FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What are PropBlurs?
A: PropBlurs are model airplane accessories which transform propellers to give the appearance of an airplane in flight.
You need to know this:
There are two DIFFERENT types of PropBlurs:
ON HUB PropBlurs are each a complete Propeller, including 2, 3 or 4 propeller blades attached to a central HUB.
OFF HUB PropBlurs are each a SINGLE Propeller BLADE, for instances where you need to attach each propeller blade to your kit, or if you just prefer making the propeller one blade at a time.
Q: What is the difference between "On Hub" and "Original" / Off Hub?
A: The Original PropBlurs are now called Off Hub. They are used to replace INDIVIDUAL PROPELLER BLADES on your model. Original PropBlurs / Off Hub PropBlurs are available in 1/32nd, 1/48th and 1/72nd scales.
On Hub PropBlurs are used to replace complete propellers on your model, so with this style you need to know how many BLADES are on each propeller of your model. On-Hub PropBlurs are available in 1/48th, 1/72nd and 1/144th scales, and come in 2-Blade, 3-Blade and 4-Blade versions.
Q: How do I purchase PropBlurs?
A: Use my web page; focus on the scale for your project, and decide to use either The Original PropBlurs or On-Hub PropBlurs. I can mail anywhere in the world that gets mail
.
Q: What are some issues with international orders?
A: There are many issues involved with International orders that inhibit a small company like mine.
1. I mail via First Class In'tl. Mail *, abiding by rules for size and weight set forth by the USPS in conjunction with world Postal agreements.
2. CUSTOMERS are responsible for their country's Tariffs, taxes, duties, VAT and any delays or costs & fees imposed by government authorities outside the USA as a result of buying from PropBlur.com. I encourage you to pay whatever taxes and fees your country has imposed on your activities.
With almost 200 different countries in this world, each with its own taxes and rules to regulate trade, it is impossible for me to collect tax, duties, VAT and tariffs for each country and jurisdiction in the world. I am busy dealing with the rules INSIDE USA! According to the 2012 U.S. Census, there were 89,055 official government units** in the USA. Each one of these units may have some authority over taxing those of us in the "land of the FREE"....
**Official government units include federal, state, county, city, town, school district or special-purpose districts.
3. Postal and Revenue Agent Inspections: I have mailed PropBlurs around the world for 18 years. Because PropBlurs are delicate and must be kept flat, I have had several bad experiences where postal, customs and revenue agents open packages with merchandise and ruin the contents. They appear to have no regard for the product or handling instructions; they just want revenue. So, I do not mark packages as merchandise. Cooperate with authorities in the unlikely event they contact you. Postal Rates for mailing a small envelope as Merchandise are very high vs.mailing as a First Class piece. I mail as a simple Int'l. First Class Mail piece; mail comes to you faster and simply.
Small Orders: I mail small orders in a hand addressed greeting card size stiff envelope marked "Photos / Do Not Bend".
Medium Orders may involve multiple similar envelopes, as above.
Large Orders - If your order involves more than 4 items, please email me with your order before buying. We will discuss it.
4. INDIRECT DELIVERIES: My business assumes I am mailing the items you buy DIRECTLY to you (at your home or office) in the country in which you reside. IF THE ADDRESS YOU provide me is for a "shipping Express" company, freight forwarder, package trans-shipper or any arrangement other than mailing directly to YOU, YOU MUST FIRST INFORM ME. Orders of this sort must be sent via Priority Mail to your trans-shipper's US address. My normal checkout procedures will not allow proper checkout, so after you provide me necessary information, I will send you a PayPal invoice. My responsibility in these cases is to deliver the goods to the address you provide as the delivery address. If Trans-shipper loses a package after I have delivered it, it is not my responsibility. I do not encourage this sort of arrangement.
* Due to SIZE RULES for international mail, I cannot mail the following items outside the US:
- 1/48 Scale On Hub 3 Blade, 4 Units - please order 2 kits of 3 Blade, 2 Units instead.
- 1/48 Scale On Hub 4 Blade, 4 Units - please order 2 kits of 4 Blade, 2 Units instead.
- 1/72 Scale On Hub 4 Blade, 4 Units - please order 2 kits of 4 Blade, 2 Units instead.
Q: How much is shipping?
A: Shipping is automatically added to orders at checkout. If you have a large order, contact me.
Orders within the US which include more than 4 items may require postage in addition to that charged at checkout, in which case I will contact you.
If your International order includes more than 4 items, the postage at checkout will be Insufficient to cover the actual postage. I will contact you.
Q: Can I see examples of PropBlurs on finished model planes?
A: Visit our Gallery to view pictures of PropBlurs on models!
Q: How do I install and paint PropBlurs?
