Colonial Viper from "Battlestar Galactica" (1978-1979)

Scale: 1/32
Initial Release: 1979
Medium: Styrene
Kit Rarity: 3

About the Design

The Colonial Viper -- later known as the Viper Mk. 1 -- was Battlestar Galactica's primary tactical weapon, a single-seat fighter capable of operating both in planetary atmospheres and the hard vacuum of space. Clearly inspired by "Star Wars'" X-Wing fighters, the Viper nonetheless had a crude charm all its own.

About the Kit

The Colonial Viper was one of four "Battlestar Galactica" model kits released by Monogram during the first season of that special-effects heavy ABC-TV series. The original version of the kit included a spring-loaded "missile" that could be fired from the craft's nose; this non-canon feature was dropped from the kit's 1990s re-release by Revell/Monogram. (Probably for liability reasons!)

The kit was again re-released by Revell in 2008 before the BSG license went to Moebius.

The original versions of the Monogram/Revell kit featured a solid plastic cockpit with black decals to simulate glass.  More daring modelers opted to carefully excise these panels and insert clear plastic. Following the popular re-release of the entire "Galactica" model series in the mid-1990s, resin cockpit kits and landing gear assemblies became available via independent "aftermarket" manufacturers. Finally, Revell's 30th Anniversary Edition rectified this problem by including a clear canopy and detailed cockpit upgrade.

This model is from the 1990s re-release and features a customized clear cockpit.