I was given the rules:

• Parts with Amazon Prime shipping only.

• Must choose the absolute cheapest parts - no picking something "a lot better for just $1 more". Must go at least 5 pages deep in search results.

• Purchase must include 3 full sets of props and a battery.

• Don't need to buy a charger or Tx. Can use an Rx typically bundled with the Tx; any other models would have to be purchased.

• Must be capable of carrying a camera on a gimbal (don't need to include either item in the build though).

• Any assembly materials not considered common household items must be purchased. (we consider zip ties to be common household items, along with soldering irons and solder)

Here's what I ended up with:

• Frame - $17.49 - F450 clone. This actually should've been like $13.50, but the item sold out while I was putting together the build. This was the next cheapest.

• ESCs, Motors, 2 sets of props - $74.95 - The included props are what really drove this option home. I had a few other ESC + motor sets picked out for around the same price, but since Amazon sellers overcharge so much for props, having 2 sets of props included in this kit was a huge boost.

• Flight Controller - $24.90 - The CC3D seems to be the prolific flight controller available from Prime sellers. I had hoped for a Naze, but oh well - at least I didn't get stuck with a Multiwii or KK.

• Landing Skids - $16.58 - Technically, with the "absolute cheapest" rule, this should've been these $7.01 legs, but I decided with the camera/gimbal requirement, it was important to get landing gear that weren't prone to flipping your shit.

• Battery - $22.99 - Yeah, not a lot of great battery selection on Amazon. Since we didn't have any rules in place about battery size, I just chose something comfortably around $20.

• One more set of props - $7.50 - They don't perfectly match the included props, but are close enough that it might not matter if I end up needing to use them at the same time.

• Silicone Wire & Dean's plugs - $15.99 + $6.50 - Not counting these in the build price, as I was mostly stocking up for myself - but one side of a T connector and about 8" total of wire did get used in my build.

I used an old Turnigy 9X8C Rx (the module included with the 9X Tx bundle). Mounted the Rx and FC using double sided foam tape meant for holding hooks on a wall, and obviously the zip ties for the ESCs/arms.

All in all took about 3 hours to build - including a ton of time wasted disassembling and re-assembling the entire frame (incl motors) to rotate it to put the yellow in front, and making a Deans <-> XT-60 adapter dongle so I could test using the only batteries I have handy (which I also had to make twice since I'm an idiot and used the wrong side of a Dean's plug on the first one).

EDIT: For anyone considering a less crappy version of this build concept

As brought up in this comment. I actually wouldn't really change much. Get a frame in the color you like (I saw red/white, white/yellow, black/white, black/red, and red/white deadcat). Swap the motor and esc bundle for this fantastic combo for $55 more (bonus: bullet connected motors/escs, reduces soldering requirements to 10 ridiculously easy pads + a power adapter). Buy a BEC, lots of extra props, and a set of prop nuts (that bundles included props are self-locking). Maybe order an APM off a domestic ebay seller instead of a CC3D from Amazon.

EDIT 2: Video & plug

Took it outside for a test flight today. Nothing exciting - there are too many trees nearby for me to risk going high with an untested quadcopter; plus as you can hear, my transmitter battery was a little low. I'll update the imgur post with a screenshot of my PIDs later today, and hopefully get out to a park this weekend for some real flying!

Also, be sure to check out /r/multicopterbuilds/ - a new subreddit started as a result of this thread!

I am not interested in any of that. All I want is flight time, and maybe the ability to do some aerial photography. Is there anybody else interested in that? I don't see any appeal in flying a drone for <5 mins. Which parts are you referring to? I've decided to replace the motors and ESCs with this if that helps

I wouldn't change much. Swap $75 power system for this sexy $130 power system. Drop the extra $30 on a higher quality receiver, larger battery, or many extra props, depending on what your needs are.

This build is actually going to get some cheapo FPV gear slapped onto it once I have it flying well enough. I snagged a $42 VTx/Rx combo at the same time. Still trying to work out what I'm going to do for a cheap camera and ground station display though.