I built some home-made training gear, or "training wheels" as I call them. I found that the store ones were not long enough to pretect against blade strikes to the ground. I used two pieces of 1/4" wooden dowel, and a package of practice golf balls, or "whiffle balls". The holes in the whiffle balls are perfect for the dowel.
I posted a video on youtube called "my belt cp by denis", feel free to check it out and you will get a better look at the training wheels. I have flown with them off and noticed no really great difference in the flight characteristics. I have had a 9v battery and a mini cam mounted on board as well as the gear and had no problems. This $12 investment has not only saved me hundreds of $$$, but has given me the confidence to advance my flying skills in a very short time. I have about 10 hrs stick time with the belt cp, which is my first rc heli (don't count the Lama, it is fixed pitch).
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Lama V3
Belt CP with Hitec Optic6
