training wheels for your helicopter.

 by saul
CIMG1193.JPG
Or perhaps more appropriately training balls.

This is an old idea reminded to me by Zach Radding.

It works great.

Problem:

You break your new remote control helicopter every time you try to learn to use it.

Solution:

You give it training stabilizers.
 
Remove these adsRemove these ads by Signing Up

Step 1: Add stabilizer arms and ping pong ball ends.

CIMG1195.JPG
CIMG1196.JPG
two pieces of carbon fiber rod or even wooden dowel work great. you need 4 rubber bands and 4 old ping pong balls too.

cross the two pieces of carbon rod and elastic band them to the bottom of helicopter.
1-40 of 41Next »
asingh40 says: Sep 8, 2011. 11:32 PM
Great work and I have got great idea. I will also try to make balance like this. This is good use of ping pong ball.
http://www.commercialpilottraining.net/FlightTraining/Helicopter-Flight-Lessons.htm
Emoo says: Apr 5, 2007. 5:31 AM
Nice and simple...now I just need to find some wire rod. Did the helicopter have any noticeable difficulty lifting the extra payload?
i make shooting things in reply to EmooApr 5, 2007. 9:48 AM
Most good helicopters (electric or glow) should have no problem with extra weight but cheep crapy toysRus types might not be able to. How ever they could affect the balance of some small electric and probably some glow too. Just make sure their evenly balanced.
MCzone in reply to i make shooting thingsApr 29, 2011. 6:33 PM
is a double horse 9098 cheap???
I got that and a similar helicopter that cost twice as much.
jedi pen-gui-n in reply to i make shooting thingsDec 4, 2008. 8:12 AM
just what is cheap in you opinion?
martzsam in reply to jedi pen-gui-nNov 11, 2010. 5:39 PM
Haha, Ahhh the sound of a newbie RC pilot... The "cheap" helicopters are any thing from $10 - 150. The helicopters that are expensive range from $150 - 2000. It is not a cheap hobby.
Caleb Nehrbass in reply to martzsamJan 25, 2012. 4:37 PM
I've just bought a $160 :D I think I'm making progress in this hobby.
jedi pen-gui-n in reply to martzsamNov 15, 2010. 12:11 PM
I guess it won't be my hobby .
Kryptonite says: Feb 4, 2010. 1:33 AM
The problem with mine is I keep hitting the roof!
agis68 in reply to KryptoniteSep 12, 2010. 8:23 AM
build a higher roof...;)))

Kryptonite in reply to agis68Sep 17, 2010. 4:43 AM
I'd have to move my upstairs though :P
hedzup456 in reply to KryptoniteJan 3, 2011. 11:49 AM
fly upstairs and have no roof
Kryptonite in reply to hedzup456Jan 5, 2011. 2:46 AM
Gets blown away; sadly.
hedzup456 in reply to KryptoniteMar 26, 2008. 10:07 PM
use string!
agis68 in reply to KryptoniteSep 18, 2010. 7:00 AM
;D or learn to fly better!
Kryptonite in reply to agis68Sep 19, 2010. 4:26 AM
...Ingenious!
Caleb Nehrbass in reply to KryptoniteJan 25, 2012. 4:39 PM
Dig down!
MCzone in reply to KryptoniteApr 29, 2011. 6:31 PM
Never buy those airhogs, invest in a gyro, they are alot better
The nerdling in reply to MCzoneAug 11, 2011. 7:35 PM
you can get those cheep rc helis at k-mart, jaycar, targt with gyros
Chowmix12 says: Nov 22, 2010. 8:25 PM
Does this stabilize as well as protect, or does it just protect your blades?
FrozenIce says: Jul 21, 2010. 6:57 AM
can i use Styrofoam balls ?
xproplayer says: Dec 29, 2008. 10:54 PM
Could this be used on micro little more suseptable (sorry for spelling) to breaking
joey2542667 in reply to xproplayerJan 2, 2009. 9:59 PM
almost definitely not, the helicopter would not be able to support the weight. I have a havoc heli and it barely even hold up a playing card!
Tmbo17932 says: Jun 20, 2008. 1:03 AM
May i ask what do these things do? becuase i got R.C heli yesterday and it fys fine!
jedi pen-gui-n in reply to Tmbo17932Dec 4, 2008. 8:10 AM
this is for people who have trouble flying their r\c helicopter.
plane phanatic says: Aug 11, 2008. 1:43 PM
This is a great idea. I have a 4 channel helicopter and have crashed it a few times. I will be making this instead of purchasing a similar product for $15 to $20.
redpill says: Jun 23, 2008. 7:45 AM
you could probly just go out and buy some some training gear for the same price and it would work better. i got mine when i started flying for like 9 bucks.
andresm says: Apr 7, 2007. 6:35 PM
i have a model helicopter and when i bought it the store keeper suggested i should buy "the training gera set" ans it had this... and even with this on.. i broke it. one of the sticks fell off and the weight of the helicopter went to one side, making it flip over and brake...
seen53 in reply to andresmJun 16, 2008. 6:46 AM
now that really sucks nuggets...
jacob_uk says: Mar 25, 2008. 5:19 AM
take that tape off your flybar paddles, its putting them out of balance, and its not stuck down properly.
philipster says: Feb 3, 2008. 12:46 AM
u know helis go come with these is the box : l
looking4ideas in reply to philipsterFeb 21, 2008. 8:54 PM
not all helis come with them
pierson says: Jan 9, 2008. 6:09 AM
Great idea, I will try it. I have a similar heli, the eSky CoCo Lama (where do they get these names?) I seem to have a problem with getting the blades balanced. The company that sold it said to buy spare blades and practice. Ha! I've already completely rebuilt the (purely cosmetic, I'm told) boom that hangs off the back. The '4-in-1' radio receiver/servo controller apparently has a built-in gyro. I'd like to try a very complicated project, using a feedback system from the heli to the transmitter. Install perhaps a 3-axis accelerometer, fast transmitter from the heli, and install a receiver in the transmitter with a micro to transmit commands back to the heli. Concerns that I want to address are: decelerating too quickly near the ground, and avoiding 'ground effect' from being too close to the ground (solve this by quickly jumping to a stable altitude when taking off). Adding some sort of altitude measurement would probably be necessary, perhaps a sensitive digital barometer. I was thinking bluetooth might be acceptable. Also, having a micro in the transmitter might allow programmed flight/autopilot. Any thoughts?
andrepcg says: Dec 22, 2007. 1:18 PM
i've made one of those for my helicopter and they're really cool. nice tutorial!
nerfer192 says: Dec 8, 2007. 7:05 AM
hg341 says: Jun 19, 2007. 11:27 AM
hee hee training balls
clark in reply to hg341Nov 1, 2007. 11:42 AM
haha, very nice.
tba469 says: Aug 17, 2007. 11:01 AM
Where do you get the rods from?
blop12311 says: Jul 31, 2007. 8:59 AM
I have the exact same helicopter.... frikin hard to fly/control
CameronSS says: Apr 5, 2007. 6:45 AM
My helicopter came with a set like this, and many others include "training wheels" as an option. However, I've never seen how to make them at home. Good job.
1-40 of 41Next »
Pro

Get More Out of Instructables

Already have an Account?

close

PDF Downloads
As a Pro member, you will gain access to download any Instructable in the PDF format. You also have the ability to customize your PDF download.

Upgrade to Pro today!