BSG Colonial Viper Mk. 1

Modeling Subjects Science Fiction
1

Back in 1978, I was 5 years old. My father and I would watch this little show called Battlestar Galatica (perhaps you have heard of it [;)] )

Anyway, one day he brought home a model of a Viper…it was so cool! Just like the show! I helped him build it, and ever since then I have been hooked on model building. I have always wanted to get another one so I can build one of my own and relive the joy of the kit that opened the door for me. Thanks to Revell and their 30th Anniversary re-release, I have done just that…

I am in the process of painting Starbu…I mean, the pilot figure. Once that is done, I am going to attach the canopy and fire up the airbrush.

2

Lt. Starbuck reporting for duty…

And yes…that IS a black eye…wouldn’t be Starbuck unless he had a black eye…most likely after taking all the mechanics paychecks in a game of Pyramids.

3

Looking good. I may have to get one of these but it would take me away to a bigger scale. I just love the lines of this fighter.

4

Yeah…this is a decent kit…nice to see a cockpit and figure (even if the helmet isn’t quite right).

The build itself is actually quite easy…I did this in a day. It’s the weathering that I am looking forward to!

5

What grey should I use?

I just airbrushed it gunship grey thinking that was about right, and it turned out way too dark…it looks like a Colonial Strike Eagle now.

Maybe gull grey?

6

I love stories like this! Makes you enjoy building the model so much more…

7

I really need to get one of these. I’ve been wanting another whack at this ship for a long time, so I’m going to have to get one. Looking forward to this build.

8

For most of my spaceship models, I use Light Sea Grey, from the Model Master range of colors. Gunship Grey is a little too dark and blue.

Here’s some ‘in progress’ shots of some Jedi Starfighters I built last year, so you can judge for yourself. I used the same grey inside and out.

The ‘white’ striping on the red SF is actually Camoflage Grey. If your looking for a ‘not-quite-white’ color, that’s what I would recomend.

I don’t wanna Thread-Jack you, so post when you see these pictures, and I’ll take 'em down.

-JC

9

Hey Cosmic J…I think that camo grey is just about right.

Thanks…I’ll have to pick some of that up on my way home tonight. That’s the first time I have ever used gunship grey…it dries a lot darker than it appears in the bottle.

10

This is what Model Master Camouflage Grey looks like on a full model. You can see how it contrasts w/ the white in the skull insignias.

(Be kind, I painted this bad boy almost ten years ago.) Just to give you an idea what the paint looks like.

Some of you may have seen this guy before… [;)]

11

How’s this coming btp2k2? I use Rustoleum grey primer a lot. It’s in a rattle can and for $5.00 you get a lot of paint. It dries hard and sands nicely, it also takes a clear coat really well, when adding decals. I know some people hate rattle cans, but I love em, especially for flat colors, or generic colors.

Cosmic J, Where do you get all of those marvelous toys?

12

Yeah, btp2k2. Don’t be shy. Quid pro quo. [swg]

I’m actually very interested in what steps you had to take to facillitate painting.

KTM innocently inquired:

If I told you, that would make you an “Accessory After the Fact”. [;)] Have you figured out where you may have seen this one before?

On a more serious note, I was under the impression that the guys who built those original studio models used white automotive primer right out of the can, and then just weathered the hell out of them w/ oil paints.

Every year at Wonderfest USA, some Hollywood guys bring their actual filming models to put on display, and let me tell you, they look a lot better on film than they do in person.

There’s got to be some place we can look to find out. I’m new to this internet thing, anybody got any ideas?

13

Sorry, I work weekends…3 12 hour shifts…so my modeling gets done during the week. I did stop on my way home yesterday and picked up some camo grey though…I am going to try and re shoot it on monday.

I was a rattle canner, until I discovered the next best thing since sliced bread…the dual action airbrush.

Here’s the gunship grey.

14

Looks great, I’m going to have to try that for some detail painting on the 1/350th TOS. Is it that dark, or is it a light effect from the photography?

15

nope…no tricks, it’s that dark.

16

btp2k2:

[(-D] LOL! I’m sorry. I didn’t mean right now, just when you get around to it. The new Viper is one I’m thinking about buying, so I get a vicarious thrill watching you build yours.

Honestly, you should probably just ignore everything I post. Half of it doesn’t make any sense anyway…

btp2k2:

Yup, that’s MM Gunship Grey alright. It’s actually a little darker than it looks in the picture.

Thanks for keeping us updated.

17

Does that thing come with landing gear?

18

Nope…no legs

19

Bummer, you think that would almost be a given. Didn’t the original kit have langing gear?

20

The Monogram kit has never had landing gear although there are aftermarket sets for the kit. The updated kit has all of the old parts as well as the new cockpit, clear parts and a really nice decal sheet.