diff --git a/hack/update-generated.sh b/hack/update-generated.sh
index c10d17e2dd..22c72dbac0 100755
--- a/hack/update-generated.sh
+++ b/hack/update-generated.sh
@@ -39,13 +39,13 @@ go generate ./...
 deepcopy-gen -i ./pkg/cluster/config/ -O zz_generated.deepcopy --go-header-file hack/boilerplate.go.txt
 defaulter-gen -i ./pkg/cluster/config/ -O zz_generated.default --go-header-file hack/boilerplate.go.txt
 
-deepcopy-gen -i ./pkg/cluster/config/v1alpha1 -O zz_generated.deepcopy --go-header-file hack/boilerplate.go.txt
-defaulter-gen -i ./pkg/cluster/config/v1alpha1 -O zz_generated.default --go-header-file hack/boilerplate.go.txt
-conversion-gen -i ./pkg/cluster/config/v1alpha1 -O zz_generated.conversion --go-header-file hack/boilerplate.go.txt
-
 deepcopy-gen -i ./pkg/cluster/config/v1alpha2 -O zz_generated.deepcopy --go-header-file hack/boilerplate.go.txt
 defaulter-gen -i ./pkg/cluster/config/v1alpha2 -O zz_generated.default --go-header-file hack/boilerplate.go.txt
 conversion-gen -i ./pkg/cluster/config/v1alpha2 -O zz_generated.conversion --go-header-file hack/boilerplate.go.txt
 
+deepcopy-gen -i ./pkg/cluster/config/v1alpha3 -O zz_generated.deepcopy --go-header-file hack/boilerplate.go.txt
+defaulter-gen -i ./pkg/cluster/config/v1alpha3 -O zz_generated.default --go-header-file hack/boilerplate.go.txt
+conversion-gen -i ./pkg/cluster/config/v1alpha3 -O zz_generated.conversion --go-header-file hack/boilerplate.go.txt
+
 # gofmt the tree
 find . -path "./vendor" -prune -o -name "*.go" -type f -print0 | xargs -0 gofmt -s -w
diff --git a/hack/verify-golint.sh b/hack/verify-golint.sh
index 3b3a5aec36..6d3c589fb5 100755
--- a/hack/verify-golint.sh
+++ b/hack/verify-golint.sh
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ get_golint() {
 GOLINT="${GOLINT:-$(get_golint)}"
 
 # we need to do this because golint ./... matches vendor...
-# we also further filter out generated k8s api code in the config v1alpha1 package
+# we also further filter out generated k8s api code in the config packages
 # which unfortunately fails lint due to apimachinery conventions ...
 # TODO(fabrizio pandini): makes this smarter (skip only one file)
 # TODO(bentheelder): we also have to skip hack/tools for now because this is just
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ GOLINT="${GOLINT:-$(get_golint)}"
 # TODO(bentheelder): find a solution that does not depend on GO111MODULE="off"
 GO111MODULE="off" go list ./... | \
   grep -v '^hack/tools$' |\
-  grep -v '^sigs.k8s.io/kind/pkg/cluster/config/v1alpha1$' | \
   grep -v '^sigs.k8s.io/kind/pkg/cluster/config/v1alpha2$' | \
+  grep -v '^sigs.k8s.io/kind/pkg/cluster/config/v1alpha3$' | \
   grep -v '^sigs.k8s.io/kind/pkg/cluster/config$' | \
   xargs -L1 "${GOLINT}" -set_exit_status
diff --git a/pkg/cluster/config/default.go b/pkg/cluster/config/default.go
index 5d04789f20..2e4e34d650 100644
--- a/pkg/cluster/config/default.go
+++ b/pkg/cluster/config/default.go
@@ -26,8 +26,8 @@ func addDefaultingFuncs(scheme *runtime.Scheme) error {
 	return RegisterDefaults(scheme)
 }
 
-// SetDefaults_Config sets uninitialized fields to their default value.
-func SetDefaults_Config(obj *Config) {
+// SetDefaults_Cluster sets uninitialized fields to their default value.
+func SetDefaults_Cluster(obj *Cluster) {
 	if len(obj.Nodes) == 0 {
 		obj.Nodes = []Node{
 			{
diff --git a/pkg/cluster/config/encoding/scheme.go b/pkg/cluster/config/encoding/scheme.go
index a9be462ecd..910ea134f2 100644
--- a/pkg/cluster/config/encoding/scheme.go
+++ b/pkg/cluster/config/encoding/scheme.go
@@ -26,8 +26,8 @@ import (
 	utilruntime "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/util/runtime"
 
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kind/pkg/cluster/config"
-	"sigs.k8s.io/kind/pkg/cluster/config/v1alpha1"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kind/pkg/cluster/config/v1alpha2"
+	"sigs.k8s.io/kind/pkg/cluster/config/v1alpha3"
 )
 
 // Scheme is the runtime.Scheme to which all `kind` config API versions and types are registered.
@@ -43,16 +43,16 @@ func init() {
 // AddToScheme builds the scheme using all known `kind` API versions.
 func AddToScheme(scheme *runtime.Scheme) {
 	utilruntime.Must(config.AddToScheme(scheme))
-	utilruntime.Must(v1alpha1.AddToScheme(scheme))
+	utilruntime.Must(v1alpha3.AddToScheme(scheme))
 	utilruntime.Must(v1alpha2.AddToScheme(scheme))
-	utilruntime.Must(scheme.SetVersionPriority(v1alpha2.SchemeGroupVersion))
+	utilruntime.Must(scheme.SetVersionPriority(v1alpha3.SchemeGroupVersion))
 }
 
 // Load reads the file at path and attempts to convert into a `kind` Config; the file
 // can be one of the different API versions defined in scheme.
 // If path == "" then the default config is returned
-func Load(path string) (*config.Config, error) {
-	var latestPublicConfig = &v1alpha2.Config{}
+func Load(path string) (*config.Cluster, error) {
+	var latestPublicConfig = &v1alpha3.Cluster{}
 
 	if path != "" {
 		// read in file
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ func Load(path string) (*config.Config, error) {
 
 		// decode data into a internal api Config object because
 		// to leverage on conversion functions for all the api versions
-		var cfg = &config.Config{}
+		var cfg = &config.Cluster{}
 		err = runtime.DecodeInto(Codecs.UniversalDecoder(), contents, cfg)
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, errors.Wrap(err, "decoding failure")
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ func Load(path string) (*config.Config, error) {
 	Scheme.Default(latestPublicConfig)
 
 	// converts to internal config
-	var cfg = &config.Config{}
+	var cfg = &config.Cluster{}
 	Scheme.Convert(latestPublicConfig, cfg, nil)
 
 	// unmarshal the file content into a `kind` Config
diff --git a/pkg/cluster/config/encoding/scheme_test.go b/pkg/cluster/config/encoding/scheme_test.go
index 3d8ef75ef6..a832dbfa87 100644
--- a/pkg/cluster/config/encoding/scheme_test.go
+++ b/pkg/cluster/config/encoding/scheme_test.go
@@ -33,18 +33,6 @@ func TestLoadCurrent(t *testing.T) {
 			ExpectReplicas: []string{"control-plane"}, // no config (empty config path) should return a single node cluster
 			ExpectError:    false,
 		},
-		{
-			TestName:       "v1alpha1 minimal",
-			Path:           "./testdata/v1alpha1/valid-minimal.yaml",
-			ExpectReplicas: []string{"control-plane"},
-			ExpectError:    false,
-		},
-		{
-			TestName:       "v1alpha1 with lifecyclehooks",
-			Path:           "./testdata/v1alpha1/valid-with-lifecyclehooks.yaml",
-			ExpectReplicas: []string{"control-plane"},
-			ExpectError:    false,
-		},
 		{
 			TestName:       "v1alpha2 minimal",
 			Path:           "./testdata/v1alpha2/valid-minimal.yaml",
diff --git a/pkg/cluster/config/encoding/testdata/v1alpha1/valid-minimal.yaml b/pkg/cluster/config/encoding/testdata/v1alpha1/valid-minimal.yaml
deleted file mode 100644
index b92ad3c077..0000000000
--- a/pkg/cluster/config/encoding/testdata/v1alpha1/valid-minimal.yaml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,3 +0,0 @@
-# technically valid, minimal config file
-kind: Config
-apiVersion: kind.sigs.k8s.io/v1alpha1
diff --git a/pkg/cluster/config/encoding/testdata/v1alpha1/valid-with-lifecyclehooks.yaml b/pkg/cluster/config/encoding/testdata/v1alpha1/valid-with-lifecyclehooks.yaml
deleted file mode 100644
index aa63d33270..0000000000
--- a/pkg/cluster/config/encoding/testdata/v1alpha1/valid-with-lifecyclehooks.yaml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,9 +0,0 @@
-kind: Config
-apiVersion: kind.sigs.k8s.io/v1alpha1
-ControlPlane:
-  nodeLifecycle:
-    preKubeadm:
-    - name: "pull an image"
-      command: [ "docker", "pull", "ubuntu" ]
-    - name: "pull another image"
-      command: [ "docker", "pull", "debian" ]
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/pkg/cluster/config/fuzzer/fuzzer.go b/pkg/cluster/config/fuzzer/fuzzer.go
index 825717d259..63cf7150ac 100644
--- a/pkg/cluster/config/fuzzer/fuzzer.go
+++ b/pkg/cluster/config/fuzzer/fuzzer.go
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ func Funcs(codecs runtimeserializer.CodecFactory) []interface{} {
 	}
 }
 
-func fuzzConfig(obj *config.Config, c fuzz.Continue) {
+func fuzzConfig(obj *config.Cluster, c fuzz.Continue) {
 	c.FuzzNoCustom(obj)
 
