Sorry to come here with the dreaded Spitfire propeller questions but I need expert help on this.
So I found out that the early DH metal propellers was called 5/21, then Rotol made on some Mk.2 were used.
I think laminated wood (jablo) Rotol props was used on mors Mk.Vb and DeHaviland 5/20 propellers on mk.Vc mostly and later.
I guess there is some difference as to which factory built them and also what time period it was built and finished in regard to which
propeller was fitted.
Some source stated that all Mk.2 were equipped with the Rotol 3bladed prop which had different look at the root than the later wood one on Mk.Vb.
Of the Mk.2 individuals i will muild as model kits I can not find any evidence of actual Rotol propeller fitted but looks more similar to DH metal prop
The Spitfire individuals I will build is the following ones:
Mk.I late X4131 (Supermarine built) RY-H DeHaviland Prop is my guess
Mk.Ib R6776 (Supermarine built) H-QV DeHaviland Prop is my guess
Mk.IIa P8387 (Castle Bromwich built) H-PK DeHaviland Prop is my guess
Mk.IIb P8385 (Castle Bromwich built) RF-A DeHaviland Prop is my guess
Mk.Va W3185 (Supermarine built) D-B DeHaviland Prop is my guess
Mk.Vb AB790 (Castle Bromwich built) J-AK Rotol with straight inner edge and pointy longer spinner classic Vb is my guess
Mk.Vb LF BL680 (Castle Bromwich built) A USAAF Rotol with straight inner edge and pointy longer spinner classic Vb is my guess
Mk.Vb Trop EP706 (Castle Bromwich built) Rotol with straight inner edge and pointy longer spinner classic Vb is my guess
Mk.Vc Many different induviduals mostly Malta ones and a PR.MkIV all seem to have metal DH propellers.
To complicate it more i read on Wikipedia that there was actually 2 different diameter Rotol units but it might be that the wood (more straight
edge propellerhub to spinner) was the smaller and the bigger diameter was actually the metal Rotol which I could mistake for DH prop!
Hope someone can tell me how and what is wrong in my research.
Sincerely, Fredrik.
By: Fredrik Astlid - 26th May 2016 at 18:50
As for the Vc trop with Rotol wood it was JK715 SN-A used on Malta
By: Graham Boak - 26th May 2016 at 09:47
The Spitfire Mk.Vs in Australia had the DH Hydromatics. Some people think these are slightly longer and more pointy than the spinners for the earlier DH bracket props – I’d say that photo was a good one to judge by. As the subject has been introduced, I’ll recommend Antony Cooper’s Darwin Spitfires as the best and most comprehensive account of these operations.
As the engine had interchangeable splines from the Merlin III onwards, it is always possible for “odd” combinations to appear, and they did. The old and tested rule is “Always model from a photo when you can”.
By: QldSpitty - 25th May 2016 at 23:06
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54Sqd MkVc Trop Spits in Australia
By: Fredrik Astlid - 25th May 2016 at 16:58
Graham I guess you are right, I looked for a photo I saw of a later time 1943? spitfire Mk.Vc from malta with infact wooden rotol!
But it seems to be safer bet for earlier to use the Metal DH props.
By: Graham Boak - 24th May 2016 at 15:42
Early Trops, like early Mk.Vc, were Supermarine built and so had DH props. I don’t think that this was true for later in the production runs.
By: QldSpitty - 24th May 2016 at 00:26
Mk.Vb Trop EP706 (Castle Bromwich built) Rotol with straight inner edge and pointy longer spinner classic Vb is my guess
I thought all Trops had DeHav blades…
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May 23, 2016 at 8:11 pm