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BSG Colonial Viper Mk. 1

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  • Member since
    October 2007
  • From: Bothell, WA
BSG Colonial Viper Mk. 1
Posted by btp2k2 on Monday, February 11, 2008 3:10 PM

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 Wink [;)] )

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.

Paul I Like Tomcats!
  • Member since
    October 2007
  • From: Bothell, WA
Posted by btp2k2 on Monday, February 11, 2008 6:59 PM

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.

Paul I Like Tomcats!
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by ssgkopp on Monday, February 11, 2008 7:04 PM
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.
  • Member since
    October 2007
  • From: Bothell, WA
Posted by btp2k2 on Monday, February 11, 2008 7:36 PM

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!

Paul I Like Tomcats!
  • Member since
    October 2007
  • From: Bothell, WA
Posted by btp2k2 on Thursday, February 14, 2008 8:46 PM

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?

Paul I Like Tomcats!
  • Member since
    February 2007
Posted by PetarB on Thursday, February 14, 2008 9:06 PM
 btp2k2 wrote:

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 Wink [;)] )

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 love stories like this! Makes you enjoy building the model so much more...
www.studiostarforge.com
  • Member since
    January 2006
Posted by KirkTrekModeler on Thursday, February 14, 2008 11:00 PM
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.
  • Member since
    December 2007
  • From: Louisville, KY.
Posted by Cosmic J on Friday, February 15, 2008 2:55 AM

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

  • Member since
    October 2007
  • From: Bothell, WA
Posted by btp2k2 on Friday, February 15, 2008 11:19 AM

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.

Paul I Like Tomcats!
  • Member since
    December 2007
  • From: Louisville, KY.
Posted by Cosmic J on Saturday, February 16, 2008 1:38 AM

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.

<Photo Removed>

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

  • Member since
    January 2006
Posted by KirkTrekModeler on Saturday, February 16, 2008 11:25 PM

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? 

  • Member since
    December 2007
  • From: Louisville, KY.
Posted by Cosmic J on Saturday, February 16, 2008 11:43 PM

 Yeah, btp2k2. Don't be shy. Quid pro quo. Smile,Wink, & Grin [swg]

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

KTM innocently inquired:

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

If I told you, that would make you an "Accessory After the Fact". Wink [;)] 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?

  • Member since
    October 2007
  • From: Bothell, WA
Posted by btp2k2 on Saturday, February 16, 2008 11:50 PM
 Cosmic J wrote:

 Yeah, btp2k2. Don't be shy. Quid pro quo.

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.

Paul I Like Tomcats!
  • Member since
    January 2006
Posted by KirkTrekModeler on Sunday, February 17, 2008 1:09 AM
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?
  • Member since
    October 2007
  • From: Bothell, WA
Posted by btp2k2 on Sunday, February 17, 2008 1:19 AM

nope....no tricks, it's that dark.

 

Paul I Like Tomcats!
  • Member since
    December 2007
  • From: Louisville, KY.
Posted by Cosmic J on Sunday, February 17, 2008 2:50 AM

btp2k2:

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.

Laugh [(-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:

Here's the gunship grey.

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

Thanks for keeping us updated.

 

  • Member since
    October 2004
  • From: Orlando, Florida
Posted by ikar01 on Sunday, February 17, 2008 4:02 PM
Does that thing come with landing gear?

  • Member since
    October 2007
  • From: Bothell, WA
Posted by btp2k2 on Sunday, February 17, 2008 7:45 PM

 ikar01 wrote:
Does that thing come with landing gear?

 

Nope...no legs

Paul I Like Tomcats!
  • Member since
    January 2006
Posted by KirkTrekModeler on Tuesday, February 19, 2008 9:26 AM

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

 

 btp2k2 wrote:

 ikar01 wrote:
Does that thing come with landing gear?

