KoolWheelz Land Speederz - Page 12

**airdave** · #**111** 08-14-2015, 08:12 AM

Apparently there is no actual category in Land Speed records for a "wheel driven car".
Land Speed Records are categorized commonly by engine types.
And, there are basic classifications based on vehicle type. (eg Motorcycles 2 and 3 wheel, Trucks, etc)

Up to 1963, all Land Speed records were wheel driven vehicles.
But with the usage of jet and Rocket engines, a separate distinction had to be introduced.
And Records are often modified to show Wheel driven versus Thrust powered vehicles.

In 1964, Donald Campbell, son of Sir Malcolm Campbell (Bluebird), drove his own Bluebird-Proteus CN7 car to over 400mph.
Setting a Land Speed record of 403mph...with a top speed of more than 440mph, the CN7 became the fastest wheel driven car ever.

The very large, and overly aerodynamic Bluebird-Proteus CN7 was powered by a Gas Turbine aircraft engine driving all four wheels
through two separate (front and rear) Prop shafts. The engine produced over 4000 horsepower.

Conditions on the Bonneville Salt Flats on that record setting day were far less than optimal,
and it is widely accepted that the car would have easily run over 450mph.
Its also widely agreed upon that with a few more tests the car would have broken the 500mph barrier*..

(*Thats still faster than the current 470mph LSR for a wheel driven vehicle, set in 2001, by Don Vesco and his Turbinator!)

Before making any more runs in the Proteus CN7, Donald Campbell was killed attempting to set a Speed record on the water, in his Bluebird K7 watercraft.

The 1960 Campbell Bluebird-Proteus CN7 is now available in KoolWheelz style!
You can find it in the Speederz section (on the Racerz page) at www.cutandfold.info.

**rockpaperscissor** · #**112** 08-14-2015, 08:42 AM

Many thanks, Dave. She's a real beauty. Interesting background info, too.

**DWest** · #**113** 08-14-2015, 08:47 AM

Thanks Dave for all of the Koolwheelz models, they are awesome!

**airdave** · #**114** 08-14-2015, 09:00 AM

I'm staring at these pics and thinking I should have narrowed up those fender arches.
Just a bit...at the tops...
because they are very square and wide.

Oh well...what do I know...
I ain't gonna change it now. lol

But, I do appreciate your comments.
It may not be perfect, but I'm glad you like it anyway.

Who is going to make up a cool display?

**rockpaperscissor** · #**115** 08-14-2015, 09:50 AM

I'm thinking of modifying one of the new WoPT photo frames. I'm sure there are free panoramic backgrounds of Bonneville that could be used. The fender tops are a bit wide. I suppose the builder could trim them to a coke bottle shape to make them thinner at the top of the arch. That might work.

**rickstef** · #**116** 08-14-2015, 09:54 AM

This is a picture of the Blue Flame after I finished it,

Placed the model on some "white" construction paper to represent salt, and the picture was taken near dusk in my backyard, showing some of the sky in the background, reminds me of the mountains in the distance at Bonneville

**Wad Cutter** · #**117** 08-14-2015, 11:09 AM

Rick, this is a beautiful model you made. I love the design of it as it reminds me of one of the USA Spirit of America Jet car. One of my favorites. Thank you for sharing, great job. Love it. wc

**airdave** · #**118** 08-14-2015, 11:27 AM

I don't think I am going to bother with a model of the Blue Flame.
Mainly because there is already a small scale model available (as you see in Rick's post)

and because I would literally have to copy the design.
And I wouldn't want to be accused of just stealing the artwork.

I have studied the assembly and it is exactly how I would do a KoolWheelz version.
Except maybe the wheels on mine would be flat/thin because of the small scale.
The taper in the rear of the fuselage results in multiple fuselage pieces
and the coned nose is exactly my method.

Even the cockpit windscreen design I would have to steal!
I don't see a simpler way of doing it.

Only thing wrong with that model is the fuselage shape.
I too, might opt for a tubular fuselage...
but the Blue Flame is actually triangular tubular, not round tubular.

hmmm...maybe I should do one...

**rickstef** · #**119** 08-14-2015, 11:32 AM

Dave,

The scale on my Blue Flame is 1:43

**airdave** · #**120** 08-14-2015, 12:11 PM

Yes, I am aware.
So, 1/64 wouldn't be a lot smaller...maybe 3/4 of what you got now.

I don't know...it will not be a priority thing.

In regards to the non-round fuselage,
I must reveal I cheated on the Budweiser Rocket car too.

That fuselage is also not a round tube.
The underside is stretched to a point...like a boat keel.
It helps counteract the air pressure that builds up under the vehicle at speed.
The keel cuts through the air, pushing it aside like a wake.