Paul M

are you glassing over the foam and then using the filler or just filler? Not trying to tell you your stuff but isn't bondo polyester based? May eat through the foam [X(] Hat to see all your hard work go down the toilet

ntyhobbies

Hi Paul M,

I am using the filler (Bondo) over the foam - I tested it and it does not eat the foam like polyester resin does so all ok. My foam is high density blue core foam so I can't vouch for other foams. If anyone else is going down this route I would recommend testing on some scrap foam before laying it on your precious model [sm=cry_smile.gif]

My fuselage/hull is almost 85% covered in the filler now and will need a whole load of sanding to complete before I add a couple of layers of fibreglass - then back to light filling before the plug is finished with primer/paint for the final moulding finish. Oh, and I will also need to add the details like rivets etc! A long road, but still rolling........[sm=spinnyeyes.gif]

I will post up some pics very soon. I want to get the whole thing covered and shaped out before posting more pics.

Stay tuned!

Cheers,

Nigel

Paul M

It's a beautiful project. Do you plan on selling them if the design works as planned?

nigelw

Hey Nigel,

Just found this which might be of interest:

http://www.racingcampbells.com/content/boats.asp

Not of much use for the build but interesting nevertheless, and it emphasises the challenges of getting the fore/aft trim right and avoiding the problem of water ingestion into the engine intake.

Cheers,

NigelW

ntyhobbies

Hi Paul M,

If all goes well and the boat works as it should then I will consider selling the model in kit form................it would also depend on how many people would be interested in a kit of the model.

Cheers,

Nigel

nigelw

You can count me in as a potential buyer Nigel depending on timescales

I've just stripped and rebuilt my Phoenix turbine so will be looking for a suitable K7 hull probably soon after Xmas. Wish I had the time to do a scratch build!

Keep up the good work

Nigel W

ntyhobbies

Well............after a 5 month lay off over the winter I have started working on the K7 project as from today. Managed to lay a little more filler on the nose section - I have also had to build out the nose a little as it was looking slightly too narrow scale wise.

5 months without any progress is frustrating [&o] This has been due to the fact I am having to work outdoors and it has just been too cold to do any filling over the winter months.

I need a larger shed with heating to work in!

Progress pics will be posted very soon.......................at least I am back on track with it again so fingers crossed I can move things forward at a good pace now.

Stay tuned!

Cheers,

Nigel

Justaddwata

My Feedback: (3)

Nigel - glad to hear your still at it.

I have found dining room tables and kitchen counter tops work well in the colder months - you work faster to limit/end the loud whining noise coming from the wife too.
(on a side note - I hold no responsibility for those who try this - so please do not share my identity with your violent/angry significant other)

Dan S

Nigel,
nice build.
I always tough that he was recovered back then, but after seeing the clip again, I just realized that he was only recovered back in 2001.
34 years...wow, thats a long time.
what was preventing them to recover him sooner?
was is the depth of the water?

sorry to be off topic.

Dan.

ntyhobbies

Hi Dan,

I don't know 100% but I think part of it was they could not locate the wreckage on the lake bed. Over the following years as technology has progressed and become more accessible it was located by a privateer and the rest as they say is history

JetMonkey

Hi, have a look on this site - plenty of information on Bluebird K7 and the recovery operation

www.bluebirdproject.com

ntyhobbies

Hi there,

Managed to grab a few hours today and get some progress on the K7 plug - it's starting to get there and I am happy with the way things are shaping up so far........ here's a couple of pics from todays effort - plenty of filling,shaping,sanding....filling,sanding,shaping .....shaping,filling and sanding to go yet!







Also managed to make this over the weekend -












It's a 1/9 scale F-15 for Turbine power - it's also my first go at laying up fibreglass in a large mould - pleased with the results and it has been good practice for the K7 when the time comes to get busy with the resin and cloth

More to come soon............fingers crossed the weather stays good!

CF-FZG

Hi Nigel,

A couple of questions

How's the K7 coming on?

and

Where did you get the drawings from? (I fancy something around 1/6 or even 1/8 scale but I'm having a problem finding drawings)

ntyhobbies

Hi Mark,

The K7 progress has been slow - but have made a little progress - will hopefully get a good crack at it in a couple of weeks and really need the weather to pick up again. Will post some update pics shortly.

There are no proper model plans - I managed to get a set of very good drawings and had to scale and then print them myself. Also made some of my own templates from the drawings to aid the cutting of sponsons and canopy etc.

PM me

Cheers,

Nigel

rhicks46

Hi
Need some plans to build a k7 with a puls jet . can't find any you know of a web site?

Thank you Robert

ntyhobbies

Hi Robert,

Try here http://www.rainbowcoloured.co.uk/shop.htm

SJN

Hi Nigel, did you ever finish this boat ?

ntyhobbies

Hello Sonnich, I have not worked on the 1/4 scale Bluebird K7 since 2012! Can't believe how the years have gone by so fast! I have moved home since then and things have taken a back seat - I still have it though and will get back to it at some stage. In the meantime I have been building a smaller 1/12 scale Bluebird K7 with a micro turbine to power it - it is around 90% finished and I am hoping to complete it this year - fingers crossed ;-) The engine has already been test run in the hull (video on youtube) and it just needs a couple of bits added and then water testing can commence!

I will post up some pics if there is any interest....................

Cheers,

Nigel ;-)

SJN

you bet I want to see pictures :-)
Do you have any ideas to where a 1/6 size K7 can be bought from these days ?

I have a few turbines lying around, that could realy need a new home in a fast boat :-)

ntyhobbies

I am not sure if the 1/6 Bluebird K7 kit is still available from Speedline Models (UK) Worth contacting them maybe? I bought one of the 1/6 kits back in 2010 but didn't do anything with it and sold it a year later which I wish now I would have kept hold of it............

Here's some pics of my latest turbine K7 project -



Video of first static engine test below..................

https://youtu.be/-QoxpTgHYMY


I will get this little beast on the water for testing this coming summer and will get some more pics and video as things progress.

Cheers,

Nigel

SJN

looks awesome Nigel.

I might have found someone who wants to sell me the speedline 1/6 second hand unbuilt kit....will see how it goes :-)

I have not got a reply from speedline models store yet.
Sportsmoto who also sell jetjoe turbines seem to have a chinese version, but it does not look very scale.....they have not replied to me either.

Where do you have the CG on the K7 ?
just behind the front pontoons ?

ntyhobbies

Hi Sonnich -thanks for the comments.

Is the 1/6 K7 kit for sale here in the UK? as I have seen a Speedline 1/6 K7 kit for sale on e-bay - last week I think it was - did not sell though as the price was £499 buy now. I think I paid around £270 for mine direct from Speedline but that was back in 2010.

The CG is around the rear edge of the sponsons (pontoons) but the exact location is trial and error depending on the way you build your model.

I will have some better data when I finally get mine on the water for testing - fingers crossed it doesn't sink!

Cheers, Nigel

SJN

ohh man.....its not on there at the moment. Ill take it for 500 if it is nice and scale.
I have seen a few out there, and some of them are terrible scale wise.

hehe, just make sure that water cant enter at the exhaust area too easily, and im sure you will be fine, and not sink her :-)