BSG Viper Launch Rail System

[Rhaven Blaack]

As all (or at least most) of you (may) know, @Revell-Fan is currently working on the MK-I Colonial Viper. While he is working on that, he has asked me to beta test build the Launch Rail System that he has developed for this model (based on the one that was designed by @murphyaa). *NOTE* This build is in 1:48 scale. (Revell-Fan can scale it to match the scale that you need to match your Viper)

This is the one from "Saga of a Star World"

Here are the parts sheets.


Starting with the actual rail and internal formers.


The rail base goes together very easily!






Here are the internal formers. Very simple

THe formers are just dropped in


The base (bottom plate) is attached.




On to the back piece.

 

[Rhaven Blaack]

Now for the rails and the back piece.

Here are the rails and spacer.


The rails and spacer are attached.


Here are the parts and greebles for the back piece.


Starting with the lower back piece


Here is the upper back piece.


The back pieces are assembled and attached to the rail system.


Starting on the greebling.




The greebling for the back piece is done.


On to the side panel greebling.

 

[Rhaven Blaack]

Here are the side panel greebles. Currently there is indeed a right side and a left side. That might change.

Here are the parts. You need to print this page twice.


Here are the stacks of the parts for each panel. There are ten per side.



Starting one panel. Yes, the parts are quite small.




























One down, nine more to go.
Everything went together quite easily. I did not have any problems (even with my HUGE bear paws for hands).






Once I finish the other nine, I will post more photos.

 

[Revell-Fan]

Great work, pal! I'm looking forward to seeing the complete row of the plates.

 

[Rhaven Blaack]

Great work, pal! I'm looking forward to seeing the complete row of the plates.

Thank you sir!!!

 

[Rhaven Blaack]

So, I have finished one side of the rail with the detailed panels. The parts went together well.




However, I did run into a bit of a problem as I was applying the panels. As you see, the panels were not lining up well with the printed texture.




Other than the fitting issue, I think that these detailed panels to the rail system justice and really bring this thing to life!


I think that the problem is the scale of the model versus the thickness of the paper. I am using 110# (0.22 mm thick) cardstock. Both @Revell-Fan and I think that if slightly thinner cardstock is use or that the parts are printed at 98%, it will make a difference.

I am going to continue with what I have now, since everything is already printed out.

 

[Revell-Fan]

That looks awesome! The detail plates do make a difference and I can imagine how tedious it is to complete them (there are 20 plates, so you have to assemble the same tiny parts 20 times !). Reducing the size by 2% will give you 5mm wiggle room over the whole length of the rail (27cm) which is 0.5mm for each plate; I guess this will suffice and will barely be noticable.

This proves how important test builds are!

 

[Rhaven Blaack]

Both alpha and beta test builds are very important indeed! Every designer should always do an alpha build and have someone else do a beta build.

 

[Rhaven Blaack]

My cat, Waffles (yes, that is his name) thinks that he needs to inspect my work and make certain that there is a very high standard of quality control adhered to.

 

[SURFDUKE2001]

My cat Helps deconstruct.

Nice Build!

I can feel my head being pinned back just looking at it!

 

[Rhaven Blaack]

Here are the final photos (unless @Revell-Fan has more components for me to add) of the launch rail.

Here are final panels for the other side.


The panels are attached. Everything lines up well with the other side.


Here is more of an "aerial" view.


I set the purple squadron viper (that I previously built) on it to show scale.


Yes, I will soon start on the beta build the Viper that @Revell-Fan just finished, unless he has something else for me to tackle first.

Even though, the panels were a bit tedious, overall, it was an enjoyable build.

 

[Revell-Fan]

FANTASTIC BUILD! Don't worry, you'll get more parts to build asap.

 

[Danscrew]

Coooooollllll !,,,,
Great work Rhaven

 

[Rhaven Blaack]

Thank you both for the kind words! This is going to be a great addition to any BSG diorama and a great way to display your Viper!

 

[Revell-Fan]

It's great to see that the Sirius Viper fits on the rail, too. So she can be displayed on it, too.

 

[Rhaven Blaack]

SInce I still have the Sirius Viper, I decided to see how it would look on the rail. It makes for a great display as well.

 

[ennder]

Any ETA on the release of this? with the new Viper you HAVE to have the new launch rail to display it properly. thumbsup

 

[Revell-Fan]

Soon!

 

[Rhaven Blaack]

Since, I will be giving my finished beta build of the Viper, Launch Rail (and catapult sled), I have decided to rebuild the catapult sled and add some greebling to it to enhance the look of it and show all of you what can be done with it to add more detail and bring this component "to life".

Here are the parts template. Even though, I did not show it, I have printed this template four times, so that I have all of the parts that I need to properly layer, raise and recess what all I need to make this work.


Here is the backplate (parts 6 & 6a). I cut the center part out of part 6a to raise the outer part by two layers of cardstock It makes the center area look recess. I then cut out the white circles and raised them one layer of cardstock.


I attached part 6 to 6a.


Here are the parts for the front shroud/ hood. As you can see, I added louvores to the top.


The louvores are in place.


I attached the plate with the louvores and raised the light gray panels.

 

[Revell-Fan]

FOUR times? That is ambitious!