 	// Pinning values for fields that get defaults if fuzz value is empty string or nil
diff --git a/pkg/cluster/config/register.go b/pkg/cluster/config/register.go
index fef52b593f..3474f6e346 100644
--- a/pkg/cluster/config/register.go
+++ b/pkg/cluster/config/register.go
@@ -40,12 +40,12 @@ func init() {
 	// We only register manually written functions here. The registration of the
 	// generated functions takes place in the generated files. The separation
 	// makes the code compile even when the generated files are missing.
-	localSchemeBuilder.Register(addKnownTypes)
+	localSchemeBuilder.Register(addKnownTypes, addDefaultingFuncs)
 }
 
 func addKnownTypes(scheme *runtime.Scheme) error {
 	scheme.AddKnownTypes(SchemeGroupVersion,
-		&Config{},
+		&Cluster{},
 	)
 
 	return nil
diff --git a/pkg/cluster/config/types.go b/pkg/cluster/config/types.go
index bf178d4a68..48dc10936e 100644
--- a/pkg/cluster/config/types.go
+++ b/pkg/cluster/config/types.go
@@ -25,58 +25,60 @@ import (
 
 // +k8s:deepcopy-gen:interfaces=k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/runtime.Object
 
-// Config groups all nodes in the `kind` Config.
-type Config struct {
+// Cluster contains kind cluster configuration
+type Cluster struct {
 	// TypeMeta representing the type of the object and its API schema version.
 	metav1.TypeMeta
 
-	// Nodes contains the list of nodes defined in the `kind` Config
-	Nodes []Node `json:"nodes,"`
-}
+	// Nodes contains the list of nodes defined in the `kind` Cluster
+	// If unset this will default to a single control-plane node
+	// Note that if more than one control plane is specified, an external
+	// control plane load balancer will be provisioned implicitly
+	Nodes []Node
+
+	/* Advanced fields */
 
-// Node contains settings for a node in the `kind` Config.
-// A node in kind config represent a container that will be provisioned with all the components
-// required for the assigned role in the Kubernetes cluster.
-// If replicas is set, the desired node replica number will be generated.
-type Node struct {
-	// Replicas is the number of desired node replicas.
-	// Defaults to 1
-	Replicas *int32
-	// Role defines the role of the node in the in the Kubernetes cluster managed by `kind`
-	// Defaults to "control-plane"
-	Role NodeRole
-	// Image is the node image to use when running the cluster
-	// TODO(bentheelder): split this into image and tag?
-	Image string
 	// KubeadmConfigPatches are applied to the generated kubeadm config as
 	// strategic merge patches to `kustomize build` internally
 	// https://github.com/kubernetes/community/blob/master/contributors/devel/strategic-merge-patch.md
 	// This should be an inline yaml blob-string
 	KubeadmConfigPatches []string
+
 	// KubeadmConfigPatchesJSON6902 are applied to the generated kubeadm config
 	// as patchesJson6902 to `kustomize build`
 	KubeadmConfigPatchesJSON6902 []kustomize.PatchJSON6902
+}
+
+// Node contains settings for a node in the `kind` Cluster.
+// A node in kind config represent a container that will be provisioned with all the components
+// required for the assigned role in the Kubernetes cluster
+type Node struct {
+	// Role defines the role of the node in the in the Kubernetes cluster
+	// created by kind
+	//
+	// Defaults to "control-plane"
+	Role NodeRole
+
+	// Image is the node image to use when creating this node
+	// If unset a default image will be used, see defaults.Image
+	Image string
+
+	/* Advanced fields */
+
 	// ExtraMounts describes additional mount points for the node container
-	// These may be used to bind a hostpath
-	ExtraMounts []cri.Mount `json:"extraMounts,omitempty"`
+	// These may be used to bind a hostPath
+	ExtraMounts []cri.Mount
 }
 
 // NodeRole defines possible role for nodes in a Kubernetes cluster managed by `kind`
 type NodeRole string
 
