Do Screws (Props) Tarnish?

Dave,

Ship screws are normally cast and machined from phosphor bronze.  They do oxidize to a fairly

dark brownish color once the oxidation process is complete. Look around for old statues or, if you're

reasonably near a seaport, take a drive and look at real ship screws.  An unloaded ship will show at least

a couple of blades...

Good luck

Ray

tarnish:        

shiny brass:

I think you would find most ship screws looking pretty ugly after a period of time.

An interesting fact that I have read from those on this forum who've actually sailed large motor ships.

The props get a definite finish from the content of the water in which they turn.

Pumice in particular in glacial waters is a big one.

But here's the rub. It sounds like in the last couple of months there's an interest being gained in true coloration below the water line. No longer will the first evening of a ship model be spent spraying flat red oxide on the bottom, and calling that finished (?).

Interesting development....

I wonder, with most manufacturers of ship kits calling for brass color, if  they do not understand there is a difference between brass and bronze.  I have only seen small craft, speedboats and such, with brass propellers.  Is this a language problem?  Are alloys like brass and bronze called different things in different languages, or are they still brass and bronze?  I know these alloys have a lot of different mixtures within each type, but there is still a  difference between brass and bronze.

There is a recent thread 'Propeller and hull color' with quite a few pictures. 

The light grey I drybrushed on the screws came out looking similar to the photo above with ship in drydock.  Thanks guys for the education!

Thanks,

Dave

FYI, this is a close up of a prop blade just after being burnished in the shipyard: