MGB, I do agree with your point(s), but there is also the downside for the troll perpetrator - that is his identity is known, and it only reflects badly upon himself and those he supports or is involved with. Remember, this forum is publicly viewable, so there is no escaping or talking his way out of it if it ever hit a wider audience and came under scrutiny. From that perspective, let him hang himself.

@Renegadenemo you'd hope so. Unfortunately, it doesn't appear that way. It almost appears as though they want the Deed of Gift broken. Effectively, if the RM demand the salvaged parts of K7 back, they're in breach of contract with the CFHT. Perhaps that is their ultimate aim? If it's not, then they need to step back and stop poking the bear.

@Engine 711, in a legal sense, no. Emotions don't come into it. Hence the suggestion JC is compromised, and should step aside. His personal relationships are clouding his judgement perhaps, and he is not acting in the interest of the RM.

@Engine 711, I don't think they should be involved at all, period. It's between the RM and the BBP. Speaking of the RM, you rarely, if ever hear from any of the other trustees regarding this debacle, only Jeff Carroll. One has to ask if he's acting alone. Given he is personal friends of the Campbells, perhaps he should also step aside and allow a neutral trustee to speak with the BBP? One could easily come to the conclusion that he is compromised and might be acting in the Campbells interest, rather than the RM's.

@Engine 711, just spotted your edit. Actually, it should only be the RM and BBP involved in these discussions, as the CFHT hold no legal title to K7, unless the RM don't comply with the Deed of Gift. The CFHT need to take a huge step back and let the RM and BBP sort their differences out. Their "influence" isn't allowing these talks to happen, so one has to wonder if they want the terms of the DoG to be breached? If that isn't the case, stepping back and keeping quiet would be within their interest.

No idea. As I said, it's the only thing I can think of, albeit, totally unrelated.

@Engine 711, all good. I wasn't speaking about you so much as a few more prominent people who regularly trot out "What DMC would have thought/wanted" to the mainstream media.

@Engine 711, I've never been one to put words in a dead man's mouth, so who knows what DMC would have made of it? It's about time all sides stopped doing that. To be honest, Donald is long gone. He's not coming back. While he is much missed by his family and those who admired him; it is unfair to use him as, for lack of better word, a "tool", when trying to influence public opinion. Donald may be gone, but K7 has been brought back to life by a loving and dedicated team. She has a bright future, but some people stuck firmly in the past or who hold grudges over inane things are hampering that.

The only "Great Gathering" I can think of is getting the surviving LNER A4's together to celebrate the anniversary of Mallard breaking the speed record for steam locomotives.

@Engine 711, indeed. Either way, they aren't doing themselves any favours by trolling this forum. This is all publicly viewable and only hurts their own cause.

No idea. Also note the syntax has changed. Either it's another person posting from the same account, or he has sobered up?

@Engine 711 sorry, my bad. I didn't mean to tag you in that post. It was more a general comment for those gathered as to who it is. Ah yes...Starship Bluebird...😂

@Engine 711 if you haven't worked it out, "brianthegun" is Brian Eastham.

What a shame. A great opportunity to reset completely dashed.

It doesn't matter. We've all been involved to some degree, Best leave it go. It'll fix.

Personally, I think that it's best everyone steps back and stops speculating. We need to allow things to cool off, and water to flow under the bridge. We the supporters also need to down fists, as continually being at each others throats isn't helping anything - it simply inflames things further. We need to recognise our differences; be able to agree to disagree, and help both the BBP and the RM to work together to achieve the common goal of caring for K7 into the future harmoniously. I know I've played my part in the "Us Versus Them" arguing and debates, and I'll admit fault too. The BBP team are right about going quiet. We the supporters need to stop and reset too. There are plenty of related subjects that can be discussed, but the bickering has to stop.

I can't fault that logic either. The only part where my crystal balls prediction differs: I hear the Ruskin asking: "May we display her now?" I hear the CFHT saying "You can't have the boat anymore as you didn't meet your obligations as per the Deed of Gift(s).". I see the Ruskin trustees realising they have been well and truly had, walking away empty handed, realising the BBP were right all along. Cue visions of touring with old teddy bears etc. Disclaimer: the same disclaimer as andyjscull's post.

@andyjscull, you're right about the first bit: what happens with K7 now is up to the RM, as they hold the legal title to the original parts, unless their agreement with the Campbell family is broken. Even then, it has sod-all to do with Eastham. It'll be up to the CFHT, of which he is not a member. Not sure how they'd go at raiding parts off of K777 either. Isn't it all welded together? They might be able to get the Orph out of it if the owner is agreeable. Then there is the question of whether or not it's been inhibited properly, presuming it hasn't been started since the boat last went on the water.

Did he really? That is rather optimistic. What he and the museum trustees fail to realise, is that there is a good reason it's taken this long to get K7 to where it is. Everything pretty much had to be reverse engineered; appropriate parts sourced, or built entirely from scratch to match the original in every detail. The museum might have a small head start with the space frame having been rebuilt, but that's about it. Two years seems like it'll be a rush job to me, where compromises will be made to meet their ludicrous deadline. Another thing which keeps getting overlooked is when the museum trustees and Gina Campbell complain to the media about the Bluebird Wing of the museum being ready for ten years - the museum were extremely lucky to obtain funding for it in short order, so they could afford to pay a commercial construction company to build it for them fairly quickly. Had they relied on volunteer labour as the BBP have done in most cases, then no doubt their Bluebird Wing would be only half finished. There is no comparison between the two, and that needs to be placed on the record.

@Engine 711 Danos are cool. Don't have one myself yet. Don't mind Telecasters either.