Q: $100 is a lot of money. I can buy another Parkzone P-51 wing, tail, and fuselage for that!
A: This is true. Yet, the new Parkzone parts you purchase will still be heavy and flimsy -- two of the worst things you can have in an R/C aircraft.
Q: What is the brand name of airplane you build?
A: Everything we build is GWS. Their airplanes are sturdy, fly great, and look awesome in the air.
Q: How do you put my electronics in a new airplane?
A: Send us your ParkZone P-51 electronics (electronic speed control, receiver, servos, battery, and transmitter. We will test the electronics, and (if reliable) we will install them in an airplane custom built for you!
Q: Couldn't I just do that myself?
A: Yes, you could. You would need to build the airplane, figure out the new power system (motor, gearbox, and prop), and how to mount it. You will also need to figure out how to put the ParkZone 9-cell battery in a GWS airplane.
Q: What kind of warranty do you offer?
A: No warranty is expressed or implied.
Q: I see landing gear in some of the pictures. Do these airplanes have landing gear?
A: We can install the landing gear for you, but these airplanes really fly better without landing gear.
Q: What do I get for $130?
A: You get a custom built, painted styrofoam airplane. All electronics are pre-mounted. All EZ connectors, EZ links, control rods, control horns, and tubes are pre-mounted. All decals are applied. The battery compartment is enlarged, and up to two of your ParkZone 9-cell batteries are modified to fit. The motor, gearbox, and prop are all new (not ParkZone equipment). The stock wing spar is replaced with carbon fiber -- no more broken wings in flight! You will also receive a spare prop.
Q: Why is the white Zero only $100?
A: The white Zero is not painted -- it is bare white styrofoam. It also does not include landing gear. It still looks awesome, flys great, is durable, and actually weighs a little less than the painted Zero!
Q: Can you test fly my airplane for me?
A: Sure -- at your request, we will be happy to maiden your airplane before we ship it.
Q: How much lighter are your airplanes than the "heavy" ParkZone P-51 Mustang?
A: Usually, our airplanes weigh less than 19 ounces (ready to fly, with ParkZone 9-cell battery). That's 10 ounces less than the 29-ounce ParkZone P-51 Mustang! That's a weight savings of over one-third!
Q: How much power can I expect from your system?
A: With the stock 9-cell battery, we calculate 4.13 watts per ounce -- that is 1.0 watts per ounce more than the ParkZone P-51 setup! 4.13 watts per ounce is considered "acrobatic" -- these airplanes can loop at 50% throttle -- I was able to perform 5 consecutive loops at 50% throttle with my White Zero on April 27, 2006! You should get better performance and flight times with a LiPo battery.
Q: How much thrust and speed can I expect?
A: With the stock 9-cell battery, we calculate 13.0 ounces of in-flight thrust, and a prop pitch speed of 48 miles per hour.
Q: Can I use a LiPo with your airplanes?
A: Yes -- the electronics are exactly the same as your ParkZone P-51. You can choose to use a LiPo or the stock NiMh battery.
Q: If the electronics are ParkZone's, can I use ParkZone's Sonic Combat module for aerial combat?
A: Yes -- you can use the ParkZone Sonic Combat module. The electronics are exactly the same as your ParkZone P-51, because they're YOUR electronics!
Q: If the electronics are ParkZone's, can I use ParkZone's drop Module?
A: Yes -- you can use the ParkZone drop module. It might be difficult to land with the drop module exposed on the belly of your airplane though!
Q: I don't have ParkZone P-51 electronics. Can I use other ParkZone or HobbyZone electronics equipment?
A: Well... Maybe. The HobbyZone Aerobird electronics will NOT work. The newer Stryker electronics should be okay. The Typhoon 3D electronics should be okay. The best thing to do is ship it to us and let us take a look.
Q: I don't have any R/C electronics from any aircraft. Can I still purchase one of your cool airplanes?
A: Sure -- however, there are several options we will need to discuss, which can affect the final price. Send us an e-mail and we will talk about it. A ballpark figure is $245 to $275 for a brand new ParkZone electronics package (with 9-cell battery and charger) in a brand new Ready To Fly warbird of your choice.
Q: I have three ParkZone P-51 batteries -- can I send all of them to you for your battery modification?
A: Yes -- the first two batteries are covered with your airplane purchase. Any battery modification we do in excess of two batteries is $10 (please add $5 to cover shipping if you are not buying an airplane with this purchase).
Q: What is your turnaround time? How long will it take to build my airplane, put the electronics in it, test it, and mail it back to me?
A: Usually about two weeks.
Q: What about flight times?
A: We're averaging 12 acrobatic minutes per charge on the stock battery. With some throttle management, we're getting 18 minute flight times with the stock battery. The LiPo battery should give approximately double these flight times.
Q: Do you want to buy my ParkZone electronics?
A: Sure -- shoot us an e-mail, and we'll discuss it.
Q: Do you accept personal checks?
A: Yes, but we charge a $50 fee for bounced checks. If your check bounces, we will hold your ParkZone equipment until we collect the $50 fee.
Q: Do you accept credit cards through Paypal?
A: Sometimes. Please e-mail us to discuss.
Q: Which airplane is best for me?
A: Easier warbirds to fly are the Zero, the Corsair, and the Spitfire. More challenging airplanes to fly are the Mustang and the ME-109. The easiest airplane to fly is the Slow Stick -- it is not a warbird, but is a great trainer.
Q: Is there anything else I should know before making my aircraft selection?
A: The Corsair has a bent wing, which requires the aileron pushrods to turn. This can cause binding, which can shorten the life of your servo.
The Corsair and the Zero both have a plastic cowl, which attaches with four small screws. This allows easy access to the motor / gearbox / mount area, in the event any tweaking needs to be done.
The Zero is great for beginners because the wing incidence causes the airplane to continually want to climb, making aileron turns extremely easy. This airplane will loop by itself at neutral elevator and 50% throttle!
Q: Do you have a brushless motor option?
A: YES! We actually have two brushless motor options. We have used a radar gun to clock the brushless inrunner ME-109 at 55 mph!! The brushless inrunner ME-109 has more thrust than weight, and will accelerate straight up! We have used a radar gun to clock the brushless outrunner Spitfire at 45 mph. The brushless outrunner Spitfire has nearly the same thrust as weight, so it is still a great performer. We highly recommend a 3s LiPo battery in excess of 2000 mAh when running one of our brushless motor setups. The brushless inrunner motor option is an additional $200 (not including LiPo battery). The brushless outrunner motor option is an additional $100 (not including LiPo battery). Please contact us if you are interested in these new motor choices which are not yet available on our web site.