 const (
-	// ControlPlaneRole identifies a node that hosts a Kubernetes control-plane
-	// NB. in single node clusters, control-plane nodes act also as a worker nodes
+	// ControlPlaneRole identifies a node that hosts a Kubernetes control-plane.
+	// NOTE: in single node clusters, control-plane nodes act also as a worker
+	// nodes, in which case the taint will be removed. see:
+	// https://kubernetes.io/docs/setup/independent/create-cluster-kubeadm/#control-plane-node-isolation
 	ControlPlaneRole NodeRole = "control-plane"
 	// WorkerRole identifies a node that hosts a Kubernetes worker
 	WorkerRole NodeRole = "worker"
-	// ExternalEtcdRole identifies a node that hosts an external-etcd instance.
-	// WARNING: this node type is not yet implemented!
-	// Please note that `kind` nodes hosting external etcd are not kubernetes nodes
-	ExternalEtcdRole NodeRole = "external-etcd"
-	// ExternalLoadBalancerRole identifies a node that hosts an external load balancer for API server
-	// in HA configurations.
-	// WARNING: this node type is not yet implemented!
-	// Please note that `kind` nodes hosting external load balancer are not kubernetes nodes
-	ExternalLoadBalancerRole NodeRole = "external-load-balancer"
 )
diff --git a/pkg/cluster/config/v1alpha1/conversion.go b/pkg/cluster/config/v1alpha1/conversion.go
deleted file mode 100644
index 27f885d3bb..0000000000
--- a/pkg/cluster/config/v1alpha1/conversion.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,70 +0,0 @@
-/*
-Copyright 2018 The Kubernetes Authors.
-
-Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
-you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
-You may obtain a copy of the License at
-
-    http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
-
-Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
-distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
-WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
-See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
-limitations under the License.
-*/
-
-package v1alpha1
-
-import (
-	unsafe "unsafe"
-
-	"github.com/pkg/errors"
-	conversion "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/conversion"
-	"sigs.k8s.io/kind/pkg/cluster/config"
-	kustomize "sigs.k8s.io/kind/pkg/kustomize"
-)
-
-func Convert_v1alpha1_Config_To_config_Config(in *Config, out *config.Config, s conversion.Scope) error {
-	if err := autoConvert_v1alpha1_Config_To_config_Config(in, out, s); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	// converts v1alpha1 Config into an internal config with a single control-plane node
-	var node config.Node
-
-	node.Role = config.ControlPlaneRole
-	node.Image = in.Image
-	node.KubeadmConfigPatches = *(*[]string)(unsafe.Pointer(&in.KubeadmConfigPatches))
-	node.KubeadmConfigPatchesJSON6902 = *(*[]kustomize.PatchJSON6902)(unsafe.Pointer(&in.KubeadmConfigPatchesJSON6902))
-
-	out.Nodes = []config.Node{node}
-
-	return nil
-}
-
-func Convert_config_Config_To_v1alpha1_Config(in *config.Config, out *Config, s conversion.Scope) error {
-	if err := autoConvert_config_Config_To_v1alpha1_Config(in, out, s); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	// conversion from internal config to v1alpha1 Config is used only by the fuzzer roundtrip test;
-	// the fuzzer is configured in order to enforce the number and type of nodes to get always the
-	// following condition pass
-
-	if len(in.Nodes) > 1 {
-		return errors.New("invalid conversion. `kind` config with more than one Node cannot be converted to v1alpha1 config format")
-	}
-
-	var node = in.Nodes[0]
-
-	if node.Role != config.ControlPlaneRole {
-		return errors.Errorf("invalid conversion. `kind` config without a control-plane Node cannot be converted to v1alpha1 config format %v", node)
-	}
-
-	out.Image = node.Image
-	out.KubeadmConfigPatches = *(*[]string)(unsafe.Pointer(&node.KubeadmConfigPatches))
-	out.KubeadmConfigPatchesJSON6902 = *(*[]kustomize.PatchJSON6902)(unsafe.Pointer(&node.KubeadmConfigPatchesJSON6902))
-
-	return nil
-}
diff --git a/pkg/cluster/config/v1alpha1/types.go b/pkg/cluster/config/v1alpha1/types.go
deleted file mode 100644
index 64e0f3c003..0000000000
--- a/pkg/cluster/config/v1alpha1/types.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,81 +0,0 @@
-/*
-Copyright 2018 The Kubernetes Authors.
-
-Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
-you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
-You may obtain a copy of the License at
-
-    http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
-
-Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
-distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
-WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
-See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
-limitations under the License.
-*/
-
-package v1alpha1
-
-import (
-	metav1 "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
-	"sigs.k8s.io/kind/pkg/kustomize"
-)
-
-// +k8s:deepcopy-gen:interfaces=k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/runtime.Object
-
-// Config contains cluster creation config
-// This is the current internal config type used by cluster
-type Config struct {
-	metav1.TypeMeta
-
-	// Image is the node image to use when running the cluster
-	// TODO(bentheelder): split this into image and tag?
-	Image string `json:"image,omitempty"`
-	// KubeadmConfigPatches are applied to the generated kubeadm config as
-	// strategic merge patches to `kustomize build` internally
-	// https://github.com/kubernetes/community/blob/master/contributors/devel/strategic-merge-patch.md
-	// This should be an inline yaml blob-string
-	KubeadmConfigPatches []string `json:"kubeadmConfigPatches,omitempty"`
-	// KubeadmConfigPatchesJSON6902 are applied to the generated kubeadm config
-	// as patchesJson6902 to `kustomize build`
-	KubeadmConfigPatchesJSON6902 []kustomize.PatchJSON6902 `json:"kubeadmConfigPatchesJson6902,omitempty"`
-	// NOTE: this field is no longer supported (!)
-	// ControlPlane holds config for the control plane node
-	ControlPlane *ControlPlane `json:"controlPlane,omitempty"`
-}
-
-// ControlPlane holds configurations specific to the control plane nodes
-// (currently the only node).
-type ControlPlane struct {
-	// NodeLifecycle contains LifecycleHooks for phases of node provisioning
-	NodeLifecycle *NodeLifecycle `json:"nodeLifecycle,omitempty"`
-}
-
-// NodeLifecycle contains LifecycleHooks for phases of node provisioning
-// Within each phase these hooks run in the order specified
-type NodeLifecycle struct {
-	// NOTE: this field is no longer supported (!)
-	// PreBoot hooks run before starting systemd
-	PreBoot []LifecycleHook `json:"preBoot,omitempty"`
-	// NOTE: this field is no longer supported (!)
-	// PreKubeadm hooks run immediately before `kubeadm`
-	PreKubeadm []LifecycleHook `json:"preKubeadm,omitempty"`
-	// NOTE: this field is no longer supported (!)
-	// PostKubeadm hooks run immediately after `kubeadm`
-	PostKubeadm []LifecycleHook `json:"postKubeadm,omitempty"`
-	// NOTE: this field is no longer supported (!)
-	// PostSetup hooks run after any standard `kind` setup on the node
-	PostSetup []LifecycleHook `json:"postSetup,omitempty"`
-}
-
-// LifecycleHook represents a command to run at points in the node lifecycle
-type LifecycleHook struct {
-	// Name is used to improve logging (optional)
-	Name string `json:"name,omitempty"`
-	// Command is the command to run on the node
-	Command []string `json:"command"`
-	// MustSucceed - if true then the hook / command failing will cause
-	// cluster creation to fail, otherwise the error will just be logged and
-	// the boot process will continue
-	MustSucceed bool `json:"mustSucceed,omitempty"`
-}
diff --git a/pkg/cluster/config/v1alpha1/zz_generated.conversion.go b/pkg/cluster/config/v1alpha1/zz_generated.conversion.go
deleted file mode 100644
index e5f2945699..0000000000
--- a/pkg/cluster/config/v1alpha1/zz_generated.conversion.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,70 +0,0 @@
-// +build !ignore_autogenerated
-
-/*
-Copyright 2019 The Kubernetes Authors.
-
-Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
-you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
-You may obtain a copy of the License at
-
-    http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
-
-Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
-distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
-WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
-See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
-limitations under the License.
-*/
-
-// Code generated by conversion-gen. DO NOT EDIT.
-
-package v1alpha1
-
-import (
-	conversion "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/conversion"
-	runtime "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/runtime"
-	config "sigs.k8s.io/kind/pkg/cluster/config"
-)
-
-func init() {
-	localSchemeBuilder.Register(RegisterConversions)
-}
-
-// RegisterConversions adds conversion functions to the given scheme.
-// Public to allow building arbitrary schemes.
-func RegisterConversions(s *runtime.Scheme) error {
-	if err := s.AddGeneratedConversionFunc((*Config)(nil), (*config.Config)(nil), func(a, b interface{}, scope conversion.Scope) error {
-		return Convert_v1alpha1_Config_To_config_Config(a.(*Config), b.(*config.Config), scope)
-	}); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	if err := s.AddGeneratedConversionFunc((*config.Config)(nil), (*Config)(nil), func(a, b interface{}, scope conversion.Scope) error {
-		return Convert_config_Config_To_v1alpha1_Config(a.(*config.Config), b.(*Config), scope)
-	}); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	if err := s.AddConversionFunc((*config.Config)(nil), (*Config)(nil), func(a, b interface{}, scope conversion.Scope) error {
-		return Convert_config_Config_To_v1alpha1_Config(a.(*config.Config), b.(*Config), scope)
-	}); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	if err := s.AddConversionFunc((*Config)(nil), (*config.Config)(nil), func(a, b interface{}, scope conversion.Scope) error {
-		return Convert_v1alpha1_Config_To_config_Config(a.(*Config), b.(*config.Config), scope)
-	}); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	return nil
-}
-
-func autoConvert_v1alpha1_Config_To_config_Config(in *Config, out *config.Config, s conversion.Scope) error {
-	// WARNING: in.Image requires manual conversion: does not exist in peer-type
-	// WARNING: in.KubeadmConfigPatches requires manual conversion: does not exist in peer-type
-	// WARNING: in.KubeadmConfigPatchesJSON6902 requires manual conversion: does not exist in peer-type
-	// WARNING: in.ControlPlane requires manual conversion: does not exist in peer-type
-	return nil
-}
-
-func autoConvert_config_Config_To_v1alpha1_Config(in *config.Config, out *Config, s conversion.Scope) error {
-	// WARNING: in.Nodes requires manual conversion: does not exist in peer-type
-	return nil
-}
diff --git a/pkg/cluster/config/v1alpha1/zz_generated.deepcopy.go b/pkg/cluster/config/v1alpha1/zz_generated.deepcopy.go
deleted file mode 100644
index 85b9cd8809..0000000000
--- a/pkg/cluster/config/v1alpha1/zz_generated.deepcopy.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,152 +0,0 @@
-// +build !ignore_autogenerated
-
-/*
-Copyright 2019 The Kubernetes Authors.
-
-Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
-you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
-You may obtain a copy of the License at
-
-    http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
-
-Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
-distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
-WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
-See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
-limitations under the License.
-*/
-
-// Code generated by deepcopy-gen. DO NOT EDIT.
-
-package v1alpha1
-
-import (
-	runtime "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/runtime"
-	kustomize "sigs.k8s.io/kind/pkg/kustomize"
-)
-
-// DeepCopyInto is an autogenerated deepcopy function, copying the receiver, writing into out. in must be non-nil.
-func (in *Config) DeepCopyInto(out *Config) {
-	*out = *in
-	out.TypeMeta = in.TypeMeta
-	if in.KubeadmConfigPatches != nil {
-		in, out := &in.KubeadmConfigPatches, &out.KubeadmConfigPatches
-		*out = make([]string, len(*in))
-		copy(*out, *in)
-	}
-	if in.KubeadmConfigPatchesJSON6902 != nil {
-		in, out := &in.KubeadmConfigPatchesJSON6902, &out.KubeadmConfigPatchesJSON6902
-		*out = make([]kustomize.PatchJSON6902, len(*in))
-		copy(*out, *in)
-	}
-	if in.ControlPlane != nil {
-		in, out := &in.ControlPlane, &out.ControlPlane
-		*out = new(ControlPlane)
-		(*in).DeepCopyInto(*out)
-	}
-	return
-}
-
-// DeepCopy is an autogenerated deepcopy function, copying the receiver, creating a new Config.
-func (in *Config) DeepCopy() *Config {
-	if in == nil {
-		return nil
-	}
-	out := new(Config)
-	in.DeepCopyInto(out)
-	return out
-}
-
-// DeepCopyObject is an autogenerated deepcopy function, copying the receiver, creating a new runtime.Object.
-func (in *Config) DeepCopyObject() runtime.Object {
-	if c := in.DeepCopy(); c != nil {
-		return c
-	}
-	return nil
-}
-
-// DeepCopyInto is an autogenerated deepcopy function, copying the receiver, writing into out. in must be non-nil.
-func (in *ControlPlane) DeepCopyInto(out *ControlPlane) {
-	*out = *in
-	if in.NodeLifecycle != nil {
-		in, out := &in.NodeLifecycle, &out.NodeLifecycle
-		*out = new(NodeLifecycle)
-		(*in).DeepCopyInto(*out)
-	}
-	return
-}
-
-// DeepCopy is an autogenerated deepcopy function, copying the receiver, creating a new ControlPlane.
-func (in *ControlPlane) DeepCopy() *ControlPlane {
-	if in == nil {
-		return nil
-	}
-	out := new(ControlPlane)
-	in.DeepCopyInto(out)
-	return out
-}
-
-// DeepCopyInto is an autogenerated deepcopy function, copying the receiver, writing into out. in must be non-nil.
-func (in *LifecycleHook) DeepCopyInto(out *LifecycleHook) {
-	*out = *in
-	if in.Command != nil {
-		in, out := &in.Command, &out.Command
-		*out = make([]string, len(*in))
-		copy(*out, *in)
-	}
-	return
-}
-
-// DeepCopy is an autogenerated deepcopy function, copying the receiver, creating a new LifecycleHook.
-func (in *LifecycleHook) DeepCopy() *LifecycleHook {
-	if in == nil {
-		return nil
-	}
-	out := new(LifecycleHook)
-	in.DeepCopyInto(out)
-	return out
-}
-
-// DeepCopyInto is an autogenerated deepcopy function, copying the receiver, writing into out. in must be non-nil.
-func (in *NodeLifecycle) DeepCopyInto(out *NodeLifecycle) {
-	*out = *in
-	if in.PreBoot != nil {
-		in, out := &in.PreBoot, &out.PreBoot
-		*out = make([]LifecycleHook, len(*in))
-		for i := range *in {
-			(*in)[i].DeepCopyInto(&(*out)[i])
-		}
-	}
-	if in.PreKubeadm != nil {
-		in, out := &in.PreKubeadm, &out.PreKubeadm
-		*out = make([]LifecycleHook, len(*in))
-		for i := range *in {
-			(*in)[i].DeepCopyInto(&(*out)[i])
-		}
-	}
-	if in.PostKubeadm != nil {
-		in, out := &in.PostKubeadm, &out.PostKubeadm
-		*out = make([]LifecycleHook, len(*in))
-		for i := range *in {
-			(*in)[i].DeepCopyInto(&(*out)[i])
-		}
-	}
-	if in.PostSetup != nil {
-		in, out := &in.PostSetup, &out.PostSetup
-		*out = make([]LifecycleHook, len(*in))
-		for i := range *in {
-			(*in)[i].DeepCopyInto(&(*out)[i])
-		}
-	}
-	return
-}
-
-// DeepCopy is an autogenerated deepcopy function, copying the receiver, creating a new NodeLifecycle.
-func (in *NodeLifecycle) DeepCopy() *NodeLifecycle {
-	if in == nil {
-		return nil
-	}
-	out := new(NodeLifecycle)
-	in.DeepCopyInto(out)
-	return out
-}
diff --git a/pkg/cluster/config/v1alpha2/conversion.go b/pkg/cluster/config/v1alpha2/conversion.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..92aae0b363
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/cluster/config/v1alpha2/conversion.go
@@ -0,0 +1,81 @@
+/*
+Copyright 2019 The Kubernetes Authors.
+
+Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+You may obtain a copy of the License at
+
+    http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+
+Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+limitations under the License.
+*/
+
+// Code generated by conversion-gen. DO NOT EDIT.
+
+package v1alpha2
+
+import (
+	conversion "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/conversion"
+	config "sigs.k8s.io/kind/pkg/cluster/config"
+)
+
+func Convert_v1alpha2_Config_To_config_Cluster(in *Config, out *config.Cluster, s conversion.Scope) error {
+	for _, node := range in.Nodes {
+		// TODO(bentheelder): if v1alpha3 does re-gain per-node patches, drop
+		// this snippet
+		// Copy config patches from nodes to the cluster level, since we only
+		// generate a cluster-wide config anyhow
+		for _, patch := range node.KubeadmConfigPatches {
+			out.KubeadmConfigPatches = append(out.KubeadmConfigPatches, patch)
+		}
+		for _, patch := range node.KubeadmConfigPatchesJSON6902 {
+			out.KubeadmConfigPatchesJSON6902 = append(out.KubeadmConfigPatchesJSON6902, patch)
+		}
+
+		// skip now-implicit external load balancers
+		if node.Role == ExternalLoadBalancerRole {
+			continue
+		}
+
+		// always convert the node
+		convertedNode := config.Node{}
+		if err := Convert_v1alpha2_Node_To_config_Node(&node, &convertedNode, s); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		out.Nodes = append(out.Nodes, convertedNode)
+
+		// handle additional replicas if any
+		if node.Replicas != nil && *node.Replicas > 1 {
+			for i := int32(1); i < *node.Replicas; i++ {
+				out.Nodes = append(out.Nodes, *convertedNode.DeepCopy())
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func Convert_v1alpha2_Node_To_config_Node(in *Node, out *config.Node, s conversion.Scope) error {
+	return autoConvert_v1alpha2_Node_To_config_Node(in, out, s)
+}
+
+func Convert_config_Cluster_To_v1alpha2_Config(in *config.Cluster, out *Config, s conversion.Scope) error {
+	// TODO(bentheelder): try to convert kubeadm config patches?
+	// Not sure if that makes sense since these aren't cluster wide, and we don't
+	// actually roundtrip anywho? :thinking:
+	for _, node := range in.Nodes {
+		convertedNode := Node{}
+		if err := Convert_config_Node_To_v1alpha2_Node(&node, &convertedNode, s); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		out.Nodes = append(out.Nodes, convertedNode)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func Convert_config_Node_To_v1alpha2_Node(in *config.Node, out *Node, s conversion.Scope) error {
+	return autoConvert_config_Node_To_v1alpha2_Node(in, out, s)
+}
diff --git a/pkg/cluster/config/v1alpha2/types.go b/pkg/cluster/config/v1alpha2/types.go
index 68482cee4a..3b4dabe1a3 100644
--- a/pkg/cluster/config/v1alpha2/types.go
+++ b/pkg/cluster/config/v1alpha2/types.go
@@ -31,6 +31,9 @@ type Config struct {
 	metav1.TypeMeta `json:",inline"`
 
