Smithmaps Posted 16 April , 2009 Share Posted 16 April , 2009 I thought I would post a couple of pictures of one of my possessions that falls into the 'Important' category. Given to me about 30 years ago, by an old gentleman at my Father's sailing club, and cherished ever since. Thought to be from the 'other' airframe to the one that the RAF Museum at Cosford are rebuilding. There were two airframes at Betchworth Lime pits in Surrey. Both purchased from the aircraft clearing centre on Croydon Airport for £25, minus engines. I believe that Hendon cleaned out Betchworth, and this is where the majority of the remains of their current build originated. I researched all this a long time ago. Enjoy Guy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smithmaps Posted 16 April , 2009 Author Share Posted 16 April , 2009 No2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waddell Posted 16 April , 2009 Share Posted 16 April , 2009 Guy, I'm jealous already. There is some lovely aluminium hand forming in that cowl. Wish it was in my garage! Scott. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dolphin Posted 16 April , 2009 Share Posted 16 April , 2009 Guy All I can say is "Wow!!" Gareth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smithmaps Posted 16 April , 2009 Author Share Posted 16 April , 2009 Guy All I can say is "Wow!!" Gareth Thanks Here is the full Monty Guy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smithmaps Posted 16 April , 2009 Author Share Posted 16 April , 2009 I also have a prop. Excuse the washing basket! Guy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beery Posted 16 April , 2009 Share Posted 16 April , 2009 There's something very attractive to me about the Sopwith Dolphin. Maybe it's just that I spent so long modifying the computer game Red Baron II to add the aircraft, but I've loved it ever since. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JPAE Posted 16 April , 2009 Share Posted 16 April , 2009 Guy, For decades I have tried to change timber into useful and attractive items, but that prop has both beauty, practicality, with sculptural and organic qualities, and it surpasses anything I've ever made. I am covetous! Phil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dolphin Posted 16 April , 2009 Share Posted 16 April , 2009 There's something very attractive to me about the Sopwith Dolphin. Yes, a much under-rated aeroplane. I've always liked the type and been interested in it since an ex-RAF pilot described it to me over 40 years ago. Gareth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smithmaps Posted 16 April , 2009 Author Share Posted 16 April , 2009 Guy, For decades I have tried to change timber into useful and attractive items, but that prop has both beauty, practicality, with sculptural and organic qualities, and it surpasses anything I've ever made. I am covetous! Phil. What about this prop then? 14' 6" Rolls Royce Condor 3 Another story Guy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JPAE Posted 16 April , 2009 Share Posted 16 April , 2009 Guy, I can feel my spokeshave quivvering in its rack! I wonder how these props were made with the technology being only a decade or so old? Were they handcrafted or made on some kind of production line? Laminated or solid? Specialist manufacturers? As usual, I know now't! Phil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CGM Posted 16 April , 2009 Share Posted 16 April , 2009 Hello Phil, I can't answer your question exactly, but I can tell you that Frederick Tibbenham Ltd of Ipswich, manufacturers of fine furniture, made wooden propellors during The Great War and WW2. http://www.oucs.ox.ac.uk/ww1lit/collection...BOX=1&REC=2 I think they would have been very well made as apparently the firm were furniture makers to King George V and Queen Mary. regards CGM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southside Bucky Posted 16 April , 2009 Share Posted 16 April , 2009 ...I wonder how these props were made with the technology being only a decade or so old? Were they handcrafted or made on some kind of production line? You can learn all about it on this excellent site: http://www.woodenpropeller.com/ Regards. Bucky Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JPAE Posted 17 April , 2009 Share Posted 17 April , 2009 Thank you, both, for those links. The young lady is armed with a spokeshave [and template], so hand crafting was, and probably is, the main requirement. Furniture makers would have had the ideal set-up to convert to the manufacture of props. I shall work my way through the dedicated site now, and hope to find details of the timber used. Thanks again Phil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smithmaps Posted 17 April , 2009 Author Share Posted 17 April , 2009 Thank