Would Anyone Be Kind Enough To Help Me Please?

[BillFlook]

I am intending. To backdate a 1:48 scale, Fairey Barracuda Mk. II kit.

 

Either a Sierra Scale Models kit, alternatively, one of the Special Hobby kits, alternatively, the Trumpeter kit. As I have not yet discovered. Which one of these four kits is the most accurate. Of these 1:48 scale kits, to a Mark One Fairey Barracuda.

 

There were only thirty, Barracuda Mk l’s. That were produced, twenty-five by Fairey Aviation Company Limited, Fairey Constructor’s Numbers of F4570 – F4594 inclusive, Airframe Serial Numbers P9642 – P9666 inclusive, then five by Westland Aircraft Limited, Airframe Serial Numbers DN625 – DN629 inclusive.

 

They fitted the Mk l Barracuda, with the Rolls-Royce Merlin, Mark 30 engine, giving 1,300 Horsepower, rather that the Rolls-Royce Merlin, Mark 32 engine. This gave an extra 340 Horsepower. They fitted this engine to the Mark ll, in addition, the Mark lll. The engine cowling of the Mark l, the Mark ll, in addition, the Mark lll, they were all identical.

 

It is just the Mark l. That was fitted with a three bladed propeller. After very much research, I have discovered the details of this propeller. The Mark l, this was fitted with this propeller, a Rotol, Three – Blade, Variable – Pitch, Constant – Speed, Tractor, RX5/12 of 11 foot 8 inches diameter.

 

Can anyone give me any information, about which other aircraft, that were, fitted with this propeller. I have carried out a search, to discover if any aftermarket company makes this propeller, however, with no luck. Therefore, I shall need to purchase a 1:48 scale kit, of whichever aircraft. In addition, uses this Rotol propeller. Then I can backdate a Mark ll. Alternatively, Mark lll, to a Mark l.

 

I would be extremely grateful. For anyone’s kind help, with this conversion.

 

Thanking you very much in advance, for your kind help in this matter.

 

I look forward to receiving your kind answers, from you shortly.

 

Kind regards,

 

 

Bill.

[Graham Boak]

I believe the RX5,  of various subtypes, was also used by the Hurricane but probably of smaller diameter.  Other Rotols were also used by a range of types.  I suspect that the profiles differed only slightly.  The DH props of different sizes were basically taken from the same master Hamilton Standard and trimmed to size.  I can't confirm that this was also how Rotol produced different sizes, but basically that's what you may have to do.

 

At least with the Barracuda there's only one prop.

[Work In Progress]

I think you will need to start with a larger diameter prop and shorten & reshape the blades to match your references. Mosquito props are something in the region of 12' 6" diameter, so have length on them to spare. Every 1/48 Tamiya Mosquito comes with two sets of props, the tapered blade type and the paddle type, so if you get a Mosquito you can still build it if you do one with the needle props, hence no waste, and have two spare paddle props, which offer the most material to work with,  to file away at. I think there is probably enough meat on one of those paddle blade props to come up with a fairly convincing Barracuda Rotol

Edited November 3 by Work In Progress

[Julien]

You might get more help if you actually put in the title what you need rather that people having to click into the thread to see what you want?

 

Julien

[Geoffrey Sinclair]

According to the Ministry of Aircraft Production Barracuda I production was 23 at Fairey July to December 1942, 4 at Blackburn October to December 1942, 5 at Westland December 1942 to February 1943 and 1 at Boulton Paul in December 1942.

 

The Ministry of Aircraft Production report for January 1943 does not list any Barracuda I propellers, only the GR/5C Constant Speed Units they used. The only RX5 listed is the RX5/10 for the Spitfire Vb and Seafire IIc with constant speed unit GR/5B.  Then comes blade designs.

 

Hurricanes are listed as various or have no model number mentioned.  The RS5 type was in use by Whitley, Beaufighter II, Defiant and Firefly.  Most Mosquito used imported propellers.  The Barracuda II used Rotol R4/4, BS/I propellers with GR/5C Constant Speed Units in January 1943.

 

Merlin 30 production ended in July 1942 with 600 built mostly for the 450 Fulmar II, Merlin 32 production began in June 1942.

[Troy Smith]

21 hours ago, BillFlook said:

I am intending. To backdate a 1:48 scale, Fairey Barracuda Mk. II kit.

 

Bill

If you look at the top right corner of your post, there are three dots, if you click on those you get an option to edit your post, including thread heading, I suggest to "Making a Barracuda Mk, I from a Mk.II in 1/48th,  options and suggestions please"  as that explains exactly what you want at a glace when looking at the WWII forum.

 

People who might be able to help, @iang  @Grey Beema @85sqn @EwenS

 

21 hours ago, BillFlook said:

It is just the Mark l. That was fitted with a three bladed propeller. After very much research, I have discovered the details of this propeller. The Mark l, this was fitted with this propeller, a Rotol, Three – Blade, Variable – Pitch, Constant – Speed, Tractor, RX5/12 of 11 foot 8 inches diameter.

 

 

 

The propeller type matters for the real thing, for a model you need to find out the spinner, Which looks a lot like a standard Rotol spinner used on Spitfire Mk.II and a lot of Hurricane Mk.I's,  and is an alternate part in various kits of these subjects,  so is in plenty of spares boxes, also looks like the unit used on the Fulmar

compare

85 Squadron 50 by Сергей Кривицкий, on Flickr

 

You may need to tweak the blade shape, or use 3 of the of the ones from the 4 blades in the kit.   

