Introduction: Real Flying Golden Snitch
Grab your broom and quaffle and head out to the pitch because I'll show you how to make a flying golden snitch!
Step 1: Disassembly
The toy that I modified to achieve this is called a Heli Ball, I bought it at Five Below for $5. It can be charged by USB and hovers over any surface. The modification process is started by disassembling the toy by removing four philips screws on the side of the sphere and taking out the electronics and helicopter blades.
Step 2: Body
Once the toy is disassembled, I sanded the shell down with steel wool to remove the graphics put on by the manufacturer.
I then used movie stills to draw on detail features, I lightly sketched them on with a pencil.
I then deposited a line of hot glue over the sketched lines to create a 3D embossed effect of the detail features.
Finally, the body was painted a gold color using acrylic paint.
Step 3: Wings
To create the wings, I sketched out a design and cut it out of paper and test fitted it in the shell to see if it had the right proportions. Feel free to use different wing designs, modify mine, or use mine exactly.
Once you have the design figured out, I used the plastic from a gallon of milk as the final material. I traced the paper design onto the plastic then cut it out with an exacto knife.
I then painted the top of the wings and used the exacto knife to cut the bottom of the wings into slices to create an effect of individual feathers.
Step 4: Assembly and Testing
Finally reassemble everything making sure the wings fit nicely in place and don't interfere with any of the electronics.
Charge up the battery and try it out!

Participated in the
Sci-Fi Contest

Participated in the
Homemade Gifts Contest 2015
13 Comments
7 years ago
you could have replaced the motor with one stronger
7 years ago
cool
7 years ago
Ennalta has a great idea! I wonder if soft blades would make it useable?
Reply 7 years ago
hmm that'd be interesting! maybe 3d print blades with ninjaflex or some sort of rubber? I've tried snatching it out of the air and it does hurt a little if you hit the blades but it's actually not too bad since the motors have really low torque so it just stops spinning before doing any real damage.
7 years ago
I think it would be interesting to take this and add an arduino that would cause it to move randomly along xyz axis in order to act like a snitch.
Reply 7 years ago
I definitely thought about it. Instead of using the heli ball that simple floats in the air I might try to modify a cheap rc helicopter into a snitch so that someone can control it!
Reply 7 years ago
i just wanted to be cool like you guys and say arduino.
they make smaller ones. it is 2016 tomorrow after all.
7 years ago
cool!
Reply 7 years ago
Thanks!
7 years ago
Nice looks good and great but your a bit late by the time you found out how to design one the Harry potter movies finished and people moved onto star ward but looks great
Reply 7 years ago
Or I'm just early for the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them movies ;)
Reply 7 years ago
There is a bunch of us that are watching some of the Harry movies tonight. I am going to make one of these. This will be so fun. Thank you
7 years ago
Thanks! I've definitely thought about joining my college's quidditch team!