Sounds excruciating but – you may consider it a mere scratch after the following.

I gather it happened 30-odd years ago and a chap on a Triumph came to a similarly abrupt halt, or rather the bike did. He slid up the tank and “through” the handlebars, performing on the way a permanent and total castration before destroying his legs on the ‘bars. I don’t know if he actually lost his legs but even if not they don’t work at all and he’s spent the time since in a wheelchair. A contemporary of his was telling me about it in the pub one night while pointing at the junction where it happened. Brought a pain to the trouser area just hearing about it.

Just a scratch Al.

Release mechanism from the Mayo Composite?

I hope not, I’d already discarded that idea!

The 2 pics/links posted for P.40 and P.38 have ali blades so that doesn’t help.

I rest my case. 🙂

In the same area is Pecorama at Beer. It’s basically a showcase for Peco modelling products but has pleasant gardens with a mile of garden railway. Might be good for the family.
Somewhere called Beer has got to be worth a visit. 🙂

I thought Al’s minimal injuries were only to others, he’s made a quite a mess of himself at times. 🙂

I must admit I’d assumed the prop was fixed pitch from the size of the hub, but the early “bracket type” hubs were quite small, IIRC.

It’s still the steel blades that’s puzzling me most. Apart from the huge post-war hollow DH props, I’ve never heard of them.

I wonder if the twisting ws the Reed patent.

Anson and Chesapeake had 2 blades, Albacore, B.17, B.24, C.60, Beaufort and Sea Otter were VP. Anybody know about the Martinet?