Conference vmszoo::rc

That sounds like the one sold by Peck Polymers, a rubber-twister
house in California.  Here's their address:

Peck-Polymers
Box 2498
La Mesa, CA 92044
Phone: (619)448-1818

They advertise in most magazines, but only infrequently in RCM.

    I also have an issue of Model Builder magazine at home that shows
    how to make one.  It looks really easy.  I can't remember which
    issue it is but if there's any interest, I'll look it up at home and
    send a photocopy to whoever wants one.

                       _____
                      |     \
                      |      \                          Silent POWER!
      _        ___________    _________   |            Happy Landings!
     | \      |           |  |         |  |
     |--------|-  SANYO  + ]-|  ASTRO  |--|              - Dan Miner
     |_/      |___________|  |_________|  |
                      |       /           |     " The Earth needs more OZONE,
                      |      /                       not Caster Oil!! "    
                      |_____/

    I remember seeing an indoor RC blimp in Model Aviation sometime
    in the last couple of years.  Be prepared to spend big bucks on
    helium.  The one I saw was electric powered and was quite large.
    
    

    Thanks for all the quick replies. I was able to get some literature
    from Peck Polymers. The ready to fly unit costs $1,595.00. The kit
    costs $275.00 but then you need to buy the power kit which runs
    $300 or $330 and then you still need the radio for $149 or $229.
    Luckily this is for a friend and not for me so it won't cost me.
    
    Now the only thing is that the blimp itself isn't quite what my
    friend had in mind. He was looking for a zeppelin style balloon.
    I saw one on Late Night with David Letterman one night when
    Eddie Murphy was on. It was a long cigar shaped unit where as
    the unit I just got the documentation on is a much fatter unit.
    If anyone has any further direction on another place to try I
    would sure appreciate it.
    
    Thanks again,  Wes

    How about making one from scratch? You can buy weather balloons
    , reusable, from EDMUND scientific. Stuff it into a large onion
    sack or similar skin and bridal with stiff wire a power package
    of your choice to its belly. Rudder and ailerons could be balsa
    on plastic hinge. Just a thought.
    
    Bill
    

Guess we need a Blimps topic.

Bye          --+--
Kay R. Fisher  |
---------------O---------------
################################################################################

From: [email protected] (~Dave Regis)
Subject: Re: RC BLIMPS!
Date: 1 Feb 90 21:32:45 GMT
 
In article <[email protected]> [email protected] (Alan P. Curtis,55212,cb,1j313e,6148604749) writes:
>Just to keep it short:
>	1) do they exist?
>	2) How big are they?
>	3) How do they work?
>
>That should do for now!  Have at it y'all!
>alan
>-- 
>Alan P. Curtis | AT&T Bell Labs | [email protected]
 
I saw 3 variations at the IMS in Pasadena...
 
1) a balloon w/basket setup.  Used a helium filled, latex sack contained
within a very thin rip-stop nylon sack.  Had a wicker (really) basket
suspended by nylon cords.  It was set up for positive bouyancy and
used two fans to control climb, descent, foward and rotation.  Over-all
pretty nice, but not super controllable.  The sack was about 3 ft dia.
 
2) Blimp #1: Used a formed-plastic (type unsure) helium sack which when
inflated was very scale-like.  It had a plastic formed fuselage with a
rear-mounted rudder and foward mounted fan.  The fan was ducted and 
could be directed upwards or downwards for climb/descent control.  
Most scale-like of all three LTA ships.  The sack was about 4 ft long.
 
3) Blimp #2:  Used a metalized, mylar sack with a stick-frame fuselage
suspended by cords.  The fuselage had two fans, rear/front, and a set
of three rudders on the tail.  Again, negative bouyancy; used horizontal
fins to control climb and descent -- therefore, would sink when stopped,
but could climb and dive when moving.  Over-all, pretty fast, cheapest
of all -- only tricky part was the helium sack.  The sack was about
4 feet long.
 
Had the chance to fly the balloon; it was much like driving a tank.
The blimps really cruised around the expo hall coming in very low
at times.  All three were neat, but I'm not sure I'd want to try
any except the blimps outdoors, definently not in any sort of wind.
 
Dave Regis

    Saw a picture in this moths Model Aviation that showed a helium
    filled blimp with ABS passenger compartment on the bottom and electric
    motors for control. The bag was 13' long. With accessories, it sold
    for around $400.
    
    Steve

    I don't know what the going price for helium is, but a few years
    back there was a guy in Calif. with a 20 ft. Zeppelin design, that
    cost him $50 per inflation. It had glow engines and came apart in
    two sections. He had to transport it in a rental van.
    
    Locally there's a guy that makes scale model hot air ballons. 8-10
    ft. dacron bag, uses a small gas heater burner and pilot light,
    and two propane bottles from a home torch. One servo gives him
    burner control, but no "fast dump" capability. They look very realistic
    in flight. He sells them for $1000-1300. Don't know if he's had
    any takers.
    
    At our annual hot air ballon festival they used to have a helium
    ballon event, take off at dusk and fly to Okla. or the Texas panhandle.
    I guess there's only a dozen or so people doing helium in the states,
    and the main attraction of the event was watching them fill the
    bags, a 12+ hour, $1500 job. That helps explain the unpopularity.
    They would go up like, well, balloons and climb quickly through
    15,000 ft to make it over the mountains. They had to have strobe
    anti-collision lights. Personally I wouldn't feel too comfortable
    sitting up there near the traffic lanes with no way to manuever.
    
    Terry

    Helium costs about $25 to $30 for a tank that holds 122 cubic feet.