carbon frame (Chimera7 class) | 1 | ~$40 | Amazon search |
| S2 | Stage 1 | 2806.5/2807 1300KV 6S motors | 4 | ~$70 | Amazon search |
| S3 | Stage 1 | 7-inch bi-blade LR props, 3 sets | 1 | ~$12 | Amazon search |
| S4 | Stage 1 | SpeedyBee F405 V4 BLS 60A stack | 1 | $76 | SpeedyBee |
| S5 | Stage 1 | Matek M10Q-5883 GPS/compass | 1 | $43 | Boulder MultiRotor (Matek) |
| S6 | Stage 1 | Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W + 64 GB microSD + 5V 3A BEC | 1 | ~$33 | Raspberry Pi |
| S7 | Stage 1 | Pi Camera Module 3 in TPU pod | 1 | $25 | Raspberry Pi |
| S8 | Stage 1 | RadioMaster Pocket ELRS + BetaFPV ELRS Lite RX (override) | 1 | ~$80 | Amazon search |
| S9 | Stage 1 | 6S1P 21700 Li-ion pack (Molicel P45B), XT60 | 1 | ~$65 | Amazon search |
| S10 | Stage 1 | Remote ID broadcast module | 1 | ~$35 | Amazon search |
| S11 | Stage 1 | Misc: silicone wire, XT60, straps, standoffs, strobe | 1 | ~$15 | Amazon search |
| S12 | Stage 2 | Radxa Zero 3W (detection upgrade) | 1 | $28-43 | Amazon search |
| S13 | Stage 3 | Spare 6S pack | 1 | ~$30 | Amazon search |
| S14 | Stage 4 | Waveshare SIM7080G Cat-M HAT (cellular add-on) | 1 | $31.99 | Waveshare |
| S15 | Stage 4 | Pololu ideal diode (brain hot-swap battery) | 1 | ~$45 | Pololu |
| S16 | Optional | InfiRay P2 Pro thermal camera (optional) | 1 | $249 | InfiRay |
"Amazon search" links open a search for that exact part spec; no listing has been chosen and no affiliate tag is used. Nothing has been purchased.