๐Ÿ› ๏ธ Carbon Fiber vs 3D Printed TPV Ivy Tails: Which Third-Person Mount Should You Use?

๐Ÿ› ๏ธ Carbon Fiber vs 3D Printed TPV Ivy Tails: Which Third-Person Mount Should You Use?

In FPV flying, third-person view (TPV) tail mounts unlock a whole new way to capture cinematic drone footage. At Ivy Drones, we offer two powerful options for TPV tail mounting: a lightweight Carbon Fiber Ivy TPV Tail and a customizable 3D Printed TPV Tail Mount.

If you're looking to get smooth, stable rear-facing shots or a dynamic chase cam feel, choosing the right tail mount makes a major difference in footage quality, flight balance, and crash resilience.

Letโ€™s break down the pros and cons of each system:


๐Ÿงช 3D Printed TPV Ivy Tail Mounts

Material: PLA / PETG / custom 3D filament
Design: Lightweight, cost-effective, highly customizable

โœ… Pros:

  • Quick Prototyping: Great for testing tail angles and cam positions

  • Affordable: Ideal for pilots who crash often or want spares

  • Custom Fit: Tailor the length, angle, and camera position

  • Easy to Replace: Print a new mount in hours if damaged

โŒ Cons:

  • Lower Durability: Cracks or breaks more easily under impact

  • Flex Under Thrust: May introduce micro-vibrations or tail wiggle

  • Heat & Sun Exposure Risk: PLA especially can warp outdoors

๐Ÿ”„ Best Use Case:

  • Casual flyers

  • Budget builds

  • Cinematic experimentation with different camera placements


๐Ÿชถ Carbon Fiber TPV Ivy Tail Mount

Product: Ivy Carbon Fiber TPV Tail โ€“ Shop Now ยป

Material: High-strength carbon fiber + precision aluminum hardware
Design: Rigid, ultralight, and tuned for performance-focused TPV filming

โœ… Pros:

  • Zero Flex = Stable Footage: No camera vibration or sway during high-thrust maneuvers

  • Crash Resilient: Stronger than 3D prints in most freestyle crash scenarios

  • Clean Aesthetics: Minimalist matte finish looks pro on any quad

  • Better Weight Balance: Reduced tail sag from camera and arm flex

โŒ Cons:

  • Higher Cost: Premium materials = premium price

  • Less Customizable: Fixed shape means fewer user mods (but precise out of the box)

๐Ÿ Best Use Case:

  • Freestyle and cinematic FPV pilots

  • Outdoor TPV shots with motion blur

  • Pros who want gear that lasts crash after crash


๐Ÿ†š Side-by-Side Comparison

Feature 3D Printed TPV Tail Mount Carbon Fiber TPV Tail Mount
Durability โš ๏ธ Medium (fragile in crashes) โœ… High (crash-tested carbon fiber)
Rigidity / Stability โš ๏ธ Moderate (can flex mid-flight) โœ… Zero flex = cinematic smoothness
Weight โœ… Light โœ… Better stiffness-to-weight ratio
Customization โœ… High (custom print files) โŒ Fixed mold, but highly refined
Price โœ… Budget-friendly โš ๏ธ Premium pricing
Camera Stability โš ๏ธ Susceptible to wobble โœ… Rock-solid tail camera footage

๐Ÿ’ก Final Thoughts

Choose a 3D Printed TPV Tail if you:

  • Are experimenting with tail camera angles

  • Want a cheap way to test different mounts

  • Fly in controlled, low-risk environments

Choose the Carbon Fiber TPV Ivy Tail if you:

  • Want smooth, shake-free third-person drone footage

  • Fly freestyle or cinematic missions

  • Need a rugged, lasting mount that can survive real-world crashes


๐ŸŽฅ Capture better third-person footage.
๐Ÿš€ Fly harder without compromising your shot.
๐Ÿ‘‰ Upgrade to the Carbon Fiber TPV Tail now ยป

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