DIY training gear

[automap2002]

I had one of those rare Friday's off of work. So since I was already out and about and had to go to the hardware store and to Wally World I figured I would pick up the stuff and make my own training gear.

I got two 1/2" X 36" aluminum rods and four 1/4" lock nuts. Then at the next stop picked up some golf ball size whiffle balls.

After I got home I threaded each end of the rods, made two slightly larger holes in the whiffle balls, bent one rod so that it laid flat when laid over the other one. Put on the balls, tightened down the nuts, installed a zip strip on the other side of the balls making sure they rolled freely. Zip striped the two rods together in an X then attached it to the heli skids with four thick rubber bands.

Only took about 30 minutes and cost for materials was only $12.00. I think they turned out pretty good. Let me know what you think.



View from above



View from the front



View from the side


Now just need the snow to melt and I'm ready to lift it off

[Familyman67]

nice one, thanks for sharing!
you may want to consider shortening the aluminum rods.
not that you can't fly with those, but an ideal training gear should be slightly smaller in diameter than the rotor disk.
I just made a training gear for a friend of mine for his new Blade 300X. its made from carbon rods and table tennis balls. cost me less than 6€ (7.50$) and about 45 min of work.
I'll uplaod a picture tomorrow ( can't do it on the iPad)

[automap2002]

I'm thinking of bending the ends a bit to bring them closer and possibly softer landings, I thought about that after I saw the picture from above. They are only 4.5" longer than the blades on each end for a total of 9"

[automap2002]

Sorry the rods are 1/4" X 36". Blades on the heli are 28"

[Familyman67]

So here comes the pictures I promised.

As I said - I built this for a Blade 300X, which is slightly smaller than a 450, but you can use the exact same materials if you want to do it for a 450 - you just need to leave the CF-rods a bit longer.

"raw-materials":
- carbon-fiber-rod 3mm diameter
- 4 table tennis balls
- some hotmelt glue
- thin wire or zip-tie
- a squared block of wood

[automap2002]

Thanks Familyman, I did bend the ends on mine and it brought it in a bit and brought the heli up about as high as this one. I still think I'll keep them as long as they are as this heli is my "learner", looking at a bigger one in the near future probably a 550 and these would work on that when I'm testing it out.
I really appreciate all of the "mentoring" from you. You have no idea how much it means to me!

[Familyman67]

Hey, no problem with the Training gear you have installed. You just need to make sure your heli is well balanced from a CG perspective.
I would however expect, that you will find it to behave a bit "clumsy" but you are right, it will nicely fit under a 550.
However, once you're into that you won't need a training gear anymore.