Fairey Reed propeller markings

Fairey Aviation Propeller drawings

Hi all,

I’ve been having a rummage around the filing cabinet tonight as I knew there were some Fairey Aviation drawings/blueprints in there.

I’ve come across the following types:

A66753 for Gipsy Major 1, 8 & 10mk2 (pics attached showing drawing extracts) for Chipmunk and Auster

A66875 for Gipsy Major 1C, 10mk1-1, 10mk1-3, and 10mk1-7
for Miles Gemini
(the pic showing special finish for racing isn’t particularly clear but states: Propellers manufactured for racing purposes on the WPO Nos quoted below must have the rear face of the blades painted with matt black paint to DTD34 and subsequently rubbed down with fine rubbing paper to produce a smooth surface before application of the yellow tips.

This is for WPO C4345 and C4904

A66167 for Walter Mikron II for Tipsy B and Fairey Junior

A67931 for Gipsy Major 10mk2 for SAAB Safir

All the above drawings only give details for the blades to be anodised and dyed black and then yellow paint applied to the tips, with the exception of the racing propellers mentioned above. The only part to be painted black are the bosses, with the exception of the faces which contact the blade or the hub flanges.

On the drawings there is an area depicted on the blade which is not far out from the painted markings shown in the other pictures, this is detailed as being for the surface table and c/l of the surface table where the tracking dimensions are taken from. So although the painted line may not be on the blade from manufacture, perhaps as part of the checking of the blade tracking there is a painted datum and that’s what the line is????

Some of the blueprints are stamped up WESTLAND Engineering Division 24 Sep 1984, when my father obtained these from Westland he was told that these would be the only copies as they were going to destroy the others they held, how true that would be I don;t know.

If you need anymore detailed views of the drawings let me know and I’ll see what I can do as they are too big to scan areas, but may be able to manage more pictures.

Hope that’s of some use!

Regards

Dave

Have searched through all my old 1030’s/40’s/50’s maintenance books and there is only one reference to ‘decorative markings’ which also mentioned “makers labels”. I can assure you that the stripes are not used for tracking (done at the tips) or alignment, also done at the tips when the prop is mounted on the surface table.

Although I never came across this while overhauling props at CFS Aeroproducts, I’d give them a call as they have a lot of technical manuals on such things!!

http://www.cfsaero.com/contact-us.php

Stan,

Thanks for that. It may not be in the painting of the prop. If the markings are for blade tracking or alignment then their application may be detailed elsewhere in the manual under those types of headings. Any chance you could have a look? It need not be red, either (I’ve seen blue, red, white).

Lee

Have just unearthed the F.A.C prop overhaul manual and the only instruction for painting are:-
clean with cellulose thinners
prime with D.T.D 314 (stores ref 33B/210)
air dry 8 hours
Spray Matt Black D.T.D 314 (stores ref 33B/204)
mask off 4 ” of the tip
Spray Identification Yellow D.T.D 314 ( stores ref 33B/1781)
air dry for 3 hours
As an alternative, blades may be dyed black iaw R.D.E. spec D.H.9
No mention at all of the red stripe.

Yes Matt, I agree with that. I think old Harry was just using something that was there to get the message through to “Silly little arses” like me.

There may be no technical reason for it at all, it may just be the way fairey marked its props. No reason for it, just thats how they marked them.

Firstly I must say that I am not a prop expert …
But to me the stripe does not ‘look’ like a datum mark for blade angle checks.

Conspicuity mark ?? well could be I suppose since one does get odd visual effect with a rotating prop (but I am doubtful about that theory).

Is it merely coincidence that the curtiss reed also had an oblique stripe (but as the makers logo) ??

Edit…might that fit in with Smans largest image in post 2 ?

Sadly I think neither theories are correct. The 4″ yellow tips are there for conspicuity and it doesn’t account for the angle of the stripe. Likewise the notion that it denoted the position for hand-swinging the prop (which Ian D Huntley reckoned it was for) as this marking was applied to come FR props which were simply far too big for hand-swinging. And again it doesn’t explain the angle.

:confused:

Many moons ago when I were but a pup, my old engineering Mentor told me it was for visibility (as were the yellow tips) so silly little arses like me wouldn’t walk in to them and also that that is where one grasped the blade when one was swinging to start the engine.It was red to warn silly little arses like me that it was dangerous and remind me to exercise extreme care when swinging. Now in my dotage it seems a bit far fetched, but it always reminds me of those Halycon days of Tigers, Austers, Fox and Dragon. (All of which I still have.)

Looking at the photos of the Supermarine S.6 aircraft, the stripe appears to be at an angle of between 26 and 28 degrees. That said, of course, the last one slopes in the opposite direction despite seemingly rotating in the same direction.

Baffling!

Well it certainly sounds plausible. But I’ve heard and read other theories. Would appreciate knowing for certain, and how it should be applied (ie angle/stroke etc).

I always thought it was the point at which the pitch was set??? Nothing to back this up mind just something I was told once!!

Well, here’s a selection of Fairey Reed racing props, all the same generation, and there does not appear to be a concensus. Also the stripe is in pale blue.