Moebius Models 1/32 Colonial Viper (Original Battlestar Galactica) Kit First Look

by Michael Benolkin

First Look

It is somewhat amazing to me that the original Battlestar Galactica TV series would have that much impact on the real world, but the iconic Colonial Vipers inspired a generation of future fighter pilots. When the US Air Force announced that the General Dynamics YF-16 won the Light Weight Fighter competition, it canvased the pilot community for a name for the new fighter and the answer was a resounding 'VIPER!' Of course we officially know the aircraft as the Fighting Falcon, the F-16 still retains the unofficial title inspired by those agile space fighters on television.

The much darker Battlestar Galactica series that aired several years ago built upon the original series and their 'old' Vipers were the Mark II which look a little more modern than the original 'Mark I' Vipers from the original series. Thanks to the popularity of the new series, the old series has also been dusted off and Moebius Models has created a new 1/32 kit of this venerable design.

You'll remember that Monogram produced a Colonial Viper kit many, many, many years ago and it too was 1/32 scale. It was a simple kit that had an opaque canopy and therefore no cockpit. When Revell-Monogram reissued the kit in 2007, to their credit, they updated the tooling to include a clear canopy, cockpit, pilot figure, and clear engine exhaust nozzles to support lighting. If you knew where to look, there were aftermarket cockpits, clear canopy conversions, landing gear, and even launch rail display bases. What more could you ask for?

Well Moebius Models has created a full modern tooling of the venerable Viper which includes:

• Nice cockpit
• Nice optional pilot figure with accurate helmet
• Sharp engine intake details
• Clear engine exhaust inserts for lighting
• Positionable landing gear
• Optional display stand

Like the Monogram kit, the canopy isn't designed to be posed open, but a little work can fix that. Unlike the Monogram kit, there are a number of interesting aftermarket options for this new Viper including lighting, paint masks, photo-etch, and more.

If there was one thing I'd want different, it is the display stand. Moebius Models has been using the same clear triangular display stand that was common in Aurora kits back in the day and requires the support arm to be snapped into place through a slot in the underside of the model. If you're not careful, you'll accidently snap open a glue seam instead. I really like the partial dome-type stands that Round 2 Models has been putting into their kits including reissues that previously had a smaller (and less stable) stand. If you're going to display this model in flight, you might consider buying one of these stands for your own Viper (they are sold separately).

This is a great kit and I'm looking forward to putting my own touches on this model. Moebius Models did send us a sample which is on its way to one of our staff members, but I couldn't resist picking up one for myself.

For a look at this kit built-up, look here.

My sincere thanks to Moebius Models for this review sample!