FlightClub Neutron Prototype : FPV Race Frame

You might be wondering, why is this PROton so small? Well, that’s because it’s not a PROton. This is the FlightClub Neutron. The Neutron is basically a slightly smaller and slightly lighter PROton that’s designed specifically for the smaller 20×20 components.

It’s got all the features you love from the PROton, just shrunk down.

Specifications

* This is the v1 prototype so some things might change

• CNC 7075 Aluminum Nucleus plate with threaded holes for the motor screws
• Butter mount – will have custom butter mounts for M3 and M2 screws
• at least 4.5mm arms
• 5″ is about 210mm
• Skeleton or Hybrid canopy. The pod is designed by MayDay FPV
• Skeleton plate has a slot for the PROton GoPro mount
• Will have different arm options 5″ 22xx, 5″ 14xx, 4″ 14xx and 5″ SX
• Goal is to get the weight around 60g. currently about 65g

It still features the nucleus plate with threaded holes for the arms. This will eliminate additional nuts needed to hold the arm screws and makes arm swaps a breeze.

Yes it has the butter mount also. If you aren’t familiar with the butter mount, it’s a way of mounting the flight controller stack I invented that completely isolates the flight controller from any vibrations. These custom butter mount grommets prevents any hard surfaces from the frame to touch the flight controller screws. Since some 20×20 stacks use 3mm holes and some use 2mm holes, there will be a new custom butter mount grommet that will let you use the 2mm hole components.

It will have countersunk holes like the PROton for a completely flat bottom.

Just like the PROton there will be many arm options for the neutron. There will be a 5″ 22xx motor pattern and stretch X version later. I’ve had a lot of people wanting arms for the smaller 14xx or 15xx motors so I made it for the Neutron.

This Neutron has the 5″ 14xx motor pattern holes with the Brotherhobby 1507 2800kv. It’s using the HGLRC F440 40A BLHeli32 3-5s F4 stack. The build weight of this one is about 175g and can use 5″ props. 4″ with 5s would be fun on this setup!

The Neutron v1 prototype weights around 65g, around 15g lighter than the PROton 5″ race. It doesn’t sound like a lot but when you factor in the weight savings of using 20×20 components it comes out to around 30g less than an exact build but using 30×30 components.

These two quads are using the exact parts except for the stack. The PROton, on the left, is using the RaceFlight Bolt32 with RevoltOSD and weighs 282g. The Neutron is using a 20×20 RaceFlight Spark v2 ESC with MillivoltOSD flight controller and weighs 248g. The difference in weight is 34g. That’s like flying around with 1 less motor.

PROton vs Neutron

The Skeleton top plate (Neutron left, PROton right) will still have the slot for the GoPro mount.

The Neutron Nucleus plate (left) still has the threaded holes and butter mount. It’s 2.5mm vs 3mm on the PROton. Both are still milled out of 7075 aluminum. I’m testing if 2.5mm is thick enough for the CNC plate. Don’t worry, I know what you are thinking…”what if I strip the threads?” Of all the PROtons out there, we haven’t heard of a single Nucleus plate with stripped threads.

Even though the PROton can use 20x20mm components, because of the placement of the arms, the rear two holes of the 20×20 holes need to use the arm screws.

So does this mean the Neutron is replacing the PROton? No, I don’t think so. Even though it’s smaller and lighter, 20×20 electronics are still pretty new. PROton will still be the flagship race frame. It’s about having options and having the right tool for the job.

This is the v1 Neutron prototype so there’s a lot of testing that needs to be done. I’ve got v2 arms that are thinner, lighter and 5mm arms coming too.

Will you be adding a Neutron to your fleet? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.