Campbells Bluebird

I was there back in Jan 67

Just to say well done to all for securing the funding to restore K7. Nice one.

I was there back in Jan 67 as a 9 yr old watching with my Dad from the eastern shore side of Coniston water! I didnt see the crash but i did get my feet wet with the wake wave of the first run!

I saw him practice run over the days/weeks?? before. I cant really remember all that but i DO REMEMBER SITTING IN THE COCKPIT on one occasion …Yippeeee.

Even the modern alloy ones are pretty durable judging by the ammound of work they do in truck repair shops.

Okay, that’s one option, thanks! Any more out there? What do all you Spit bashers etc use to rivet the little blighters back together?

Hi Lancman, you could try atlas copco for rivet guns. I use a 1940’s one, all steel , just right for me. Newer one’s are probable alloy & steel but i prefer the older heavier type.

Steve.

Cheersfor that- Bardolph’s website is a dead end, can anyone give some contact details for them?

Bardolph Tools ! I’ve been trying to remember who we get our windy stuff from. Again, via Cromwell. (Thats been driving me mad for a week!):D

I had a look at your website, that is an amazing job you are doing there. I have a couple of old glass photo plates taken when DC visited Kingston with BlueBird, one shows him signing books and another the boat on a trailer, I’ll hunt them out and see if I can copy them on a scanner.

Okay, that’s one option, thanks! Any more out there? What do all you Spit bashers etc use to rivet the little blighters back together?

Okay, as they’re most definitely going to be needed soon and this forum has all sorts of good folk involved with putting aircraft back together, we’d like to know a really good make of rivet gun please?

Get in touch with Steve at Cromwell, Team Valley. They supply air tools to Newcastle College. Tell him John sent you….. Oh, and if you are in need of help from 100 apprentices (aircraft engineering skills) just ask…..

Okay, as they’re most definitely going to be needed soon and this forum has all sorts of good folk involved with putting aircraft back together, we’d like to know a really good make of rivet gun please?

Congratulations LancMan to you and all the Bluebird team for raising the finance and, ultimately, getting K7 back to Coniston.

A superb achievement.

Thanks for the info, Lancman!-I got the impression they just happened to be in the area and popped in!! – Hope the publicity generates lots of well deserved cash!

Not just ‘some reason’- we had a press day on Wednesday! BBC, ITV, Sky, live bits, recordedbits, every national and local paper you can think of…brilliant day, revealing K7 in it’s current ‘dry build’ state.

Our press release in full-

Virgin Trains keep Campbell’s Bluebird on the rails

As Donald Campbell’s iconic hydroplane, Bluebird K7, nears the end of a significant phase in her rebuild programme, a generous donation will help keep the project on target.

Virgin Trains has kindly donated a pair of cast metal ‘Donald Campbell’ nameplates which were previously fitted to a high-speed Super Voyager diesel train named after the famous record breaker. Appropriately their background colour is blue.

One is destined to become an attractive memento in the new Bluebird Wing of The Ruskin Museum at Coniston where the rebuilt jet-powered boat will be housed, while the other will be auctioned to help raise funds and is likely to become a highly prized collector’s item.

Regional general manager of Virgin Trains, Jane Cole said: “As train operators committed to serving Cumbria, we are delighted to help the project by donating these unique ‘Donald Campbell’ Super Voyager train nameplates.

“We are happy to pay tribute to a great pioneer in the quest for speed.”

Following a crucial grant of £250,000 from Cumbria Vision, and other donations, £527,000 has already been raised for the construction of Bluebird’s new home at The Ruskin Museum. The Bluebird Wing is due for completion later this year though further funding is needed for the museum display.

However, the rebuild of Bluebird herself is entirely dependent on supporters’ donations and sponsorship from industry.

The welcome gift from Virgin Trains coincides with the completion of a major phase in Bluebird’s return to full operating condition.

For almost a year since her reconstructed frame returned to the rebuild workshop at Tyneside, volunteers have worked untiringly to conserve, repair and rebuild her entire aluminium structure from front to back.

With approximately 98 per cent of the wreckage recovered from Coniston Water returned to the craft, Bluebird is now plainly recognisable as her former, powerful self.

Bluebird will be unveiled in this temporary condition to coincide with the presentation of the Virgin Trains nameplates, prior to being dismantled and prepared for her final build to commence later this year.

The Bluebird Project would like to thank Allan McLean, the communications manager for Virgin Trains in Scotland and north England and Will Whitehorn, the president of Virgin Galactic, for their invaluable help in the efforts to return Donald Campbell’s Bluebird to both her former glory and her spiritual home in Coniston, Cumbria.

Ends

*

Notes

Nameplate presentation: This event will take place at the Ruskin Museum, Yewdale Road, Coniston, Cumbria between 09.00 and 10.30 on Wednesday 30th July 2008. In attendance will be representatives of Virgin Trains, the Ruskin Museum and the Bluebird Project.

Unveiling of Bluebird K7: Between 14.30 and 16.00 on Wednesday 30th July 2008 Bluebird K7 and representatives of the rebuild team and museum staff will be available for interviews and photographs at Kiltech Ltd, 66 Hudson Street, North Shields, Tyne & Wear, NE30 1DL.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

The Ruskin Museum – contact Vicky Slowe 015394 41164, [email]Information@Ruskinmuseum.com[/email].

The Bluebird Project – contact Bill Smith 0191 2580611, 07721 524371, [email]Bill@BluebirdProject.com[/email]

Donald Campbell died on Coniston Water in January 1967 when Bluebird crashed while he was attempting to break his own world water speed record.

A team led by amateur diver and engineer Bill Smith recovered the wrecked craft in 2001.

Since then, the decision has been made to rebuild her to her 1967 running condition and return her to Coniston. In addition to the Cumbria Vision grant, major financial support has been received from The Garfield Weston Foundation and South Lakeland District Council, and other bodies and individuals.

So, there you go! Check this out on the BBC-

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/tyne/7534074.stm

– you can see the new seat I built for the cockpit on there, too!