VENOM Build Guide

Print the smaller structural and attachment components in PETG. The reference PETG plates use approximately 6% grid infill; use the accompanying slicer settings for the remaining parameters.

Electronics bulkhead

The PETG bulkhead holds the flight electronics and faces the VTX/ESC installation. It needs enough stiffness to retain the equipment and tolerate repeated battery installation and removal.

Leading-edge brackets and canopy retaining C-clip

The PETG plate also includes the left and right inner and outer leading-edge attachment brackets and the canopy retaining clip. Identify the mirrored brackets before assembly and keep their screw holes clear.

WingLoc tabs

Use the second image for the WingLoc tabs. Dimensional accuracy, clean threads and correct mounting orientation matter more than heavy infill. Print a few extra tabs as spares; they are small and easy to keep with the aircraft.

Motor attachment hardware

The BOM lists the motor mounts as PETG components. Make sure you identify the corresponding files in the release pack and follow their supplied print profile; the separate PRINT 08 illustration shows the motor-mount-related build plate.

Position the front and rear fuselage sections close together on the build plate, with the top of each section facing outward.

This arrangement helps keep any stringing in accessible areas, making it easier to remove after printing rather than having it collect inside the fuselage.

Infill: 4% gyroid.

This image shows the underside of the rear fuselage section and identifies the areas where supports must be disabled.

Use support blockers or support painting to prevent supports from being generated in the indicated locations.

Use the highlighted exclusions in the image as the VENOM-specific support reference.

Infill: 4% gyroid.

This image identifies the support exclusions required for the front fuselage section.

Follow the illustrated support placement and prevent supports from being generated in the indicated areas.

Infill: 4% gyroid.

Position the inner wing sections on the build plate as shown in the image.

Infill: 3% gyroid.

Each V-tail section and its ruddervator control surface are printed together as a single assembly. The control surfaces are subsequently connected using the separate TPU hinges.

Position the two assemblies with their control horns facing outward, away from each other.

Orient each assembly so that the flat underside of the control horn rests against the build plate.

Set the Z-seam to the rear of both parts.

Infill: 8% gyroid.

This image shows the underside of the V-tail, specifically the overhanging area near the top of the ruddervator where the control surface meets the fixed tail.

An overhang is present across the gap between these two sections.

Disable supports for this overhang using the indicated support exclusions.

Use the image as a reference for the precise exclusion areas.

Position the outer wing sections with their control horns facing outward, following the same general orientation approach used for the V-tail assemblies.

This orientation helps ensure that the channels receiving the TPU elevon hinges are printed cleanly and accurately.

Set the Z-seam to the rear on both wing sections.

Infill: 3% gyroid.

The wingtips are straightforward to print and do not require any special preparation.

Position them as illustrated.

Infill: 3% gyroid.

Arrange the motor-mount-area components as illustrated. The supplied PRINT 08 note calls for 8% gyroid infill with no unusual support requirements.

Several motor and leading-edge parts have similar names. Follow the specific STL and supplied slicer profile for each component. The PETG motor mounts specified in the BOM are also covered in the functional PETG section above.

All canopy components can be printed together on the same build plate.

Position the components vertically as illustrated. No special preparation is necessary.

Infill: 3% gyroid.

This component is the camera mount for the DJI O4 Wide Air Unit.

The mount needs to be rotated to an angle of 45° on the build plate before printing.

The following images show the rotation and support configuration.

Infill: 3% gyroid.

This image demonstrates the rotation tool in Bambu Studio.

Use the rotation tool to position the camera mount at 45°, as shown.

The underside of the camera mount is shown with the areas requiring supports painted in blue.

Apply support painting to the indicated underside surfaces.

Automatic support generation can then be used to generate the additional supports required for the internal and upper sections of the mount.

Infill: 3% gyroid.

Print the battery tray and battery access components in the orientations shown.

No special preparation is required.

Infill: 3% gyroid.

The TPU hinges are used for both the wing elevons and the V-tail ruddervators.

The image shows four hinges arranged on each build plate.

Since these small components require switching to TPU, it is more efficient to print several sets at once.

Keep the additional hinges stored as spares for future builds or repairs. This avoids having to change filament and reconfigure the printer every time a replacement hinge is needed.

The front and rear fuselage sections are joined using the PETG wing lock tabs.

Start by dry-fitting the tabs into one fuselage section. Make sure they are fully seated at the bottom of their slots, then bring the two fuselage sections together to check the fit.

Once satisfied, apply superglue to both mating surfaces and join the sections.

The tabs can be installed in either fuselage section, although gluing them into one side first makes assembly easier.

Install the wing lock tabs into the wing root attachment points.