 	// nodes contains the list of nodes defined in the `kind` Config
+	// If unset this will default to a single control-plane node
+	// Note that if more than one control plane is specified, an external
+	// control plane load balancer will be provisioned implicitly
 	Nodes []Node `json:"nodes"`
 }
 
@@ -45,7 +48,7 @@ type Node struct {
 	// Defaults to "control-plane"
 	Role NodeRole `json:"role,omitempty"`
 	// Image is the node image to use when running the cluster
-	// TODO(bentheelder): split this into image and tag?
+	// If unset a default image will be used, see defaults.Image
 	Image string `json:"image,omitempty"`
 	// KubeadmConfigPatches are applied to the generated kubeadm config as
 	// strategic merge patches to `kustomize build` internally
@@ -65,14 +68,12 @@ type NodeRole string
 
 const (
 	// ControlPlaneRole identifies a node that hosts a Kubernetes control-plane.
-	// NB. in single node clusters, control-plane nodes act also as a worker nodes
+	// NOTE: in single node clusters, control-plane nodes act also as a worker
+	// nodes, in which case the taint will be removed. see:
+	// https://kubernetes.io/docs/setup/independent/create-cluster-kubeadm/#control-plane-node-isolation
 	ControlPlaneRole NodeRole = "control-plane"
 	// WorkerRole identifies a node that hosts a Kubernetes worker
 	WorkerRole NodeRole = "worker"
-	// ExternalEtcdRole identifies a node that hosts an external-etcd instance.
-	// WARNING: this node type is not yet implemented!
-	// Please note that `kind` nodes hosting external etcd are not kubernetes nodes
-	ExternalEtcdRole NodeRole = "external-etcd"
 	// ExternalLoadBalancerRole identifies a node that hosts an external load balancer for API server
 	// in HA configurations.
 	// WARNING: this node type is not yet implemented!
diff --git a/pkg/cluster/config/v1alpha2/zz_generated.conversion.go b/pkg/cluster/config/v1alpha2/zz_generated.conversion.go
index 9136db32a6..30c4ce4e4b 100644
--- a/pkg/cluster/config/v1alpha2/zz_generated.conversion.go
+++ b/pkg/cluster/config/v1alpha2/zz_generated.conversion.go
@@ -27,7 +27,6 @@ import (
 	runtime "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/runtime"
 	config "sigs.k8s.io/kind/pkg/cluster/config"
 	cri "sigs.k8s.io/kind/pkg/container/cri"
-	kustomize "sigs.k8s.io/kind/pkg/kustomize"
 )
 
 func init() {
@@ -37,75 +36,52 @@ func init() {
 // RegisterConversions adds conversion functions to the given scheme.
 // Public to allow building arbitrary schemes.
 func RegisterConversions(s *runtime.Scheme) error {
-	if err := s.AddGeneratedConversionFunc((*Config)(nil), (*config.Config)(nil), func(a, b interface{}, scope conversion.Scope) error {
-		return Convert_v1alpha2_Config_To_config_Config(a.(*Config), b.(*config.Config), scope)
+	if err := s.AddGeneratedConversionFunc((*Node)(nil), (*config.Node)(nil), func(a, b interface{}, scope conversion.Scope) error {
+		return Convert_v1alpha2_Node_To_config_Node(a.(*Node), b.(*config.Node), scope)
 	}); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	if err := s.AddGeneratedConversionFunc((*config.Config)(nil), (*Config)(nil), func(a, b interface{}, scope conversion.Scope) error {
-		return Convert_config_Config_To_v1alpha2_Config(a.(*config.Config), b.(*Config), scope)
+	if err := s.AddGeneratedConversionFunc((*config.Node)(nil), (*Node)(nil), func(a, b interface{}, scope conversion.Scope) error {
+		return Convert_config_Node_To_v1alpha2_Node(a.(*config.Node), b.(*Node), scope)
 	}); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	if err := s.AddGeneratedConversionFunc((*Node)(nil), (*config.Node)(nil), func(a, b interface{}, scope conversion.Scope) error {
-		return Convert_v1alpha2_Node_To_config_Node(a.(*Node), b.(*config.Node), scope)
+	if err := s.AddConversionFunc((*config.Cluster)(nil), (*Config)(nil), func(a, b interface{}, scope conversion.Scope) error {
+		return Convert_config_Cluster_To_v1alpha2_Config(a.(*config.Cluster), b.(*Config), scope)
 	}); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	if err := s.AddGeneratedConversionFunc((*config.Node)(nil), (*Node)(nil), func(a, b interface{}, scope conversion.Scope) error {
+	if err := s.AddConversionFunc((*config.Node)(nil), (*Node)(nil), func(a, b interface{}, scope conversion.Scope) error {
 		return Convert_config_Node_To_v1alpha2_Node(a.(*config.Node), b.(*Node), scope)
 	}); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
+	if err := s.AddConversionFunc((*Config)(nil), (*config.Cluster)(nil), func(a, b interface{}, scope conversion.Scope) error {
+		return Convert_v1alpha2_Config_To_config_Cluster(a.(*Config), b.(*config.Cluster), scope)
+	}); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	if err := s.AddConversionFunc((*Node)(nil), (*config.Node)(nil), func(a, b interface{}, scope conversion.Scope) error {
+		return Convert_v1alpha2_Node_To_config_Node(a.(*Node), b.(*config.Node), scope)
+	}); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 	return nil
 }
 
