Builds By Baz - Full scale MKII Colonial Viper

[BuildsByBaz]

Tonight I welded support rails under the chassis frame and raised the fuselage to correct height. Now I can work out the landing gear attachment points. I've been putting this off for a while but it has got to the point now that I have to do it because the build is progressing way faster than I thought it would. Having the fuselage higher will also make it easier to finish skinning the underside.

 

[BuildsByBaz]

20 May 2018 OWEEE!! Saturday was a day I had set aside and planned for about three weeks. I had barely got started when BAM! The Viper frame of module two slipped off it's alignment lugs and dropped with full force onto my finger on the saw-horse underneath it. The force mashed the meat of my finger so that it popped out the side and fractured the bone. Five hours of waiting in the Emergency Department of my local hospital and the daylight was gone.

Since then, I've rested a little but started to test what I can do with the remaining fingers while trying to keep the bandaged one out of harm's way.

I've tinkered a little, adjusting an undersized former in module and screwed in a couple of electrical busses to hook all my 12V instruments into for easy connection and fault diagnosis, I've also welded in the guides for the lifting poles for a two-person carry of a module.

Tonight I managed to get module two into position at full height with some creative rope-work and careful chocking. Made a sturdy frame under it that bolts to the saw-horse so it shouldn't drop on my finger again.

 

[BuildsByBaz]

More skinning last night with one hand tied behind my back...

 

[Dirtdives2424]

Dude.........please be careful!!! No project is worth loosing a digit or 3..........even if it is as kick-ass as this one is.

 

[GMer56]

As my father says: its not your project until you've shed some blood over it.

Hopefully that means no more injuries for this awesome build

 

[mumgoot]

Wow! This is amazing. Too bad about your finger.. I've cut myself when working on scale models, and it's so annoying. Blood everywhere. This build is really cool, reminds me of "dream builds" I've wanted to do. Maybe someday!

 

[mumgoot]

I first had this idea years ago, along with a couple of other projects I may move onto after it. With all the iron man stuff, photography, astronomy and knife making going on, it didn't look like I was ever going to do it.

A few years ago, tried a paper model from online and just blowing that up and started a life-size cardboard version, but didn't like the shape of it. After sitting in my shed for nearly a year taking up space, I destroyed it.

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Next I grabbed a Mobeius kit and took Vernier caliper measurements from the physical model and multiplied them by the scale factor of about three. I made a concept model three times the size in cardboard and wood, threw some lights in it and worked out how the modular sections will assemble on site for transport and pull-down.

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I only built one side of it so the other side can stay open for future visual planning. I mirrored a couple of photos for fun. (above)

I've been collecting plywood and foam, among other materials for many months. For the last couple of years I've been trying to get shop drawings out of any CAD specialist willing to help, but I understand it's a lot of work for free and it's a big ask to dedicate the time.

Even using verniers and blowing it up three times, brought inaccuracies I can't accept, so I really needed to get dimensions accurate.

Now that I have a CAD expert helping me, I finally have accurate shop drawings and have started on the first two and a bit metres of the nose.

The craft will use a variety of materials to make it, depending on strength/safety and where it is needed. The majority will be plywood frame, some aluminium longerons etc for strength, polystyrene foam fill for sculpting, then skinned with fibreglass.

The cockpit and undercarriage will be constructed in such a way that it is safe to support and adult's weight and then some.

The entire ship tops out at 8.4 metres in length.

I have big plans for the rest of the ship, but I will tell the story as I go, rather than skip to the last chapter.

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Since my first thoughts of this years ago, I was dismayed to go online searching for blueprints, not finding any, but finding at least two other full scale Vipers out there. One is in full aluminium and a little further along than mine, the other is a plywood, completed and recently unveiled in Manchester. I think they are both 1978 versions, where as mine is the reimagined 2003 version.

Just goes to show what can happen if you don't act on your dreams right away. Someone else will!

What fandom is this from?

 

[Lieutenant Jaku]

What fandom is this from?

It's from Battlestar Galactica, the new one I think

 

[mumgoot]

It's from Battlestar Galactica, the new one I think

That would have been my guess. Or Star Trek. Thanks!

 

[BuildsByBaz]

MkII Colonial Viper from the 2003 reimagined series of Battlestar Galactica.

I fixed it in the first post with a quick edit. Cheers.

B

 

[BuildsByBaz]

Thanks guys.

I spent most of today and well into the night working on skinning the Viper fuselage. Got most of it done too. Polystyrene everywhere! Big job that I've been putting off, but it's been a day well spent.

I also stuck on some layers over an erroneous contour between modules one and two, caused by an undersized former at the end. Not sure how it happened, but I've build it up and will sand it back to correct the line later. Toothpicks proved very handy to hold the layers in place while the glue went tacky.

 

[BuildsByBaz]

Today was a big day!! I’ve been waiting to get onto the engines as they are the last of the big stuff and bring it all together.

