Battlestar Galactica Vipers

[Talos]

I updated the Lineage Chart with the finished top view of the Viper Mk VII.

[Larsen]

Looking sweet mate... Have you considered giving them some colorschemes?

Frak it I think I asked that ones Anyway, looks nice man... kinda cool seeing my viper up there

[Talos]

Thanks, I'm still experimenting with colors but I can't get them to look right. Oh well, at least they look like schematics like the ones in the "(Insert plane name) in Detail & Scale" books.

I was busy today but still got some stuff done. The pic is a quick one I did, it's the prototype/early production Mk VII. The major differences are the lack of wing chines and tail gun, and placement of the wing cannons. The text is a detailed run-down of the Viper Mk I production blocks. I think some of you will chuckle at some point when you read it. (Man, I need to add paragraph breaks. )


The production run of the Viper Mk I was divided up into many blocks. The initial production type, the Block 1, was very similar to the prototype. It featured the same forward fuselage as the prototype, sourced from the older Caprican Viper. The I-1, however, mounted a new generation of autocannons that were both larger in caliber and more accurate. The cockpit was also modified from the prototype with the framing removed from the canopy allowing much improved visibility. The Block 10 was the next production model. It had a new fuselage with improved internal layout and, again, a modified cockpit with a redesigned canopy giving the pilot more room inside. The shockcones that had been in the intakes of the engines since the early Caprican fighters, were removed beginning with this block, internal intake modifications accomplishing the same tasks. This is arguably the most famous of the Mark I models, due in no small part to its starring role in the popular show "Battlestar Atlantia," a heavily fictionalized account of the Cylon War shown from the viewpoint of the officers and crew of the battlestar Atlantia. In the show, the pilots flew unmodified Mk I-10s until the end of the war even though the same squadrons were in fact supplied with both Viper Mk IIs and Mk I-32s. Beginning with the I-10s, several standard modifications were produced. A new and more spacious high-visibilty canopy was installed on the Block 12 Vipers and all following production blocks were divided up in this way, the craft with the earlier canopy retained a block number ending with 0 while the Vipers with the new canopies were numbered with blocks ending in 2. A new nose design was also added on later in the war and was standardized beginning with Mk I-30/32. The Mark I-20/22 was the next major block produced and was equipped with uprated versions of the same engines as the Block 10/12 Vipers. A newer and more reliable autocannon also began to appear in both factory upgrades, on the assembly line, and in field retrofits. These cannons were also added to earlier blocks as well. A defensive ECM suite was also available and was mounted to the tail of the Viper. Unfortunately, the suite was expensive and delicate and was rarely seen but proved to be effective many times throughout the war. The next major model was the Mk I-30/32. The was the primary model in service at the end of the war and mounted the new engine model that was equipping the Pr.Mk I and other new craft. The I-30 was very rare, most of the Vipers being equipped with the new Mark II-style canopy, but some were produced. The I-30/32 was very similar to the twenty-series Vipers which allowed a quick entry into service, something that plagued its successor. The final major production model of the Mk I was the block 52. None of these craft had the earlier canopies installed. A larger cockpit was mounted in the fuselage with two windows on the canopy behind it being a distinguising feature. The I-52 differed from earlier models with its new angular wing design. Two different weapon schemes were designed with the craft. One had the cannons mounted in the same place as earlier blocks but the other mounted them farther out in the wing. Problems with the initial design delayed entry of the craft into service so much so that it didn't enter combat until a few weeks remained in the war. The few squadrons equipped with the I-52 by the end of the war preformed well, the I-52 easily equalling the newest production block of Viper Mk IIs. These new fighters saw heavy action during their very short wartime careers, participating in the remaining main fleet actions cumulating in the battle of Cimtar and the ensuring cease-fire negotiated there. After the war, the Colonial Fleet was concerned with the state of its fighter force. The Mk I still equipped many of the fleet fighter squadrons, as well as most of the militia squadrons. Many were worn out and maintenance costs were rising. At first the fleet desired a new fighter to supplement the Mark II and I-52. Post-war budget cutbacks prevented this so it was decided to keep the production lines of the Mk I open, continuing to produce it along side the smaller Mk II. The civilian government was cancelling almost all of the continuing production of wartime designs so it was decided to revert to buying a new design, officially. The Mk I-52 was renamed the Viper Mk IV and production of the craft, both newbuilds and modifications, began immediately. The Mark IV only had a short production life, production completing within six years of the war's end. The Mk IV was built in two variants, the models with cannons mounted near the cockpit were named Mk IVA while the spread, wing-mounted craft were called Mk IVBs. The Mk IV served the post-war fleet well, equipping squadrons both in ships and planetary bases. After several abortive designs, the fleet finally began to replace the Mk IV with the introduction of the Mk VII into general use. Militia squadrons continued to use Mk IVs for years afterwords, some were still in service at the time of the Cylon attack while the rest had been suplemented with the Viper Mk VII-derived Scorpion Mk IV. Postwar, the surviving block 5s were declared surplus and many were bought by civilians.

[Talos]

Here's something I was fiddling with today, the prototype of the new generation of Vipers undergoing testing at the time of the Cylon attack, the Viper Mk VIII. It's a descendant of the VII, the biggest differences being it's quad engines (mounted in X-wing fashion) and detachable forward-swept wings (replacable in the field with other wings).

[Legolas25]

Very very nice!

Would you mind at all if I colored some of them? I did the Mk II already and was kinda hoping to do the MK VII once you've got the side view done.

[Talos]

Sure, go right ahead, I'd love to see them when you finish. I'm sure its a much better job then what I came up with. I'm still working on the side view, I'll hopefully get most of it done this weekend.

[Legolas25]

Okay, well it's not the greatest but here's one I did. First one I stupidly saved it as a JPG though so it's a little graded in some areas, and I noticed afterwards that I messed up the red on the wings a little, but ehn.

[Viper Aviator]

Talos,

Great job on the Mk VIII, I love the quad engine design. The forward swept wings remind me a lot of the "Scarlett Viper" with a modern twist. I can't wait to see the side view.

P.S.

Did you get the Mk VII modifications that I sent out to you.

Keep up the good work.

[Talos]

Sweet! Good job Legolas.

I haven't gotten them, VA. I just checked my e-mail.

With the Mk VIII, I wanted forward-swept wings but couldn't figure out a shape. Then I hit on the diamond shaped wings and liked them. The design has a vertical tail and I'm toying with a second one on the ventral side, folding to clear the ground. It would be a lot like the X-15.

[Talos]

Wow, an update!

Between college starting again and working on some non-BSG stuff (perish the thought ), I haven't been able to do much. I'm working a bit on the side view of the VII, waiting for VA to send the corrected side view before I do much. I'm also working on the side view of the VIII. It's coming together slowly but surely. The pic here is the production blocks for the T.Mk I, the two-seat base version of the Mk I, capable of trainer, ground attack, etc. The TI-10/20/30 are the equivelants of the Mk Is with the same block numbers. The TI-40 is a 30 refitted after the war with a new cockpit similar to the Mk II and IV canopy. The TI-45 is a -40 modified with a single seat cockpit, the former rear cockpit being used to carry equipment and electronics. It can be used as a strike craft or long-range patrol craft, as well as recon and command duties.

I'll post a background on the ships in a little bit, once I write it, of course.

EDIT: Here's a couple of pics to show the size these are when being used as markers/counters.