Important: The holes in the tabs must face outward so that the wings can be secured from underneath the aircraft.

Dry-fit the tabs, check their orientation and glue them securely in position.

Install the PETG fuselage bulkhead into the front fuselage compartment using superglue.

Make sure the bulkhead is seated correctly before the adhesive sets.

Install the fuselage canopy retention magnets into their designated recesses, checking that their polarity matches the corresponding canopy magnets.

Apply the Velcro battery retention tape to the underside of the battery tray, as shown.

This provides the attachment point for securing the battery during flight.

Install the carbon-fibre support rods into the rear fuselage tail mounting points.

Before gluing anything, dry-fit the rods together with the V-tail assemblies.

Check that:

• The rods reach the bottom of their mounting holes.
• The V-tail indexing keys engage correctly.
• The V-tail assemblies sit flush against the fuselage.
• The rods are not too long and do not prevent the assemblies from seating fully.

Cut or adjust the rods as necessary before final assembly.

The reference BOM lists two 2 mm OD × 80 mm carbon rods for the V-tail supports. Confirm the fitted lengths against the actual printed parts before gluing.

The ruddervator hinges are installed using the printed TPU hinge strips and superglue.

Start by positioning the hinge strip in its channel on the upper surface. Tack one end into place with superglue and allow it to bond.

Once secured, carefully lay the remaining hinge strip into the channel.

Apply superglue to both mating surfaces, ensuring the adhesive extends all the way to the edges of the hinge trench.

Use a damp sponge to press the TPU strip firmly and evenly into position while the adhesive sets.

Important: Make sure the full width of the hinge is bonded, particularly along the edges of the channel.

Allow the adhesive to cure before trimming the hinge to its final length.

The image shows the hinge already trimmed, but trimming should be performed after gluing.

The ruddervators are printed together with their fixed V-tail sections and are initially connected by small printed tabs.

Once the TPU hinges have been installed and the adhesive has cured, these connecting tabs must be removed.

Use a thin razor blade to carefully cut the tabs from behind.

Take care not to cut or damage the TPU hinge.

After removing the tabs, check that the ruddervator moves freely.

Some excess printed material may need to be removed near the ruddervator tip, where it approaches the upper section of the fixed V-tail.

Check the full range of movement and remove any interference.

Slide the completed V-tail assemblies onto the carbon-fibre rods installed in the rear fuselage.

Alternatively, the rods can be installed into the V-tail assemblies first and then inserted into the fuselage.

Ensure the indexing keys engage correctly and the assemblies sit completely flush against their mounting surfaces.

Once satisfied with the fit, secure the assemblies using superglue.

Important: Avoid getting adhesive between the movable ruddervator and the fixed V-tail root. The control surfaces must remain completely free to move.

Install the two ruddervator servos side by side in the rear fuselage.

Pass the servo wires through their channels into the main fuselage electronics compartment before positioning the servos.

Seat the servos in their mounting points and secure them using the supplied servo screws.

Prepare the steel control pushrods for both ruddervators.

The reference BOM lists 139 mm ruddervator control rods. Confirm the steel rod diameter with the supplied part before cutting or bending the pushrods.

The control linkages will be connected later in the assembly.

Join the front and rear canopy sections together using superglue.

Check the alignment and fit before gluing.

Install the PETG retaining C-clip into the assembled canopy using superglue.

Install all canopy retention magnets into their designated recesses.

Check the polarity against the corresponding fuselage magnets before applying adhesive.

The motor mount is installed inside the removable wing leading-edge section.

Start by dry-fitting all components to ensure that the motor mount seats correctly inside the leading-edge assembly.

Attach the motor to its printed motor mount using the mounting screws supplied with the motor.

Make sure the motor is firmly secured.

Slide the assembled motor and mount into the wing leading-edge section.

Secure the mount using four M1.4 screws, approximately 4–5 mm in length. The reference BOM specifies M1.4 × 5 mm self-tapping screws for the motor-mount attachment.

Route the motor wires through the designated cable channel so that they can pass through the wing and into the fuselage.

Install the wing lock tabs into the inner wing sections using the same dry-fitting and gluing procedure described previously.

Ensure the tabs are correctly oriented for the wing attachment hardware.

Install the wing servos into their designated mounting points.

The servos slide into place and are secured using the screws supplied with the servos.

With BUILD 11 and BUILD 12 completed, you should now have the motor installed in its mount, the leading-edge section prepared, and the inner wing section fitted with its servo and attachment tabs.

Make sure the motor wires are correctly routed down and back up through the designated channel in the leading-edge section. The wires must sit inside the channel without becoming trapped between the assembled parts.

Position the leading-edge section against the inner wing and install the two PETG attachment brackets, one on each side.