 

Others will likely know more, and to some extent will depend on your base kit, and  the size of the nose ring.

 

HTH

 

 

[Geoffrey Sinclair]

Passing the following information on from someone who has done a lot of propeller studying.

 

The RX number is irrelevant in the context of this proposed conversion. Unless exposed, sans spinner, the only relevant matter is the blade type and characteristics. Nevertheless for the record I have it that the hub types used with the Merlin 30 were RX5/11 and RX5/12.  Common to both, the blade used was a Weybridge type DR/940 or DS/940, the prop diameter being 11ft 9ins. The same blade (4 no.) was used with the Merlin 32 where the prop had a reduced diameter of 11ft 8 1/2 ins.

In terms of the comparison with the Hurricane:

·       Blades are longer

·       Max chord is materially wider,(in comparison with 2 Hurricane Rotol types I have measured – I have also measured a DS/940)

·       Spinner is shorter than Hurricane ES/9 and wider base diameter

In summary I wouldn’t start from here.

The only other aircraft that used the DS/DR/940  blade was the Defiant II.

In terms of potential donor kits, from internet photos, the Classic Airframes TT/I/III has a set of blades that look as if they may be passable although I have no measurements. The blades of the Trumpeter Barracuda appear to me to be very anaemic and inaccurate.

The spinner in the Classic kit may be o.k but for guidance, the actual is about 6 3/4 inches shorter than a Rotol Spitfire V spinner which is roughly the same base diameter.

Buying the Classic kit for the blades would be an expensive solution but I am unable to think of any alternatives at this point.

 

End message.

[Troy Smith]

7 hours ago, Geoffrey Sinclair said:

Passing the following information on from someone who has done a lot of propeller studying.

 

@V Line  perhaps... 

7 hours ago, Geoffrey Sinclair said:

The only other aircraft that used the DS/DR/940  blade was the Defiant II.

In terms of potential donor kits, from internet photos, the Classic Airframes TT/I/III has a set of blades that look as if they may be passable although I have no measurements. The blades of the Trumpeter Barracuda appear to me to be very anaemic and inaccurate.

The spinner in the Classic kit may be o.k but for guidance, the actual is about 6 3/4 inches shorter than a Rotol Spitfire V spinner which is roughly the same base diameter.

Buying the Classic kit for the blades would be an expensive solution but I am unable to think of any alternatives at this point.

 

First.  The CA Defiant has two sets of blades

 

so they are out there is spares box land.

 

How accurate they are is another matter...

 

@BillFlook  may find this all a bit much.    One point Bill, is that if you make the prop assembly removable, you can always change it later

 

the Special Hobby blades look similar

 

compare

 

I'd suggest finding a spare Rotol spinner from a Hurricane or Spitfire,  note the new tool 1/48th Airfix Hurricane has the parts in ALL boxings to make a Sea Hurricane,  and they use the De Havilland prop, leaving you with a leftover Rotol.

 

Perhaps someone with access to the relevant kits could see how the bits look, I have a SH Barracuda.... quite where though is the problem!

 

HTH

 

 

[nicholas mayhew]

On 11/3/2024 at 9:47 PM, Julien said:

You might get more help if you actually put in the title what you need rather that people having to click into the thread to see what you want?

 

Julien

 

THIS!!!

 

Vague non-titles drive me nuts! 

[Mark Harmsworth]

2 hours ago, nicholas mayhew said:

Vague non-titles drive me nuts! 

Me too. But this is a first post from a new member so maybe we offer help and latitude.

Mark

[Tomas Enerdal]

If accuracy is of importance:

 

-The Special hobby is almost OK I guess, but the radiator bulge is too deep, too broad and "swollen". I have started to sand it down, but it looks like it will have to filled up from behind if I can be allowed to sand it down enough. 

 

-I have the Sierra vacform. The vacform canopy is rather good and I believe the general feeling for the Barracudas shapes are the best yet. Some of the enclosed injection molded parts are way off however. Have they included a Spitfire spinner? Is the nose/radiator bulge too square? The Sierra kit is slightly smaller than the SH kit, but in many ways they are quite similar.

 

-The Trumpeter one has not been released yet, AFAIK. From pics of built up test samples it looks as it is so inaccurate as to be beyond salvage.. See rumormonger section here on BM. The canopy is very off, especially at the forward end. The angles of the windscreen are dreadfully wrong. But still, can it be saved by stealing the clear parts from the SH or Sierra kit?

But what is correct? Published dimensions differ a little between them as do plans.

 

I cannot help myself, but the Barra is my favorite in all its ugliness. Since I bought my first FROG one all those 55 years ago.. It is also one of the most enigmatic aircraft I've ever met. Kitmakers are not helped by the fact that not one has survived intact to this day.

As I understand it the FAA museum is slowly working its way towards rebuilding one from parts of found wrecks. 

 

The propeller in the SH kit looks hefty and of the right Rotol shape. However, it is more than 5 mm too large in diameter compared to the 9'11" stated above, and has to be reduced. The spinner in the SH kit seems to have the correct shape. I'd fill three of the four openings and make two new openings to get a three bladed one.

 

Please feel free to ask further, will try to help.

Edited November 5 by Tomas Enerdal