I would like to know who makes items to use to simulate propellers spinning? Example: use this item on helicopters or planes.
Is there a way also to scratch build these so they look realistic?
Thank you.

There's a company called Prop Blur that makes a photoetched blurred prop. I had considered trying them out, but I wasn't sure how it would look if not painted properly.

http://www.propblur.com/store/c1/PropBlur.comMain

I tried this



It was my first attempt and in 1/144, but I think it has potential. I wrote about it here...

https://wordpress.com/view/lowfivejoemodelbuilding.wordpress.com

Hope this helps.

Magnusf tackled the topic a few years ago when he did a Swedish Herk for a friend. He used clear discs and airbrushing to accomplish a pretty good look.

the problem with the clear disks to me jessie is they are too thick for scale. i was trying to find clear plastic that is just the right thickness but won't bend or flop. i tried laminating two sheets of laminate plastic together and cutting it into prop shapes but still was too soft.

joe

I find the exact opposite problem. Looked at from the sides, prop discs are thick at the root, and thin at the tips. Clear plastic and photo-etch is thin all the way. At the end of the day, it's only a representation, not an exact copy of a real aircraft (or else it would be trying to fly away).

Perhaps you could hollow out the cowlings and use cell-phone vibrator motors to spin the props?

I used Prop Blur on a 1/72 scale B-17F and really like the effect.

Very thin clear plastic lightly airbrushed:

I did mine this way after looking at ALL of the options.
Still would do it slightly different next time.