Solar balloon free flight contest - Page 4

mlbco · Dec 14, 2007, 07:32 PM

I found one more:

http://www.robertmarvel.com/Plastic_Mulch.html#SMOOTH

$75 for 0.8 mil 4x4000 ft.

catman529 · Dec 14, 2007, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mlbco

I found one more:

http://www.robertmarvel.com/Plastic_Mulch.html#SMOOTH

$75 for 0.8 mil 4x4000 ft.

if only it was 3x as wide...or at least 2x, but it looks good anyway, you've had more luck than me, I never thought of mulch film

steelhead · Dec 18, 2007, 01:30 PM

I have not heard anything about solar balloons for years. I remember seeing them in the back of science magazines all the time, but never ordered them. I did see one in action many years ago.

For some reason, I didnt think they made black bags in the .4 and .5 mil thicknesses anymore, and I never wanted to try and find sheets of the stuff. Now I'll have to go looking for them.

Neat site- Very interesting designs!

Dean

catman529 · Dec 18, 2007, 05:03 PM

Thanks, hope you find what you're looking for - and post pics if you make any successful balloons.

mlbco · Nov 05, 2009, 02:12 PM

I decided to build another solar balloon last weekend and discovered a way to make reasonable solar balloons using available clear plastic. I purchased a .75 mil roll of 12' x 200' plastic sheet like this:

http://hardware.hardwarestore.com/27...r--657129.aspx

If you cut a piece 20.8' long, fold in half, tape the sides, then tape the top edge 90 deg out-of-plane to the bottom edge, you get a 12' tetrahedral balloon (= Tetroon). The only problem is it's clear and won't heat up enough to fly. The solution to this problem is to pour a small amount of laser printer toner into the balloon and let the static charge distribute the toner. The balloon will become dark enough to fly and lift payload!

Here are some pictures of one I built lifting a small glider.

Steve

carlsoti · Nov 09, 2009, 08:25 PM

Great idea with the printer toner!

HoaRC · Nov 22, 2009, 12:35 AM

great, but what if a real plane or helicopter hits it? it can get caught in the blades.

Nov 05, 2009, 02:12 PM	#50
mlbco Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Palo Alto, California, United States Posts: 586	I decided to build another solar balloon last weekend and discovered a way to make reasonable solar balloons using available clear plastic. I purchased a .75 mil roll of 12' x 200' plastic sheet like this: http://hardware.hardwarestore.com/27...r--657129.aspx If you cut a piece 20.8' long, fold in half, tape the sides, then tape the top edge 90 deg out-of-plane to the bottom edge, you get a 12' tetrahedral balloon (= Tetroon). The only problem is it's clear and won't heat up enough to fly. The solution to this problem is to pour a small amount of laser printer toner into the balloon and let the static charge distribute the toner. The balloon will become dark enough to fly and lift payload! Here are some pictures of one I built lifting a small glider. Steve Attached Thumbnails 12' solar tetroon made from clear plastic and darkened with printer toner 100.1 KB · Views: 16 Payload is a glider with a cigarette fuse to release it 60.2 KB · Views: 19 Lifting a small free flight glider. 76.5 KB · Views: 14

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Dec 14, 2007, 07:32 PM	#46
mlbco Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Palo Alto, California, United States Posts: 586	I found one more: http://www.robertmarvel.com/Plastic_Mulch.html#SMOOTH $75 for 0.8 mil 4x4000 ft.

Dec 18, 2007, 01:30 PM	#48
steelhead TROUT OR THERMALS Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Eureka, Ca Posts: 2,751	I have not heard anything about solar balloons for years. I remember seeing them in the back of science magazines all the time, but never ordered them. I did see one in action many years ago. For some reason, I didnt think they made black bags in the .4 and .5 mil thicknesses anymore, and I never wanted to try and find sheets of the stuff. Now I'll have to go looking for them. Neat site- Very interesting designs! Dean

Dec 18, 2007, 05:03 PM	#49
catman529 CPR (Crash, Pickup, Repair) Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Tennessee Posts: 907	Thanks, hope you find what you're looking for - and post pics if you make any successful balloons.

Nov 09, 2009, 08:25 PM	#51
carlsoti There are some who call me Tim Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Chandler, AZ Posts: 922	Great idea with the printer toner!

Nov 22, 2009, 12:35 AM	#52
HoaRC Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 416	great, but what if a real plane or helicopter hits it? it can get caught in the blades.