Mark, looking at the various shots that I have of “BM597” at Hednesford and Bridgenorth, I note that the prop spinner was painted in a dark colour at Hednesford, however at Bridgenorth it’s yellow. It’s quite possible that it was repainted or swapped at Bridgenorth as the the back plate to the spinner is black in the photos by D M Hannah. Could it be that the two have been confused as I note that AR614 has a light coloured prop hub in this shot, though it doesn’t appear to be painted silver.

Ian,

A close study of all the available B/W shots of AR614 at West Kirby, the transport shots and re-erection shot at Bridgenorth show, tonally, that the spinner and back plate were silver, as the main structure. The aircraft was fitted with a DH prop and complimenting DH spinner/backplate that was not removed for transportation. Subsequent shots at Bridgenorth circa 1961 show the spinner but not the back plate was repainted, and confirmed by colour photos, as Red.

B/W shots of BM597 at Hednesford, fitted with a Dowty Rotol broad root prop and complimenting Dowty Rotol spinner, both at Hut 121 and by the gate, show a tonally darker spinner and back plate, most probably Red. Latterly at Bridgenorth the spinner was repainted a tonally lighter colour confirmed in colour shots as yellow, whilst the back plate was painted black.

Logical and therefore no change of propellers and spinners in my view. The spinners would not interchange by the way.

Mark