The Bluebird Project

Rich is the man for molasses. We have a modern day equivalent in a barrel that Chemetall made up for us. Either way, we have the capability to get the rust off.

Good to see you feeling on form Ernie. If it were me? Well, it's not ever going to be used for it's purpose again, so I would give it a good clean (Naptha, or even WD40), which will clean a keep it fairly preserved, maybe a mild abrasive, so that you can see the metal, and not the rust, and then mount it on a wooden holder. The museum curator in my says, it is as it was, complete with history. If it were usable, yep the engineer in me would say, getting working if it it was by turning it by hand, but keep it as original as possible. Final option, good clean, and make a replica!!!

Whatever you decide will be right, it's yours. Take care my friend

Thank you for the varied suggestions it gives Elaine and I some options to think about. Mounting it on a board seems a good idea maybe with all his medals.

BTW I forgot to ask, does anyone know exactly where the water pick up was on K4?

To the left (as you would sit in her) of the rudder post Ernie.

Thanks for replying Steve. Do you mean It's fixed under the hull or mounted on the transom left of the rudder post. Is it the same sort of set up as on K3. BTW I am building it as in it's original form 1939.

Cheers
Ernie

Hi Ernie, I guessed it would be the original 1939 spec, and for this, I only have drawings, which show a K3 type pipe and scoop mounted on the transon, just to the left of the rudder post. The only photo I can find at present is the prop rider and that is no use at all. I have some colour ones of the 39 spec, but when DC used her, which I can only assume it was rebuilt off the drawings as was in 39. If I can find something "concrete", I'll let you know. If anyone emails me, II won't get it at present as EE, having taken over what was Orange, seem to have deleted me!!

De grease then soak in pure Lincoln molasses... Jet wash it off after a week, whilst wet all the seized bolts etc will now be able to spin free.

Dismantle, clean and polish, re assemble them mount onto a nice plinth and be done with.

This picture puzzles me, because it shows the scoop, but no skeg, or skeg mounts, and Corlett is showing the modified prop.