K7 BLUEBIRD

hi,
After looking at my build blogs from a few years back of  BLUBIRD K7, i thought you might like to see my build. some of the photos are not very good, but you can see most of what is wanted.
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
i started with the frames made with ply cut out with my jigsaw.i will try and post some each night as my server is very slow and takes ages to send

david

the plans i bought from my hobbies.
as with most of my builds i built this plank on frame , i find it more satisfing cutting all the lengths to size, from any old piece of pine timber. the planking worked out quite easey, as with all building you find different ways of steaming ie i boil a kettle then poor into house hold waste pipe i meter long with stopper on end then soak for 5 mins then tease it to shape with clamps as in photos
 

 
planks all cut on my table saw
url=https://servimg.com/view/18038893/84][/url]
 


david

Looks good so far David.

I like the steaming idea as I've done a few plank on frames without doing this.    There's usually one or two that refuse to bend nicely !!

Watching with interest.

Ken

hi ken,

I always use pine with minimal knots from builders cut offs floor joists are best I cut them up on my table saw ready for steaming, it makes it very plyable  do a couple at a time one each side stops the frames warping other wise they cool of to fast. mahogany bends well when steamed this way, stops the brittleness causeing it to snap, gently tease it to shape with clamps where possible.

david

hi,
 
 the pipe i use is here in this pic for steaming

the build progresses

 

 

 

 
 
well the build has reached the last of planking next job is makeing the sponsons


david

looks very interesting indeed David.............what did you power it by, or was it a static model.

will be interesting to see if powered, at what stage you mounted the motor inside the hull.
take care, neil.

hi ,

this is the bluebird site for the restoration  work www. blubirdproject.com/k7 very interesting all the work that they are doing.

david

hi neil
it is not static but will let you no later in build
well the next job was the sponsons they were made from 1.5 mm birch ply the insides were filled with polystyrene to make them as light as possible. 
 

 

 


there is more to follow tomorow with the makeing of the sponsons arm support

david

David this Bluebird  is looking good mate       

makeing the sponson supports was done by useing 1.5mm birch ply, useing my freind the kettle steamer, i soaked the ply for a minute or two then gently rolled it round the frames useing elastick bands to hold in place,(i havent mentioned glue, i find PVA and cyno work best.) these were made from balsa and pine, very similar way to makeing model planes and skining the wings.then filled with polysyrene to make light.
 

 

 

 

 
i have not heard any news yet as to when they will complete the re build of Donald campbell's boat, but they have been haveing problems with the steering links:idea:  , they dont no what or how they worked so are working blind on this. as with most of the boat has been rebuilt due to the damage they dont have drawings:study:   .
 
 
david

hi,
 
when they built the real bluebird, for all the rivit counters they recon they used over 70,000 rivits but you wont find any on mine
when i said they had no plans i meant that the ones the norris brothers made are not the best due to all the modifcations so are working blind they dont have the tooling that made certain parts.
 
well now my build, the tail fin was made again with 1.5 birch ply and pine steamed where needed.
 
url=https://servimg.com/view/18038893/100]
 
once again very much like aircraft moddelig building frame then covering in ply
 

 
next the hole to fit tail in
 

 
fin fitted to main body
 


thats it for now

david

   

hi the next job was fixing the sposons to main body. i used 1/4 inch dowell fed through the main body then through  supports to the end of sponsons.
 
url=https://servimg.com/view/18038893/105][/url]
 
url=https://servimg.com/view/18038893/106][/url]
 
url=https://servimg.com/view/18038893/107][/url]
 
this is the position of the prop shaft with 40mm prop, and the opening on the top was cut out in one piece, to make doors for access to electric side
 

 
the opening was hinged to make double door
 
the next job was makeing the canopy this i will show next
 
david

looking great David............it has come on in leaps and bounds.

neil.

one of the jobs i had to do was make the canopy which was clear glass , not having a clue what to do i went on the net and discovered how to do vac forming, never done it before but found it quiet easy .
i first made the bottom part by makeking a box then drilling lots of holes see pic

then i made the frame to fit A4 clear P.V.C. 318gsm from the card shop where my wife gets her card makeing stuff.

 
then you put the sheet in between the two frames and screw down and hold it in place.

 

this is the plug i made out of wood and shaped

 

the next process is to ask the wife if you can use the cooker
and then turn on the grill or, oven, but the  grill is better put the frame with P.V.C. sheet on  the shelf middle, and watch for the sheet to sag then connect hoover hose to bottom box and turn on hoover. pull the frame out of grill and turn on vac. carefully place the frame on the box with holes over the piece to be moulded then just like magic the shape will take place nad look like this
 

 
i hope you have been able to under stand what i have done if not just ask
 
 
few hope this comes through now
 
david

i must say that when useing the grill the frame does get hot so please wear some oven gloves dont want any claims from health and saftey: when it has cooled it should pull of   then you cut out 
 
david

Very clear instructions David. I've read about the method but never tried it. It obviously works well.

