Jay Barnes’ Viper
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 a lot of fun scratchbuilding it though, and I guess that’s what really matters!
Jay Barnes
