Model Of The Month: Colonial Viper (my techniques)

[silveroxide]

Talk about shades from the past, Thanks for the honor. This was one of my first threads here at Zealot a long time ago. I built this viper from jleslie site about the same time that ssquirrel was also building his version as well. The original designer is murphya. I may re-do this TOS viper sometime later in the future. Since I built it, there is a lot more details and reference material than then, especially in the cockpit department. Thanks again and I hope that the thread will help the next builder build a better one. See you all around the forums.

[rbeach84]

I ended building this as my first paper model (I've been plastic since I was five) I wish I had read your thread first, however - that trick with the sockets would have eased my engine work. I also double-walled the engine exhausts, but I used extra printed parts (the exterior was used for the interior as well...) and it looks great. I attempted to use wallboard paste as a putty because the nose had some issues, as you probably noted. That experiment wasn't so successful...

I didn't attempt the gear, just mounted it on the cat tracks using the provided skid channels - it was a nice friction fit. I thought of doing a cockpit, but just went with some other 3-d lamination 'grebblies' and such, following the kit parts basically just as you did. I will try and remember to take a picture and post here so you can see how I did, too.

After that build, and being somewhat disatisfied with the 'scale' result, I'm endeavoring to draw a more accurate model using Web research materials and the Monogram kit as references. With luck, I'll get it done before I croak!

Thanks again for such a nice build post, I really enjoyed it.

Regards,
Robert

[silveroxide]

I am glad that I was able to pass on some techniques. As mentioned earlier, At the time that I built it, there was limited info on the build, but there is so much info out there now, that if I should decide to build it again it would go through a major re-haul/re-build. For anyone who should decide to build it in the future, do not forget to thank Murphya.

[MTK]

Here's something you might find interesting.

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=...H6jNsQLXquCTCg

[silveroxide]

I still like this one. It is actually a flying Viper, is constructed almost 80% of paper products, and the background setting while not made of paper, is not bad either. Not only that, the color coordination matches.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by silveroxide

I still like this one. It is actually a flying Viper, is constructed almost 80% of paper products, and the background setting while not made of paper, is not bad either. Not only that, the color coordination matches.

Nothing wrong with Hooters chicks, dated four of them myself, all in one month, right before I met my current sweetie, whom I've been with for eleven years. She knew I was trouble when she took the job.

[Big Al]

These are great!.....I'm ready for launch!!!!! This one is on my list now!......that and I'm an old school BSG freak!

[Ingchao]

Very cool, I hope I'm gonna put this one on my list of builds for sure!!

[silveroxide]

When you should decide to build this one, refer to resinilluminati.com for lots of reference material and you will make a better model than mine. You will have to sign up to get the good studio builds section, but it will be worth it. Enjoy and see you around the forums.

Got Milk!! That is a nice Viper model.

[Commander Adama]

Hey Silver see that you are still into Vipers

Adama

[KainHarrison]

Awesome! I hope to be tackling a viper soon.

[l0rdg]

awesomenesss...that is a great build ..thanks for sharing!

[silveroxide]

Originally Posted by Commander Adama

Hey Silver see that you are still into Vipers

Adama

Originally Posted by KainHarrison

Awesome! I hope to be tackling a viper soon.

Originally Posted by l0rdg

awesomenesss...that is a great build ..thanks for sharing!

This was one of my first builds on this site. I wish that I had the information that is available now, in order to have made a more detailed model. Chances are, that I will re-do this model sometime in the future with all of the references that are available now. Enjoy the build, it is there for all of you to learn and enjoy something new.

OK. Husker, I see that you are back, hopefully I will be back in the saddle in January and start to build heavy once again. In the meantime, I will drop in now and then and enjoy what others are building out there.

[murphyaa]

Nice to see one of the old classics again. Nobody knows, but this was my very first model I ever designed, way back in 2003.

Oh and one thing I learned, and was pounded into my head...Do NOT use the Monogram model. It is not even close to being accurate to scale.

I had to use screenshots from the series (thankfully they liked to film from the side a lot) and lots of pictures of the actual studio model (the life sized one)

Oh and one thing about the landing gear; it was retracted when the ship was on the launcher. The rails on the bottom grip the rails on top of the launcher and guide the Viper down the launch tube.

For landing gear on the Cylon Raider...I don't think it had any. I researched everywhere, and even bought a plastic model...no landing gear. What really cinched it was an episode in the series where Starbuck and Apollo board a Basestar and you see an entire hanger full of Raiders...all without landing gear. Either they hovered in place, or rested on a special cradle.