This morning I got two sets of engine formers printed, stencilled and cut.

Thanks to my friends Patrick for the CAD drawings and David for the packaging ply. I had just enough to get them all done.

 

[BuildsByBaz]

Intake fans.

I'm really excited! I'm starting to design some of the moving parts in the engines. The only way I can make sense of the intakes is that they are louvres that can change pitch to seal shut in space, but open in atmosphere. It's not a very well thought out design, as from an engineering perspective, there are far better ways to do it.

They look fixed and are off centre, so they certainly can't spin. I wish they could. It would look so much cooler if they did. I am at war with movie accuracy and common sense.

Using the first two formers of the starboard engine, I'm experimenting with some insulation board. I've bent it around and taped it in place, to see if it develops a curve memory overnight. If it does, I can then trim it to fit in between the boards. I'm also trying a heat gun to see if I can help it along.

 

[Lieutenant Jaku]

Intake fans.

I'm really excited! I'm starting to design some of the moving parts in the engines. The only way I can make sense of the intakes is that they are louvres that can change pitch to seal shut in space, but open in atmosphere. It's not a very well thought out design, as from an engineering perspective, there are far better ways to do it.

They look fixed and are off centre, so they certainly can't spin. I wish they could. It would look so much cooler if they did. I am at war with movie accuracy and common sense.

will the ones on your viper spin?

 

[BuildsByBaz]

will the ones on your viper spin?

Up until this morning I was thinking yes, but i'm starting to think no.... so confused.

 

[Sean Anwalt]

I am at war with movie accuracy and common sense.

Me TOO!!! I HATE the inconsistencies in movies and games. For example all the billion permutations of the mjolnir system. And all of starwars after disney consumed it. ........I'm ranting, sorry. Sore nerve.

But I am SOOO awe-inspired by what you're doing here, man. If we weren't separated by like, a billion miles, I'd recommend after this is done we get together and build a halo pelican! XD

 

[ReClaimer8015]

Me TOO!!! I HATE the inconsistencies in movies and games. For example all the billion permutations of the mjolnir system. And all of starwars after disney consumed it. ........I'm ranting, sorry. Sore nerve.

But I am SOOO awe-inspired by what you're doing here, man. If we weren't separated by like, a billion miles, I'd recommend after this is done we get together and build a halo pelican! XD

Disney had the guts to declare the many contributions of writers and artists to the expanded universe as being non-canon!
They butchered all hopes to see many long awaited projects like Republic Commando 2 and other games! There were many book series cancelled!
(Faces the gathering crowd)
It was heresy!! ( Crowd cheers and chants the traitors shall be punished)

 

[Sean Anwalt]

Disney had the guts to declare the many contributions of writers and artists to the expanded universe as being non-canon!
They butchered all hopes to see many long awaited projects like Republic Commando 2 and other games! There were many book series cancelled!
(Faces the gathering crowd)
It was heresy!! ( Crowd cheers and chants the traitors shall be punished)

BOOOO ON YOU, DISNEY!!!!! YOU MONEY-HUNGRY GLUTTONOUS SHAMEFUL CONGLOMERATION OF FATCAT JERKS WHO BRUSH ASIDE OTHER'S WORK TO BUILD YOUR OWN EMPIRE OF DECAY AND FILTH!!! BOOO ON YOU!!!!

EDIT: Thank you for the opportunity to rant.

 

[ReClaimer8015]

Well, ranting as a group is so much better than crying alone in your dark chamber of anger. The Mob welcomes everyone.

I am mostly annoyed when I can detect greedy moneymakers behind a franchise....

 

[Sean Anwalt]

Star wars was MY thing, man. I loved it! The potential it had, and the corroboration of all the book writersand fan fiction... I made 501st look like a bunch of fair-weather weekend warriors. It was great! Really was a story that you could draw inspiration from in a lot of ways! I obsessed over it!

then disney happened. dragged politics into it. had to make things different. their writers were money-hungry talent-less fools who grabbed at an opportunity before they were ready for it. and as a result we get: all that filth crammed into the media by marketers who only want to make billions. I have not seen star wars since the disney abomination, have not given a dime to them. "You should watch rogue one!" people would say, and then I'd be all like "No, you idiot, that's disney. Don't give them money or support because that's the only thing they care about and if you complain but keep going to the movies or purchasing the movies, you are giving them the only thing they pay attention to, and your complaints are meaningless! People! Don't support this! STOP! With all the energy of my soul I implore you to step away from the disney bull@#$% and cease funding them with you business! How great was it before disney!? Darth Vader, one of the greatest villains of all time! Now? Kylo renn or whatever, that millenial-based (another abomination) face-time hungry dork with terrible hair, no talent and (I guess???) daddy issues? BOOOOOO BOOOO BOOOO!!!!!!!!

disney: Stop.