Mark Harmsworth Posted April 22, 2019 Author Share Posted April 22, 2019 Thanks Graham. I had a mild panic there.! Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogsbody Posted April 22, 2019 Share Posted April 22, 2019 I don't know where you'd even get half decent 4-blade Halifax props if you wanted them. The Revell supplied ones are crap! Not even close to reality. I don't know of any after-market ones either. I do have some older, white-metal Aeroclub 4-bladers, but they were made of the Matchbox kit and the spinners are too small for the Revell cowlings. Chris 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Harmsworth Posted April 22, 2019 Author Share Posted April 22, 2019 2 hours ago, dogsbody said: I don't know where you'd even get half decent 4-blade Halifax props if you wanted them. The Revell supplied ones are crap! Not even close to reality. I don't know of any after-market ones either. I do have some older, white-metal Aeroclub 4-bladers, but they were made of the Matchbox kit and the spinners are too small for the Revell cowlings. Chris I agree - hence the mild panic. The kit four blade prop seems even more wrong than the three blade - as if that were possible. Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogsbody Posted April 22, 2019 Share Posted April 22, 2019 The prop on the left is the Revell prop with the spinner sitting on the hub. The one on the right is the Aeroclub white metal casting, made for the Matchbox kit. Chris 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elger Posted April 22, 2019 Share Posted April 22, 2019 It is astonishing how wrong those blades are. At least they got the pitch right... You could try to sculpt a more accurate shape out of the existing blades. It looks like that at least there's too much blade - it would be possible to carve or sand away material and end up with something resembling what it's supposed to be. I know this has been discussed before, but that type of Halifax propeller should look a lot like the blades found on late mark Hurricanes - are they the same? You could mistake Revell's representation for a P-51 propeller. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogsbody Posted April 22, 2019 Share Posted April 22, 2019 5 minutes ago, elger said: It is astonishing how wrong those blades are. At least they got the pitch right... You could try to sculpt a more accurate shape out of the existing blades. It looks like that at least there's too much blade - it would be possible to carve or sand away material and end up with something resembling what it's supposed to be. I know this has been discussed before, but that type of Halifax propeller should look a lot like the blades found on late mark Hurricanes - are they the same? You could mistake Revell's representation for a P-51 propeller. Yes, the Halifax was fitted with wood blade Rotol props, both 3 and 4 bladers. Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Harmsworth Posted April 23, 2019 Author Share Posted April 23, 2019 22 hours ago, dogsbody said: Yes, the Halifax was fitted with wood blade Rotol props, both 3 and 4 bladers. Chris Maybe I'll just buy four of these and save myself all that sanding. Hmmm - that started as a joke but I'm now actually thinking about it. Those are nice clean prop blades. https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/QB72215 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Boak Posted April 23, 2019 Share Posted April 23, 2019 (edited) Rotol props, but not the spinners that come with aftermarket Rotol props which are normally those on the Spitfire or Hurricane. A set of Matchbox spinners will do, IIRC. A Matchbox kit would allow you to replace other things that are wrong with the Revell kit, particularly the wheels, and with a bit of work the ailerons. The main problem I found with the Revell propellers was that they were designed to fit in a too-large spinner, something no amount of reshaping the outer part of the blade will help. I did carve down a full kit's worth of Matchbox props, but as they need reshaping in chord shape and thickness, I wouldn't actually recommend it other than in desperation. Freightdog did replacement parts for Merlin Halifaxes including props, but I can't find them in their current lists. Edited April 23, 2019 by Graham Boak 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogsbody Posted April 23, 2019 Share Posted April 23, 2019 3 minutes ago, MarkH206 said: Maybe I'll just buy four of these and save myself all that sanding. Hmmm - that started as a joke but I'm now actually thinking about it. Those are nice clean prop blades. https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/QB72215 I'm not sure if the diameter of the Hurricane prop is as large as a Hally prop. That would need checking. I've got this: Halifax props: Hurricane Mk.I props: Chris 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogsbody Posted April 23, 2019 Share Posted April 23, 2019 42 minutes ago, Graham Boak said: Rotol props, but not the spinners that come with aftermarket Rotol props which are normally those on the Spitfire or Hurricane. A set of Matchbox spinners will do, IIRC. A Matchbox kit would allow you to replace other things that are wrong with the Revell kit, particularly the wheels, and with a bit of work the ailerons. The main problem I found with the Revell propellers was that they were designed to fit in a too-large spinner, something no amount of reshaping the outer part of the blade will help. I did carve down a full kit's worth of Matchbox props, but as they need reshaping in chord shape and thickness, I wouldn't actually recommend it other than in desperation. Freightdog did replacement parts for Merlin Halifaxes including props, but I can't find them in their current lists. Graham has got that right. The Matchbox props aren't that great either. Here is a comparison of the various Halifax props that I have. Chris 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elger Posted April 24, 2019 Share Posted April 24, 2019 Matchbox may not have been 100% accurate, but a hell of a lot closer than what Revell managed some 30 years later! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Harmsworth Posted April 24, 2019 Author Share Posted April 24, 2019 Thanks to all on this. I've come to my senses (as much as that is possible!) and am about to start gently sanding my AML resin blades. As I've said in my WIP build thread, I find it very frustrating that resin replacement blades should require so much work to get them presentable. There's plenty of examples of other companies who get that right and provide good quality clean blades. thanks again Mark 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Harmsworth Posted May 16, 2019 Author Share Posted May 16, 2019 I have a question about the size of the code letters for my Mk V which I am sure has been asked and answered before but my searching hasn't found it. My understanding is that the serial number and the code letters should be dull red. The serials 8 inches high and the code letters 48 inches high. Hannants have two xtradecal sets for the code letters: - 48" high x 30" x 6" stroke - 48" high x 24" x 6" stroke It looks like the choice is 30 or 24 inches wide if I've understood that right. I'm thinking that the wider set looks right but I'd appreciate any advice. thanks Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canberra kid Posted May 18, 2019 Share Posted May 18, 2019 Some Halifax prop photos that may or may not help? but they are nice photos nonetheless John 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JWM Posted May 19, 2019 Share Posted May 19, 2019 Many years ago I did conversion of Airfix Halifax to Merlin driven one and I have used spare Airfix Lancaster (~1980 mould) prop blades for both 3 and 4 blades. Spinners were resin copies of those from Matchbox. So I will suggest Lancaster props... More photos here Cheers J-W 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Harmsworth Posted May 20, 2019 Author Share Posted May 20, 2019 (edited) Thanks for the info on the props. I persevered with the AML set and after a lot of gentle sanding the props looked more or less ok. There were a few pin holes which I had to fill but the end result is certainly better than the kit offerings. Like this. Edited May 20, 2019 by MarkH206 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogsbody Posted May 20, 2019 Share Posted May 20, 2019 5 hours ago, MarkH206 said: but the end result is certainly better than the kit offerings. That wouldn't take much. Those Revell props suck ( insert your preferred anatomical bits here )! Chris 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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