Mystery "APC" props

[Andrew Tinsley]

Hello All,
I have been running GP42 s for some considerable time, after "discovering" a thread on them. I purchased a job lot of APC 11x4.5 props at a well known swap meet here in the UK. I seemed to recall that this was the recommend size, although I now cannot find the thread! I have just about exhausted my supply of props (rough field!) and decided to order some more.
To my amazement, I couldn't find them listed anywhere! I then took a close look at the last prop that I had. it said 11x4.5, but APC didn't appear on the prop? To all intents and purpose the prop looks identical to an APC, in terms of colour and shape!
Do I have some sort of counterfeit prop or has the 11x4.5 prop been discontinued, indeed did I miss it in the APC listing? Very odd!
The nearest APC prop would appear to be the 11.5x4, can anyone say if this is the prop of choice for the GP42 and was my memory faulty when I used these odd 11x4.5 props? The props certainly suited the GP42 on my planes, pity I can't find more!

Regards,

Andrew.

[ray copeland]

Andrew, i use the Thunder Tiger 11x4.5 on my gp 42, works great. Available from Randy, Tower, or the bay. 

[Andrew Tinsley]

Thanks Ray,
So it looks as though my memory wasn't playing tricks on everything, so it is a TT 11x4.5 that must have been the recommended prop! I wonder what on earth I purchased at the swap meet? They certainly lok every bit like APC props!

Thanks again,

Andrew.

[Wayne J. Buran]

Andrew, are you sure you ran 11X4.5 on your TT42. APC site says 11X4.5 #11045 is an electric prop. Many of us in Northern Ohio,  US use 11.5X4 APC#11540 on oor 40-46s. Its a great prop.
Wayne

[Mike Haverly]

The props in question could very well be made by Bolly.  I had one a few years ago, 10 x 7 that was a Bolly Scimitar, Fiberglas.  They look just like an APC, only different in color.  I've never seen an APC 11 x 4.5, only
11.5 x 4.

[Andrew Tinsley]

Thanks Mike and Wayne,
The 11x4.5 props that I was using were definitely not electric props! They looked for all the world like regular IC APC props. No name though. I suppose that it is unlikely that I will find out who made them, but I never gave it a thought until I took a very close look at them when I tried to get more. Maybe someone cloned a Bolly prop, but they certainly looked professional!
I have some TT 11x4.5 and APC 11.5x4 props on order, I am sure that they will prove every bit as good as the Mystery "APC" props. The GP42 seems to be a very tolerant engine of both props, run mode and even tank height.

Thanks again,

Andrew.

[Mark Scarborough]

I have noted that Hobby King makes cloned APC props,, not sure about that size however

[FLOYD CARTER]

The Chinese counterfeit a lot of products.  An exact "Chinese copy", but without the name.

Floyd

[Geoff Goodworth]

Floyd and Mike may both be correct. The Bolly web site says that Clubman props are discontinued. There are some wild stories circulating here in Oz about what happened but I am not going to repeat them.

Hard facts appear to be that the Clubman moulds went to China and Les 'lost control of them.'

[Mike Haverly]

Here it is.  I'm surprised it's still around.  On the hub it says "BOLLY CLUBMAN, AUSTRALIA".  It is a 10.5 x 6 and pretty heavy.

[Steve Thomas]

As I understand it, a Chinese company was contracted to produce Clubman props for Bolly.  When the whole Bolly thing came to an end, the Chinese were left with the molds, and were permitted to keep making the props. The result being that after we thought Bolly Clubmans (Clubmen?!) were gone for good, they suddenly reappeared - just in black instead of brown.