Designed for long-range FPV flying, the SpeedyBee Mario Fold 8 stands out for its extended flight range, stability, and portability. It’s a foldable 8-inch drone, but SpeedyBee has been notably quiet about this new product. What’s the big deal? Let’s find out.
Interested in long range FPV flying? Check out my tips and tricks guide: https://oscarliang.com/long-range-fpv-flying-mini-quad/
Where To Buy?
You can purchase the Mario Fold 8-inch Frame or BNF Drone from:
You may be unable to purchase this drone directly from SpeedyBee due to their country’s drone export restrictions, but you can try your luck with sellers on AliExpress.
Why the Mario Fold 8 Stands Out
The Mario Fold 8 could be one of the best thought-out and largest long-range FPV drone frames currently available, especially considering its size and build quality. SpeedyBee has been quiet about this new product due to drone export restrictions in their country, so they haven’t been actively promoting it overseas. I’m fortunate to have gotten my hands on the frame kit.
Available on AliExpress for just under $100, the frame’s quality is impressive. It even comes with a handy ratchet wrench for the propeller nuts and arm locking nuts.
Specifications
- Size:
- Unfolded: 350mm (wdith), 280mm (length)
- Folded: 90mm (width), 400mm (length)
- Weight: 370g for just the assembled frame, 695g for the MARIO Fold 8 DC O3 BNF Drone (without battery and GoPro).
- Carbon Plate Thickness:
- Top: 2.5mm
- middle: 2.5mm
- bottom: 3.0mm
- Arm Thickness: 7mm.
- Materials: The plates and arms are made of T300 3K carbon fibre.
- Motor Circlip Spacing: 9mm.
- Propellers: Supports 7-8 inch propellers.
- Motor Mounting Holes: 19x19mm.
- FC Mounting Hole: 30.5×30.5 (M3) & 20x20mm (M3) & 25.5×25.5mm, accommodating various flight controllers.
- Camera Cage Material: 7075 CNC aluminum alloy.
- Antenna Mounting: Supports SMA pigtail, and DJI O3 Antenna
- Battery Strap: 30cm long
- Other Features: Includes a battery anti-skid mat made of silicone resin and yellow TPU for 3D printed parts.
Construction and Assembly
The frame’s construction is top-notch, with excellent carbon fibre quality and smooth, well-finished edges. Assembling it was enjoyable, though a step-by-step manual would have been helpful. The frame features a spring-loaded ball lock pin for the folding mechanism, and the Deadcat style design ensures props don’t show in the camera’s view.
Unfolded.
Folded.
Here’s a picture of the bottom of the frame when the arms are folded.
Once the arms are unfolded, you can tighten the large locking nuts on the arms using the provided ratchet wrench. The frame appears to be stiff enough and shouldn’t come loose during flight.
If you don’t normally fold the drone, Speedybee also provides a way to permanently lock the arms in place with a bolt. Very well thought out!
Hardware Compatibility
The SpeedyBee Mario Fold 8 frame is incredibly versatile, supporting various FC mounts including 30x30mm, 25x25mm, and 20x20mm. It’s also compatible with a range of VTX options, including DJI O3, HDZero Freestyle, Walksnail, Vista, and other analog VTXs.
The versatility in terms of battery compatibility and the inclusion of quality 3D printed parts like landing skids and GPS mounts adds to the overall value.
The camera mounting system is cleverly designed to accommodate various sizes, i.e. 19x19mm and 20x20mm, supporting typical micro cameras and DJI O3 camera.
Accessories
The frame includes high-quality TPU 3D printed parts like landing skids, GPS mounts, and a GoPro adapter. It also comes with quality battery straps suitable for typical battery sizes for 7-inch or 8-inch drones.
The Goods and Bads
Pros:
- Foldable Design: Enhances portability and convenience for transport.
- Durable Construction: High-quality materials ensure stiffness, robustness and durability for stable long-range flights.
- Versatile Mounting Options: Accommodates various sizes of flight controllers, VTX and camera, making it suitable for customization.
Cons:
- Frame Weight: At 370g, it might be heavier than some other drone frames in its category, potentially affecting maneuverability.
- Complexity: The frame assembly, features and customization options may be overwhelming for beginners in FPV flying.
Build Parts List
Here’s parts list of the official Mario Fold 8-inch BnF FPV drone:
Receiver is not included in the BNF, but a true diversity ExpressLRS receiver such as the BetaFPV SuperD would be a great option: https://oscarliang.com/expresslrs-diversity-receivers/#BetaFPV-SuperD
Since this is intended for long range, you can consider using Li-ion batteries. I think 6S2P 5200mah-5600mah is a good size for it. See my recommendations here: https://oscarliang.com/li-ion-battery-long-range/#Buying-Ready-Made-Li-ion-Battery-Packs
When it comes to PID and filters, 8-inch is not a popular drone size so there’s not many Betaflight presets available for it. If you don’t have experience in tuning, you can try preset from 7-inch.
This build, together with a 6S2P 18650 battery and a GoPro, would weigh in at about 1.5kg.
Final Thoughts
The SpeedyBee Mario Fold 8 is a remarkable drone that deserves more recognition than it currently receives. It’s a versatile and robust option for FPV enthusiasts looking for a durable and customizable long-range FPV drone. Its foldable design and high-quality materials make it a standout choice, although its weight and complexity might require some adjustment for new pilots. The Mario Fold 8 is a testament to SpeedyBee’s commitment to quality and innovation in the FPV drone space.
You can purchase the Mario Fold 8-inch Frame or BNF Drone from:
