Elementary!

Thank you Watson LOL!

Martin555.

Well done Martin, (or should I say Sherlock 555)!!😊
JB

Well done Martin - nice to know what it was - cant understand how it kept upright even if tethered.......That was a good guess by Marky too

Just like buses,"you don't see one then two come along at once".just a lucky guess about the propeller Martin.👍

I thought I would add the photos just in case the eBay addvert disappears.

Vintage French Model Speed Boat 1930's rechord Hydroplane.

Martin555.

I think my secret is safe LOL!

Martin555.

Know the feeling (don't tell anyone though!😮)
😎

Just luck Admiral just luck!!

Martin555.

Sure looks like it.
Well done Commander. BRAVO ZULU 👍
The "French Connection" is proven!

Marky,
It looks like you were spot on.

Martin555.

Hi Guys,
Maybe this has solved the mystery.
I have just seen this on eBay.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VINTAGE-FRENCH-MODEL-SPEED-BOAT-1930S-RECORD-RARE-HYDROPLANE-DECO/123887723705?hash=item1cd848a4b9:g:1tUAAOSwtchdZCyG

Martin555.

Could a motor with a propeller have been previously fitted where the newish copper tube now sits ?
Cheers Marky

Doesn't smell of fireworks I think it's a fairly new copper pipe made to look like some sort of exhaust, theres no scorch Mark's and has been painted at end to look like its some type of exhaust., I'm wondering that the thin bolt is original and has blue paint on it just like the boat and may have had a little motor on with some sort of blades like on an aircraft, but no idea really.

Dose the tube smell as if it had a firework in it ?
I am thinking it could be an early jet type straight runner. Maybe!

Martin555.

It seems to be balsa wood, with a frame somewhat like an aircraft wing making the front can feel by pressing that there is a frame segmented underneath compartmentalised, back is more rigid/solid, the base is flat but curved up from the step to the pointed nose. It could of been built in sections but with amount of paint I cant see any joints. the aerodynamic behind the cockpit is solid wood and back seems to be solid too, with regards to the decals, I think someone has added them later as dont look as old as the paintwork, the r.a.f looking circle is painted red over a decal with pale white and a slightly darker blue than the paintwork, the copper tube looks to have been glued on and wood has been removed to slot it on, has a 4inch very slim bolt with a very small thin nut on it inside the tube maybe something was there before but not sure same with rudder at back this is metal and on the same type of bolt, at least it could be rudder as was originally on top and didn't look right so I moved it underneath, there may have been a figure at sometime as there is a hole for legs. Very interesting the comments and appreciated as it's just got something about it. And would love to find out age of it or model type or as some have suggested it's been made from something else?.

As do us all Martin as do us all👍

I too would like a younger brain Red, preferably one that works a lot better than mine and if I am not being to greedy a fitter body to go with it.LOL!

No problem Martin - no need for apologies - thats what we all do . Wish I could resolve the niggle - oh for a younger brain again !

Sorry Red,
It me jumping in with my size nines again.

Martin555.

Get you Martin - but I was kind of asking what type - IE pine or Balsa - then does it float ? etc

Hi Red,
I think in the original post it mentioned being made from wood.

Martin555.

We lived across the road from a beach in Auckland for many years, and I remember a guy had a Sunderland wing float with the back end squared off, and an outboard mount built on it. probably powered with a Seagull or similar. Didn't look like it would have been too stable.

You are right Doug - but I get this little niggle still.
What put me off the floats is they have a v bottom - this one appears to be flat - which is why I thought of a 3 pointer hydro centre in the first place - one thing we have not asked is what is it made from ? is it light or heavy ? Could be the so called exhaust is the mounting point for the outriggers...........
Or maybe an Airship...........like R1

Who knows where those old birds, or parts of 'em, ended up Red?
Maybe a French fan got hold of a float?
I wondered about the "R-1"!
Could equally well be just a complete fantasy build 😉
Cheers, Doug 😎

Don't think so Doug - think we are looking for something French as you pointed out. Looked at all the floatplane plans and plans for floats - nothing there in my collection. But somewhere have seen a similar object ..........

Maybe a float from a Beriev R-1 Flying Boat?
https://www.google.com/search?q=beriev+r-1&client=firefox-b-d&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=yQXY4b8Vmuc1FM%253A%252CEw_8hWpQV2bTvM%252C_&vet=1&usg=AI4_-kQe8fPxL109_VGAG7D0N-FUVz2Ufw&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjs_pyU8JHkAhVmwsQBHYvoCKEQ9QEwAXoECAUQBg#imgrc=fnAVbU_6KFwNuM:&vet=1

http://www.aviastar.org/air/russia/be_r-1.php

Cheer, Doug

don't know what it is ,but I really like it 🚤👍

Could be a rough crack at the original Bluebird K3 ?

Silly of me - the light blue would tie in with being French too of course. Having had the roundels on the RRAF aircraft and flag - should have known better ........
A distant bell is ringing - seems familiar somehow. Cant quite put a finger on it.
Brings to mind the attempt on a water speed record by some of the staff members - a 22' odd hydro powered by a Rolls Royce Griffin (ex Mk22 Spitfire) turned into the worlds fastest submarine (for a very short distance) on launching at Lake Kyle............

"OR more likely it may be a float off a floatplane - turned into a boat"
I'm with you Red👍
But can't be an RAF Roundel cos the red an the blue are bassackwards!
Must be French. Unless that's green in the middle, then it's Italian.
Cheers, Doug 😎

Definitely not a Bluebird - perhaps part of a 3 point hydro like this R1 at Elmbridge 2018 ...........
OR more likely it may be a float off a floatplane - turned into a boat- most of those had a hydro type step to get the aircraft off the water more easily - the roundels seem to be a RAF ones so its probably one - who knows it may even be a model of someones conversion........