Tech advice please!

For the past few years, I have been following with great interest, the rebuilding of VS Seafire FR Mk. 47, VP441, in the US. I have recently received from the restorers, Ezell Aviation, several photos showing the latest developments.

Both props have now been fitted to the aircraft. These have drawn comment from several people who have seen the photos. As these props are ex-Shackleton units, as is the engine, their original diameter is too large and they have had to be cut down. This has been done by cutting off a section of the tip of each blade. The squared off prop tips have drawn comment from those that have seen the photos.

I am no technical guru, and would never profess to be one. However, it seems to me that this is probably the only way to go. By cropping just the tips of the blades, I would think that it is possible to achieve a far better balance of all of them (exact amounts cut from each tip) and alleviate any possible problems later from blades that are not balanced. To try and remove exact amounts from the leading and trailing edges of the blades in order to give them a more pointed profile towards the tip might, I think, lead to all sorts of problems when trying to balance all six.

I would be interested in the comments of the technically minded members of the board.

Regards,

Laurie