A: Please refer to these informational pages for help: Painting Instructions and Installation
or navigate back to "About & Tips" tab, then choose on drop down menu
Q: Are there PropBlurs for exact match to specific airplane propeller sizes (i.e. Spitfire, Avenger, P40, etc.)?
A: The dimensions for all PropBlurs products are a sort of average of many different planes and variations.
I have labeled most of my items with size information. Please note that the Brass PropBlurs are very easy to modify in length and profile - see many of the gallery pictures to see how some modelers have preferred to change the shape of the product to suit their own tastes and vision.
Q: What are the actual sizes for an Original (Off Hub) PropBlur and an On Hub PropBlur?
A: Here is some information, and look for more details with each product listing:
1/32nd Scale: Off Hub PropBlur: 2.05" long (one propeller blade, or a radius, if you will) No On Hub available
1/48th Scale: Off Hub PropBlur: 1.38" long (one propeller blade) & On Hub PropBlur: 2.835" dia. (one entire propeller)
1/72nd Scale: Off Hub PropBlur: 0.92" long (one propeller blade) & On Hub PropBlur: 1.90" dia. (one entire propeller)
1/144nd Scale: Off Hub PropBlur: 0.5" long (one propeller blade, or a radius, if you will)
If you look at your model's propeller specs (the real airplane specs for the airplane you are modeling), and calculate the size at scale, this info should help you decide best match for choosing appropriate PropBlur. Sometimes it helps you decide if you compare your "true" scale calculation to the diameter of the propeller that came with your kit. Kits are not always accurate to true scale, so there are often some decisions to make.
Q: I'm finishing a 1/48 Academy P-38. Would the "on-hub" PropBlur work with that, and how many do I need? I'm a bit foggy on the "two units per kit" vs. the "four units per kit."
Yes. You likely want to buy ONE KIT with 2 Units of 3-Bladed On-Hub PropBlurs. Every P-38 I have seen has two engines, each with 3 propeller Blades, but there may be exceptions.
ON HUB UNITS description: For all On-Hub PropBlurs, A UNIT describes ONE etched piece of metal with a central ring (HUB) around which multiple (2, 3 or 4*) PropBlur propeller Blades are arranged and attached to a central HUB, hence the phrase "On-Hub" Modelers attach ONE On-Hub PropBlur UNIT per ENGINE on a model*.
So ONE On-Hub PropBlur UNIT is the thing that provides all the propeller blades for ONE ENGINE on your airplane. Since I sell multiple UNITS to customers, the Units are sold in KITS (you can say frames if that helps you understand) of 2 UNITS per KIT, and 4 UNITS per Kit. The KIT is the thing that holds the UNITS.
Examples: First, count how many propeller BLADES are on EACH PROPELLER for your airplane model. On-Hub PropBlurs are defined first by how many BLADES you have on each propeller for your model. Once you know how many blades are on each of your propellers, you can choose between 2-Blade On-Hub PropBlurs, 3-Blade On-Hub PropBlurs or 4 Blade On-Hub PropBlurs. Then you need to count how many ENGINES are on your model.
If you have a plane with one engine, buy a KIT with 2 units: Use one, and one will be spare.
If you have a plane with two engines, buy a KIT with 2 units, one for each engine, and none left over.
If you have a plane with three engines, buy a KIT with 4 units (or two kits, each with 2 units). Use 3, and one will be spare.
Etc.
*I say 2 or 3 or 4 because these are the typical blade configurations. Most planes have 2 propeller blades/engine, 3 blades/engine or 4 blades/engine. *exceptions abound: experimental planes and aircraft with 6 or 8 props arranged in series on each engine. You can use 2 Units of 3-Blade On-Hub PropBlurs for a 6 blade per engine arrangement, or 2 Units of 4-Blade On-Hub PropBlurs for an 8 blade per engine arrangement.
Q: PRICING: When you were young, just starting make models, how much would you have spent to buy one of your PropBlur kits, if they had been available?
I would have paid about a dollar, maybe two. One dollar back then, after inflation, is equivalent to just under $8 today.
I try to keep my prices affordable for young model makers. My first job paid 25 cents/hour, plus I had a newspaper route, so I had pocket money.
(U.S. Inflation Rate, 1960-2017 ($1): According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the dollar experienced an average inflation rate of 3.78% per year. Prices in 2017 are 727.0% higher than prices in 1960.In other words, $1 in the year 1960 is equivalent to $8.27 in 2017, a difference of $7.27 over 57 years.)
Q: Where can I go to learn more about REAL PROPELLERS?
A: I used to refer folks to the site below for basic info about propellers, but link no longer works:
http://www.cap-ny153.org/forcesthrust.htm Let me know if you have a better reference
Q: My Question was not answered here. Where can I find more information?
A: Use the forum to speak with other modelers or contact me directly for an answer to your question at propblur@gmail.com