My study of Luftwaffe propeller photos clearly shows they were made of wood with the wood showing through in a worn-out prop.
I think they used an outer layer of doped fabric as the final “skin”–like a sock streched over the whole thing and painted with nitrocellulose dope. That’s why some of the props in these photos looks like they are peeling.
My plan is to either use the hairsrpay technique or simple dry brushing to “expose” the wood color underneath the grey. However, before I begin I’d like to ask what you would do.
I normally don’t do anything with wooden props (the Germans also used metal ones, especially early in the war). The photo’s you have show very old props, so unless you wnat to portray a 70 year old aircraft, i don’t think they are a good referance. Period photo’s, albeit mainly black and white, mostly show the props in good condition. This 190D at the end of the war is a good example. The aircrfat itself looks rather the worse for wear, but the prop looks in very good condition.
Bish makes very good points, so unless your other reference photos show otherwise. I think it fine to show some discoloring, but when the wood starts showing through - time for a replacement.
The colour photos you have added do show exactly what you describe, but was this prop from storage, or still used on an aircraft? Most prop wear actually occurs on the back side, and then the leading edge. The front very little if at all, as it would require the aircraft to fly into something to cause that sort of abrasion.
With most aircraft the prop is basically stalled at the start of the takeoff run, and the turbulance is affecting practically all the blade- front and back. And, there is a lot more junk- dust, dirt and rocks- near the runway than at altitude. However, what I have seen of props does seem to show most wear on the leading edge, like the photos of the original post. I have never built a model with a painted wood prop, so don’t really know what I would do, other than try to duplicate the pictures. I think drybrushing would be the method, but the color might be a more difficult question.
