I’m pretty sure both types had Rotol props. My question is, what specific blades (and therefore what color identifying disks) were used? My guess would be Jablo for both and therefore red/pink disks. However, both Airfix 1/48 kits supply yellow ID disks, which would indicate spruce (Weybridge) blades, which I think is pretty unlikely, unless (for the 24) the color ID system changed after the war.
From what I’ve read, for the XII, red/pink (Jablo core, Jablo sheath), white (Jablo core, Rotoloid sheath) and green (Hydulingnum core, Rotoloid sheath) are all possible.
I don’t own Shacklady, which I think gives pretty complete prop specifics for the various marks. If somebody who does could check and report, or if anybody has more information on these two types, it’d be much appreciated.
Cheers,
Pip
By: Seawinder - 8th November 2013 at 13:57
Just to flesh it out a bit more.
R.13/4F5/6 Prop, RA.10108 Dural blades
R.13/4F5/6 Prop, RA.10107JT Jablo blades
R.14/5F5/2 Prop, RA.10129 (JT,RTS or JCS) Jablo blades
“Did Rotol change the colour of their ID disks after the war?” Not after but during the war. Sometime about 1942-43 Jablo blades standardised on the pink/red disks. Prior to that Jadlo blades with a Rotoloid covering used a white disk. Just to confuse matters the white disks were later used to signify Dural blades.
The colour of the disks on Jablo blades range from a dull matt pink to a the more common dull matt red depending on which subcontractor made them. The colour illustrated in the photo of the IWM Spit 24 is possibly a bit too intense although I should take some of the blame for that as I spent a very pleasant day Duxford advising them on the blade markings.
Anne
Hi Anne. Glad to have you weigh in on this. I was in fact aware of the late-war change thanks to the information you and others shared in earlier threads including the one I started about the Spitfire Mk. IX props. I’m definitely going with red for both the XII and 24 kits I’m currently building. It’s really a shame that decal producers (both kit and aftermarket) persist in providing mainly yellow disks for Spitfire blades. The only exception I know of in 1/48 scale is the Techmod stencil sheets, which provide several colors, including the light blue I used on the Mk. IX.
Cheers.
By: anneorac - 8th November 2013 at 09:38
Just to flesh it out a bit more.
R.13/4F5/6 Prop, RA.10108 Dural blades
R.13/4F5/6 Prop, RA.10107JT Jablo blades
R.14/5F5/2 Prop, RA.10129 (JT,RTS or JCS) Jablo blades
“Did Rotol change the colour of their ID disks after the war?” Not after but during the war. Sometime about 1942-43 Jablo blades standardised on the pink/red disks. Prior to that Jadlo blades with a Rotoloid covering used a white disk. Just to confuse matters the white disks were later used to signify Dural blades.
The colour of the disks on Jablo blades range from a dull matt pink to a the more common dull matt red depending on which subcontractor made them. The colour illustrated in the photo of the IWM Spit 24 is possibly a bit too intense although I should take some of the blame for that as I spent a very pleasant day Duxford advising them on the blade markings.
Anne
By: Seawinder - 8th November 2013 at 04:18
I’m sure they did at some stage, which I guess adds to the confusion! (I can’t remember if the post war disks have been discussed in detail here).
Anyway, here’s a resized picture I took of the IWM MK.24 propeller, which has the ID disk in Red.
Cheers
Paul
That nails it down. Thanks so much for the great photo!
Pip
By: Bradburger - 7th November 2013 at 23:08
Thanks, Paul. That pretty much confirms what had I thought. Now the only question is, did Rotol change the color of their ID disks after the war? If not, it would seem that the Mk. 24 had red/pink disks, as did the Mk. XII.
Cheers,
Pip
I’m sure they did at some stage, which I guess adds to the confusion! (I can’t remember if the post war disks have been discussed in detail here).
Anyway, here’s a resized picture I took of the IWM MK.24 propeller, which has the ID disk in Red.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]222760[/ATTACH]
Cheers
Paul
By: Seawinder - 7th November 2013 at 22:01
Thanks, Paul. That pretty much confirms what had I thought. Now the only question is, did Rotol change the color of their ID disks after the war? If not, it would seem that the Mk. 24 had red/pink disks, as did the Mk. XII.
Cheers,
Pip
By: Bradburger - 7th November 2013 at 19:18
Pip,
According to the info in ‘Spitfire – The History’, the MK XII (Griffon IV powered machines) had a Rotol R13/4F5/5 Propeller with Dural blades (first 6 AC only), later aircraft had the R13/4F5/6 propeller with Jablo blades, whilst the Griffon VI powered machines had the latter prop (no blade type given), but I assume them to be Jablo too.
As for the MK.24, it gives the propeller types as the Rotol R14/5F5/2 with Jablo blades.
Unfortunately, no blade design numbers are given.
EDIT
Just found this thread posted on here giving the blade numbers for the MK.24. You might have seen this one before, but just incase: –
http://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?77470-Questions-on-Spitfire-Propellers-(merged)
Cheers
Paul
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November 7, 2013 at 5:27 pm