-func autoConvert_v1alpha2_Config_To_config_Config(in *Config, out *config.Config, s conversion.Scope) error {
-	out.Nodes = *(*[]config.Node)(unsafe.Pointer(&in.Nodes))
-	return nil
-}
-
-// Convert_v1alpha2_Config_To_config_Config is an autogenerated conversion function.
-func Convert_v1alpha2_Config_To_config_Config(in *Config, out *config.Config, s conversion.Scope) error {
-	return autoConvert_v1alpha2_Config_To_config_Config(in, out, s)
-}
-
-func autoConvert_config_Config_To_v1alpha2_Config(in *config.Config, out *Config, s conversion.Scope) error {
-	out.Nodes = *(*[]Node)(unsafe.Pointer(&in.Nodes))
-	return nil
-}
-
-// Convert_config_Config_To_v1alpha2_Config is an autogenerated conversion function.
-func Convert_config_Config_To_v1alpha2_Config(in *config.Config, out *Config, s conversion.Scope) error {
-	return autoConvert_config_Config_To_v1alpha2_Config(in, out, s)
-}
-
 func autoConvert_v1alpha2_Node_To_config_Node(in *Node, out *config.Node, s conversion.Scope) error {
-	out.Replicas = (*int32)(unsafe.Pointer(in.Replicas))
+	// WARNING: in.Replicas requires manual conversion: does not exist in peer-type
 	out.Role = config.NodeRole(in.Role)
 	out.Image = in.Image
-	out.KubeadmConfigPatches = *(*[]string)(unsafe.Pointer(&in.KubeadmConfigPatches))
-	out.KubeadmConfigPatchesJSON6902 = *(*[]kustomize.PatchJSON6902)(unsafe.Pointer(&in.KubeadmConfigPatchesJSON6902))
+	// WARNING: in.KubeadmConfigPatches requires manual conversion: does not exist in peer-type
+	// WARNING: in.KubeadmConfigPatchesJSON6902 requires manual conversion: does not exist in peer-type
 	out.ExtraMounts = *(*[]cri.Mount)(unsafe.Pointer(&in.ExtraMounts))
 	return nil
 }
 
-// Convert_v1alpha2_Node_To_config_Node is an autogenerated conversion function.
-func Convert_v1alpha2_Node_To_config_Node(in *Node, out *config.Node, s conversion.Scope) error {
-	return autoConvert_v1alpha2_Node_To_config_Node(in, out, s)
-}
-
 func autoConvert_config_Node_To_v1alpha2_Node(in *config.Node, out *Node, s conversion.Scope) error {
-	out.Replicas = (*int32)(unsafe.Pointer(in.Replicas))
 	out.Role = NodeRole(in.Role)
 	out.Image = in.Image
-	out.KubeadmConfigPatches = *(*[]string)(unsafe.Pointer(&in.KubeadmConfigPatches))
-	out.KubeadmConfigPatchesJSON6902 = *(*[]kustomize.PatchJSON6902)(unsafe.Pointer(&in.KubeadmConfigPatchesJSON6902))
 	out.ExtraMounts = *(*[]cri.Mount)(unsafe.Pointer(&in.ExtraMounts))
 	return nil
 }
-
-// Convert_config_Node_To_v1alpha2_Node is an autogenerated conversion function.
-func Convert_config_Node_To_v1alpha2_Node(in *config.Node, out *Node, s conversion.Scope) error {
-	return autoConvert_config_Node_To_v1alpha2_Node(in, out, s)
-}
diff --git a/pkg/cluster/config/v1alpha1/default.go b/pkg/cluster/config/v1alpha3/default.go
similarity index 63%
rename from pkg/cluster/config/v1alpha1/default.go
rename to pkg/cluster/config/v1alpha3/default.go
index f044a42868..c74ccb1310 100644
--- a/pkg/cluster/config/v1alpha1/default.go
+++ b/pkg/cluster/config/v1alpha3/default.go
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
-Copyright 2018 The Kubernetes Authors.
+Copyright 2019 The Kubernetes Authors.
 
 Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
 you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 limitations under the License.
 */
 
-package v1alpha1
+package v1alpha3
 
 import (
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/runtime"
@@ -26,9 +26,25 @@ func addDefaultingFuncs(scheme *runtime.Scheme) error {
 	return RegisterDefaults(scheme)
 }
 
-// SetDefaults_Config sets uninitialized fields to their default value.
-func SetDefaults_Config(obj *Config) {
+// SetDefaults_Cluster sets uninitialized fields to their default value.
+func SetDefaults_Cluster(obj *Cluster) {
+	if len(obj.Nodes) == 0 {
+		obj.Nodes = []Node{
+			{
+				Image: defaults.Image,
+				Role:  ControlPlaneRole,
+			},
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// SetDefaults_Node sets uninitialized fields to their default value.
+func SetDefaults_Node(obj *Node) {
 	if obj.Image == "" {
 		obj.Image = defaults.Image
 	}
+
+	if obj.Role == "" {
+		obj.Role = ControlPlaneRole
+	}
 }
diff --git a/pkg/cluster/config/v1alpha1/doc.go b/pkg/cluster/config/v1alpha3/doc.go
similarity index 81%
rename from pkg/cluster/config/v1alpha1/doc.go
rename to pkg/cluster/config/v1alpha3/doc.go
index e5810c210b..afd2b5c32d 100644
--- a/pkg/cluster/config/v1alpha1/doc.go
+++ b/pkg/cluster/config/v1alpha3/doc.go
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
-Copyright 2018 The Kubernetes Authors.
+Copyright 2019 The Kubernetes Authors.
 
 Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
 you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -14,9 +14,10 @@ See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 limitations under the License.
 */
 
-// Package v1alpha1 implements the v1alpha1 apiVersion of the `kind` Config
+// Package v1alpha3 implements the v1alpha3 apiVersion of kind's cluster
+// configuration
 //
 // +k8s:deepcopy-gen=package
 // +k8s:conversion-gen=sigs.k8s.io/kind/pkg/cluster/config
 // +k8s:defaulter-gen=TypeMeta
-package v1alpha1
+package v1alpha3
diff --git a/pkg/cluster/config/v1alpha1/register.go b/pkg/cluster/config/v1alpha3/register.go
similarity index 94%
rename from pkg/cluster/config/v1alpha1/register.go
rename to pkg/cluster/config/v1alpha3/register.go
index 01b71cf72f..e7a4e322f2 100644
--- a/pkg/cluster/config/v1alpha1/register.go
+++ b/pkg/cluster/config/v1alpha3/register.go
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
-Copyright 2018 The Kubernetes Authors.
+Copyright 2019 The Kubernetes Authors.
 
 Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
 you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 limitations under the License.
 */
 
-package v1alpha1
+package v1alpha3
 
 import (
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/runtime"
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ const GroupName = "kind.sigs.k8s.io"
 
 var (
 	// SchemeGroupVersion is group version used to register these objects.
-	SchemeGroupVersion = schema.GroupVersion{Group: GroupName, Version: "v1alpha1"}
+	SchemeGroupVersion = schema.GroupVersion{Group: GroupName, Version: "v1alpha3"}
 	// SchemeBuilder is a type to collect functions that add data to an API
 	// object through a scheme.
 	SchemeBuilder      runtime.SchemeBuilder
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ func init() {
 
 func addKnownTypes(scheme *runtime.Scheme) error {
 	scheme.AddKnownTypes(SchemeGroupVersion,
-		&Config{},
+		&Cluster{},
 	)
 
