After crashing my first drone, from such a petty little fall.... I am looking to beef up my second Phantom 3 Standard.... What can I get that will protect the gimbal, and perhaps strengthen the landing gear so it is not as flimsy?   I am not looking to spend crazy money... any cheap alternatives?

have a look @ phantom help - loads of links to useful stuff
P3S @ Phantom Help

The cheapest and most effective protection is to hand catch

Yes hand catching is the best way under controlled landings. But I think the OP was more concerned about an uncontrolled landing or lite crash. Personal I use a gimbal guard that goes under the camera connecting the two legs together. It gives a small bit of added protection to the camera/gimbal area right beneath it. By no means is the added protection 100%. But I also like the fact that it contacts the two legs together, so each leg has the other leg's added support. You do have to make sure you get one for the Standard, as the legs are different than the other Phantom 3's. Now you'll get others that will try to belittle these products because they say it blocks the camera when pointed straight down. That only happens if you bought one for the Adv/Pro model and not the Standard. Or that it's protection is minimal, and it's not 100% like I said. So beware of the naysayers.

wmcvey Posted at 2016-9-15 11:55
Yes hand catching is the best way under controlled landings. But I think the OP was more concerned a ...

Ronald Mc Naysayer here. One could perhaps equally say that allowing the legs to splay on impact has a beneficial effect in cushioning the shock. Personally, I don't think any of the so-called gimbal protectors do a thing.

Gimbal protector was fine for folks that tend to crash on rocks or on anything hard sticking up (fence posts).
But realistically, careful piloting should eliminate that.

I would keep the unit stock - and maybe make my own little gimbal guard (not on any with VPS, so only on the standard).

I use this:

You can buy taller replacement extended landing gear.
or
Clip on extended landing gear.
Search fleabay.

Flight Raptor Posted at 2016-9-14 22:40
I use this:

Like that guard. I also used small nylon ties just like you did. Just makes sense that it gives the legs some lateral support, left to right. As one leg has the added strength of the other. Also adds a bit of gimbal protection. It amuses me that no one is ever negative when you mod your RC, but as soon as you mod the AC all the "stock is better" posts start coming. I've even had one guy trying to say this little plastic part would act as a sail in the wind, and cause a fly-away. Really?

wmcvey Posted at 2016-9-15 11:37
Like that guard. I also used small nylon ties just like you did. Just makes sense that it gives th ...

I purchased one similar on ebay as well as a few other things but have since decided that really they're not useful... If you're going to crash, most likely not going to help much.

Adam Flurk Posted at 2016-9-15 13:56
I purchased one similar on ebay as well as a few other things but have since decided that really t ...

In a true crash you are probably correct. I'm talking and I think the OP was thinking this too. In a hard landing (not a crash) they should add some level of protection/support over stock, even if minimal.

wmcvey Posted at 2016-9-15 14:01
In a true crash you are probably correct. I'm talking and I think the OP was thinking this too. In ...

Understood.