How to Build a Balloon Helicopter
Even if you're an accomplished veteran when it comes to creating balloon shapes, the helicopter is an eye-catching showcase of your artistic skills. The two-balloon design features all the major details present in a real-life helicopter: tail rotors, wheels, a cockpit and three large overhead blades. The twists involved in its construction are relatively basic, but still effective in impressing onlookers. When it's finished, you'll have a realistic-looking creation that will bring smiles to the faces of children and adults.
Instructions
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1
Inflate the 160 balloon, leaving 3 inches at the end. Knot the balloon and make a half-inch pinch twist on this end. Form the blades by making three large loop twists throughout the remaining balloon. As you complete the twists, leave a 3-inch space at the end of the balloon.
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2
Position the loop twists evenly, in the shape of helicopter blades. The pinch twist should be on one side of the blades and the 3-inch end on the other side. Twist a 2-inch bubble in the 3-inch end, and add a 1-inch pinch twist.
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3
Inflate the 260 balloon, leaving a 3-inch tail. Knot the balloon and make a 2-inch pinch twist at that end to hide the knot. Work your way across the balloon, making 6-inch, 1-inch, 3-inch, 1-inch and 6-inch bubbles. Twist your initial 2-inch pinch twist into the end of the 6-inch bubble to form a triangle.
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4
Make pinch twists in your two 1-inch bubbles to create the helicopter's wheels. Bend the remaining end of the balloon and push it through the triangle to form the cockpit and tail shapes. Position the tail so that it points upward. Make a 1-inch and a 2-inch pinch twist in the tail, leaving at least half of the balloon at the end.
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Angle the tail upward by positioning the 2-inch twist below the 1-inch twist. With the remaining balloon, make a loop with a small bubble tucked inside. This creates the helicopter's tail blades.
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Attach the rotor balloon to the body by connecting the pinch twists. Put them together by twisting the 2-inch bubble on the rotors into the pinch twist at the top of the triangle on the body. Position the rotors so they point upward.
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Tips & Warnings
To create a pinch twist, make a 1- to 1.5-inch bubble in the balloon. Twist the two ends of the bubble together. This is also called an ear twist.
To create a loop twist, make a long bubble in the balloon. Fold the bubble back on itself and twist the ends together. The loop twist is also known as a fold twist.