Interesting build   

Barrie

hi barrie,

thanks for comments it was a change to do something different, hope this helps, better than a bunch of grapes:)     
how are you doing now after your operation, I no you must be itching to get back to building. has there been some improvement yet or is it to early yet.

david

David,

The knee is coming on nicely thanks. Very little pain and walking well without crutches, however, somewhere along the line I injured my back and trying to get THAT pain under control has take a long time. I had my first pain free night last night  
Been off my food because of the pain killers so feeling a little weak. If all goes well I should start building later this week.

Barrie

the next job was doing the water test in my garden pond and all looked good sat on the water great .
 

 

 
now the water test has been done the painting and motor where fitted. i have been useing a graupner speed 600 on 8.4 volts, it moves her pretty well but no way will it go on the plane. so i found a bigger motor which i got from our club auction some years ago. i think it is a speed 800 nominal volts but as i dont have a lot of room for big battery i made up my own 12 volt nimh 4000 mah. this was very much the same but less time on the water. so i now just sail it round our lake for about 10 mins then thats it.
i have been told to get a brushless motor but what i need to make it plane is in the £50 plus mark and i dont have that sort of money. so there it lies i take it out odd times thats all.
 
this is the motor in now and all painted up.
 


david

these are pictuers of the rudder but dont have any pics makeing it.i have to have two as when i sail with the standard rudder it wont turn as it was built for straight runnig so i unclip and fix one double size and then it turns also it is not centerd with prop as the water brake runs down where prop shaft fits. as it was jet propelled and had no prop.
 

 
this shows my cock pit canopy i made
 


thats it for tonight i have had enough in agony

will post finish tomorrow

david

here is the finish of my build.
 

 

 

 this shows the steering linkage

you can just make out how the steering linkage works on this photo as well
 

 
this shows were donald cmpbell had fitted spray guards as he found it was sucking in water through the air intakes.
 

 
as i said earlyer where the prop shaft comes out is where the water brake is fitted, hence why you see what looks like a block is
that is all he had to slow it down.
well thats all there is hope you enjoyed my build it is one of my pride and joy's love it:D   . and one day hope to get it planeing.    
thanks for looking
 
david

Very impressive David. Do you know what KV rating you need for a brushless motor?

Barrie

hi barrie,

 I haven't a clue about them barrie, only when ever i show her people say get brushless but when I ask what I need they go silent. I have looked on giant cod and they start of very small kv. so I think I must need something  with sum umph  5,000 kv I think, then you need the speed controller and the £££ mount up do I need water cooling      don't have that sort of money going spare 
keep hopeing   might drop one of      

david

Ebay or Hobby King have a large range of brushless motors and speed controllers at low prices David.
The boat looks great.      

David,

I doubt you need anything like 5000KV. I run some pretty fast launches on 1200 - 1500 kv motors on either 7.4 volts or 11.1v. I cant see your K7 needing more power than that. I can lend you a motor and ESC if you are interested to give it a try.

Barrie

EXCELLENT.........I LOVE IT/

hi barrie,

thanks for your kind offer of the loan of motor, could you tell me the size of the can of the motors you use for your fast boats, as I say this is what is confusing me, I am going of the size of the motor I have in now which is brushed, do you no what equivalent size is in brushless for size 800 brushed. also do you use these new type lipos for power.  

thanks david

David,

My motors are all 22mm diameter. The one I was offering is rated at about 1400Kv (I think) so that on your 12volt pack it would give a no-load speed of about 17,000 rpm. I use it with 11.1 volt LiPo, but it will happily run on NiMh.

I don't know how this compares to your 800 series, but it drives my 30 inch Adamcraft Seaplane Tender onto the plane easily.

Barrie

This is the motor - although it now has a different ESC

David,

Its not just my knees that have gone - its the brain also.   I've just checked that motor and its a 28mm not 22, and its 1650 KV, which on 12 volts gives nearly 20,000rpm. Giant Shark price is currently £4.68.

http://www.giantshark.co.uk/product/167464/cf2812-1650kv-brushless-outrunner-motor-

Barrie

hi barrie,

I have looked and looked at them and thought no you must need the similar size can to the brushed motor. cant believe that will move something the size of your boat. and at that price it wont break the bank. I have totally been misreading all this brushless info. thought it was like for like and the bigger they go the more the £s. I will try one from giant shark and see what happens don't mind £4.68.

thanks david

David,

Dont forget you also need an ESC to match. I have used this one with a similar motor http://www.giantshark.co.uk/product/168537/ez-run-18a-w-reverse-program-brushless-esc. I think I have the programme card for it - much easier than counting 'bleeps'   Let me know if you want to borrow it.

Barrie