I have been trying and experimenting with different ways to make stationary propellors appear to be moving ever since I started modeling. Well I think I finally found something that works. Heres a B&W picture I took for one of those easy classes you get to take your senior year of college.
Supplies.
Clear Overhead Projector inkjet transparencies (get at staples or walmart)
Inkjet Printer
Appropriate artwork
I Created this Image using Adobe Illustrator
Sized it to the apropriate diameter for the propellor, and then printed it out on the inkjet clear transparencies. You can then use a circle cutter to cut it out. I think this turned out very well and it is also very simple. Feel free to use this artwork to try it out.
I’ve been thinking of using my dremel sorta like a lathe with some lexan, getting it somewhat circular with a hole in center to mount it on the bit for polishing or cutting bits. I have no idea if it’ll work but I’ll post it if it does.
i’ve also snipped the prop blads but thats just leaves the aircraft looking naked to me. I’ve tried all kinds of stuff with painting clear styrene and stuff but i just dont have the skill to paint it successfully. I think this way turned out really nice
Hey toother, that’s pretty cool! I’ve also heard of making a template and sort of painting on a plastic disc. Also there’s a photo etched piece I saw on aircraft rescorce center that’s pretty neat. I like yours, pretty neat and simple!
I think its a great idea!.. I would suggest printing it to size on some clear sticker film, and like max said then transfer it to a sturdy clear plastic piece cut in a circle to the diameter of the blades, and then you have your spinning blade effect… The only problem with the one you have shown above, is it appears to be good for a 4 bladed aircraft like a Mustang. So you would need to do a 3 blade one for other aircraft… Also you would also have to ad in the yellow propeler tips for added effect…
Looks good, and I like the effect. If you want to take it a step further, I would have all of the prominant sections of the image move in a slight curve out from the center to give it a bit more of a sense of motion and scale, since points further away from the center would be travelling at a greater speed than those closer to the center.
Radmax-Those things sure do get everywhere. It isnt actually on the B&W print. It was actually stuck to the scanner glass. THEY ARE EVERYWHERE in my modeling area.
As far as the technique it wasnt meant to be the only way to do one just a way that i thought was incredibly easy. I have been aware of other ways and i felt this way was by far the easiest (considering it took me all of about 27 seconds to make) and it gives a very nice effect. If you dont like it i’m sure there is something out there you would like, I just figured for somebody looking for something easy this would work. And I really think as far as photographing models this one works incredibly well due to the thin transparency film you dont actually see the side of a plastic disc which I have had problems with in the past. I’m about to finnish the model up today and tomorrow, so there will be full color pictures. The yellow is on the disc however it just doenst show up great on that photo.
I personally like your technique for a static in-motion display and have saved it in my reference files. [:)]
One of the more rewarding aspects of these forums is experimenting with various techniques that you’ve learned/saw, to achieve the desired affect for the application at hand; thus enriching this community as a whole. It’s not about who’s is best, it’s about putting everyone’s input into the pot and developing ones own techniques from that mixture.
If photography is the objective, it seems the ultimate illusion would be no illusion at all, but real spinning propeller/s via a hand held fan. (distance from wind source determines high or low RPMs)
Thank you, and I look forward to seeing the finished product! [:)]
Sized it to the apropriate diameter for the propellor, and then printed it out on the inkjet clear transparencies. You can then use a circle cutter to cut it out. I think this turned out very well and it is also very simple. Feel free to use this artwork to try it out.