Gene's Viper-in-a-month - NEW Photos on page 14 !!!

[FiveByFive]

Originally Posted by GKvfx

Got the wings and tail primed. Unlike the body, those castings were in great shape - particularly the guns:



At first I thought the little piece of rod at the back of the gun was just sprue to make the casting nicer, but it turns out that at least some of the Vipers actually had them (though I'm sure they probably broke off).

Do you know anything about a Viper that was fitted with brass tubing for the guns? Staggered diameters of tubing forming the barrels? Are the 2 triangular bits on each gun kit parts, originally - always wondered what those come from...

Beautiful build. Love the armature, it's a work of art all by itself. When you called it a copy, is it contemporary or original?

Thanks for sharing your build!

[GKvfx]

Originally Posted by FiveByFive

Do you know anything about a Viper that was fitted with brass tubing for the guns? Staggered diameters of tubing forming the barrels? Are the 2 triangular bits on each gun kit parts, originally - always wondered what those come from...

Well, that's what the master was - a series of staggered brass tubes with the back end of a cylinder from the Anzio Annie kit at the rear, and part of 2 1/32nd Revell F-4 Phantom nosegears (for the triangle bits). (I'm not sure if the tip is a kit part or was turned.) That was molded and castings made.

Originally Posted by FiveByFive

Beautiful build. Love the armature, it's a work of art all by itself. When you called it a copy, is it contemporary or original?

The armature is a modern copy made a few years ago using the dimensions of a real one that was pulled out during a restoration.

Gene

[FiveByFive]

Thanks for the info! The spring must be from an F1. That brass sure does set the model apart. Thanks again for sharing your build.

[GKvfx]

OK, I don't have a lot of time right now, so I'm just gonna throw up some photos of the weathering in progress. As I mentioned before, I'm using oils for the weathering for what amounts to the first (in-depth) time.

The fuselage, engine bodies, wings, and intakes are being weathered in two stages. What you are seeing here is stage one. The oil has changed the tone of the base coat, but you'll notice there are no actual streaks or blasts. That stuff is part of stage two.

The afterburner cans (the ribbed part of the engine), laser cannons, and fuselage detail areas are all heavily weathered. That stuff can be done in one step.

I'll post more tonight or tomorrow morning to give you an overall idea of what is going on, and later, I'll post a tutorial. It is considerably easier than you may think. And funner, too.

Gene

[79 daytona]

Great start on the weathering, Say what do you use to thin out the oil paint.

[thunderbearr]

Originally Posted by 79 daytona

O never mind i just saw where you said its Tamiya Orange, sorry.

[ModelMan]

Fine work, Gene!
Looking forward to seeing it saturday. Just got my BSG ticket an hour ago. Saw that Forbidden Planet is playing the next night, so got a tik to that too!

[GKvfx]

Originally Posted by 79 daytona

Great start on the weathering, Say what do you use to thin out the oil paint.

Turpenoid. Even sounds sci-fi. "Captain, the Turpenoids are closing in. Raise shields?"

It's odorless turpentine available just about anywhere. Well, it's not completely odorless, but I can do it inside without getting high.......

Gene

[79 daytona]

Originally Posted by thunderbearr

Please. Now every one is going to know what a dum ass i am.

[79 daytona]

Thanks for the info i've been wanting to try useing oil paint wash for some time now.

[GKvfx]

Weathering continues:















For the most part, all the exposed, dirty bits are done. Since I have to lay down a couple of decals, I want to get some glosscoat on there. That will also seal the weathering so anything I do on top of this won't affect what I've done so far. Then I'll go in and do the speed streaks and such.

I know it looks filthy and colors look odd, but after looking at some photos of the real thing - it's actually a pretty close match. Not much in terms of finesse, but it gets the job done.

I started fiddling with the canopy glass last night, but I think I'm going to wait till last for that. It's a bitch to get the pieces cut and in place, and it won't be entirely inaccurate to have the glass MIA for Saturday's screening.

Gene

PS - The thing that is really bugging me (every time I look at it, is that damn droopy laser cannon. The wing is slightly warped and I didn't notice it till after I secured the cannon in place.

[Sean C]

Originally Posted by GKvfx

The thing that is really bugging me (every time I look at it, is that damn droopy laser cannon.

It needs some Viagron.

Great work Gene. It's awesome!!!

[GKvfx]

Originally Posted by Sean C

It needs some Viagron.

Great work Gene. It's awesome!!!

Fuck - I walked into that, didn't I? I'm surprised OtisT or Carson Dyle hasn't chimed in with a witty remark yet.....

Surprised you ain't coming out here this weekend Sean - we could have finished that BLADE RUNNER tour....

Gene

[79 daytona]

Looking GOOD!!!

[Sean C]

Originally Posted by GKvfx

Surprised you ain't coming out here this weekend Sean - we could have finished that BLADE RUNNER tour....

Gene

I was >< that close man. In the interest of domestic tranquility, I didn't even ask. It would have gone something like "What? LA? For a movie you already have on DVD? Bark bark bark bark . . . . . ." It sounds like it's gonna be a great time though! Be sure to post pics.