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We got our first glimpse of Jay's Viper in the Bench Section
This is my second Viper, the first one I built a few days before the premiere of the Battlestar Galactica back in
1978. For this one, I decided to go all out and build my version of an "ultimate" Viper with a scratchbuilt cockpit, clear canopy and add more detail to the rear engine area
and other places.
I started this kit
by adding more "tubing" in the engine area using thin styrene rods and small pieces of sheet styrene to enclose some of the plumbing and give it a little more substantial appearance and less like a single molded part.
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Once satisfied with the engine area, I *carefully* cut the areas of the canopy out that were supposed to be clear. I
painted the canopy, then cut clear styrene pieces to go into the canopy using the black window decals for templates.
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Construction of the cockpit was next, and I scratch built the seat, cockpit tub and control panels from various widths of
sheet styrene. A pilot from a Gerry Anderson Starcruiser 1 kit was modified to look like a Colonial pilot. I even painted in the little lights that are on the top and bottom of the
helmet, I'm really pleased with the way the pilot turned out.
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Now that the hard stuff was done, I just built the kit according to instructions and painted it overall with Testors Flat Light
Aircraft Gray.
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Three more areas were detailed: I drilled out the laser gun barrels to make them look more realistic, added a jet intake from an
old Flying Sub in the front air intake area so now there isn't just a stupid hole for that torpedo thing anymore, and I added the raised panels to the top of the front fuselage.
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The model was weathered with black and brown pastel chalk, dry brushing and wash techniques. Decals were applied and final
weathering was applied over the decals. I sprayed the kit with Testor's dullcote to seal in the paint and pastel weathering.
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I am very happy with the way this one turned out, although I'll be first to admit the cockpit isn't totally accurate. I
had alot of fun scratchbuilding it though, and I guess that's what really matters!
Jay Barnes
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