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No gatekeeping. No "just Google it." Everything you need to go from zero to flying — laid out straight, no BS. Use the sections below to find what you need.
No gatekeeping. No "just Google it." Everything you need to go from zero to flying — laid out straight, no BS. Use the sections below to find what you need.
Here's a breakdown of the components that make up an FPV build. When you're ready to grab a frame, spare parts, or accessories — we've got you covered in the shop.
The Pinkyzup PZ5 is the frame we built for exactly this moment. Grab yours — along with spare parts and accessories — in the B2FPV shop.
Shop Now →These are tools, accessories, and supplies I've personally used and recommend. None of this is required to get started — but all of it makes the experience easier, less frustrating, and more enjoyable. Skip what you don't need and grab what makes sense for where you're at.
Affiliate Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. The links on this page are affiliate links — if you click one and buy something, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps support the B2FPV community.
Choosing the right soldering iron depends on how and where you plan to work. Portable irons are great for field repairs, travel kits, and smaller setups. Bench stations are better if you solder often and want something more comfortable and permanent on your workbench.
A compact FNIRSI option for anyone who wants something portable but still capable. Great for FPV because you can use it at home, at the field, or while traveling. Easy to keep in a repair kit without taking up much space.
View on Amazon →A great budget-friendly portable iron. Small, easy to pack, and works well for field repairs or for someone who doesn't want a large station on the bench. Affordable and good enough for most FPV soldering jobs when paired with the right power source and tip.
View on Amazon →A more complete bench setup compared to a portable iron. If you plan to solder often, a dedicated station gives you better convenience, a stable work area, and a more comfortable experience for regular builds and repairs. Worth the upgrade if you're at the bench regularly.
View on Amazon →Hakko is one of the most trusted names in soldering. The FX-888D is a professional-grade bench station that heats up fast, holds temperature consistently, and makes a real difference on fine FPV pads and small components. If you're serious about building, this is the one to get.
View on Amazon →The tip you use matters just as much as the iron. The wrong tip makes soldering harder than it needs to be. Here are the ones I actually recommend depending on what you're working on.
Chisel tips are the way to go when you're working on larger connections like XT60 leads, battery wires, or big ESC pads. The flat face gives you more contact area and transfers heat faster — which means cleaner joints and less time holding the iron on your components. If you're struggling to get solder to flow on bigger connections, switching to a chisel tip will fix it immediately.
View on Amazon →The C245 D2.2 is a versatile bevel tip that works great for more precise soldering work on flight controller and ESC pads where you need a bit more control than a full chisel gives you. It still transfers heat well but gives you better accuracy on smaller connections. A solid all-around tip to have in your kit alongside a chisel.
View on Amazon →The C245-B3 is a micro chisel tip — a great middle ground between the precision of a fine tip and the heat transfer of a full chisel. Works well across a range of FPV soldering tasks, from small pads to mid-size connections. A versatile tip worth having in your rotation.
Same link as the C245 D2.2 — select C245-B3 as the variant on the Amazon product page.
Not the cheapest option, but one of those supplies where quality actually matters. Good solder makes a huge difference on small FPV pads, motor wires, ESCs, and flight controllers. Cheap solder makes soldering harder than it needs to be — Kester flows better, makes cleaner joints, and removes frustration.
View on Amazon →A solid option and usually more budget-friendly than premium brands. Good balance between price and performance — a smart pick if you want decent solder without spending top dollar. Great starting point before you decide to upgrade.
View on Amazon →A great bench tool if you build or repair a lot of drones. Saves time when removing frames, swapping parts, opening electronics, or working through repeated screws. Makes builds and repairs faster and less annoying — especially when working on multiple quads or doing frequent maintenance.
View on Amazon →Some of the best driver bits you can get. Not cheap, but they fit hardware extremely well and are far less likely to strip screws compared to cheap bits. Bad drivers strip screws and turn simple repairs into nightmares. MIP tools are expensive — but if you're serious about building, they're worth it.
View on Amazon →MIP drivers are not cheap, but they are some of the best you can buy. I've had a few sets for years and they are still top notch. The fit on the screws is excellent — prevents stripped hardware and makes building or repairing drones much less frustrating. Cheap drivers wear out fast and strip screws, especially on small FPV hardware. MIP costs more up front but lasts a long time.
