How to show BBI paras mid flight.

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kimtheredxd
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How to show BBI paras mid flight.

Post by kimtheredxd » Wed Jan 16, 2008 12:43 pm

OK I bought some of those cheap clearance paratroops the other day.
After I had bought them I pondered what to do with the chutes :roll: I thought it would be cool to show a couple parachuting down stairs hanging from the ceiling.
Tried many ideas nothing really worked .Then I was doing laundry and it hit me STARCH! Yup you got it,good old spray starch from the laundry.
What I did was find a balloon and put some tape on it with a string out through the hole in the top of canopy wrapped the figure in a plastic bag to protect him from over spray. Then hung blew up the balloon till yo have the shape you want the canopy to be in(I went through a few balloon sizes till I found the right one for the look I wanted.) I also had to add a little weight to the figure in the plastic bag to get the"drape" I wanted.
Now begin spraying Don't go hog wild with the spray better to do a few light coats then one drench er of a coat.Let it dry between coats and i would recommend the heavy duty starch. Then let it dry thoroughly and the you let the air out SLOWLY *don't ask how I know that :roll: * I just nicked the opening by where it was tied and let it empty out and remove the balloon body etc now you can hang him how ever you want. Plus it is not permanent you can wash the starch out if you want too Sorry looking back it looks like I rambled on but i am on pain meds and i tend to chat and or type off every ones ears whenIi am :oops: My digi cam is not here I may be able to get a pic tomorrow if any one wants one
Could not think of anything to put here.

kevrut
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Post by kevrut » Wed Jan 16, 2008 12:59 pm

That is a good idea. :)

I used a wire hanger to make a circle and tied some string to it in 4 spots and ran the string through the hole in the top of the parachute to a ceiling hook.

Kevin.

acisne
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Post by acisne » Wed Jan 16, 2008 2:16 pm

Great idea! Thanks for posting it! I too bought several in order to do that.

Please post pics!

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aferguson
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Post by aferguson » Wed Jan 16, 2008 4:49 pm

i think some people used a clear plastic bowl to make the chute billow out as well as wire but spray starch, though a bit more labour intensive, is a good idea..
i never met an airplane i didn't like...

Rylau
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Paratroopers

Post by Rylau » Wed Jan 16, 2008 5:20 pm

I used a 4" deep x 8" wide at the top very light plastic flower pot liner bought at the supermarket flower dept. for 50 cents. You get a very nice "drape" effect and the 4"depth leaves about 1" of loose chute so you don't see the bowl. Use a clear plastic push pin and you're all set. Kim...if you want to have fun try using the starch to show the chute 1/2 deployed, I'd like to see pics of that. Regards...Bob

kimtheredxd
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Post by kimtheredxd » Wed Jan 16, 2008 5:42 pm

Neat part about using starch is you can look up into the canopy and not see any thing but the chute.
Could not think of anything to put here.

tmanthegreat
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Post by tmanthegreat » Wed Jan 16, 2008 6:46 pm

Good idea with the starch! I made a couple of wire frames that have worked well. Pictures were posted a long while back. They're still hanging :wink:
"If you fail to plan, you plan to fail."

blaster_e11
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Post by blaster_e11 » Fri Jan 18, 2008 7:02 am

very creative, thanks for the tip

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