Simulating Spinning props with NO PROP BLUR!

[Expat Tomcat]

I’m trying to simulate a spinning Hamilton Standard propeller without using a Prop-Blur photo-etch product. I don’t think Prop- Blur photo etch looks realistic enough for in flight simulation.

 

Has anyone seen a tutorial on how to simulate spinning propellers perhaps using airbrushed 1/4” acrylic sheet or similar materials?

TIA 

EXPAT

Edited April 13, 2023 by Expat Tomcat

[Stevepd]

I've used the covers from pilots flight suits knee pads. Not available to everyone obviously but the method I used was to cut the size and then some 400 grit paper to create the swirl effect. After that I have sprayed some Tamiya smoke for the blade blur and a very faint colour for the tips.

[LSP_Kevin]

If it were me, I'd use...nothing. I think most of the solutions I've seen that try to fake it or create the impression of a spinning prop look awful. By contrast, simply leaving the blades off, filling in their holes in the spinner, and maybe painting a blur effect where they would be, is at least as effective, and far less distracting. A guy on Facebook did this recently, and I thought it really did the job. I'll post a photo if I can find it again.

 

Kev

[thierry laurent]

So do I! Personally I would simply replace the propeller axis by a tube and add the hub end.

[hworth18]

Or, add a small electric motor and get a real spinning prop!!  

[chrish]

Agree with Thierry and Kevin

did the prop blade removal on my “higher call” thing and liked it…seemed to work for my taste anyway.

[red Dog]

I agree.

 

I tend to place small engines when I want my props to spin. But usually these small rotor turns way too fast for an idle engine

but if you look at picture of such models:

you barely see the prop at all. (yes it was spinning fast and my shutter speed was low

yet:

this is with a slightly higher shutter speed and then the prop starts to appear

 

 

imho, there is no bad points to leave the blades completely out. 

 

 

The only time I considered prop blur was this one (1/48 sorry)

I really wanted to have the contrast between the feathered engine and the spinning one. But in the end I added an engine rather than using prop blur. And the result was way better

 

Edited April 13, 2023 by red Dog

[BiggTim]

6 hours ago, red Dog said:

I agree.

 

I tend to place small engines when I want my props to spin. But usually these small rotor turns way too fast for an idle engine

but if you look at picture of such models:

+1 for motors to make them spin, though as redDog said, they can vibrate a bit, so choose your motor speed well. This works especially well on "in-flight" displays. I have a stalled build in which I used these: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B077T2W8RC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1, though they are currently unavailable on Amazon. Almost a bit too fast.

Also + 1 for just leaving them off, especially for planes with nose cones.

[Borsos]

I agree, small motors are the best way to simulate spinning props. Even I did that and would do it again.

Andreas

[Palm-tree]

If you do a search on ebay you can get hold of some tiny electric motors which come in a variety of speeds down to about 1000 rpm which would be pretty accurate for a full size engine at idle.

They run on 3v so a tiny lithium watch type battery provides the power which can easily be hidden in behind a fuselage hatch or inside a stores pod.

 

I bought one several years ago and installed it in a WNW 1/32 Mercedes engine as an experiment and it worked.

 

I attach a link here to show you they are still available.

 

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/253771137237?hash=item3b15f040d5:g:PS0AAOSwxipbQcvP&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAA8NUqjuV99JDpPvVOcuphhmedXlLagcAjSadIh9GHhT8grqWkLs3ltwSxrJXmBgj1gug81KPtGbbWlOqmCQfRC0nW107H4W1y1Ti%2BK7%2FC5NS5X%2Be3HeMOKklxB8XRcakjZa%2F4P102iRdViBAvNSOkVomQf3Z5apwRSiUYC%2BMDPo0YYR9y9T4n%2FfzYeqOA6Lc9s%2BfmnfBENdqz9BdcA5xHZH9bHerovQOmaXXsMlkNv4vYfRIDH1ztRqx%2Fvp2ZKX97qiu5wY7nhVwya1CasO%2FMQCpytrc1fJlV%2F6Ttgyy34tQSQs23jOgb86IbgfFhpnKYZg%3D%3D|tkp%3ABFBMqs7SsfFh

[MikeC]

Another vote here for removing the blades and leaving it at that. 

I heard it said at a show once that using one of those PE simulations looked like "... an enormous fern stuck on the front ..."

[LSP_K2]

On 7/28/2023 at 12:25 AM, MikeC said:

Another vote here for removing the blades and leaving it at that. 

I heard it said at a show once that using one of those PE simulations looked like "... an enormous fern stuck on the front ..."

 

Yea, I'm not a fan of those, not at all. The method that I personally like best, is a three or four bladed (as appropriate) fan type arrangement, lightly sprayed dark grey and yellow. I tried this on my "ceiling queen" Otaki Hellcat, and aside from getting way too carried away with the paints (black and yellow), looks OK, at least to me.

 

[Collin]

I love building in-flight and have been hit/miss with spinning prop options. Seems the PropBlur option works (to my eye) but it depends on the aircraft. It’s a very elusive technique to make a convincing spinning prop look. 
I’ll keep searching, always looking for new ideas. 
Cheers

Collin
 

[Woody V]

Using motors to spin props is good for photos but you can also achieve the same thing with free spinning props and a fan. Sorry, but listening to motorized props kills it for me.

[Ayovan]

On 9/7/2023 at 8:55 AM, Woody V said:

Using motors to spin props is good for photos but you can also achieve the same thing with free spinning props and a fan. Sorry, but listening to motorized props kills it for me.

Just make engine noises with your lips when you look at it...