Anyone bought from blimpguys?

[zorafex]

Has anyone ever bought a blimp from blimpguys? I'm thinking about getting the 8' blimp they have. I'm wondering if they are trust worthy to buy from and if the blimps are well made?

[galaxyrpv]

I build indoor and outdoor blimps. Blimpguys are Mobile airships out of Canada. I have 3 of thier 8' blimps in my shop that I am modifying to fly properly if that tells you anything. Give me a call at 817-202-5827 or take a look at my web-site www.galaxyrpv.com.

Thanks,
Tony

[xtc]

gentlemen, i have purchased many items from dan at blimp guys and have never had a problem with any of there products

tony,,did you ever contact blimp guys about your problem because im sure he would try to work things out for you or is this just a shameless plug for your own company at the expense of blimpguys?

xtc

[galaxyrpv]

You are the first person I have heard from that did not have a problem with there system. You can explain how great Blimp guys are to the 6 costomers I have helped get their indoor and outdoor blimps to operate properly. People ask for my opinion and I give it and offer my services to help them. That is what a group discussions are all about. If you are happy with the way their blimps operate thats great. I have found that their blimps are fine for ideal conditions and small venues, but in big markets and tuff conditions their blimps are massively underpowered, have very short run times, and are constructed more like a radio shack toys than comercial vehicles.

[fhhuber506771]

galaxy.. what size blimp would you recommend when planning on 2 GWS 50 EDF's, GWS 4-ch RX, 2 Naro servos, 2 10 amp ESC's (because I have them) and a 2/3 AA 8-cell NiMh pack estimating another 2.5 to 3 oz for the gondola frame/shell... and do you make a gas bag thats appropriate for a hobbyist.

I haven't weighed this stuff yet... but I've seen a micro cheesy blimp with clear square bag kit for $22 that lifts close to the weight. (I can always stick in more weight) The kit calls for standard servos, 600 mah nicd pack 4-cell and one GWS motor (and looks like hell)

I do not want the $500 13 ft ABC one's I'm finding. I want something that I can fill ince.. top off about 4 or 5 times then toss the bag and get another next year.. but not the tiny (cheesy) Plantraco $5 or $10 bag either... Maybe something on the lines of.. 6 to 7 ft?

Something I can run for the club mall show and maybe a couple other things... then get a new bag next year.

(note: I have all the stuff to make the gondola.. and if pressed I could probably make a gasbag from white plastic disposable tabelcloths.. if I knew what SIZE to make it)

Club mall show is SOON! and I would really like to suprise the guys with a blimp.

See my other post (I started the thread) about my brainstorming up a blimp.

[MisterZepp]

I've 2 blimp from Dan, there is absolutly no problem with them execpt one things : THE PRICE !!!

Since one year we buy to Mediazepp -40 % less and absolutly nothing to do !!!

If you are interested i can send picture of what we receved when we buy to them. Because we are waiting a new blimp from Mediazepp !!!!!!!!!!!!!


Misterzepp

[MisterZepp]

Hy everybody,

As i've said this morning we've just receved from Mediazepp our new RC blimp (7' blimp ready to fly)

In less than 20 minutes, we've fly with it.

It arrive obsolutly ready to fly : Price was exactly 695 Euros with shipping (There is no taxes because i live in Switzerland).

What does i receved (See attached file from mediazepp) It was exactly like they say to me :

http://www.mediazepp.com/200rc.jpg

Blimp, gondola fully assembled, RC, Battery and inflation hose

Time to deliver : 7 days !

I am sure that they will become the first in the world if they can continue top quality.

Misterzepp

[KevinM]

I bought one from Blimpguys a couple of years ago. It worked ok at first, but the batteries that they use are just RX batteries. The Charger that came with mine is a RC Car charger. Not real good for 4 cell rx packs. I ended up using one of my HI Tech chargers, which worked much better. After about one basketball season the batteries started to go dead FAST. And to make matters worse, the soft gears mixed with fwd and reverse, and travel of the props made the mesh between the gears loose. They were replaced about 3 times. The N-20 motors and the motor mounts are not the strongest in the world either.
The Bag seems to be holding up real well after many events.


tony,,did you ever contact blimp guys about your problem because im sure he would try to work things out for you or is this just a shameless plug for your own company at the expense of blimpguys?

xtc

I contacted them several times about the weak drive system, and I got a 'we're working on it' comment.

