Spinning props, and how best to achieve the right effect. Help please

Modeling Subjects Aircraft
1

Hi folks, I don’t usually come on to ask for advice but my 10 year old son has me dumb founded. This weekend we decided that we’d build a couple of kits together. Nothing fancy, just a couple of Airfix kits that were lieing around in my stash. However, we both normaly build jets but we decided on a Spitfire and a Hurricane this weekend for a change.
Anyway, everythings going well and we’ve just got everything together ready for paint when he says to me “Dad, how can I make the propellor look like its spinning, without it spinning?”
“Son” I said “I have no idea but I’ll find out”
So I’m here trying to find out. I remember some time ago there was an article in FSM about this. It involved using a circulr clear disc, but thats all I can remember.
Can anyone tell me how to go about making a prop spin sithout it spinning?

Oh, and he doesn’t like the idea of just cutting the blades off the hub.[:I]
Any ideas ladies and gentlemen, will be greatly appreciated, as once again I will be the Father Who Knows All!!
Cheers guys
Mark
[:D]

2

I believe some aftermarket companies sell clear plastic discs with hubs. Do a search at squadron.com.

Dan

3

here you go…

http://www.finescale.com/fsm/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=27175

hope that helps keep your title!

4

Relax, trouble is not an issue. Here you go:

(Thanks Oldhooker)

5

Thankyou, from a very happy father and son team
Mark and Ash

6

I was just about to add, see if you can get frank in on this. I’ve got that same JPG sitting on my hard drive, waiting for me to use!!

7

I’m sorry I can’t help you with any actual building tips, but in my experience from looking at actual spinning props (from one of my previous projects) they are most visible from the side, and are almost invisible from the front. By far the most convincing effect I’ve seen is oldhooker’s (the one illustrated by vance), and that’s the way I’d go.

(But if it were really me, I’d have some fun with electric motors and actually spin 'em!) [;)]

8

but Mike if you use electric motors to spin props then in multi engine aircraft you would have to reverse the polarity on the motors to get them to go in reverse so you can get the props to move in the other direction.