by David Smith
1/700 RFA Blue Rover (Scratchbuilt)
Small Fleet Tanker designed to supply HM ships with fresh water, dry cargo and refrigerated provisions as well as a range of oil and lubricants.
Displacement 11,522 t
Length 141m
Breadth 19m
Draught 7m
Speed 18knots
Complement 50
Armament 2 x 20mm Oerlikon and 2 x 7.62mm machine guns
2 Corvus and 2 Plessey shield decoy launchers
Graseby type 182 towed torpedo decoy.
Helicopter deck but no hangar
Built by swan Hunter
Commissioned 1970
Decommissioned 1993, sold to Portuguese Navy (NRP Berrio).
The ship sustained damage when replenishing the MV Norland.
Initially acted as S. Georgia station tanker, later she refuelled in San Carlos Water and Port William. She refuelled no fewer than 150 helicopters
I did actually find some plans for this vessel from White ensign, they are Jecobin plans and to a scale of 1/16 of an inch to the foot, I believe this is 1:196, so I shall scale the plans down as required. The plans run to three sheets of A1 (?) paper.
I have started construction and cut out the balsa former for the hull and added a lead weight to the bottom stuck in place with Evostick adhesive
The hull was shaped from a balsa block 25mm x 202mm x 8mm. This will be faced with 30 thou plastic card and then the hull sides built up to shape. Having trouble getting the flare out at the bow correct and all the bits under the central part of the deck, think I will have to restart the decking if I can get the one I have already stuck on off, otherwise it will be a complete rebuild. Well, not a complete rebuild I managed to remove the offending parts and construction will now continue.
I am finding the superstructure difficult to visualise from the plans but will get there eventually, I think I will build it in levels and then overlay with 10 thou card. This will allow for extra details, windows, portholes and so on. I have completely rebuilt the superstructure as I was unhappy with the way it looked, hope it looks better now.
