Steel U-boat Propellers

[Capn Tucker]

Hi all, just joined the site, and have a question that's been bugging me for quite some time. I see where everyone builds their boats with brass or bronze colored props. According to Dougie Martindale's article, U-boats were built with bronze propellers until January 1942. After that date, due to metal shortages, propellers were made of steel. Shouldn't the props on models depicting mid to late-war boats be a steel color?

[Rokket]

yes!

[uboatfan]

NO!

All steel propellers where coated with anti-corrosion paint.
The exact coulor i do not know, but it seems that it was a dark colour. May be black or dark grey.
Uncoated steel propellers are very rusty after a short time in salt water.

Regards,

uboatfan

[GlennCauley]

This would be GREAT to get more details about (with references, if possible) for inclusion in the AMP reference guide.   

[Rokket]

ahh, I wasn't thinking about coating..yes, for model purposes, probably the hull colour with a lot of weathering would be fair

[Capn Tucker]

Thanks for the info! Hmm, so steel props would be painted. I had assumed they would be stainless steel or some such. Not something you see on anyone's models. At least none that I have seen. Will have to see if I have any photos of late war boats in dry dock, to see how the props look..

[Rokket]

Hi Glenn,

did you say something? hmmmm, thought I heard something, maybe DOUGIE did 

[OldNoob]

I would imagine with so much water force going against those props that paint would quickly wear off. I'd bet many of the steel props had a layer of rust on the edges of the blades.
Something like this:


or maybe

[Capt Kremin]

Hi all,


The steel propellers would not be stainless as chromium was in short supply with the only European source (Turkey) wrapped up by the British. Most the rest was in British controlled Southern Africa. Other deposits were in India and the USA, i.e. non German friendly countries

Regards
Jon