 	return nil
diff --git a/pkg/cluster/config/v1alpha3/types.go b/pkg/cluster/config/v1alpha3/types.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..783e2af74b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/cluster/config/v1alpha3/types.go
@@ -0,0 +1,84 @@
+/*
+Copyright 2019 The Kubernetes Authors.
+
+Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+You may obtain a copy of the License at
+
+    http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+
+Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+limitations under the License.
+*/
+
+package v1alpha3
+
+import (
+	metav1 "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
+
+	"sigs.k8s.io/kind/pkg/container/cri"
+	"sigs.k8s.io/kind/pkg/kustomize"
+)
+
+// +k8s:deepcopy-gen:interfaces=k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/runtime.Object
+
+// Cluster contains kind cluster configuration
+type Cluster struct {
+	// TypeMeta representing the type of the object and its API schema version.
+	metav1.TypeMeta `json:",inline"`
+
+	// Nodes contains the list of nodes defined in the `kind` Cluster
+	// If unset this will default to a single control-plane node
+	// Note that if more than one control plane is specified, an external
+	// control plane load balancer will be provisioned implicitly
+	Nodes []Node `json:"nodes"`
+
+	/* Advanced fields */
+
+	// KubeadmConfigPatches are applied to the generated kubeadm config as
+	// strategic merge patches to `kustomize build` internally
+	// https://github.com/kubernetes/community/blob/master/contributors/devel/strategic-merge-patch.md
+	// This should be an inline yaml blob-string
+	KubeadmConfigPatches []string `json:"kubeadmConfigPatches,omitempty"`
+
+	// KubeadmConfigPatchesJSON6902 are applied to the generated kubeadm config
+	// as patchesJson6902 to `kustomize build`
+	KubeadmConfigPatchesJSON6902 []kustomize.PatchJSON6902 `json:"kubeadmConfigPatchesJson6902,omitempty"`
+}
+
+// Node contains settings for a node in the `kind` Cluster.
+// A node in kind config represent a container that will be provisioned with all the components
+// required for the assigned role in the Kubernetes cluster
+type Node struct {
+	// Role defines the role of the node in the in the Kubernetes cluster
+	// created by kind
+	//
+	// Defaults to "control-plane"
+	Role NodeRole `json:"role,omitempty"`
+
+	// Image is the node image to use when creating this node
+	// If unset a default image will be used, see defaults.Image
+	Image string `json:"image,omitempty"`
+
+	/* Advanced fields */
+
+	// ExtraMounts describes additional mount points for the node container
+	// These may be used to bind a hostPath
+	ExtraMounts []cri.Mount `json:"extraMounts,omitempty"`
+}
+
+// NodeRole defines possible role for nodes in a Kubernetes cluster managed by `kind`
+type NodeRole string
+
+const (
+	// ControlPlaneRole identifies a node that hosts a Kubernetes control-plane.
+	// NOTE: in single node clusters, control-plane nodes act also as a worker
+	// nodes, in which case the taint will be removed. see:
+	// https://kubernetes.io/docs/setup/independent/create-cluster-kubeadm/#control-plane-node-isolation
+	ControlPlaneRole NodeRole = "control-plane"
+	// WorkerRole identifies a node that hosts a Kubernetes worker
+	WorkerRole NodeRole = "worker"
+)
diff --git a/pkg/cluster/config/v1alpha3/zz_generated.conversion.go b/pkg/cluster/config/v1alpha3/zz_generated.conversion.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b136c8af6e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/cluster/config/v1alpha3/zz_generated.conversion.go
@@ -0,0 +1,109 @@
+// +build !ignore_autogenerated
+
+/*
+Copyright 2019 The Kubernetes Authors.
+
+Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+You may obtain a copy of the License at
+
+    http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+
+Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+limitations under the License.
+*/
+
+// Code generated by conversion-gen. DO NOT EDIT.
+
+package v1alpha3
+
+import (
+	unsafe "unsafe"
+
+	conversion "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/conversion"
+	runtime "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/runtime"
+	config "sigs.k8s.io/kind/pkg/cluster/config"
+	cri "sigs.k8s.io/kind/pkg/container/cri"
+	kustomize "sigs.k8s.io/kind/pkg/kustomize"
+)
+
+func init() {
+	localSchemeBuilder.Register(RegisterConversions)
+}
+
+// RegisterConversions adds conversion functions to the given scheme.
+// Public to allow building arbitrary schemes.
+func RegisterConversions(s *runtime.Scheme) error {
+	if err := s.AddGeneratedConversionFunc((*Cluster)(nil), (*config.Cluster)(nil), func(a, b interface{}, scope conversion.Scope) error {
+		return Convert_v1alpha3_Cluster_To_config_Cluster(a.(*Cluster), b.(*config.Cluster), scope)
+	}); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	if err := s.AddGeneratedConversionFunc((*config.Cluster)(nil), (*Cluster)(nil), func(a, b interface{}, scope conversion.Scope) error {
+		return Convert_config_Cluster_To_v1alpha3_Cluster(a.(*config.Cluster), b.(*Cluster), scope)
+	}); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	if err := s.AddGeneratedConversionFunc((*Node)(nil), (*config.Node)(nil), func(a, b interface{}, scope conversion.Scope) error {
+		return Convert_v1alpha3_Node_To_config_Node(a.(*Node), b.(*config.Node), scope)
+	}); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	if err := s.AddGeneratedConversionFunc((*config.Node)(nil), (*Node)(nil), func(a, b interface{}, scope conversion.Scope) error {
+		return Convert_config_Node_To_v1alpha3_Node(a.(*config.Node), b.(*Node), scope)
+	}); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func autoConvert_v1alpha3_Cluster_To_config_Cluster(in *Cluster, out *config.Cluster, s conversion.Scope) error {
+	out.Nodes = *(*[]config.Node)(unsafe.Pointer(&in.Nodes))
+	out.KubeadmConfigPatches = *(*[]string)(unsafe.Pointer(&in.KubeadmConfigPatches))
+	out.KubeadmConfigPatchesJSON6902 = *(*[]kustomize.PatchJSON6902)(unsafe.Pointer(&in.KubeadmConfigPatchesJSON6902))
+	return nil
+}
+
+// Convert_v1alpha3_Cluster_To_config_Cluster is an autogenerated conversion function.
+func Convert_v1alpha3_Cluster_To_config_Cluster(in *Cluster, out *config.Cluster, s conversion.Scope) error {
+	return autoConvert_v1alpha3_Cluster_To_config_Cluster(in, out, s)
+}
+
+func autoConvert_config_Cluster_To_v1alpha3_Cluster(in *config.Cluster, out *Cluster, s conversion.Scope) error {
+	out.Nodes = *(*[]Node)(unsafe.Pointer(&in.Nodes))
+	out.KubeadmConfigPatches = *(*[]string)(unsafe.Pointer(&in.KubeadmConfigPatches))
+	out.KubeadmConfigPatchesJSON6902 = *(*[]kustomize.PatchJSON6902)(unsafe.Pointer(&in.KubeadmConfigPatchesJSON6902))
+	return nil
+}
+
+// Convert_config_Cluster_To_v1alpha3_Cluster is an autogenerated conversion function.
+func Convert_config_Cluster_To_v1alpha3_Cluster(in *config.Cluster, out *Cluster, s conversion.Scope) error {
+	return autoConvert_config_Cluster_To_v1alpha3_Cluster(in, out, s)
+}
+
+func autoConvert_v1alpha3_Node_To_config_Node(in *Node, out *config.Node, s conversion.Scope) error {
+	out.Role = config.NodeRole(in.Role)
+	out.Image = in.Image
+	out.ExtraMounts = *(*[]cri.Mount)(unsafe.Pointer(&in.ExtraMounts))
+	return nil
+}
+
+// Convert_v1alpha3_Node_To_config_Node is an autogenerated conversion function.
+func Convert_v1alpha3_Node_To_config_Node(in *Node, out *config.Node, s conversion.Scope) error {
+	return autoConvert_v1alpha3_Node_To_config_Node(in, out, s)
+}
+
+func autoConvert_config_Node_To_v1alpha3_Node(in *config.Node, out *Node, s conversion.Scope) error {
+	out.Role = NodeRole(in.Role)
+	out.Image = in.Image
+	out.ExtraMounts = *(*[]cri.Mount)(unsafe.Pointer(&in.ExtraMounts))
+	return nil
+}
+
+// Convert_config_Node_To_v1alpha3_Node is an autogenerated conversion function.
+func Convert_config_Node_To_v1alpha3_Node(in *config.Node, out *Node, s conversion.Scope) error {
+	return autoConvert_config_Node_To_v1alpha3_Node(in, out, s)
+}
diff --git a/pkg/cluster/config/v1alpha3/zz_generated.deepcopy.go b/pkg/cluster/config/v1alpha3/zz_generated.deepcopy.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f213e50811
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/cluster/config/v1alpha3/zz_generated.deepcopy.go
@@ -0,0 +1,90 @@
+// +build !ignore_autogenerated
+
+/*
+Copyright 2019 The Kubernetes Authors.
+
+Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+You may obtain a copy of the License at
+
+    http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+
+Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+limitations under the License.
+*/
+
+// Code generated by deepcopy-gen. DO NOT EDIT.
+
+package v1alpha3
+
+import (
+	runtime "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/runtime"
+	cri "sigs.k8s.io/kind/pkg/container/cri"
+	kustomize "sigs.k8s.io/kind/pkg/kustomize"
+)
+
+// DeepCopyInto is an autogenerated deepcopy function, copying the receiver, writing into out. in must be non-nil.
+func (in *Cluster) DeepCopyInto(out *Cluster) {
+	*out = *in
+	out.TypeMeta = in.TypeMeta
+	if in.Nodes != nil {
+		in, out := &in.Nodes, &out.Nodes
+		*out = make([]Node, len(*in))
+		for i := range *in {
+			(*in)[i].DeepCopyInto(&(*out)[i])
+		}
+	}
+	if in.KubeadmConfigPatches != nil {
+		in, out := &in.KubeadmConfigPatches, &out.KubeadmConfigPatches
+		*out = make([]string, len(*in))
+		copy(*out, *in)
+	}
+	if in.KubeadmConfigPatchesJSON6902 != nil {
+		in, out := &in.KubeadmConfigPatchesJSON6902, &out.KubeadmConfigPatchesJSON6902
+		*out = make([]kustomize.PatchJSON6902, len(*in))
+		copy(*out, *in)
+	}
+	return
+}
+
+// DeepCopy is an autogenerated deepcopy function, copying the receiver, creating a new Cluster.
+func (in *Cluster) DeepCopy() *Cluster {
+	if in == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	out := new(Cluster)
+	in.DeepCopyInto(out)
+	return out
+}
+
+// DeepCopyObject is an autogenerated deepcopy function, copying the receiver, creating a new runtime.Object.
+func (in *Cluster) DeepCopyObject() runtime.Object {
+	if c := in.DeepCopy(); c != nil {
+		return c
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// DeepCopyInto is an autogenerated deepcopy function, copying the receiver, writing into out. in must be non-nil.
+func (in *Node) DeepCopyInto(out *Node) {
+	*out = *in
+	if in.ExtraMounts != nil {
+		in, out := &in.ExtraMounts, &out.ExtraMounts
+		*out = make([]cri.Mount, len(*in))
+		copy(*out, *in)
+	}
+	return
+}
+
+// DeepCopy is an autogenerated deepcopy function, copying the receiver, creating a new Node.
+func (in *Node) DeepCopy() *Node {
+	if in == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	out := new(Node)
+	in.DeepCopyInto(out)
+	return out
+}
diff --git a/pkg/cluster/config/v1alpha1/zz_generated.default.go b/pkg/cluster/config/v1alpha3/zz_generated.default.go
similarity index 78%
rename from pkg/cluster/config/v1alpha1/zz_generated.default.go
rename to pkg/cluster/config/v1alpha3/zz_generated.default.go
index b4e44773db..5c91b177be 100644
--- a/pkg/cluster/config/v1alpha1/zz_generated.default.go
+++ b/pkg/cluster/config/v1alpha3/zz_generated.default.go
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ limitations under the License.
 
 // Code generated by defaulter-gen. DO NOT EDIT.
 
