WL Toys v636 Quadcopter – First Look and Review

WL Toys are well known for their line of Quadcopters, namely the v959, v222, v262, etc.
Each of their quadcopters have different styles and flight characteristics, allowing the prospective buyer to choose based on their intended use and flying style. The WL Toys v636 Skylark model follows this theme however, it incorporates a number of improvements which hopefully will make it even more fun than earlier models.

I ordered my v636 from Bangood at this link. Note that they also have many replacement parts as well as spare batteries – my suggestion would be to pick up at least one or more extra batteries, 1+ of each motor and perhaps a couple of gears.
Battery Link
Motors Link
Another popular vendor – worldwide – is Tmart – you can find the v636 (and much more) at this link at Tmart.

Appeal to users:
Beginners and Advanced Beginners who want a fun learning and flying platform
Type of Quad: Consumer / Hobbyist
Cost: $75 (approx.) covers the quad, 2 extra batteries and additional spares

V636 Quadcopter Basics

WLToys typically produces low-cost copies of popular models, and the v636 is no exception. It’s based on the Traxxas Alias Quadcopter, a machine which has been advertised as more refined and rugged than the earlier generations of small machines. While the Alias sells for $150, the bare v636 is less than 1/2 the price. I considered buying an Alias, but the reviews indicated that they suffer from premature motor failure. I suspect the v636 may have the same flaw (time will tell), but given that the $150 doesn’t seem to buy a much more reliable and solid drone, I decided to put the v636 to the test instead.

The box included the quadcopter w/battery as well as:

Plug-in (AC) Charger for included battery
One set of (4) replacement propellers
Propeller guards – (most will not use these)
WL Toys Transmitter and owners manual

My unit was missing the USA plug adapter for the battery charger, but luckily I had an extra one in my box of spare parts. I noticed that another reviewer mentioned this same deficiency, so make certain you check with your vendor to make certain your charger will work with your AC source.

Also, note that the box mentions “HD Camera” on it – this is optional and not included in the basic package.

Frequency: 2.4G, 4CH
Gyro: 6 axis
Weight: about 80g
Dimension: Approx. 10 inches (longest X dimension w/o propeller)
Flight time: 7-8 Minutes
Remote Control Distance: about 200 feet
Recharging Time: about 90 minutes
Battery For Quadcopter: 3.7V 730MAH 20C
Batteries For Transmitter: 6 x AA Battery (not included )

First Impression

The v636 feels very solid as compared to earlier models in it’s size range. The body and arms are all fastened together with screws and allow for quite a bit of flex without breaking. The typical gear arrangement of this class of quads has been turned upside down, so that the gears are further away from the ground (and any dust, grass, etc.). Silicone rubber pods cushion those rough landings – no more cracking of the thin plastic landing legs as in former models.

We did not install the propeller guards – these are probably only for those flying for the first time. Even then, the propellers on this quadcopter are quite durable, so most users will not need these.

Operation of the WL Toys V636 Quadcopter

Operation of the v636 is quite simple. Follow these steps to start:

1. Insert charged battery into holder on bottom of v636 – do not connect yet!
2. Set quadcopter on flat surface – connect battery – LED’s will flash very quickly while the gyro’s set, then about once per second to indicate it’s ready for you to turn the TX on.
3.  Turn TX. on, making certain throttle (left stick) is all the way down. The LED’s on the quadcopter will start flashing faster.
4. Move throttle to maximum and then down to the bottom – quadcopter will beep and LED’s will stay lit – indicating you are ready to fly.
5. Confirm that you are bound by advancing the throttle slightly and make certain the props start spinning.

Note – if anything goes wrong, unplug the battery and replug it in…and try again. This will fix most binding errors.

By default, the Transmitter should be in the 40% mode – this is the least aggressive setting and should work well for your first flights. Slowly advance the throttle until the quadcopter lifts a few feet off the ground. I found that the v636 sometimes drifted in various directions and I was unable to trim it to hover correctly. This was easily fixed by resetting the quad by unplugging the battery and plugging it in again, making certain to put it on a very flat surface.

Flying Manners

The v636 is a worthy successor to the earlier 9xx models as well as the other 1st and 2nd generation toy quadcopters. It’s fun to fly for a beginner or even for a more experienced flyer. As with other WL Toys model, the rate can be set from 40% to 100% – allowing more experienced pilots to achieve steeper angles and quicker moves. In the 100% mode, you can do flips by pressing the top right button – the TX will start beeping and your next forward push on the right stick will execute the flip.

The LED’s are easy to see from most all angles and allow for evening and night flying.

Here is a video demo of the v636 Quadcopter – hit the HD or Vimeo button to see it larger screen…

Headless Mode

The v636 has a so-called “headless mode” which, in theory, would allow the operator to bring the unit back when orientation is lost. We found that feature to be useless. Headless mode is only valuable, in our opinion, when a quadcopter has altitude hold and better sensors. As it is, you have to be quite skilled to keep the quadcopter hovering while at the same time going into headless mode and then pulling back on the right stick. Our advice is fly the v636 within a relatively close range (100-150 feet) to avoid losing it in the trees or elsewhere. If you lose orientation, landing the quad is probably the best course of action.

Payload, Cameras, Etc.

The v636 can lift a small payload – up to 30 grams or so. However, doing so will reduce the life of the tiny motors.

An HD Camera is sold as an option for the v636. This camera can be controlled by the transmitter and take stills or video.
Link to matching HD Camera

WL Toys sells a companion model called the v626 which has an included low resolution camera. The pictures and videos are of poor quality, but it still might be fun for some beginners. Our general recommendation is for beginners to forgo the camera on their first quadcopter and instead spend a couple hours learning how to fly.
Here is a link to the v626 model – camera equipped.

Repairability, Parts and Modification

Toy quadcopters with brushed motors will likely need motor replacements after 20-30 flights. Gears are also likely to need replaced after 20 flights or so.

The WL Toys engineers did a fine job on the development of the circuit board and wiring, using plugs instead of direct soldering. This makes replacement of motors or other items easier. Parts are easy to find for WL Toys models. Given the price as well as other restraints, we admire the way this quad has been designed and built. With proper care and parts replacement, this quad could provide many hours of fun.

Summary

The v636 is a strong performer in the “toy grade” quadcopter category and we can recommend it for beginners who are learning to fly. It can make a good first or second quadcopter. Prospective buyers should become familiar with parts (motors and gears) replacement so they can get decent service from the quadcopter.