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Author Topic: Battlestar Galactica Colonial Viper MkI  (Read 7975 times)

Offline Splashcoat

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Battlestar Galactica Colonial Viper MkI
« on: April 30, 2014, 08:59:59 AM »
I know that it isn't actually Star Wars tech, but the model was designed by John Dykstra's miniatures team and the style bears more than a passing resemblance to something we might see on Yavin or Dantooine. So here's a W.I.P. look at my build of Moebius' 1/32 Colonial Viper MK1:

Box art and a snazzy art card of Ralph McQuarrie's viper concept design.



Stock Cockpit:



I removed the molded detail from the cockpit tub and re-faced it with ParaGrafix's photoetched set:




I opted not to use the pilot figure; so I made some cushions out of styrene to dress-up the pilot's seat:



My initial inspection of the kit revealed that the manufacturer's mark on the side of the fuselage is going to have to go:


The kit features a clear insert for the engine exhausts. I'm not going to light this kit so it will be painted:


Engine assembly - Moebius has engineered a fanstastic alignment/locking tab system into this part of the kit:


I covered the stand attachment slot with a length of styrene channel:

« Last Edit: April 30, 2014, 09:56:27 AM by Splashcoat »
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Offline DocOutlands

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Re: Battlestar Galactica Colonial Viper MkI
« Reply #1 on: April 30, 2014, 10:34:14 AM »
That's a good-looking kit!  Personally, I'd say you are slightly insane to tackle those PE parts, but 20 years ago, I'd'a bailed off into it without a second thought.  :D 
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Offline Splashcoat

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Re: Battlestar Galactica Colonial Viper MkI
« Reply #2 on: April 30, 2014, 02:55:11 PM »
Quote from: DocOutlands on April 30, 2014, 10:34:14 AM
That's a good-looking kit!  Personally, I'd say you are slightly insane to tackle those PE parts, but 20 years ago, I'd'a bailed off into it without a second thought.  :D 

Only slightly insane? I think insanity is a characteristic of most modelers and customizers  ;)
The PE isn't that bad, it's very well engineered. The cocpit tub is formed out of four large pieces and all the little panels get stuck to that with acetate screen faces sandwiched in between.
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Offline DocOutlands

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Re: Battlestar Galactica Colonial Viper MkI
« Reply #3 on: April 30, 2014, 08:53:29 PM »
Utterly fantastic.  Can't wait to see how it ends up looking!
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Offline Tamer

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Re: Battlestar Galactica Colonial Viper MkI
« Reply #4 on: May 01, 2014, 02:49:39 AM »
Wow, already some great work has happened here. Off to share.
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Offline Splashcoat

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Re: Battlestar Galactica Colonial Viper MkI
« Reply #5 on: May 01, 2014, 08:35:50 AM »
Cheers, Tamer!

This kit's construction is very straightforward and no modification is required apart from the cockpit. So now on to the fun part... paint!

The kit is very well engineered and can be built and painted in sub-assemblies. Starting at the front; the nose intake cone is a darker grey than the rest of the fuselage so it will be painted separately. After painting the intake grille a dark metallic colour, it was masked off with tape using a molded line on the back of the part as a template for the mask. The recessed line is exactly the same size and shape as the grille and makes a pefect  guide to cut the mask - coincidence?



I pre-painted the intake fans and masked them off prior to installation in the inatke scoops. The fit is very tight - they practically snap in, so you can get away with doing it this way.



Sub-assemblies masked and primed:


« Last Edit: May 01, 2014, 08:41:10 AM by Splashcoat »
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Offline Splashcoat

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Re: Battlestar Galactica Colonial Viper MkI
« Reply #6 on: May 02, 2014, 07:30:10 AM »
I'm not going to use the kit decals for the red and grey stripes; rather, I'm going to paint the markings. I'm going to keep the grey primer for the stripe around the engine intakes, I masked this off prior to painting the main body colour.

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Offline Tamer

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Re: Battlestar Galactica Colonial Viper MkI
« Reply #7 on: May 02, 2014, 01:53:21 PM »
I am really enjoying this. Update on the fp. Keep it coming!
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Offline spudafett

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Re: Battlestar Galactica Colonial Viper MkI
« Reply #8 on: May 03, 2014, 08:44:16 AM »
This bears a striking resemblance to a kit I made a while back.  I lighted mine and it turned out pretty sweet.  Although I used too much paint and wound up ruining some of the sculpts details...

I'd love to come back and do another viper... its such an iconic ship!  love battlestar...
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Offline Splashcoat

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Re: Battlestar Galactica Colonial Viper MkI
« Reply #9 on: May 04, 2014, 05:48:23 PM »
True, Spudafett. The design is iconic - one of my favourites as a kid... and still.

Sub assemblies pre-shaded:


Sub assemblies painted:

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Offline hemble

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Re: Battlestar Galactica Colonial Viper MkI
« Reply #10 on: May 05, 2014, 12:36:32 AM »
I've also liked the older style vipers and yours is looking great, I can't wait to see her completed.

Ron
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Offline Tamer

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Re: Battlestar Galactica Colonial Viper MkI
« Reply #11 on: May 05, 2014, 01:48:10 AM »
Wow, that is looking great! It looks great on our front page too.
« Last Edit: May 05, 2014, 03:21:36 AM by Tamer »
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Offline Splashcoat

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Re: Battlestar Galactica Colonial Viper MkI
« Reply #12 on: May 07, 2014, 05:32:19 PM »
Thanks, Guys, I'm having a lot of fun with this one. I'm skipping the decals and painting on the Go Faster Stripes with a custom mix of Tamiya Red and Orange. First... a great deal of masking:



Looks faster already:

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Offline Tamer

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Re: Battlestar Galactica Colonial Viper MkI
« Reply #13 on: May 08, 2014, 02:51:24 AM »
Wow, that build is looking great.
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Offline DocOutlands

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Re: Battlestar Galactica Colonial Viper MkI
« Reply #14 on: May 09, 2014, 06:57:04 AM »
Okay - I may have to stop watching Buck Rogers and break out Battlestar Galactica!   ;D  Looking good!!
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