These are answers to questions that frequently come up.

Q. I want a xxx with ailerons but you only offer one without. Can your kits be converted?
A. Yes. Many of our customers have converted a 3 channel plane (rudder/elevator/throttle) to 4 channel (aileron/rudder/elevator/throttle). I did that on my first build of a Peter Rake design, the WACO SRE. It does take a bit more modelling skill and time, but, is fairly easy to do. Most of the wing sizes allow a micro or nano servo to fit within the wing, or, links can be used for a central mounted servo.

Q. Can these kits be flown with gas/glow engines?
A. Short answer is No. These are lightweight models and we use lightweight balsa for construction. Some of the Peter Rake designs have been successfully converted to IC, but, many changes need to be made in materials to accomodate the stresses of starting and running an IC engine.

Q. What is a 'short kit'?
A. A short kit is one that includes only those parts that need to be cut from a sheet of wood (balsa, bass and ply). It is one step up from a scratch build and reduces the build time a bit. The builder still has to supply all sticks, wire, and sheet necessary to finish the model. We do not supply build lists for the short kits.

Q. What about the details, such as pilots and machine guns for detailing your kits. Are they included?
A. No. The detailing of WWI planes especially is a personal choice. I tend to be a 'minimalist' making my MG's out of a piece of dowel and a block of balsa. Others will make small handles, and other small details. So, we leave all the detail, including rigging, up to the builder. All of Peter's 1/9 scale WWI biplanes (36" span) and the SRE can fly without rigging. The 1/6 scale planes should have functional rigging.

Q. Can I paint Doculam?
A. Yes, in fact, Doculam is clear and requires painting. I have had the best luck with latex acrylic house paint bought at the local hardware store (any brand). Prepare the surface by wiping with vinegar (any type). Then clean with alcohol (rubbing or denatured) and paint. You can thin and paint with an airbrush (recommended) or with a brush. Make the first coat very thin and let dry thoroughly (24 hours). Then paint cover coats. If you want to apply graphics or mask areas let dry for at least 48 hours.

Q. Does Doculam require an adhesive?
A. No. Doculam has an adhesive on it and also has no backing to peel off. It is as easy to use as any other standard covering material. It does use a medium heat setting.

Q. What file format can I use to send for cutting?
A. CorelDraw will import just about any vector based drawing file. CAD files should be .dxf as that seems to solve most conversion problems. Splines, beziers, and other complex curves are not translated well and should be avoided. If any question about compatibility send us a sample and we'll see how well it converts.

Q. I have a plan of a xxx. Can you cut parts for me?
A. The short answer is yes. There is a cost associated with conversion and it depends on the complexity of the job. We also require permission from the author or copyright holder to do cutting (if any). This usually only takes a few days. Smaller plans, like those offered free in magazines cost approximately $30 to convert, plus the cost of cutting. Some may be more. If you supply the plans in a computer format, such as tif, the cost will be less. The other problem is the time available that I have for converting such files. Turn around can run several months.
There are others who will do the CAD work for you and make cut files. Adam Bradley is one whose work is good. He can be reached at adbradley@terracon.com for a quote.

Q. What kinds of material can you cut?
A. A lot. Almost anything that isn't PVC, metal, or carbon fiber. The thickness is limited by the power of our laser. Up to 1/4" balsa, 3/16 hardwood, 1/8 ply, 1/4 liteply are out limits. 1/8 ply and 1/4 liteply have black on the edges after cutting.

Q. The xxx kit lists a Speed400 for power. What kid of brushless motor can I use?
A. Brushless motors can be very confusing. The least expensive motor to use is the "Bell" motor that can be bought for as little as $19.95 with ESC. I have used the Bell motor, EFlite 450 and Hacker A20-30M motors with 2s or 3s LiPo batteries for power on several of Peter's designs. There are so many to choose from that a complete list is not feasible in this space. A typical Speed 400 would put out about 90W, so any brushless motor that could do that would work. Be aware that many WWI planes had large cowls so a large prop is needed to clear them. Typical on the sp400 size planes would be a 9" or 10" prop. You will have to modify the motor mount arrangement for a brushless outrunner upgrade to the kit.