Good idea Bill,

The Sprite Plus prototype build is well underway and is getting to the under-coating stage now, although a Swordsman 37 is the model I would like to build next.

I will start hunting to see if any plans for Bluebird K3 exist. At 1/12 scale it would be a handy 24" long with a 9 1/2" beam, but it may be a little more useable if it were scaled up to around 30" long.

A nice scale super-charged Rolls Royce Merlin engine would be nice.....but a brushless out-runner would be a more likely choice, facing forwards and mounted in the rear of the model with a geared drive shaft running underneath it - just like the prototype.

I can't see the launch you refer to, but if you can identify it I will see if I can find any more pictures of it for you.

...and I might get myself a nice Morgan to go with it..........and maybe a nice Land Rover too...both in the same shade of blue....

Bob.

Go for building K3 Bob. It will make for an interesting model while satisfying your “need for speed”. What would you use for power?
The launch in the background looks interesting. Any more photos of it? I’ll bet the joinery of the cabin is outstanding judging from the little that can be seen in the photo.

BLUEBIRD K3. 130mph World Water Speed Record Holder.

Bluebird K3 was a hydroplane design that was commissioned by Malcolm Campbell in 1937 to fight for the world water speed record and went on to set THREE WORLD WATER SPEED RECORDS .

Blue Bird K3 was designed by Fred Cooper, and was built out of plywood by Fred Goatley at Saunders-Roe. This small boat was only 23ft long with a 9ft 6" beam and was powered by a single Rolls Royce R racing engine.

K3 is pictured here on Lake Maggiore in Switzerland where she set her first world record in 1937 achieving 126.32mph, and then raised this record to 129.5mph the following day.

It took another year to crack the magic 130mph barrier, which was eventually achieved on 17th August 1938 on a different Swiss lake - Lake Hallwyl , with a speed of 130.91mph.

K3's hull was a Single Step Hydroplane design and had only managed to increased the previous world water speed record by 6mph. This small margin of speed increase led to the development of the next design (K4) to be changed to a Three Point Hydroplane.

This change of hull form led to a completely new hull and so K3 was retired from any future world water speed record attempts when work started on K4 the following year.

An atmospheric picture of K4 is shown here for comparison.


Bob.

Here is an interesting picture of the original K3 boat cradle - making it possible to make an authentic boat stand to display a model of Malcolm Campbell's speed boat on. I think that would be quite a nice idea.

I would like to find as many pictures as I can of Malcolm Campbells K3 and see if I can gain enough information to make a realistic looking model of this comparatively neglected member of the Campbell families unique fleet of fast speedboats.

Bob.

I think Malcolm Campbell's Bluebird K3 would make a really nice Classic Model Power Boat.

Something around 36" long should be nice and stable and able to cope with our Great British weather very nicely.

It is certainly has a distinctive shape.

Bob.

Bluebird K3 on the water at Coniston this year at the Bluebird Festival.

Bob.