-package v1alpha1
+package v1alpha3
 
 import (
 	runtime "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/runtime"
@@ -28,10 +28,14 @@ import (
 // Public to allow building arbitrary schemes.
 // All generated defaulters are covering - they call all nested defaulters.
 func RegisterDefaults(scheme *runtime.Scheme) error {
-	scheme.AddTypeDefaultingFunc(&Config{}, func(obj interface{}) { SetObjectDefaults_Config(obj.(*Config)) })
+	scheme.AddTypeDefaultingFunc(&Cluster{}, func(obj interface{}) { SetObjectDefaults_Cluster(obj.(*Cluster)) })
 	return nil
 }
 
-func SetObjectDefaults_Config(in *Config) {
-	SetDefaults_Config(in)
+func SetObjectDefaults_Cluster(in *Cluster) {
+	SetDefaults_Cluster(in)
+	for i := range in.Nodes {
+		a := &in.Nodes[i]
+		SetDefaults_Node(a)
+	}
 }
diff --git a/pkg/cluster/config/validate.go b/pkg/cluster/config/validate.go
index 9c3d49eb3b..c2a93506d1 100644
--- a/pkg/cluster/config/validate.go
+++ b/pkg/cluster/config/validate.go
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ import (
 
 // Validate returns a ConfigErrors with an entry for each problem
 // with the config, or nil if there are none
-func (c *Config) Validate() error {
+func (c *Cluster) Validate() error {
 	errs := []error{}
 
 	numByRole := make(map[NodeRole]int32)
@@ -35,14 +35,10 @@ func (c *Config) Validate() error {
 			errs = append(errs, errors.Errorf("invalid configuration for node %d: %v", i, err))
 		}
 		// update role count
-		replicas := int32(1)
-		if n.Replicas != nil {
-			replicas = *n.Replicas
-		}
 		if num, ok := numByRole[n.Role]; ok {
-			numByRole[n.Role] = replicas + num
+			numByRole[n.Role] = 1 + num
 		} else {
-			numByRole[n.Role] = replicas
+			numByRole[n.Role] = 1
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -52,23 +48,6 @@ func (c *Config) Validate() error {
 		errs = append(errs, errors.Errorf("must have at least one %s node", string(ControlPlaneRole)))
 	}
 
-	// there may not be more than one load balancer
-	numLoadBlancer, _ := numByRole[ExternalLoadBalancerRole]
-	if numLoadBlancer > 1 {
-		errs = append(errs, errors.Errorf("only one %s node is supported", string(ExternalLoadBalancerRole)))
-	}
-
-	// there must be a load balancer if there are multiple control planes
-	if numControlPlane > 1 && numLoadBlancer != 1 {
-		errs = append(errs, errors.Errorf("%d > 1 %s nodes requires a %s node", numControlPlane, string(ControlPlaneRole), string(ExternalLoadBalancerRole)))
-	}
-
-	// external-etcd is not actually supported yet
-	numExternalEtcd, _ := numByRole[ExternalEtcdRole]
-	if numExternalEtcd > 0 {
-		errs = append(errs, errors.Errorf("multi node support is still a work in progress, currently %s node is not supported", string(ExternalEtcdRole)))
-	}
-
 	if len(errs) > 0 {
 		return util.NewErrors(errs)
 	}
@@ -83,9 +62,7 @@ func (n *Node) Validate() error {
 	// validate node role should be one of the expected values
 	switch n.Role {
 	case ControlPlaneRole,
-		WorkerRole,
-		ExternalEtcdRole,
-		ExternalLoadBalancerRole:
+		WorkerRole:
 	default:
 		errs = append(errs, errors.Errorf("%q is not a valid node role", n.Role))
 	}
@@ -95,11 +72,6 @@ func (n *Node) Validate() error {
 		errs = append(errs, errors.New("image is a required field"))
 	}
 
-	// replicas >= 0
-	if n.Replicas != nil && int32(*n.Replicas) < 0 {
-		errs = append(errs, errors.New("replicas number should not be a negative number"))
-	}
-
 	if len(errs) > 0 {
 		return util.NewErrors(errs)
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/cluster/config/zz_generated.deepcopy.go b/pkg/cluster/config/zz_generated.deepcopy.go
index 61e53d3b3d..9db23d90f1 100644
--- a/pkg/cluster/config/zz_generated.deepcopy.go
+++ b/pkg/cluster/config/zz_generated.deepcopy.go
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ import (
 )
 
 // DeepCopyInto is an autogenerated deepcopy function, copying the receiver, writing into out. in must be non-nil.
-func (in *Config) DeepCopyInto(out *Config) {
+func (in *Cluster) DeepCopyInto(out *Cluster) {
 	*out = *in
 	out.TypeMeta = in.TypeMeta
 	if in.Nodes != nil {
@@ -37,21 +37,31 @@ func (in *Config) DeepCopyInto(out *Config) {
 			(*in)[i].DeepCopyInto(&(*out)[i])
 		}
 	}
+	if in.KubeadmConfigPatches != nil {
+		in, out := &in.KubeadmConfigPatches, &out.KubeadmConfigPatches
+		*out = make([]string, len(*in))
+		copy(*out, *in)
+	}
+	if in.KubeadmConfigPatchesJSON6902 != nil {
+		in, out := &in.KubeadmConfigPatchesJSON6902, &out.KubeadmConfigPatchesJSON6902
+		*out = make([]kustomize.PatchJSON6902, len(*in))
+		copy(*out, *in)
+	}
 	return
 }
 
-// DeepCopy is an autogenerated deepcopy function, copying the receiver, creating a new Config.
-func (in *Config) DeepCopy() *Config {
+// DeepCopy is an autogenerated deepcopy function, copying the receiver, creating a new Cluster.
+func (in *Cluster) DeepCopy() *Cluster {
 	if in == nil {
 		return nil
 	}
-	out := new(Config)
+	out := new(Cluster)
 	in.DeepCopyInto(out)
 	return out
 }
 
 // DeepCopyObject is an autogenerated deepcopy function, copying the receiver, creating a new runtime.Object.
-func (in *Config) DeepCopyObject() runtime.Object {
+func (in *Cluster) DeepCopyObject() runtime.Object {
 	if c := in.DeepCopy(); c != nil {
 		return c
 	}
@@ -61,21 +71,6 @@ func (in *Config) DeepCopyObject() runtime.Object {
 // DeepCopyInto is an autogenerated deepcopy function, copying the receiver, writing into out. in must be non-nil.
 func (in *Node) DeepCopyInto(out *Node) {
 	*out = *in
-	if in.Replicas != nil {
-		in, out := &in.Replicas, &out.Replicas
-		*out = new(int32)
-		**out = **in
-	}
-	if in.KubeadmConfigPatches != nil {
-		in, out := &in.KubeadmConfigPatches, &out.KubeadmConfigPatches
-		*out = make([]string, len(*in))
-		copy(*out, *in)
-	}
-	if in.KubeadmConfigPatchesJSON6902 != nil {
-		in, out := &in.KubeadmConfigPatchesJSON6902, &out.KubeadmConfigPatchesJSON6902
-		*out = make([]kustomize.PatchJSON6902, len(*in))
-		copy(*out, *in)
-	}
 	if in.ExtraMounts != nil {
 		in, out := &in.ExtraMounts, &out.ExtraMounts
 		*out = make([]cri.Mount, len(*in))
diff --git a/pkg/cluster/config/zz_generated.default.go b/pkg/cluster/config/zz_generated.default.go
index a3d34f360e..8172293afb 100644
--- a/pkg/cluster/config/zz_generated.default.go
+++ b/pkg/cluster/config/zz_generated.default.go
@@ -28,12 +28,12 @@ import (
 // Public to allow building arbitrary schemes.
 // All generated defaulters are covering - they call all nested defaulters.
 func RegisterDefaults(scheme *runtime.Scheme) error {
-	scheme.AddTypeDefaultingFunc(&Config{}, func(obj interface{}) { SetObjectDefaults_Config(obj.(*Config)) })
+	scheme.AddTypeDefaultingFunc(&Cluster{}, func(obj interface{}) { SetObjectDefaults_Cluster(obj.(*Cluster)) })
 	return nil
 }
 
-func SetObjectDefaults_Config(in *Config) {
-	SetDefaults_Config(in)
+func SetObjectDefaults_Cluster(in *Cluster) {
+	SetDefaults_Cluster(in)
 	for i := range in.Nodes {
 		a := &in.Nodes[i]
 		SetDefaults_Node(a)
diff --git a/pkg/cluster/context.go b/pkg/cluster/context.go
index 569958d857..d41dd03f0f 100644
--- a/pkg/cluster/context.go
+++ b/pkg/cluster/context.go
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ func (c *Context) KubeConfigPath() string {
 }
 
 // Create provisions and starts a kubernetes-in-docker cluster
-func (c *Context) Create(cfg *config.Config, options ...create.ClusterOption) error {
+func (c *Context) Create(cfg *config.Cluster, options ...create.ClusterOption) error {
 	// apply create options
 	opts := &internalcreate.Options{}
 	for _, option := range options {
diff --git a/pkg/cluster/internal/create/actions/action.go b/pkg/cluster/internal/create/actions/action.go
index aa6874d9f7..29fb76b549 100644
--- a/pkg/cluster/internal/create/actions/action.go
+++ b/pkg/cluster/internal/create/actions/action.go
@@ -34,14 +34,14 @@ type Action interface {
 // ActionContext is data supplied to all actions
 type ActionContext struct {
 	Status         *logutil.Status
-	Config         *config.Config
+	Config         *config.Cluster
 	ClusterContext *context.Context
 	cache          *cachedData
 }
 
 // NewActionContext returns a new ActionContext
 func NewActionContext(
-	cfg *config.Config,
+	cfg *config.Cluster,
 	ctx *context.Context,
 	status *logutil.Status,
 ) *ActionContext {
diff --git a/pkg/cluster/internal/create/actions/config/config.go b/pkg/cluster/internal/create/actions/config/config.go
index 04b66b41ef..b4200ce4f0 100644
--- a/pkg/cluster/internal/create/actions/config/config.go
+++ b/pkg/cluster/internal/create/actions/config/config.go
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ func (a *Action) Execute(ctx *actions.ActionContext) error {
 
