Miniature Airships: Companies & Custom Orders

[Jake110]

I starting my third year project at university and I'm going to be designing and building a miniature airship (no more than 1m in diameter). i was just wondering if anyone here knows any companies that sell small airships, or do custom orders since i really only need the helium envelope and frame work.

only company I've found so far is imagine inflatables (not sure if they'll do what i need, emailing them today) all the other search results I've come up with are either for airships in video games or miniatures for wargamming.

 

[SteamKing]

This company manufactures airships for promotional purposes:
http://www.airship.com.au/products/small_airships.html

Here are some other links:
http://www.myairship.com/faq/

There's even a forum for like-minded individuals:
http://smallblimps.lefora.com/

 

[Jake110]

right, I've posted on the smallblimps forum, there really not being helpful. emailed the guys at airship.com. tried finding other companies that might help but still having trouble. haven't got a reply from either airship or imagine inflatables.

seems if a company deals with airships/blimps at all, its just complete ones for advertisement.

got my design sorted so the only thing i need it the gas bag, hell if i can just find the right material, i'll make it myself.

 

[etudiant]

Why not just use a few surplus weather balloons as gas bags?
You can build a frame and envelope to hold them. You will not have much weight margin at that size, so simplificate and add lightness.

 

[Jake110]

yeah that's the conclusion i came to. I'm just going to get a small weather balloon and build the frame around it.