Make a toy airship with this simple ‘how to’ guide. Even in this age of jet engines and rocket motors, people still have a fascination with airships. A blimp is basically a giant balloon with a control pod suspended beneath it, but what major outdoor sporting event would be the same without the Goodyear blimp overhead giving us a bird’s-eye view of the action? With a little planning you can build your own remote control blimp and join the ranks of lighter-than-air pilots.
Use your plans to trace an outline of your gondola. Lay out your electronics (receiver, battery, speed controller) inside the outline to ensure you have enough room. Adjust the dimensions as needed. Use foam sheeting to build your gondola.
Install the receiver and battery based on your original layout. Connect the motors to the speed controller, and connect the speed controller to the battery. The speed controller feeds power to the motors based on throttle movement, allowing you to control the speed of the motors. Connect the rudder control servo into the receiver. Connect the geared servo to the receiver. Use double-sided foam tape to keep the servos in place. Turn on the power and test your electronics. When you are satisfied that everything works as intended, power down your electronics. Line the top edges of the gondola with Velcro tape.
Turn on your electronics and take your blimp for a test flight.