View on Amazon →Hakko makes some of the best cutting tools in the business. A quality flush cutter makes a huge difference when trimming wires, leads, and zip ties cleanly. Cheap cutters chew through wire instead of cutting — Hakko cuts clean every time and holds its edge for years.
View on Amazon →Battery and charger recommendations coming soon. Drop your suggestions in the B2FPV group in the meantime.
Some of the best cloth tape I've used. Holds better than standard electrical tape, conforms well around wires and components, and doesn't leave a gummy residue when you pull it off. A roll of this goes a long way on any build.
View on Amazon →Just a basic M3 screw assortment kit — nothing fancy, but you'll be glad you have it. You will lose screws in the field, strip screws on repairs, and always need a length you don't have. Keep one of these in your bag and you'll never be stuck waiting on a single bolt.
View on Amazon →If you've ever tried to depin a harness or battery balance connector with tweezers, a razor, or whatever random tool was nearby, you already know how annoying it is. This tool makes it fast and clean. It's one of those things you don't know you need until you use it once — then you wonder how you ever built without it.
View on Amazon →A multimeter is one of those tools that every builder should have, full stop. Check battery voltage, test for shorts, verify continuity on solder joints, diagnose electronics issues — it tells you what's wrong when something isn't working. If you don't have one yet, get one. You'll use it more than you think.
View on Amazon →A smoke stopper is a current-limiting device you plug in between your battery and your build before powering up for the first time. If there's a short somewhere on your build, the smoke stopper limits the current and the LED lights up — instead of your ESC, motors, or flight controller getting fried. Use it alongside your multimeter every single time you power up a new build. The few seconds it takes could save you hundreds in components.
View on Amazon →A solid driver set built specifically for FPV pilots. Has the sizes you actually need for building and repairing quads in the field. Purpose-built tools like this make a real difference compared to generic hardware store options — the fit is right, the handles are comfortable, and it covers what you'll reach for most.
View on Rotor Riot →Keeps all your tools and small parts organized in one place. If you're heading to the field, having everything in a dedicated pouch means you're not digging through a bag looking for the right driver or a spare screw. Pairs perfectly with the Kwad Toolset above.
View on Rotor Riot →These are personal recommendations based on what actually works. Amazon links are general search links — not specific listings — so you can compare options and pick what fits your budget. If you have a recommendation that helped you get started, share it in the B2FPV Facebook group.
Seriously — do not skip this. 10 hours in a sim will save your first quad. Your radio plugs straight in via USB and you fly for free until your muscle memory kicks in.
Connect your actual radio transmitter via USB before buying. Most radios work plug and play — if it works in the sim it'll feel the same in the air. There's no reason to fly a keyboard.
These channels have helped thousands of pilots get off the ground. Bookmark them and actually watch them — it'll save you hours of frustration.
New to freestyle? Headmazta breaks down tricks step by step so you actually understand what you're doing — not just copying. Start here.
View Full Playlist on YouTube →Got the basics down? Work through these next. Headmazta steps it up and starts pushing into more advanced territory.
View Full Playlist on YouTube →FPV has its own language. Here's a cheat sheet so you don't feel lost in forums, Discord servers, or the B2FPV group.
Questions we see constantly in the group. If yours isn't here, come ask in the Facebook group — that's literally what it's for.
Here's the honest truth: Betaflight has come so far that even on default settings your quad will fly surprisingly well. And with the addition of presets built right into Betaflight, you can get a really great flying quad without ever going deep into tuning. So don't stress about this early on — focus on flying first.
For those of you who do want to dive deeper into the tuning side of things — it's a rabbit hole worth going down eventually. Good tuning means your quad feels exactly how you want it to, responds precisely to your inputs, and runs as efficiently as possible. When you're ready, here's where to start.
Brian White built PIDtoolbox — a free application that reads your Blackbox flight logs and helps you understand what your quad is actually doing in the air. Instead of guessing why something feels off, you can see it in the data and make informed changes. If you're serious about tuning, Brian is one of the people to follow. His work has made the whole process more accessible for everyone.
More tuning resources will be added here as we build this section out. If you've got a resource that helped you — share it in the B2FPV Facebook group and we'll consider adding it.
Some people learn better by reading and researching at their own pace. These sites have you covered — deep dives, reviews, tutorials, and guides covering pretty much everything FPV.
These are stores we're comfortable pointing you toward for your components and gear. All well known in the FPV community.
More resources will be added here as we find ones worth recommending. Got a site that helped you get started? Drop it in the B2FPV Facebook group and we'll check it out.