mattlow Posted October 6, 2014 Share Posted October 6, 2014 Yeah Derek Nice job you're doing. I shall follow your mods for the kit prop for my Mk 1g/PRVII. Matt Derek B 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mywifehatesmodels Posted October 6, 2014 Share Posted October 6, 2014 That propeller is never going to spin right with those counterweights on the blades. Seriously, great work! John Derek B 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek B Posted October 7, 2014 Author Share Posted October 7, 2014 (edited) Matt, John - Thanks A little more progress... Blade inserts roughly shaped to match the existing aerofoil shape and correct blade root shape transferred from template. Blade roots roughly cut to shape. Even at this stage, you can see the difference in shape to the unmodified Revell Hurricane Rotol propeller. I have filed and sanded one of the blades to the correct shape and thickness, thinning it down considerably. I was reasonably satisfied with the revised blade shape and profile, which I knew to be somewhere near correct, however, it still somehow did not look correct to me. I looked at the other two unshaped blades and realised why: Like the Revell 1/32 P-47 and Hawker typhoon blades, they are crude in shape and pretty well flat in cross-section, which accounts for the problem. My solution was to add twist to the sanded blade which improved the look immediately. I now need to sand and file the other two blades to match the first one and then I can begin to complete the modification of the blade root areas and then the Rotol prop will be somewhere near complete (a lot of work to do, but that is what modelling is all about isn't it?). Derek Edited May 5, 2017 by Derek B Sparzanza 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loic Posted October 7, 2014 Share Posted October 7, 2014 Great stuff Derek One question thought: would not it be easier to make 1 blade OK and cast the others from it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek B Posted October 7, 2014 Author Share Posted October 7, 2014 Great stuff Derek One question thought: would not it be easier to make 1 blade OK and cast the others from it? Yes, it probably would Loic - This is only a 'one-off' build, not for pattern or production purposes (although the attention and effort that I am putting in to it is the same). However, I am sticking strictly with basic modelling techniques only, hence the rational to do it 'old style' (not all modellers have facilities to cast copies of parts). Derek Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loic Posted October 7, 2014 Share Posted October 7, 2014 Fair enough mate It is also more fun to do it your way . Derek B 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek B Posted October 7, 2014 Author Share Posted October 7, 2014 (edited) Fair enough mate It is also more fun to do it your way . Yes, you are correct Loic, it is fun - and that is the difference between buying an AM part and the pleasure and challenge of having done the work yourself (especially when no one can distinguish the difference on the completed model). Derek Edited October 7, 2014 by Derek B Uncarina 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JRutman Posted October 7, 2014 Share Posted October 7, 2014 That was the problem with all of the old revell prop blades. No twist! Your new pattern is way better than the original. J Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek B Posted October 7, 2014 Author Share Posted October 7, 2014 (edited) That was the problem with all of the old revell prop blades. No twist! Your new pattern is way better than the original. J Thank you J. This one will not be a pattern - I am simply making it as an example of how other kit parts can be modified for a different use as part of the Spitfire correction, conversion (to a Mk.I) and build. I think that you and I are maybe amongst the last generations of modellers who can still craft what we need from scratch from whatever materials we have at hand. Cross-kitting and major scratch built conversion work is also a dying artform these days...I personally think that they may be missing out on a lot of fun and self-satisfaction. Derek Edited October 7, 2014 by Derek B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martinnfb Posted October 7, 2014 Share Posted October 7, 2014 Stunning work Derek, old school model-making at it's finest. Thanks for sharing. Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek B Posted October 8, 2014 Author Share Posted October 8, 2014 All blades filed and sanded to correct shape and thinness... Forming to blade root rings. Rings tapered to off-set some of the spinner curvature. Rings in place. Next step is to apply filler to build up the blade roots to the correct shape. It should be noted that the Rotol Jablo blades of the Spitfire Mk.V differ quite markedly in shape to the Rotol Jablo blade CS unit fitted to the Mk.I Spitfire (even though they are both of similar design), so this is something to be aware of - The Hurricane Rotol unit is closer to that of the Spitfire Mk.I, but even that has very slight differences in blade shape. Derek TaffyMan, D.B. Andrus and Sparzanza 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparzanza Posted October 8, 2014 Share Posted October 8, 2014 Beautiful work, Derek! Derek B 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loic Posted October 11, 2014 Share Posted October 11, 2014 Some good work mate ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek B Posted October 11, 2014 Author Share Posted October 11, 2014 Sparzana, Loic, thank you. More updates in a few days as I an busy this week end. Regards Derek Anthony in NZ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek B Posted October 23, 2014 Author Share Posted October 23, 2014 I have been busy, so no progress until now - More Rotol prop work... Milliput added. First stage in shaping the blade roots - this is where those metal rings come in handy. First blade shaped. Second blade roughly shaped - more to follow in due course. Derek Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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