Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

I could not find an answer to my question here. How can I contact you and how soon will I get an answer?

All of our product manuals are available on our manuals page, where you can download and print whichever one you need.

Alternately, we can have our office copy photocopied for you at a charge of $2.00 plus $5.50 shipping (US) or $13.50 shipping (international). If you wish to purchase a copy from us, please fax us at 217-398-7721 with a credit card # for payment (Visa/MasterCard), or mail us a check to:

Hobby Services
3002 N. Apollo Drive, Suite #1
Champaign IL 61822

Unfortunately, we are unable to send out via open account (with an invoice) due to our computer system setup.

PLEASE NOTE: We require the following information:

1. The name of the specific kit (ie. Fuji-Imvac 32 cc, FJIG0032) (as much info as you have if you are not sure of the exact name);
2. Your mailing information;
3. Your payment information; and
4. Your return email address and at least one other means of daytime contact (phone, fax, alternative email) to provide you confirmation of your order.

Please note that copied manuals cannot be returned or refunded. If you are unsure the model #, please ask for help from fellow modelers to be sure your purchase is correct.

Please see our warranty center page for instructions.

Unfortunately, we cannot estimate the performance of your model, even in attempting to compare one engine's performance to another. What we CAN recommend is utilizing listed prop RPM for a given prop size turned on both engines to give you a base comparison.

If you emailed our support teams, you should receive an automated response immediately or nearly immediately. (This automated response will inform you our normal response time is by the end of the next business day and provide you other important details to assist you.) If you did not receive a computer generated response within 24 hours, then something was wrong and your email was not received properly or there is something wrong with your reply to address set up in your email account. Please resend the email to us with a note that this is a second copy and please be SURE to provide us your full email address as well as at least one other means of daytime contact (phone, message #, fax, alternate email address).

This is a hard question to answer, as it is quite subjective. An engine rebuild is always based upon performance. If the engine has been used so much that it's performance is no longer acceptable, it should be rebuilt.

If the bearings have become rough through use or corrosion, you should replace them. If the crankshaft has visible movement inside the connecting rod, and not just oil squeeze, when it is turned, you need some new parts.

Outside of obvious physical damage, a rebuild is always a judgement call by the modeler. Sometimes, it costs less to buy a new engine than to buy the parts to rebuild it.

If you feel your engine has lost performance but don't know what needs service, send the engine to an engine specialist. If you're not familiar with proper disassembly and service, you might do irreparable damage to your engine which originally required only a small amount of parts.

We cannot recommend or support this, as engines for car use and boat use are designed very differently and have very different cooling supplies than an aircraft or heli engine.

In setting up your gasoline engine's installation, there are several important factors to remember:

• ALL ignition equipment, including an electronic kill switch, MUST be mounted at least 12", and preferably 14", away from ALL radio equipment, including throttle servos, etc.
  
  
• The ignition kill switch should always be on the opposite side of the fuselage from the radio kill switch.
  
  
• All pushrods going to anything related to the engine MUST be non-conductive (just non-metal clevises is not sufficient).

Please be aware that 3-bladed props are less efficient than a 2-bladed prop, so you are going to lose some performance. Additionally, 4-bladed are less efficient than 3. If your model is already marginal on power on a 2-blade, we strongly recommend against a 3-blade prop.

If, however, you have plenty of power and are willing to give up some performance for scale look and sound, then a 3-bladed prop is for you. You will want to start with a prop with either 1" less diameter or 1" less pitch than your 2-blade prop as a rule of thumb. For example, if your engine happily turns a 13x6, try a 12x6 or 13x5 to start with. Then adjust from there as needed.

To go to a 4-bladed prop, decrease an additional inch in either dimension. If your normal prop choice is, for example, a 11x6, you would begin with a 10x5 and work from there to find a 4-bladed prop that best fits your circumstances.

Most people make the mistake of thinking more is better when it comes to the air INLET at the front of the cowl. This is a common error and while it seems logical the reverse is actually true.

To properly cool your engine you need more OUTLET not more inlet. You want at least 2:1, preferably 3:1 air out to air in otherwise it makes a 'dam' and the air can't come into the cowl because it has no where to go OUT of the cowl. If your engine is not cooling properly, try blocking off the other air inlet or opening the belly of the cowl further to better cool your engine. See the instruction manual for the Top Flite Corsair (pages 35, 40) for an example of making a baffle to properly cool your engine.

Please visit our tech support page to contact our support and service teams. If you email our support teams, you should receive an automated response immediately or nearly immediately. (This automated response will inform you our normal response time is by the end of the next business day and provide you other important details to assist you.) If you did not receive a computer generated response within 24 hours, then something was wrong and your email was not received properly or there is something wrong with your reply to address set up in your email account. Please resend the email to us with a note that this is a second copy and please be SURE to provide us your full email address as well as at least one other means of daytime contact (phone, message #, fax, alternate email address).

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