 

Nope...no legs

Moderator
  • Member since
    April 2006
  • From: my keyboard dreaming of being at the workbench
Posted by Aaron Skinner on Tuesday, February 19, 2008 9:47 AM
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.

Aaron Skinner

Editor

FineScale Modeler

  • Member since
    June 2004
  • From: The House of Blues Clues
Posted by Griffworks on Tuesday, February 19, 2008 9:50 AM

Millenia Models Int'l has a very nicely done aftermarket set for both the landing gear and cockpit.  I believe I read over at Starship Modeler that they were planning to re-mold the landing gear set sometime very soon so that fresh molds were available for MMI to get kits out to those retailers who market their kits. 

 

The greatest measure of a man is his children and what kind of people they are.

 

  • Member since
    January 2006
Posted by KirkTrekModeler on Tuesday, February 19, 2008 10:41 AM

 Aaron Skinner wrote:
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.

That's cool, I'm still looking forward to getting this kit, I will probably make up my own parts though, if I decide to have it in the landed position. Since I was given a very cool, handcrafted BSG base, I'll probably get all three kits produced by Revell and have them all in flight, so I guess it's really a moot point. I though for sure the original kit had gear. See how the mind palys tricks on you with facts after twenty years. LOL 

  • Member since
    October 2007
  • From: Bothell, WA
Posted by btp2k2 on Tuesday, February 19, 2008 11:45 AM
I had planned to build it in flight from the beginning, so no gear never really bothered me much
Paul I Like Tomcats!
  • Member since
    January 2006
Posted by KirkTrekModeler on Tuesday, February 19, 2008 12:07 PM

Yeah, I feel ya, I was just curious. It seemed odd that there wouldn't be landing gear, but every model maker does things there own way, just like every modeler.. Did you have the original, can you see a difference in the detail, is it recognizable? 

 btp2k2 wrote:
I had planned to build it in flight from the beginning, so no gear never really bothered me much

  • Member since
    October 2007
  • From: Bothell, WA
Posted by btp2k2 on Tuesday, February 19, 2008 1:10 PM

I did the original kit when I was five, so I don't remember alot about it.

I do have a sealed original in my stash, but I intend to keep it sealed...

Paul I Like Tomcats!
  • Member since
    January 2006
Posted by KirkTrekModeler on Tuesday, February 19, 2008 1:16 PM

I bet, that's almost like having a sealed "Long Box" AMT Enterprise., or a sealed "Lights and Sounds, Lesney Refit" from "79". 

 

 btp2k2 wrote:

I did the original kit when I was five, so I don't remember alot about it.

I do have a sealed original in my stash, but I intend to keep it sealed...

  • Member since
    October 2007
  • From: Bothell, WA
Posted by btp2k2 on Thursday, March 13, 2008 3:57 PM

Finally got off my butt and re painted.....

I ended up using Model Masters "Neutral Grey"....I think it turned out just about right.

Paul I Like Tomcats!
  • Member since
    December 2007
  • From: Louisville, KY.
Posted by Cosmic J on Thursday, March 13, 2008 6:38 PM

Oh yeah. Very nice. Thumbs Up [tup]

Is that the acryl or the enamel?

  • Member since
    October 2007
  • From: Bothell, WA
Posted by btp2k2 on Thursday, March 13, 2008 7:24 PM

acrylic.

 

I shoot in my office, so I tend to use the water based variety in case the carpet monster tries to eat paint.....happened one time....got out a wet rag and some stain remover and it was gone before the wife came home

Paul I Like Tomcats!
  • Member since
    December 2007
  • From: Louisville, KY.
Posted by Cosmic J on Thursday, March 13, 2008 10:01 PM

Hmmm. I guess I should have looked closer at the photo. MM acryls right there in the background...

I ask because I normally shoot MM enamels through an airbrush, and I wondered how close the acryl colors are to the enamels. MM enamel NG looks a little bluish in the bottle, but if it looks like that when dry, I'll probably pick some up. 

Thanks - JC

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