**** DONE: 1/48 Blackburn Roc – Sqn Ldr Clark RAF. BofB Group Build.

[Airframes]

Good choice Vic, and nice to see one of the 'also rans' being included in the GB. Looks like quite a nicely produced kit - should look good when finished.
I always think that Blackburn, in WW2, must have built their aircraft from whatever spare parts they found in the Stores !
They all seem to be a collection of unrelated items, flying in formation ! I mean, look at the Botha ......... !!

[T Bolt]

Unique choice Vic! I hadn't realized the Roc was such a huge aircraft until I saw that pic you posted.

[Vic Balshaw]

Thanks Andy and Terry and I tend to agree with you T, Blackburn did turn out some odd balls, though give them credit, I believe it was a political directive that put the powered turret on the Roc..........

Thanks also Glenn, it does look a bit like a huge Hippocroccofrog on wheels and real ugly to boot.

[vikingBerserker]

Great choice and I'm glad somebody is building one!

[Vic Balshaw]

Thanks Dave

[Wayne Little]

Interesting choice Vic....ugly mother but interesting none the less....

[Vic Balshaw]

Vic....ugly mother but interesting none the less....

Agree...............

[Jayl]

Nice unusual subject.

[Vic Balshaw]

Started on the Roc late yesterday, just general cleaning up bits and decided that the best place to start would be on the engine. First thing I noticed was the oil cooling pipes that fit in front of the radial engine, they were just solid little lumps of plastic.

1-B1 Oil Cooler Inlet Pipe.jpg
1-B2 Oil Cooler Inlet Pipe.jpg
The solid lumps of plastic. These I have drilled out to make them look more like the horns they are.

1-B3 Engine parts.jpg
The whole engine parts, some given an initial coat of paint, I will do a bit of assembly and possibly weathering tomorrow. The modified oil cooling pipes are on the bottom left, though the drilled out centre is hard to see.

[Wayne Little]

Gotta start somewhere.....good stuff Vic!

[rochie]

lot of little bits for that engine Vic, good start though !

[Airframes]

Nice work mate. All you need to do now, is drill-out the cylinders, make some pistons and push rods, then find the correct grade, 'in scale', oil, and .............

[Wildcat]

Good to see her under way Vic.

[T Bolt]

Nice to see it started Vic. The oil cooling pipes look much better

[vikingBerserker]

Very cool!