 // getKubeadmConfig generates the kubeadm config contents for the cluster
 // by running data through the template.
-func getKubeadmConfig(cfg *config.Config, data kubeadm.ConfigData) (path string, err error) {
+func getKubeadmConfig(cfg *config.Cluster, data kubeadm.ConfigData) (path string, err error) {
 	// generate the config contents
 	config, err := kubeadm.Config(data)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -114,12 +114,8 @@ func getKubeadmConfig(cfg *config.Config, data kubeadm.ConfigData) (path string,
 	return kustomize.Build([]string{config}, patches, jsonPatches)
 }
 
-func allPatchesFromConfig(cfg *config.Config) (patches []string, jsonPatches []kustomize.PatchJSON6902) {
-	for _, node := range cfg.Nodes {
-		patches = append(patches, node.KubeadmConfigPatches...)
-		jsonPatches = append(jsonPatches, node.KubeadmConfigPatchesJSON6902...)
-	}
-	return patches, jsonPatches
+func allPatchesFromConfig(cfg *config.Cluster) (patches []string, jsonPatches []kustomize.PatchJSON6902) {
+	return cfg.KubeadmConfigPatches, cfg.KubeadmConfigPatchesJSON6902
 }
 
 // setPatchNames sets the targeted object name on every patch to be the fixed
diff --git a/pkg/cluster/internal/create/create.go b/pkg/cluster/internal/create/create.go
index 8483db78eb..d6bc402435 100644
--- a/pkg/cluster/internal/create/create.go
+++ b/pkg/cluster/internal/create/create.go
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ type Options struct {
 }
 
 // Cluster creates a cluster
-func Cluster(ctx *context.Context, cfg *config.Config, opts *Options) error {
+func Cluster(ctx *context.Context, cfg *config.Cluster, opts *Options) error {
 	// default config fields (important for usage as a library, where the config
 	// may be constructed in memory rather than from disk)
 	encoding.Scheme.Default(cfg)
diff --git a/pkg/cluster/internal/create/images.go b/pkg/cluster/internal/create/images.go
index e2e624c33e..071607d55c 100644
--- a/pkg/cluster/internal/create/images.go
+++ b/pkg/cluster/internal/create/images.go
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ import (
 
 // ensureNodeImages ensures that the node images used by the create
 // configuration are present
-func ensureNodeImages(status *logutil.Status, cfg *config.Config) {
+func ensureNodeImages(status *logutil.Status, cfg *config.Cluster) {
 	// pull each required image
 	for _, image := range requiredImages(cfg).List() {
 		// prints user friendly message
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ func ensureNodeImages(status *logutil.Status, cfg *config.Config) {
 }
 
 // requiredImages returns the set of images specified by the config
-func requiredImages(cfg *config.Config) sets.String {
+func requiredImages(cfg *config.Cluster) sets.String {
 	images := sets.NewString()
 	for _, node := range cfg.Nodes {
 		images.Insert(node.Image)
diff --git a/pkg/cluster/internal/create/nodes.go b/pkg/cluster/internal/create/nodes.go
index 7808ee9e4b..acd097a78c 100644
--- a/pkg/cluster/internal/create/nodes.go
+++ b/pkg/cluster/internal/create/nodes.go
@@ -63,19 +63,11 @@ func makeRoleToOrder(roleOrder []string) func(string) int {
 	}
 }
 
-// TODO(bentheelder): eliminate this when we have v1alpha3
-func convertReplicas(nodes []config.Node) []config.Node {
-	out := []config.Node{}
-	for _, node := range nodes {
-		replicas := int32(1)
-		if node.Replicas != nil {
-			replicas = *node.Replicas
-		}
-		for i := int32(0); i < replicas; i++ {
-			outNode := node.DeepCopy()
-			outNode.Replicas = nil
-			out = append(out, *outNode)
-		}
+// returns a deep copy of a slice of config nodes
+func copyConfigNodes(toCopy []config.Node) []config.Node {
+	out := make([]config.Node, len(toCopy))
+	for i, node := range toCopy {
+		out[i] = *node.DeepCopy()
 	}
 	return out
 }
@@ -83,7 +75,7 @@ func convertReplicas(nodes []config.Node) []config.Node {
 // provisionNodes takes care of creating all the containers
 // that will host `kind` nodes
 func provisionNodes(
-	status *logutil.Status, cfg *config.Config, clusterName, clusterLabel string,
+	status *logutil.Status, cfg *config.Cluster, clusterName, clusterLabel string,
 ) error {
 	defer status.End(false)
 
@@ -97,7 +89,7 @@ func provisionNodes(
 }
 
 func createNodeContainers(
-	status *logutil.Status, cfg *config.Config, clusterName, clusterLabel string,
+	status *logutil.Status, cfg *config.Cluster, clusterName, clusterLabel string,
 ) ([]nodes.Node, error) {
 	defer status.End(false)
 
@@ -186,21 +178,34 @@ type nodeSpec struct {
 	ExtraMounts []cri.Mount
 }
 
-func nodesToCreate(cfg *config.Config, clusterName string) []nodeSpec {
+func nodesToCreate(cfg *config.Cluster, clusterName string) []nodeSpec {
 	desiredNodes := []nodeSpec{}
 
 	// nodes are named based on the cluster name and their role, with a counter
 	nameNode := makeNodeNamer(clusterName)
 
-	// convert replicas to normal nodes
-	// TODO(bentheelder): eliminate this when we have v1alpha3 ?
-	configNodes := convertReplicas(cfg.Nodes)
-
+	// copy and sort config nodes
 	// TODO(bentheelder): allow overriding defaultRoleOrder
+	configNodes := copyConfigNodes(cfg.Nodes)
 	sortNodes(configNodes, defaultRoleOrder)
 
+	// we will use these two values to determine if / how to setup the
+	// external control plane load balancer
+	controlPlanes := 0
+	controlPlaneImage := ""
+	// add all of the config nodes as desired nodes
 	for _, configNode := range configNodes {
 		role := string(configNode.Role)
+		// keep track of control planes for the load balancer
+		if role == constants.ControlPlaneNodeRoleValue {
+			controlPlanes++
+			// TODO(bentheelder): instead of keeping the first image, we
+			// should have a config field that controls this image, and use
+			// that with defaulting
+			if controlPlaneImage == "" {
+				controlPlaneImage = configNode.Image
+			}
+		}
 		desiredNodes = append(desiredNodes, nodeSpec{
 			Name:        nameNode(role),
 			Image:       configNode.Image,
@@ -209,7 +214,16 @@ func nodesToCreate(cfg *config.Config, clusterName string) []nodeSpec {
 		})
 	}
 
-	// TODO(bentheelder): handle implicit nodes as well
+	// add an external load balancer if there are multiple control planes
+	if controlPlanes > 1 {
+		role := constants.ExternalLoadBalancerNodeRoleValue
+		desiredNodes = append(desiredNodes, nodeSpec{
+			Name:        nameNode(role),
+			Image:       controlPlaneImage, // TODO(bentheelder): get from config instead
+			Role:        role,
+			ExtraMounts: []cri.Mount{},
+		})
+	}
 
 	return desiredNodes
 }
diff --git a/pkg/cluster/nodes/create.go b/pkg/cluster/nodes/create.go
index 797114ac2d..6c748e782a 100644
--- a/pkg/cluster/nodes/create.go
+++ b/pkg/cluster/nodes/create.go
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@ import (
 	"os"
 
 	"github.com/pkg/errors"
-	"sigs.k8s.io/kind/pkg/cluster/config"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kind/pkg/cluster/constants"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kind/pkg/cluster/internal/haproxy"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kind/pkg/cluster/internal/kubeadm"
@@ -59,7 +58,7 @@ func CreateControlPlaneNode(name, image, clusterLabel string, mounts []cri.Mount
 	}
 
 	node, err = createNode(
-		name, image, clusterLabel, config.ControlPlaneRole, mounts,
+		name, image, clusterLabel, constants.ControlPlaneNodeRoleValue, mounts,
 		// publish selected port for the API server
 		"--expose", fmt.Sprintf("%d", port),
 		"-p", fmt.Sprintf("%d:%d", port, kubeadm.APIServerPort),
@@ -85,7 +84,7 @@ func CreateExternalLoadBalancerNode(name, image, clusterLabel string) (node *Nod
 		return nil, errors.Wrap(err, "failed to get port for control-plane load balancer")
 	}
 
-	node, err = createNode(name, image, clusterLabel, config.ExternalLoadBalancerRole,
+	node, err = createNode(name, image, clusterLabel, constants.ExternalLoadBalancerNodeRoleValue,
 		nil,
 		// publish selected port for the control plane
 		"--expose", fmt.Sprintf("%d", port),
@@ -105,7 +104,7 @@ func CreateExternalLoadBalancerNode(name, image, clusterLabel string) (node *Nod
 
 // CreateWorkerNode creates a worker node
 func CreateWorkerNode(name, image, clusterLabel string, mounts []cri.Mount) (node *Node, err error) {
-	node, err = createNode(name, image, clusterLabel, config.WorkerRole, mounts)
+	node, err = createNode(name, image, clusterLabel, constants.WorkerNodeRoleValue, mounts)
 	if err != nil {
 		return node, err
 	}
@@ -116,7 +115,7 @@ func CreateWorkerNode(name, image, clusterLabel string, mounts []cri.Mount) (nod
 // createNode `docker run`s the node image, note that due to
 // images/node/entrypoint being the entrypoint, this container will
 // effectively be paused until we call actuallyStartNode(...)
-func createNode(name, image, clusterLabel string, role config.NodeRole, mounts []cri.Mount, extraArgs ...string) (handle *Node, err error) {
+func createNode(name, image, clusterLabel, role string, mounts []cri.Mount, extraArgs ...string) (handle *Node, err error) {
 	runArgs := []string{
 		"-d", // run the container detached
 		// running containers in a container requires privileged