I use this one From Don's arms fold sideways down to ground

Here's a pic of the start up area for the big planes at my home field that I use. A concrete pad with padded poles and a rope looped thru a ring in the concrete for those smaller giant planes

I ended up going with the valleyview holder. Will follow up once i've used it a few times. Looking forward to not using luggage tie downs strapped to a bench for starting.

Originally Posted by Tweety Bird

I use this one From Don's arms fold sideways down to ground

+1. Been using it since it first came out.

I made the restraints you see in the video a few years ago with parts from Lowes. You can find the parts at Home Depot or other similar home improvement stores.

Basically it's steel rod used for the "Spike" and steel tube used for the handle. Also, I used some foam to protect the leading edge surfaces from denting. I forget exactly what the foam sleeving is called, but its usually found in the plumbing department.

I cut the steel tube about 7" wide then drilled a hole in the middle the same diameter as the steel rod for the "spike." I cut the still rod about 3ft, sharpened one end, inserted the flat end in the steel tube and spot welded it. A coat of black paint to prevent rust, put a piece of foam on it about 2ft long with a little silicon to hold it in place.

I made two of them, start to finish in about 30 min. They have been working great for years. I think I spent less than $20.

I hope this helps. I'd be happy to help if you have any other questions about them.

BTW, I used these restraints on 30-170cc planes works great. It holds back 50cc models at full throttle just fine. It probably would hold back a 170cc model too, but I never chance it at full throttle. So I would recommend to always stand over it or hold it by hand for safety.

this is what i use, all the way up to my 40%. granted, i do not open the 170 cc WOT, without myself and someone else restraining the plane, but if you want to start the plane, low throttle, and not worry of it moving forward, it works just fine.

Originally Posted by orthobird

this is what i use, all the way up to my 40%. granted, i do not open the 170 cc WOT, without myself and someone else restraining the plane, but if you want to start the plane, low throttle, and not worry of it moving forward, it works just fine.

I have that one now, But the darn spike keeps bending on me..

Thinking about getting the valley view one but not sure.

I recommend the Valley View one highly. I love mine. If anything ever happened to it, I'd buy another one in a second. Simple, compact and the spike is thin and easy to drive in the ground.

Before that, I had one of those aluminum ones. I bent the spike after just a few times. Gave it away & bought the VV.

I've been using this one for years. I don't know that I purchased it from BME but that's who sells it right now. It uses (2) standard galvanized steel spikes, which are easy to drive into the ground.

https://www.bmeengine.com/

yes, that is a good one.

I like that and have seen those at many an IMAC contests.

I have a gravel runway... I cant even pound the VVRC restraint into the dense gravel. I'm thinking a cinder block with an eye ring might be the end result. I've been using a nearby rock ha ha.

Nick, having been in Florida for 5 years, I now have the opposite problem that you have!

The soil is all sand where I live and it's hard to find a firm enough spot that will actually retain the spikes....I stand on the T bar when I run up the engine past high idle