Need help identifying this propeller blade.

markt073 · Apr 19, 2020

A friend gave me this propeller blade and I'm trying to get details on it in terms of make/model and aircraft/engine it may have come from.

Below are some pictures of what numbers I could recover off its base and I would appreciate any help anyone could provide.

Cheers,

MarkT

Michael Hope · Apr 21, 2020

It is Hamilton Standard blade basic model 6477, paddle type blade used on the DC-3, B-17, B-24, PBY, basically anything that used the Wright 1820 and P&W 1830. From the serial number it was made by Nash Kelvinator under contract. It is missing the two steel thrust washer from the blade butt.

markt073 · Apr 21, 2020

Michael Hope said:
It is Hamilton Standard blade basic model 6477, paddle type blade used on the DC-3, B-17, B-24, PBY, basically anything that used the Wright 1820 and P&W 1830. From the serial number it was made by Nash Kelvinator under contract. It is missing the two steel thrust washer from the blade butt.

Awesome. Thanks a lot for the information.

I'm in Abbotsford, BC, Canada where I got the blade. During the war under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP), B-24 Liberator crews were trained in Abbotsford (CYXX) and at Boundary Bay (CZBB).

So, there's a fairly good chance it came from a B-24.

Given the pitting, I'm inclined to avoid polishing it to a mirror finish as it would remove a lot of metal. Rather, I'm considering painting it as it would have apppeared when mounted on a B-24.

Would you happen to know where I could get details on the markings that would have been on it when it was mounted?

Thanks again!

DerAdlerIstGelandet · Apr 21, 2020

markt073 said:
Awesome. Thanks a lot for the information.

I'm in Abbotsford, BC, Canada where I got the blade. During the war under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP), B-24 Liberator crews were trained in Abbotsford (CYXX) and at Boundary Bay (CZBB).

So, there's a fairly good chance it came from a B-24.

Given the pitting, I'm inclined to avoid polishing it to a mirror finish as it would remove a lot of metal. Rather, I'm considering painting it as it would have apppeared when mounted on a B-24.

Would you happen to know where I could get details on the markings that would have been on it when it was mounted?

Thanks again!

Since this will only be a display piece, you could remove the pitting to prevent further pitting, and then fill it in using Bondo Metal Filler. Sand it down to a smooth even surface, and prime it. Then paint it the colors you want. As a display piece it will look as good as new.

Michael Hope · Apr 22, 2020

markt073 said:
Awesome. Thanks a lot for the information.

I'm in Abbotsford, BC, Canada where I got the blade. During the war under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP), B-24 Liberator crews were trained in Abbotsford (CYXX) and at Boundary Bay (CZBB).

So, there's a fairly good chance it came from a B-24.

Given the pitting, I'm inclined to avoid polishing it to a mirror finish as it would remove a lot of metal. Rather, I'm considering painting it as it would have apppeared when mounted on a B-24.

Would you happen to know where I could get details on the markings that would have been on it when it was mounted?

Thanks again!

The following instructions assume that you take correct personal protection, for any dust and from any chemicals that are used.
To get rid of the corrosion pitting, you would need to blast the corrosion with Aluminum oxide, to get all of the corrosion material out of the bottom of the pits, you would be surprized at how large these pits actual are, as the grow under the surface. If you do not remove it completely then it will keep growing. After all of the corrosion is gone I would suggest that entire area is coated with a surface protectant, like "Alodine" by using the cleaner, and then the protectant, once it is dry then you can decide on how to fill the holes left in the blade, whether to fill them or leave open and just paint over.

markt073 · Apr 22, 2020

DerAdlerIstGelandet said:
Since this will only be a display piece, you could remove the pitting to prevent further pitting, and then fill it in using Bondo Metal Filler. Sand it down to a smooth even surface, and prime it. Then paint it the colors you want. As a display piece it will look as good as new.

I think that will be my long term plan down the road. Right now, it will sit in my office showing its "patina" while I also figure out how to mount a more stable base to it so it won't tip over easily.

markt073 · Apr 22, 2020

Michael Hope said:
The following instructions assume that you take correct personal protection, for any dust and from any chemicals that are used.
To get rid of the corrosion pitting, you would need to blast the corrosion with Aluminum oxide, to get all of the corrosion material out of the bottom of the pits, you would be surprized at how large these pits actual are, as the grow under the surface. If you do not remove it completely then it will keep growing. After all of the corrosion is gone I would suggest that entire area is coated with a surface protectant, like "Alodine" by using the cleaner, and then the protectant, once it is dry then you can decide on how to fill the holes left in the blade, whether to fill them or leave open and just paint over.

Thanks for the instructions. I might see if there are any local shops that can do that type of cleaning. Hopefully in the mean time, the corrosion is slow with the blade sitting indoors in my home office.

Michael Hope · Apr 22, 2020

markt073 said:
I think that will be my long term plan down the road. Right now, it will sit in my office showing its "patina" while I also figure out how to mount a more stable base to it so it won't tip over easily.

If you knock of the two little pins on the blade butt of the blade will sit flat very well, they are hardened steel and hard to break off. The two little pins are the blade drive pins that are used to hold the blade shims and thrust plate that are used to set up the propeller when assembled.
A interesting fact about the pins stick out, when the blades are stored and are slightly tipping over it takes only a slight bump to make it tip over, but when there several blades stand next to each they all fall. I have had this happen to myself, I have seen it happen to others, and heard stories of hundreds of blades tumbling over like dominos.

markt073 · Apr 22, 2020

Michael Hope said:
If you knock of the two little pins on the blade butt of the blade will sit flat very well, they are hardened steel and hard to break off. The two little pins are the blade drive pins that are used to hold the blade shims and thrust plate that are used to set up the propeller when assembled.
A interesting fact about the pins stick out, when the blades are stored and are slightly tipping over it takes only a slight bump to make it tip over, but when there several blades stand next to each they all fall. I have had this happen to myself, I have seen it happen to others, and heard stories of hundreds of blades tumbling over like dominos.

Yikes! I can only imaging the "Oh no..." moment though as a series of these began to fall...

I ground off those pins yesterday as a matter of fact and found that it sits on a hard floor reasonably well if not bumped too hard. Unfortunately, I have carpet in my office so it's leaning against a corner for the time being while I figure out how to make a base to give it more stability. I'm thinking a base that resembles a giant thumb tack and makes use of the hole in the base to get stability. I'm open to other ideas for sure...

Need help identifying this propeller blade.

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