K7 Bluebird

[785boats]

I need some opinions /suggestions from those experienced in running riggers & hydros.
In the attached drawings you will see a planing wedge in the center of the transom as opposed to the small sponsons attatched to the side of the hull we see on most R/C riggers.
Obviously required for a jet propelled version.
As I'm building it as a surface drive version I was wondering if it would upset the water flow to the prop. Or would it be best to leave it out? Bear in mind that I'm attempting to build a 'scale' replica.
If it were to remain what sort of strut depth & angle in relation to the wedge do you think would be a good starting point? Should it be shallower in depth maybe?
Any insight would be most welcome.
Cheers.
Paul.

[785boats]

I dragged this old thing out from storage the other day, with the view to finishing it off. Good Lord. It's been 7 years since it was started.

Somewhere in that 7 years I had put the side skins on it so here is how it looked when I dusted it off.

Also, the first thing I noticed was that I missed out cutting the edges of the planing wedges on the sponsons at 45 degrees. So that was the first job.
Simply planed them off & epoxied on a piece of 0.6mm ply, then sanded them flush.

[785boats]

The next job was the front deck & cockpit area. A simple piece of 12mm balsa does the trick. I had a pilot & a perspex canopy for it somewhere. The hunt is on.

Then on Friday night I cut the urethane foam blocks for the cowling & got them all glued in & roughly shaped.

Last night was the final sanding & shaping.
Once that was done I cut the ply formers & removed the center section. This needed to be shortened each end slightly to allow a piece of 0.8mm ply to be epoxied on for strength & to keep the shape.
It all just needs glassing now.

[srislash]

Hey this is a nice build. A nice classic!

Shawn

[boredom.is.me]

Talk about a blast from the past!

[785boats]

Yep. She's a famous old boat.

[785boats]

A bit more progress over the last couple of days.
I removed the front two pieces of foam so I could epoxy in the spars for the sponsons, and add a couple of bracing blocks on the sides. I even added a piece od old carbon arrow shaft onto the spars for extra strength.
The bottom of the rear spar had to be cut out so I could slide the batteries up under the cockpit, hence the bracing blocks.
But the top aluminium spars met in the middle so I epoxied a piece of 1/8" ply top & bottom of them across the join to brace them. And a piece of carbon arrow shaft too. It's all pretty solid.
Then I glued the two pieces of foam back into place, & fiberglassed the three cowl sections.
Another coat of resin tomorow & then some sanding & filling.

Bottom of rear spar with carbon shaft & support blocks.
m_001.jpg

Spar cut flush with support blocks to allow batteries to fit.
m_003.jpg

Top of rear spar, & bottom of front spar added.
m_005.jpg

Ply doubler & carbon shaft added across the join of the top spar sections
m_006.jpg

The three cowling sections all glassed up.
m_008.jpg

[785boats]

A bit more work done last night & today.
Firstly I added a couple of pieces of 0.8mm ply to the edges on the hatch opening for the hatch to sit on. Then trimmed the glass on the cowlings to fit.
I epoxied on the front deck, & sanded it to shape. Then I cut a shallow groove for the top section of the front spar. That was then epoxied & screwed onto the hull.
It's recessed a bit below the finish surface, so I can add a skim coat of some auto body filler over the area to bring it flush with the deck.

The next project was to start on the cockpit. I found some good photos to help with that. Even a drawing of the dash board. So I can make one of them to fit in to it too.
I found the perspex canopy. It was for a P-51 Mustang. So I cut that in half & with a bit of heat at the rear part it should bend around the rear frame.
The pilot is still missing in action. I'm sure I'll find him though.

The ply trimming to the hatch opening
m_004.jpg

The cowling all trimmed & sanded.
m_003.jpg

The cockpit & canopy started. The top front spar section glued & screwed to the deck.
m_001.jpg

Canopy & splash guard details.
Donald-Campbell-credit-Paul-Allenby.jpg

The dashboard.
bluebird-k7-005.jpg

[NativePaul]

Very nice Paul.

Have you seen Mark's 1/7th K7 over on AStec Models? http://astecmodels.myfreeforum.org/v...php?f=11&t=533


I know it is the wrong Campbell and wrong Bluebird, but this is me in my younger days at Campbell Lake.

[785boats]

Hi Paul. Thanks for posting that.
No. I hadn't seen it, but it is a truly beautiful piece of work. And a good read.
I was convinced, by everything I had read when I started this model, that the inlets were way too small for an EDF to get the boat up over the hump & onto the plane. Unfortunately Marks problem has confirmed it. With the improvement of batteries & EDF units, since I started this boat, I was considering trying one. But I will definitely stay with a normal prop set up now.

I was actually born & lived in Crawley until we moved out here to Australia. I was about 5 years old I think. Apparantly we didn't live far from the Norris brothers' workshops.

Smooth looking dude in your younger days eh!

[785boats]

Starting to look like the real thing now.
Made the tail fin from some 1/8 ply & balsa
I also carved out the air intakes for a bit more realism, instead of just painting the bulkhead black.
Still in the process of filling & sanding.

[modvp55]

Looking good. Talked with Ken Warby awhile back, he was asked to drive the boat once restoration/rebuild is complete. I only know Ken because my father was part of the Hustler crew and our business did some repairs to the Hustler 20 or so years ago.

[785boats]

Well I'm going to ask you for a big favour then.
I've decided that after I finish the Bluebird, I'm going to build a few more WWSR boats.
I'm currently sketching up some plans for Kens' Spirit of Australia from some simple line drawings found on the net.
But LeeTaylors' Hustler is definitely on the list after that one. If you, or your father, can track down any line drawings or plans showing the bulkhead sections & elevations etc, that I can draw up some plans from I would very much appreciate it. I can't seem to find any.
Here's a few others that I am hoping to build. I have drawings for the Crusader, & Miss Britain III so they will be easy.

[modvp55]

I am going out to Ca in a couple days so will ask dad if he has anything. I know Rich Hallet built the hull but he has passed, his son lived in Lake Havasu last I heard. I can do a little checking for you.

[785boats]

That would be fantastic.I really appreciate what ever you can turn up.
Thanks.
Paul.