Writer illustrator 20th C architecture art engineering. Interests Modern Movement and British High Tech including Patera Building and Potteries recent heritage.
Joined July 2015
- Tweets 7,725
- Following 5,881
- Followers 2,085
- Likes 18,253
1,208 Photos and videos
Pinned Tweet
9 Apr 2025
The Patera Building prototype manufactured in Stoke-on-Trent in 1982 is included on the C20 Society Risk List 2025 @C20Society
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Jun 14
The casual reader might wonder how exactly Bluebird Project (BBP) were “engaged as volunteers” to restore Bluebird K7 to its 4/1/67 fully operational glory over a two-decades plus period. Read all about K7’s history, engage and sign the petition. @bluebirdk7
Ensure Bluebird K7 is restored to its rightful condition - Sign the Petition! c.org/sg2GT6kpP5 via @UKChange
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Jun 13
From Loch Fad’s 2018 pilot @bluebirdk7
This came up today on my feed so I thought I’d share it as I know there is a lot of frustration as to the current physical and political state of Blubird K7. Give the public showing Your Support c.org/L2ypQ9kBKG via @UKChange
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Jun 13
Correction, Brian tells us there have been petitions before - to do with the museum’s legal proceedings by the looks. @bluebirdk7
Jun 13
Not the first time, nor even the second.
change.org/p/the-bluebird-pr…
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Jun 13
See replies @bluebirdk7
Jun 13
Before I vote. Can you explain on thing. Who are the bluebird project ?
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Jun 13
First time in Donald Campbell’s Bluebird K7’s fascinating 71-year history that the public have been consulted about its future. Engage Folks!
Ensure Bluebird K7 is restored to its rightful condition - Sign the Petition! c.org/sg2GT6kpP5 via @UKChange
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Jun 12
Test out public opinion!
Ensure Bluebird K7 is restored to its rightful condition - Sign the Petition! c.org/sg2GT6kpP5 via @UKChange
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Jun 12
Test out public opinion!
Jun 12
Ensure Bluebird K7 is restored to its rightful condition - Sign the Petition! c.org/TqPmGJGjYb via @UKChange
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Jun 12
Test public opinion!
Ensure Bluebird K7 is restored to its rightful condition - Sign the Petition! c.org/FybLsCFxc8 via @UKChange
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Jun 11
Here’s an interesting comparison with K7 @bluebirdk7 The SCVA is GradeII* listed - yet they’re talking about putting incongruous PV panels as replacement panels - abandoning the original listing criteria - the panelling system. c20society.org.uk/news/91-2-…
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Jun 11
This UEA museum has secured a £91.2M grant to carry out the work on the Foster Associates 1970s building. There’s a note of warning here - national design icons can receive inordinate amounts of grant funding - these are corporate values at work. Food for thought @bluebirdk7 ?
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Jun 5
I don’t remember this @bluebirdk7 Perplexity says there were more than one set of bikes that went down in Strangford Lough?
Jun 4
En 1985, el barco de Joey Dunlop se hundió de camino al TT de la Isla de Man, llevándose consigo sus motocicletas. Rescatado y reconstruido, convirtió el desastre en triunfo, ganando un histórico triplete en el TT: Junior, Fórmula 1 y Senior. El "Rey de las Carreteras" no dejó que un poco de agua lo detuviera.
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Jun 4
Q. to Google: Do Ruskin Museum use volunteers?
A. “The museum has historically engaged skilled volunteers for major restoration and exhibition efforts, such as the famous Bluebird K7 project.” I wonder who put this slant on things? @bluebirdk7
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Jun 4
The RM website K7 Timeline page really is extraordinary. 6,852 words long. Very little about K7’s provenance. But, Bill Smith is mentioned 72 times, without a single good word to say about him. Obsessive some might say? @bluebirdk7
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May 31
What happened to that post with a facebook (RM) link that made some serious allegations against Bill and BBP? @bluebirdk7
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May 30
Of interest to @BluebirdK7 followers.
May 30
サイドカーのピッチングが起きる軸は3つあります。
荷重によって生まれるピッチングは今回無視して、空力だけに注目します。
青①はここにダウンフォースを発生させるような装置がある場合、高速走行をするとリアタイヤを浮き上がらせようとする力が働きます。70年代に長方形に近いサイドカーがデビューした時期がありましたがその理由から断念されています。
赤②ここに強いダウンフォースが発生した場合、フロントタイヤの荷重が抜けますが駆動する後輪のトラクションがあり側輪も設置しているため浮き続けるようなことがない限り、直線であれば大事には至りません。
緑③が今回発生したような側車がリフトしてしまった場合の軸です。これが高速左コーナーや速度が出ている直線でフロア下の空力バランスが狂って発生した場合、非常に危険です。予想できているならまだしも、突発的に路面のギャップで側輪が大きくはねた場合や突風の影響を受けるとコントロールすることは困難になります。
前輪と後輪の中心線は進行方向に対してオフセットされている(これも最大量の規定がある)ため、直線で大きく側輪がリフトするとマシンは左にハンドルを切ったような状態になり、横転しようとする力が増すのです。
そのため「捻れるように横転するクラッシュ」を起こすのです。
この事象に関しては上記以外にも複数の要素があります。
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May 20
Seems likely that the Patera Building prototype will remain in its semi-dismantled state for the foreseeable future as the long process of rehousing Billingsgate/Smithfield markets gets underway.
9 Apr 2025
The Patera Building prototype manufactured in Stoke-on-Trent in 1982 is included on the C20 Society Risk List 2025 @C20Society
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May 17
More amateur footage - together with “Absolutely amazing to see…” @bluebirdk7 - it looks like the abuse of a precious piece of heritage to me! K7 wasn’t designed to be flogged like this. If anything it’s testament to the quality of the rebuild that it can withstand the abuse.
May 16
Absolutely amazing to see Bluebird K7 on Coniston water today.
It’s a shame we didn’t see a run at speed due to technical and weather issues but you have to appreciate how precious and old she is.
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May 16
1/2 Anyone interested in The Potteries’ heritage should watch last night’s Repair Shop on the Road. It tells of how a factory set up in Bridgnorth in 2000 took the order for 37,500 floor tiles replacements for AWN Pugin’s designs for Houses of Parliament. @fslconsult
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May 16
2/2 The story goes that Pugin sketched his designs on the train to Stoke station where he was greeted by his friend Herbert Minton. What does it say about our heritage? Why weren’t we at the front of the queue - when neither cost nor delivery dates were issues? @danro_art
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