Peeps,

Apologies for what may be a dumb question, but I'm fairly dumb so I'll ask it anyway!

I've tried many times to fully inflate a 'regular' 321Q (the full colour ones, not the double dipped, black tipped ones) and I always find that:

a) despite squeezing the air into the tail, some retreats back to the body and I still have a small portion at the end of the tail that is uninflated

b) I can sometimes get the full balloon (body and tail) inflated but because of the squeezing required from the body to do this, I get ridges in the body and some in the tail of the 321 or

c) if I do manage to get the tail inflated with one squeeze and then top the air up in the body, the neck area of the balloon is super bulbous and distorted.

Sorry if this isn't too coherent what I'm asking - but if anyone has a good tip/technique for fully inflating these chaps properly (full tail, no ridges, no stretched neck end) please can you let me know how you do it?!?!

I'll try to post a pic or two over the weekend of my problem if this doesn't make sense.

Many thanks as always

--Neil

I know exactly what you mean Neil, and if I inflate them too much, to get a fullness, they pop!!

That little bit at the end really bugs me!

Not much help I know, but wanted to let you know you were not alone

Same problem here! It looks right for a few minutes then that little bit at the end appears!! Gerrrrrr!

What about pre-stretching the tip end like you would if doing a poodle tail or putting a bubble at the nipple end of the balloon.
I think Dennis blew the 321 up to the tip point and then pushed the air along from the main body of the balloon, you may need to re-tie the end of the balloon though after this.

Yes it can be frustrating to inflate these 321's.
What I found that they popped a lot (on me) when I tried to fully inflate them at once. So now I inflate them (like Graham said) till the tip (so the tip stays uninflated at this point). Now take the centre of the inflated part and make a twist (the 321 is still not tied of). Squeeze the air into the tip and tie of the balloon. I use this technique a lot and became quite handy with it. Like with every technique, practice makes perfect.

Many thanks everyone for replying - it's reassuring to know it's not just me!!

Thank you Dennis for explaining this. I will try this and, as you say, practice makes perfect.

Thanks again folks

--Neil

Hi Neil,

It can be difficult to inflate 321s and just having made Tonya's entire collection of 321 models I have had plenty of practice. If i need to have the tip inflated then when I put the 321 on the tip of my pump I pull most of the balloon onto the pump so the nozzle is nearly touching the tip.

As I inflate I allow the balloon to slip from my fingers until it is fully inflated. This leaves about a quarter of a centimetre unflated. If i need to twist off the tip, I squeeze the main body to fill the tip then twist at the shoulder (where tip meets body).

Goodness me, this is hard to explain in writing!

If you blow them up all in puff of air the tip will stay inflated. Problem is that if you stop half way the balloon stretches out and the tip wont inflate. If you are using a pump feed the balloon all the way to the tip then inflate blowing up the tip first and then working the balloon off the pump. I sound pretty smart Huh? I can't take credit for this idea it was on a Buster Balloon Lecture I just watched. Thanks Buster Your the greatest.