So to make a long story short...I replaced all the heavy stuff with light weight componets... Brushless motors, gearboxes, props, RX, Lipo Batteries (1700 mha), CC ESC's.

1st flight with the new equipment was AWSOME. Can fly a whole game with out changing batteries!!!! And the sound of 2 Brushless motors is cool too.

Contraray to what Blimpguys say about there little speed conrtoller, it can be used with Lipo's if wired correctly.

KevinM

[xtc]

and i thought that someone that was willing to fly a blimp would be a person thats eazy to please ?? lol how does a blimp fly when its said to fly great??

xtc

[bps]

you know, loops, rolls, inverted, easy to land! Just kidding.

I can attest to a good flying blimp. One that does what you tell it to do wthout arguing.

JEB :D

[hotairflyer]

KevinM I like the looks of your blimp, what is your envelope and BL setup?

edit:OOPS, I see its from blimp guys

[xtc]

I bought one from Blimpguys a couple of years ago. It worked ok at first, but the batteries that they use are just RX batteries. The Charger that came with mine is a RC Car charger. Not real good for 4 cell rx packs. I ended up using one of my HI Tech chargers, which worked much better. After about one basketball season the batteries started to go dead FAST. And to make matters worse, the soft gears mixed with fwd and reverse, and travel of the props made the mesh between the gears loose. They were replaced about 3 times. The N-20 motors and the motor mounts are not the strongest in the world either.
The Bag seems to be holding up real well after many events.



I contacted them several times about the weak drive system, and I got a 'we're working on it' comment.

So to make a long story short...I replaced all the heavy stuff with light weight componets... Brushless motors, gearboxes, props, RX, Lipo Batteries (1700 mha), CC ESC's.

1st flight with the new equipment was AWSOME. Can fly a whole game with out changing batteries!!!! And the sound of 2 Brushless motors is cool too.

Contraray to what Blimpguys say about there little speed conrtoller, it can be used with Lipo's if wired correctly.

KevinM
could you please advise us how to hook up our li-pi`s correctly or rather ,,how does one hook them up incorrectly??

its a matter of simple voltage is it not??
dont know what other thing that you could be doing thats any differant????

[KevinM]

could you please advise us how to hook up our li-pi`s correctly or rather ,,how does one hook them up incorrectly??

its a matter of simple voltage is it not??
dont know what other thing that you could be doing thats any differant????


It is just a matter of voltage. Using a simple 5 volt regulator. The regulator runs just the brushed motor in the tail.

You can hook Lipos up incorrectly, and when done evil things can happen!!!

[apachepaint]

I have a 7.5 rc blimp from Dan of Mobile Airships. I'll say he is very nice and very expensive. Also I have problems that it is under powered and the plastic clips that hold the motors keep breaking as well as the houseing thats around the motor keep breaking. I am in the process of modifing the blimp now.

Aero Star is another company I have bought from, a 20' Tethered Blimp. Again very expensive and there salesman starts off very nice but found out he has an attitude and is all about his commision. Aero Star also doesn't know anything about there banners. They tell you that vinyl printing is the way to go but vinyl will not take to there fabric. So they tell me that I have the wrong fabric so they sell me the other rip stop but now not coated and vinyl still will not stick but if you ask anybody even the vice pres. they will say well I thought it would work. They also will not refund your money on the banners.

[spinbotz]

Hmmm, that's quite a few ways to lose customers.. bad attitudes, poor performing airships, and manufacturers that really don't know how to make a good product..

[Frisk151]

I build indoor and outdoor blimps. Blimpguys are Mobile airships out of Canada. I have 3 of thier 8' blimps in my shop that I am modifying to fly properly if that tells you anything. Give me a call at 817-202-5827 or take a look at my web-site www.galaxyrpv.com.

