How to make propellors spin "with a breeze"?

[Guest]

Ok so i picked up a FineScale Modeler "Modelling Classic Combat Aircraft" book from my local library just to read for fun. In a caption of a picture of the 1/48 scale B-25D Strafer it says that "Brass tubes mounted on the propellor and inside the engines allow the props to spin with just a little breeze". It makes no further mention to this in the article, and i was wondering if anyone could tell me how this is done. Thanks.

Brian.

[Guest]

A section of the 3/32 piece was inserted in back of the spinner (after drilling to widen the hole). A section of 1/16 was used on the fuselage (after cutting off the styrene rod that came with the kit, and drilling a hole) and secured with CA glue. Be careful to drill your holes on center, to make sure that the spinner lines up with the fuse. If not, you may have to do some extra gouging and filling till it looks right. We found it helpful to align the two parts with tape to check the alignment before gluing the fuse rod. Put a drop of light oil in the larger tube (bicycle oil worked well for this). This will prevent excess glue from locking the parts up, and will of course improve spinning later on.

You're probably thinking that your planes' props can spin when you flick them with a finger. But if you're thinking of trying to make this sustained spinning effect without using brass tubes (just the native kit plastic), don't bother. The plastic is neither round enough nor smooth enough. Without brass you could blow on the prop till you're blue in the face but the prop won't spin (ask us how we know). The brass tube reduces the friction enough to make it possible.

[Guest]

Thank You! I will give that a try. The article gave me an impression that it was using some sort of counterweight system or something. Thanks again.

Brian

[Guest]

you are wlcm mate,cant do much model building so surfing for info is okay lol

mobear