Volare Products

More New Props!

Posted on 10 March 2014 by Bredehoft

I got another shipment from the Prop Factory. The one shown here was an excess that I decided to finish up. It’s a 6″ diameter 3-blade.

In addition, we have been taking custom orders and making some new propellers. Based on customer requests, here is a list of new propellers made to the specs on the original plans:

OT Folders: Ace Whitman Sky Rider – 11″, CB Models’ Yardstick (mini-Gollywock) – 9″

OT 2-blade Freewheelers: Jimmie Allen Skokie – 10″, Keil Kraft Competitor – 12″, Stahl High Climber – 12″, Stahl Hurricane – 12″

OT FWs in the works: Flying Elevator (Victory Model) – 5″, Korda Victory 10″ and 11″

I am trying to find the prop specifics for all Jimmie Allen models, but am having trouble finding original prop specs. If you can help or if you have a need for a prop that is not on our list on the site, just send me an email with the prop dimensions (or a scan of the plan) and we will make up some for you!

6″ 3-blade finished

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Tinkering in the Prop Factory

Posted on 26 February 2014 by Bredehoft

What happens when you give a guy that loves to play with tools a couple of new pieces of equipment, lots of supplies, plenty of time, and a few how-to ideas?

Well, our Prop Factory turned out this experimental piece! Take three 6-inch 2-bladers and an active mind and this is what my dad produced. It’s just an experiment or an example, not for a customer.

He has sent me literally boxes of prop blanks to sell. We’ve been sending several out to customers, including 2-bladed Old Time folders. Send in your requests!

experimental 6″ 6-blade prop

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Busy Sunday in February

Posted on 23 February 2014 by Bredehoft

Wow – what a busy day today. I’ve assembled a stack of Winder Counters, loaded almost 30 new Superior Props Accessories on the Basement web site, and filled 13 or so orders today. The orders are shipping all over the world: mostly to the United States, but also to Germany, Croatia and Russia.

On the other side, I need to start re-stocking supplies as they are starting to run short. I also have to resume assembling kits; it takes more time than you might imagine.

Speaking of kits, I am working on no less than 3 potential kits, with another 3 or 4 waiting for more development.

All of this work has prevented me from building: I haven’t touched the building board since early January; before I went down south to move Superior Props. I see that it is just past 6pm and the sun is just setting – that means the days are getting longer and flying will resume again here in the Midwest. I do have nearly all of my potential contests marked on the calendar; I will see about loading them here online – in my “spare” time!

–george

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Expanding the Superior Props Inventory

Posted on 17 February 2014 by Bredehoft

Nearly all Old Timer plans include dimensions for the prop block. The user was to carve the block to the appropriate shape. Given the technology inherent in the Superior Pros business, we have the capability to produce prop blanks that meet these Old Time plans (as SAM requires!).

Here are the first examples: The Flying Aces Moth and the Jimmie Allen Sky Raider. Sometimes, you hear that the Moth needs a wooden prop because of the long nose. Well, now is your opportunity. The block dimensions were taken right from the Flying Aces magazine and machined down to produce the proper 8.5″ prop blank with the designed pitch. The same thing was done for the Jimmie Allen Sky Raider and here is the resulting 10″ prop blank. Both are available at the same price of standard freewheeling blanks of the same length.

Lastly – if you have any Old Timer prop blocks to share – or that you want made – please send the information in to me (model, length, width, thickness). We will fix you right up!

FA Moth and JA Sky Raider prop blanks

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Final Work on the Jimmie Allen Special

Posted on 9 February 2014 by Bredehoft

In my “spare time” I took one of our 7″ Superior Prop blanks and carved it to final shape and put it on my still-untested Jimmie Allen Special. 7″ is the maximum legal diameter for this model, per the original plan; at least for the Flying Aces Club. Note that all Superior Prop Blanks will come with two water slide decals that you can apply to the blades, as shown in the photo.

I also used one of our Superior Props freewheel clutches. These will be available soon in 0.047″, 1/16″, 3/32″, and 2mm prop shaft sizes. Look for them to be added to the Basement site soon.

Now if we could get rid of this two feet of snow on the ground!

Jimmie Allen Special with Superior Props 7″ prop and Freewheel Clutch

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February Prop Inventory

Posted on 8 February 2014 by Bredehoft

As you can see in the photo below, we are in production. I am starting to accumulate inventory, especially in 2-bladed freewheelers. We are making folders, but the learning curve is higher. In the photo below, you will see a variety of freewheelers, for 6-12 inches, and the first group of folders (some will need rework or will end up as samples).

There are Gollywock folders, a requested left handed 3-bladed 10″ freewheeler, a requested matched pair of 7″ left and right freewheelers.

2-bladed freewheelers are on the site for purchase. Options are available (pitch changes, left handed, matched pairs). 3- and 4- bladed will be online soon, although photos will be slow to appear.

Sparky and Gollywock Folders will be coming to the OT Folder section. But we have over 30 different OT blade patterns for specific Old Timers, so we might jsut be able to make exactly what you need. Just drop me an email.

Lastly, we will be adding all of the standard accessories that Superior Props has carried in the past: freewheel clutches, prop shafts, OT Folder hinges, OT prop shaft assemblies, and so on. Also, look for a couple new prop blanks for famous OT models, cut to the original specs.

Contact me via email if you have questions or specific prop requests! shortysbasement@gmail.com

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Superior Props Under New Ownership and Now in Ohio

Posted on 27 January 2014 by Bredehoft

As you might have followed, last week, we moved Superior Props from Louisiana to Ohio. This involved learning, packing, transporting, unpacking, set-up, restarting production.

I am back home in Michigan and my father is producing prop blanks. I have some listed ont he site right now, and will increase as bench stock is filled. Of course, in addition to 2-bladed freewheeler blanks, we will offer 3- and 4- bladed freewheeler blanks, single- and double-bladed folders fro Old Timers, and Coupe/Mulvi-style folders.

Here is a sequence of photos on a 7″ prop that I cut on the machine and proceeded to finish for my own plane. Understand that your purchase will be in the state of the top photo – you will need to finish the prop, but about 80% of the work has been done for you. Note the Superior Props decals – we will include these with every prop sold.

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NEW EMBRYO KIT! – Sky Rocket

Posted on 10 January 2014 by Bredehoft

The Sky Rocket – a new fast-building Embryo design. The Sky Rocket was designed to build fast. Having sheet balsa sides, it won’t be the lightest embryo (about 23 grams plus or minus), but you can get it built in 2 or 3 hours or so. Even the wings fit together with interlocking pieces. This is a full kit, with everything you need to build your model. The kit includes FIVE sheets of laser cut balsa. That’s because all parts are laser cut, except the wing leading edges. There are no real plans, except to help layout the wing panels, but an 8-page illustrated instruction booklet is provided. While we cannot guarantee success, we have built four prototypes to get this model just right. It has even maxed for us (flights over 120 seconds).

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New Products – Gizmo Geezer Props!

Posted on 10 January 2014 by Bredehoft

Gizmo Geezer Props – We now carry all Gizmo Geezer props: 3 sizes (7″, 8″, 9″) with two drive types (spinner drive or dog drive). These all come with a small pack of required accessories and an instruction booklet.

GGprops