The Revell re-issue kit of the Colonial Viper from “Battlestar Galactica” is a nice model that goes together easily and lends itself to customizing according to the builder’s imagination and skills.
An after-market lighting kit was installed on this one, but it may be easier (and cheaper) to pick up some parts at Radio Shack and customize your own lights. This one has a red led in the cockpit, as well as the white engine exhaust leds, seen through the clear plastic lenses that I painted blue, with transparent acrylic paint. I left the engine housing unglued so it can be pulled off to change the 9 volt battery inside the fuselage. The small on/off switch is mounted inside, with its actuator sticking out a hole in the rear bottom of the fuselage, where it’s easy to operate but visually concealed.
The exterior paint is Tamiya Acrylic, applied with an air brush. It made for a beautiful, consistent finish and I highly recommend these paints. However, it is important to use only the compatible Tamiya Acrylic Thinner, rather than water, for best results. I liked the way it looked, so I decided not to give it the “battle-scarred” look, although that could easily be done according to each modeler’s preference.
This kit can be a simple project for a beginner, as well as challenging finishing project for more experienced modelers. You can put as little or as much effort as you want into it, and still end up with an attractive display model.
Chuck Lassen
