BSG Colonial Viper Mk. 1

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.

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!

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?

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 ) 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.

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

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.

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.

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Some of you may have seen this guy before...

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? 

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

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". 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?

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.

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

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.

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.

ikar01 wrote:

Does that thing come with landing gear?

Nope...no legs

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

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. 

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 

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

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...

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...

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

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

Oh yeah. Very nice.

Is that the acryl or the enamel?

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

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