you, both, for those links. The young lady is armed with a spokeshave [and template], so hand crafting was, and probably is, the main requirement. Furniture makers would have had the ideal set-up to convert to the manufacture of props. I shall work my way through the dedicated site now, and hope to find details of the timber used. Thanks again Phil. Phil, The British props used laminated Mahogany, which was first glued, then hand shaped and balanced. Propellers generally, even now, are absolute works of art. The finished item then often being French polished. They were also done to very detailed drawings of shape and section. Not an easy job. Furniture makers all over the country were ideally suited to wooden aircraft building. Guy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JPAE Posted 17 April , 2009 Share Posted 17 April , 2009 Guy, The full Monty prop., post 5, does not appear to have metal tips to either clad or extend from the ends, as with the prop on the stairs. Are these a repair/reinforcement or a later addition to the design? Phil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobL Posted 17 April , 2009 Share Posted 17 April , 2009 From memory, it seemed to be only later in the war when metal propeller tips (that extended down the leading edge) were introduced. DH4's certainly had them - here's a bench made out of DH4 propellers! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JPAE Posted 18 April , 2009 Share Posted 18 April , 2009 Were props known as airscrews in WW1? I seem to remember as a lad reading of an event in WW2 where several aircrew had turned up instead of the required props, and hence the change of term. Phil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobL Posted 21 April , 2009 Share Posted 21 April , 2009 In the 1916 booklet 'Notes on rigging for Air Mechanics', the section about Propellors is entiteld 'Propellors or "Air-Screws"', and only refers to them as propellors Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fovant Posted 21 April , 2009 Share Posted 21 April , 2009 I think technically an airscrew is at the front "pulling" the aeroplane along, a propeller is at the back and "pushes" like a ship. These fixed pitch propellers are always a compromise for best efficiency either in the climb or cruise. I know someone was was involved in formula 1 air racing around pylons. He would turn up for a race with a van full of propellers of slightly different pitch and fit the one most suited to the conditions on the day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beery Posted 22 April , 2009 Share Posted 22 April , 2009 All I know is that I hate the word 'airscrew', so I always use the word propeller. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smithmaps Posted 22 April , 2009 Author Share Posted 22 April , 2009 Guy, The full Monty prop., post 5, does not appear to have metal tips to either clad or extend from the ends, as with the prop on the stairs. Are these a repair/reinforcement or a later addition to the design? Phil. Phil, My Dolphin prop (on the stairs) has no metal tips or re inforcing. It has grey painted tips, to aid visibility when spinning. So it is just the same as the one in the picture. All I want now is a Wolesey Viper, with reduction gear to get me started on the build. Hmmmm. Guy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JPAE Posted 22 April , 2009 Share Posted 22 April , 2009 Guy, Seems like I was wrong but right at the same time. A politicians dream. The Wolesley Viper was obviously manufactured by that British firm that eventually joined with Riley, et al, to form Nuffield and then BMC, etc. I mention this as another thread hopes to find a Riley manufactured engine from WW1. The Nero seems the nearest match. Do you airmen have 'aerojumbles' where vintage parts are bought and sold, as happens in the old car world? Amazing items often turn up. Phil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobL Posted 22 April , 2009 Share Posted 22 April , 2009 There are, but the ones i've attended mostly consist of lumps of metal or gauges etc from post-WW2 aircraft, and old books and models Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Nick C Posted 25 April , 2009 Share Posted 25 April , 2009 Guy, Have just stumbled across this Forum. Wow what a great collection of Dolphin parts you have. I'm most envious. Really hope you can find that Viper to go with it. I'm currently building a full size Sopwith Snipe which has a similar top shield arrangement. Would it be possible to get some closer shots of the windscreen deflector and brackets, also the reinforcement around where the Oil filler cap goes. There's nothing like seeing the real thing when trying to replicate something. Cheers, Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now