Secure the brackets to both sections using M1.4 × 5 mm screws.

Check that the sections are firmly attached and the motor wiring remains correctly seated.

Repeat BUILD 11–13 for the opposite wing.

Install the TPU elevon hinge using the same technique described for the ruddervator hinges in BUILD 05.

Start by applying a small bead of superglue to one end of the hinge channel and tack the TPU strip into position.

Once secured, lay the remaining hinge strip into the channel, applying adhesive to the mating surfaces.

Make sure the adhesive reaches the edges of the hinge channel, as these are particularly important for securing the hinge.

Use a damp sponge to press the hinge evenly into position and remove excess adhesive.

Allow the superglue to cure before trimming the excess hinge material from both ends.

Repeat for the opposite wing.

With the TPU elevon hinge installed and fully bonded, the temporary printed connecting tabs can now be removed.

Working from behind the control surface, carefully cut the tabs using a thin razor blade.

Take care not to damage the TPU hinge.

Once the tabs have been removed, check that the elevon moves freely throughout its range of motion.

Remove any excess printed material that could cause rubbing or restrict control surface movement.

Repeat for the opposite wing.

Once the elevons have been freed and their movement checked, attach the wingtips to the outer wing sections.

Make sure the parts are correctly aligned before securing them with superglue.

Repeat for both outer wing sections.

Position the assembled canopy onto the fuselage, allowing the previously installed magnets to hold it in place.

This ensures the canopy sections are correctly aligned with the fuselage.

Apply superglue to the underside of the remaining canopy side section and carefully slide it into position, joining the front and rear canopy sections neatly.

Important: Take care not to allow superglue to reach the fuselage or other unintended mating surfaces. The canopy must remain removable after assembly.

Allow the adhesive to cure before removing the canopy.

The reference configuration uses the Matek F405-Wing WMO flight controller.

Other supported flight controllers may use different mounting adapters.

Apply a small amount of adhesive to the underside mounting interface of the flight controller and secure it inside its printed adapter, keeping adhesive away from connectors and electronic components.

The adapter remains attached to the flight controller and can be unscrewed and transferred between compatible aircraft.

Before installing the flight electronics, prepare the necessary electrical connections, including the ESC-to-flight-controller wiring and the battery power input.

Install the DJI O4 Wide camera into its printed camera mount.

The camera is retained by a press fit and should slide firmly into position without requiring additional fasteners.

Make sure the camera is fully seated and correctly aligned.

The assembled camera and mount can then be installed alongside the remaining DJI video system components.

Install the flight controller, ESC and ELRS receiver into the fuselage electronics compartment.

Before installation, the necessary wiring must already be prepared and soldered, including:

• The ESC-to-flight-controller connections.
• The battery power input wiring.

Position the electronics in their designated locations, keeping the wiring organized and clear of the mounting surfaces.

With the camera already fitted to its printed mount, secure the camera mount into the nose of the fuselage using superglue.

Install the DJI O4 Wide video transmitter in its designated position.

Orient the VTX so that its USB port faces the pilot's right-hand side of the aircraft. This maintains access to the USB connector once the system is installed.

Feed the antenna cable through the small antenna opening, passing the cable through first.

Once the cable is correctly routed, connect it to the antenna connector on the DJI board.

Check that the antenna connection is secure and the cable is not trapped or excessively bent.

With the inner wing and motor assembly completed, feed the motor wiring through the designated fuselage channel.

Carefully position the inner wing section against the fuselage, keeping the motor wires clear of the mating surfaces.

Attach the inner wing assembly to the fuselage using the previously installed attachment hardware.

Repeat the procedure for the opposite wing.

The motor wires should now be visible through the diamond-shaped opening in the fuselage.

Feed the wires upward through the designated opening and into the electronics compartment, positioning them near the ESC for subsequent connection.

Make sure the wires follow the intended routing path and are not pinched by the wing or fuselage structure.

Repeat for both motor wire sets.

With the inner wing sections, leading-edge assemblies and motors installed, the outer wing sections can now be fitted.

Slide each outer wing section into position, making sure it aligns correctly with the inner wing.

Check that the sections seat properly and that the elevon control surfaces remain free to move.

Repeat on the opposite side.

The Matek F405-WMO has onboard BECs: a regulated 5 V rail for the flight controller/peripherals and a separate Vx servo-power rail. Follow the manufacturer's 5 V / 6 V selection and confirm the installed servo voltage rating before connecting four control servos.

VENOM's reference BOM includes the WMO and a HAKRC 25A ESC, not the external 5 V BEC described in the SPECTRE guide. Do not add SPECTRE's external-BEC arrangement unless a different board and power plan specifically require it.

