The fact is that sometime plastic parts "talk" to me... At first glance it happens that shapes and details on parts reveal themselves as a total new entity.
As a matter of fact, what appear to me as delta wing easy to transform into a gigantic spaceship, now appear to me as a potential way to build a new Kitbash Viper inspired by Galactica. I've made several of them, this one is the 14th.
Just look at it !
The wing as such, has nothing in common with a viper BUT cut the bottom delta wing in half, just cut the edge here, save the part for the future...
And VOILA !
The parts gathered (notice the different color, one kit is older, we really need TWO kits to obtain the wings of the future viper here). I really like the void in the wings. It could be the opportunity for open panels and mechanic details as in the original Viper.
Now is the fun parts of glueing it together, using big clips to assure a maximum success for that phase.
And now the general shape. I'll use the main body of the plane, back ward, and the plastic trees to obtain a "base" to glue on.
If you had ever built the orginal Viper from Galactica (Monogram model kit in my case) you'll notice that the "nose" of the Mirage look like the insert part of the cockpit. I'll have to check this before cutting more parts. And there is the profile. It's almost perfect. The parts seems just to be assemble as naturally as it could be (without instruction notice may I add...).
But for the front part of the nose, the Viper can't look that flat. I'll need to obtain a circle and for that I'll have to cut a little bit the parts.
I also need a structure that would provide a way to glue on the nose perfectly. I cut some long plastic trees and insert them on the structure made for the wings. Notice that I blend them to obtain an angle. That parts and the nose of the "carlingue" will help to assure a good fit without using to much glue. The goal is, also, not to use too much putty or sanding since it's time consuming, and money consuming too (I use Tamiya Putty, don't have any bondo or such nearby).
The nose as been cut and the shape is nearly done here.
A big clip and a plastic circle (you can find them mostly on Bandai Kits) is here to help the parts blend correctly until the glue is cured.
The rest of the parts insert easily, with some cut here and there, to the future main body. It's a relief and a big satisfaction.
I added a detail, at this oint, in the nos, a tooth paste cap, to help obtain the right circle here, and maybe have some detail later...
And now concernening the engine section. Several options here. A part of the engine of the Mirage, already glued together, the thruster parts would be nice for the right and left air entry, and one of the few "not mirage parts" added on this project, a very recognizable F-16 1/48 part.
Notice that, here, I already cut the cockpit area and that the general shape looks like a real viper.
I need to fill the engine part. I want to detail it, as far as it can be so I use a very detail part from my Super Hornet, 1/48, from Revell, the one I used for my Heavy Raider Cylon. The part is fine but I need to cut a little part to fit in.
A car race part is added to cover the bottom part...
I assure the FA-18 part a perfect fit in the engine area. I really like the look of it.
I add some F-109 motor parts (a big scale model kit, parts offered by a friend), the Super-hornet really help to support the parts and it's almost a perfect fit. The rear is empty but not for long. Detailing will be a lot of fun here !
A little hesitation here. How to put the F-16 part ? Rear ? Front of the engine area ? Both solutions are good options for me. I can also add another circle section to support all that...
Two options. Two really good possibilities. What will I choose then ? Some profile picture to help me decide and an answer in the next comment of this topic.
front
rear
Thanks for watching the birth of that Kitbash viper.
Stay tune...
