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## Anyone making their own skids?

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### Hi All, 

Does anyone out there make their own skids? I tried getting some aluminum tubing and bending it... it was a mess. I think I'd like to try some plastic rod, does any have a source or experience?? Thanks, in advance!! Cheers,   
Leslie  
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### I am just in the middle of making a hybrid 3DPro with carbon fibre skids, happy with the results so far - 

Made some brackets from delrin to get the right angle, they look good and are really strong  
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### Hi heli_madken, 

your rig look cool and strong. I'm using rcheli-tech poly carb struts on a couple of my birds. I'm looking for some decent 6mm skids to put in them. My experience with aluminum tubing was dismal so I'd like to find some plastic rods that I can heat to bend into a skid. Cheers,   
Leslie  
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### Leslie. Have you looked a t plastic coat hangers? They even have the little bend for the front. I will go measure the diameter.  
  
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### The plastic hangers vary from 6 to 8mm. Should work.  
  
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### Hi Greybird, 

awesome idea, i'm off to scrounge my closets!! I bet a little heat and I can bend a perfect skid!! I love you guys!!! Cheers,   
Leslie  
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### I expect to see a pair of skids n about an hour.  
  
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### Leslie you need to use a tubing bender for bending tubing of any kind... I have benders for almost every size american standard tubing from 1/4" to 1" I'm sure I can get the 6mm stuff in one of the benders.....  
  
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### Hi Slider, 

from my aborted attempt at bending my alum. tubing, I figured I needed a tubing bender. Similar to what is used to bend conduit. I was talking to one of my techs at work and we have benders for rf hardlines, so I might give that a try. But I'm thinking Greybird's idea about coat hanger is awesome! I'll let you all know how I make out!! Cheers,   
Leslie  
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### I have Stainless steel tubing I want to make skids from so I can polish them to a mirror finish. They would be rather heavy for any stunt flying but would look great on a scale ship.....  
  
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### i've had some success in bending tubing w/o a bender by running something in the tube first....a length of wire hanger, some plastic pushrod, etc. .....something really close to the ID of the tubing you intend to bend. 

just pull the void filler out after you make the bend. plastic coathanger is a great idea too! heli-madken: i LOVE the look of those skids. i've been admiring the ones for the trex for a while. i'd love a set for my 3dpro...make sure you post or PM me when you start selling them. can you make them in silver CF?  
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### Cuda, Is this the look you are after? 

I thought I spent too much time dream up DIY ideas. You guys are worse. Awesome! My question is all skids are cheap from just about every RC heli. Why does one want to make his/her own? T-Rex's are about $8 with struts, 3D Pro and V3 are about $6-$7. Even the nitro birds' ones are only around $10. Also I have never broke any skids (I did broke a lot of struts ). The coat hanger will make the skids colorful for sure, but will they look better than the aluminum ones? Maybe just me   
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### 

that's it. looks better all dressed up. i dont care so much for the lifted tail. but, i like the stance.  
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### I'm not digging it. The frame is only $125. If you want it won't cost a lot to put it together. But you want to make a 3D Pro like that? A little too excessive? 2 kind of frame, Hor. framing or Vertical framing. This look is for a vert. frame, but the 3D Pro has Horz. frame to begin with. I would keep your 3D Pro the way it is. Right now it's smooth and quiet. Then build a T-Rex for that look. You can keep the 3DPro as your night bird and T-Rex as the club field out-door bird. Fly your MaxiR in front of the house, little FP for inside and the backyard. That in my mind would be the perfect fleet.  
  
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### Cuda, Remember Mr. Low Rider (mini V3) we talked about last night? I want to give the look you picked out. Now you better help me with the tail boom bending. I have the aluminum tube for it   
  
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### Hi Cuda, 

The skids I have made are part of a project I have to build a 3DPro hybrid with a belt driven tail. I have used the helitech conversion but I have moved the main gear above the tail pulley which has a lot of advantages. I will post when its complete in a couple of weeks  If you look at the photos I have built a complete frame in CF so the skids wont fit the stock 3DPro, I would have to design something different. The main problem I have is that the stock struts are very tall so it wouldnt have the low look. Let me know if you want me to do a design if you think enough people would be interested. No probs with the silver CF got some nice stuff.  
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### Yo G_F, 

just in case you forgot where I'm from... New England. Therefore I'm a Yankee (not a fan) but if I can make skids for a couple pennies vs six dollars, I'll go for it. It's a cultural thing, I can't help itIf I save the pennies, the 200.00 frame will be a piece of cake (LOL) Cheers,   
Leslie  
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### Don't tell me you are using pink coat hangers now   
  
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### Gees G_F. 

I haven't even posted the pix yet!!! How did you know my bird would look pretty in pink???    
lol Cheers,   
Leslie  
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### Pink bird now that would be a site to see.............  
  
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