I recall a picture in an old Air Classics of the Whittington’s P-51H at Reno sporting what was identified as a Rotol 5 blade propellor. I always assumed it was a Griffon Spit prop but, for obvious reasons, that can’t be. Why this just ocurred to me I don’t know but now I am intrigued. The only application I can recall of a Rotol 5 blader set up to run clockwise would have been for the P-51J. If that is not the case then where did the prop come from? Is it possible to put the blades from a Merlin Spit into the Griffon hub and run it clockwise or some such scenario? If that prop was from the P-51J then my question is how many were made and just how rare of an item would that be? TIA!
By: Chad Veich - 27th February 2004 at 23:28
Mark12, thanks for the response. I had not even considered the spinner issue. From my modeling experience I’m pretty confident that the Griffon Spit spinner is somewhat larger than a stock Mustang unit. I don’t imagine it would be impossible to modify a stock unit for five blades or even have an entirely new spinner custom made. If it were an expiramental item I imagine it must be a pretty rare unit. Although I don’t recall the details I know someone was piecing together a G or J Mustang. Sounds like something they could use. Wonder where it went after the Whittington’s removed it from the ‘stang?
By: Mark12 - 27th February 2004 at 23:05
Fuji,
Yes and with a Shack Griffon engine.
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Chad,
I remember that shot of a five blade Merlin Mustang.
Technically I believe it would be possible to fit the Rotol five blade hub to a Packard Merlin engine fitted with an English spline output shaft. Five Mk IX Spitfire blades should go into the Griffon hub and connect to the Griffon pitch control piston. Plumbing, CSU, calibration and controls would need sorting. With luck the five blade Spitfire spinner nose cone might just fit.
That said I suspect the prop was an an experimental Rotol supplied item to the Military or North American.
Mark
By: Chad Veich - 27th February 2004 at 22:57
Fuji, I’m not speaking of the racer “Precious Metal” but of their stock P-51H Mustang.
By: fuji - 27th February 2004 at 22:51
I believe Whittington ran a contra Shack prop.
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February 27, 2004 at 10:43 pm