Connect battery, ESC and flight-controller power according to the official Matek diagram. Ensure grounds are common and never connect conflicting regulated BEC outputs together.

Dry-fit the Matek FC, HAKRC ESC, DJI O4 Wide VTX, receiver and battery inside VENOM before cutting any leads. Check fit with the removable canopy in place.

Route the motor leads through the inner-wing and leading-edge channels and then upward through the diamond-shaped fuselage openings as described in BUILD 22–23. Keep wires out of the wing mating surfaces and removable fastening areas.

Leave enough slack for service and wing removal, but avoid loops that obstruct the battery or control linkages.

The reference battery is a 2S LiHV 1000 mAh pack using an XT30-type connection. Prepare the battery-positive and negative wiring to the ESC and F405-WMO power-distribution connections using the appropriate pads on your specific board.

The BOM includes AWG18 battery-to-ESC wiring and an AWG18 FC-to-ESC connection. Verify the actual electrical function of each lead from the official diagrams before soldering.

Connect the three phase wires from each VCI Spark 1103 11000KV motor to one ESC motor channel. Use the routes described in BUILD 11, 13, 22 and 23, without pinching the motor wires beneath the leading-edge brackets or the removable wings.

VENOM uses two motor channels: left and right. Confirm which ESC output corresponds to the pilot's left and right motors in the actual VENOM mixer before selecting or fitting propellers.

Motor direction can usually be reversed in compatible ESC configuration software without resoldering the phase wires. Verify the correct VENOM propeller rotation from the approved setup.

The Matek F405-WMO exposes S1 and S2 as motor outputs in its standard INAV Plane/VTOL mapping. Run the two independent control signals from these outputs to the selected motor inputs of the HAKRC 25A 4-in-1 ESC.

Wire the signal grounds according to the ESC's actual input requirements, and do not assume that a SPECTRE Flywoo ESC signal harness has the same pin order as the HAKRC. The ESC protocol must also be compatible with the installed ESC firmware.

VENOM has four servos: one for each elevon and one for each V-tail ruddervator. The F405-WMO's standard INAV output group reserves S5, S6, S7 and S8 for servo control, separate from the motor S1/S2 group.

Connect each servo's power, ground and signal to the appropriate regulated servo-output circuit. The left/right elevon and ruddervator assignment must match the validated VENOM CLI; the S5–S8 group alone does not establish the order.

Keep the ruddervator wires routed through their rear fuselage channels and ensure no cable can interfere with a moving horn or linkage.

The reference VENOM build uses a RadioMaster RP1 ELRS receiver. The Matek F405-WMO has CRSF-capable UART connections; the official documentation identifies TX2/RX2 as one supported pair.

Supply the receiver with the correct voltage and common ground. Connect receiver TX to the flight-controller RX and receiver RX to the corresponding flight-controller TX. Confirm the final UART selection in INAV Ports and the supplied VENOM CLI.

Route the receiver antenna so it cannot be pinched by the canopy, V-tail mounting hardware or servo linkages.

The DJI O4 Wide camera connects to its matching DJI VTX using the supplied camera cable. VENOM's VTX is oriented with the USB port facing the pilot's right, as described in BUILD 21.

Use the official DJI and Matek references to confirm the VTX power-supply voltage and any serial/MSP connection required for your chosen OSD setup. Route the antenna cable through the prescribed fuselage opening and attach it securely.

When the VENOM-specific CLI becomes available with the aircraft download, use the matching firmware release and connect to INAV Configurator.

Open CLI → Load from File, select the VENOM file, review the loaded commands and choose Execute. Reconnect and confirm that no commands were rejected.

If there is no validated VENOM CLI in your download, do not load the SPECTRE configuration. The four-servo V-tail mixer and output routing are different.

In INAV, verify that the two motor outputs and four servo outputs are enabled on the Matek F405-WMO and match the VENOM reference mixer.

For this board's standard mapping, S1/S2 are the motor group and S5–S8 are the four-servo group. The left/right assignments and control mixing must come from VENOM's tested configuration, not an assumed channel order.

Select an ESC protocol actually supported by the installed HAKRC ESC and firmware. SPECTRE's DShot300 setting is a useful reference but is not automatically a verified VENOM setting.

With the propellers removed, connect to a compatible ESC configuration utility and test the two VENOM motor channels at low output. Verify the channel-to-motor relationship and the direction of rotation.

Use the VENOM propeller and mixer reference to determine which direction each motor must spin. If needed, reverse the ESC rotation setting and retest. Do not rely on SPECTRE's propeller direction without checking the VENOM setup.

Save settings and verify both motors once more before fitting the propellers.