Thanks,
Tony

Tony,
I am just curious but have you ever had a good thing to say about any other company? I dropped 30K in February to purchase a 30 foot airship and a 40 foot enclosed trailer and do you want to know why you did not get my business? Because, simply put, you had nothing good to say about anyone, which is a big flag for most of us in the business world.
Further, you could not direct me to a single client that is flying your airships (30 foot+). I suggest you stop badmouthing the competition and start working harder on getting your own design out there. I see it advertised by a number of balloon / blimp companies but other than that, who is flying them?
BTW, our Carolina Airships modified (Originally a Mobile Airships bag) 30 foot blimp flies excellent and often. I will agree with you that I would not purchase a outdoor airship from MA directly because they do consider these "toys" but once again, try being positive and not quite so aloof and you may very well sell more. I just didn't get the feeling when we spoke that you offered much in the way of support. You have a good design (quite possibly the best in the U.S. from what I can tell from the pictures I have seen) but when you are talking $20k and up, the design alone isn't going to ink the deal.
In all fairness, when we decide to add another airship to our fleet (probably in the next quarter), I may re-visit your product & design but I hope by that time you figure out that a positive attitude goes a long way in landing the deal.

David

[galaxyrpv]

Sorry I offended you, but you asked direct questions and got direct answers. I hope you do well for all of our sakes for reasons we discussed. I am currently building a 35 foot blimp with data uplink and generator systems for a client in Chile. I have not sold alot of blimps yet, because we have been refining our design for over 3 years, and are working close with the FAA to be the first to have our blimp certified for comercial use. I hope you will consider use for your next purchase.

Thanks,
Tony

[Frisk151]

After making my post above I decided to go back and take another look at the pictures you sent me again. I don't know how many people have had a chance to see your airship up close from these forums and other places, but I do want to point out that Tony's design (especially the gondola and what mechanics I can see) is very impressive and professional.
Tony, how do you feel about posting a Gondola shot (or allowing me to do so) of your airship and I will do the same? Your design is definitely more impressive and I doubt it would hurt anything to do a comparrisson of the original MA gondola design compared to yours. One other thing, though I have never flown one, I think the X-Tail system you use has to be more effective. I've considered having one of the hot air balloon repair guys down here modify our airship to allow for moving the tail to an X configuration and then building a program mix for it. It would also make trailering it much easier.

I may be overly critical in some areas when it comes to purchases and I apologize if I came down hard on you but I do hope you understand that the cost of these airships make buying one a big leap and sometimes a semi-blind one considering that it is a niche market at this time - hopefully not for much longer. You have done a great job on the design and build. We definitely will contact you prior to our next purchase and see where that leads. I'd rather have one in my fleet than have the competiton with one. ;)

[elital99]

hi
i would like to ask if the blimps are still for sale ?

Thanks
Tal


I've 2 blimp from Dan, there is absolutly no problem with them execpt one things : THE PRICE !!!

Since one year we buy to Mediazepp -40 % less and absolutly nothing to do !!!

If you are interested i can send picture of what we receved when we buy to them. Because we are waiting a new blimp from Mediazepp !!!!!!!!!!!!!


Misterzepp

[galaxyrpv]

Yes we sell indoor and outdoor blimps. You can check out our new web site as www.galaxyblimps.com .

[rherman]

This is an interesting thread. It plugs Carolina Airships, Minizepp and Blimp guys. I have not purchased from any of these companies and have no remarks regarding their products. But it is worth looking at all the alternatives. Another good looking company is Airship Solutions www.airshipsolutions.com. Check out all their distributors on the web site.

[Zeppman]

Can anyone help with a problem? I bought a Blimp Guys 6' Blimp and the Motor Controller decided to start smoking today! One of the motors had not been performing, had gone dead and I checked through the wiring with a circuit tester and was baffled. I flicked the switch on again and now everything is dead! Anyone have alternative replacement circuitry / wiring / plans? :eek:

[Ed Couch]

Zeppman

Sound like the ESC has given up. Go to the following for possibly replacement: http://j.piri.home.mchsi.com/ . The mobile airship runs on a couple of N-20 motors/gear drives and the tail rotor combination for tail rotor on 4.8 volts. The West Coast Blimps controller is the one Mobile Airships have been using for a number of years. I have the 7.5 footer with about the same set up as you. I had to change out the primary drive motors to the GWS Lites to use a 7.2 lite polly pack which gives me much more power. The ESC mentioned was kelp to provide thruster control for the tail which works quite well but you have to have a voltage regulator in the line for the ESC as it will smoke if it gets over 6 volts direct to it. I talked to West Coast on the subject and they stated not over 6 volts to the ESC. With the little GWS power pods I have plenty of power and usually carry 1800 mils on board giving me about 90 minutes of cruise time before I change things out. Hope this helps. ed