Thanks Gordon for Helping!!
 

I've been up and at it since 10 this morning. I've disassembled the viper components and begun sanding the primer. Then I re-assembled the main body section and engines, and am about to begin the painting and detailing for the build-up pics. Here goes! :salute:

You incredible TEASE! ;)

So you're going to start showing us pics of a finished version before you've gotten all the parts molded?

TEASE!! TEASE!!!! TEASE!!!!!

Oh well. Gimme yer best shot. lol

-Gordon :thumbsup:

WOW! Looks great!

Charlie

Yeah, I gotta say Michael, that you are doing a pretty incredible job on this thing. As a 20+ year model builder I must extend kudos in your direction.

The next question is, what are you ON? Whatever it is, I want some. I haven't been able to summon that kind of enthusiasm since I was in my 20s! And I'm NOT talking VIAGRA enthusiasm here.

-Gordon

Thanks Charlie! :salute: I know YOU!! :D Just got your e-mail and these are fantastic sculpts!!! I'll chat with you soon. :salute:

Am sitting here in the art studio, and at the coputer while sanding down the primer on this bird.
And well, all of the parts are there except the cannons, right wing, and thruster nozzles. So I can begin a build-up, and throw the rest in with the cockpit and pilot much later. But it can be built and detaild, then the rest added last. :D

THANK YOU GORDON!!! That means something coming from a real pro with your experience!
Although, this model will require a good eye for making sure the body connection points are all level and proper. It will not be as easy as the Jesse Myers viper, but when done with care, it looks great even primed beside of TOS! :D
I'll definately continue pointing out the rough spots some will encounter upon build-up. Don't say I did'nt state these things as (matter of fact) here first. Everyone, keep your reviews to yourself. I've been an artist for over 20 years, and no ones critisisms can come close to affecting me like my own! :LOL: Ask Terri, I'm real serious about being a perfectionist with my art. And model building as well. This is a model, a work of creativity, it will not fall together and fit perfectly, but I'll make damn sure that every casting, will be filled and sanded and whatever it takes to make ease of assembly much better. In some cases I've decided that if necessary, I'll do a pre-build, and refine the cast parts before shipment.
And Gordon, I can't begin to explain "what" I'm on! :rotf:
Talk to you soon.

Aww... now you're just rubbin' my rhubarb!

:rotf:

-Gordon :viper: :thumbsup: :beer:

Update!!
 

NEW BUILD-UP PICS!!

Here are pics after priming in standard grey, and then 2 coats of primer white. These were taken after primer had been wet sanded and primed again. Am about to go into actual painting and detailing of panel lines and the numerous tonal variations. :salute:
http://tinypic.com/k2imgy.jpg
http://tinypic.com/k2ip3m.jpg
http://tinypic.com/k2ipfl.jpg

More to come soon! :D

Painting the Mk.IV Viper
 

NEW PICS!!!
Okay, painting this bird. Here goes.
The primers were basic, few coats of standard grey, sand, prime, sand and you know the routine. :D Then I did a light priming with white. The first actual paint coat is model master (acryl) grey primer #4690 with green zinc chromate #4852 added to the grey to give it a nice greenish tint, but don't over do it. It should not be more green than grey. I'd say about 20% green. This will really enhance the detail and depth of the model when complete. ;)
http://tinypic.com/k37k1g.jpg
http://tinypic.com/k37k3n.jpg

More pics shortly, with painting instructions to make this fighter as authentic as it would (will) be! :D

I am SO friggin' jealous. I SO desire the time to do what you're doing right now. Work schedule is filling up so I won't have any hobby time in the next two or three weeks (which I guess is okay since you're not exactly finished casting the kits... how's THAT for kismet?). But I know I have an SMT Colonial Shuttle kit coming in the next two months or so, plus a secret private project that I've taken on for Peter Noble. Plus the continuing creation of obscure Galactica resin replica kits for all you good folks. Add to that all of my non-galactica related commitments (making puppet videos, writing my comic series, building art-piece ray guns, commitments to the Starship Exeter production, writing two books, blah blah blah) and It's going to be a task to carve out a time when I can lavish the kind of "finish love" on the kit that I so enjoy. Its a matter of available time and residual energy by the end of the day.

So Michael, did you win the lottery or something? Or are you making a living wage being an artist? I know it's possible to do so, but I know very few people who are.

-Gordon

Hey Gordon!!!
No, did'nt win the lottery or anything. Have struggled for over 20 yarhens with this artistry career. I have paid my dues, and am just begining to be recognised. I do commission works, have been in shows and galleries, online portfolios at http://www.artwanted.com/MichaelMiles and sell on e-bay as well as do this everyday of the year, with rarly a day off. And even then i am painting or sculpting before the day is over. :D
Here is the next pic of the painting process. I added to the base color I described before, flat white 7 parts, acryl aluminum 4 parts #4677 and lt. grey #4765 10 parts to begin the different panel tones. Take a look. ;)
http://tinypic.com/k38z88.jpg

NEW PICS!!!

Further panel tones being added. Do not stay completely consistent when adding you lighter tones. :salute:
http://tinypic.com/k39e9y.jpg

PAINTING!!!\
We have added 7 parts acryl skin tone to our last color and 12 parts white and a dab of light grey and did a dusting of the model with this. The last pic is of the first only deeper contrast to pick out the details! :salute:
http://tinypic.com/k3kcqs.jpg
http://tinypic.com/k3kdps.jpg
http://tinypic.com/k3kdvn.jpg
http://tinypic.com/k3ke4j.jpg
Back for more soon! :D

Looking good. :thumbsup:

Jim :salute:

New pics with Jesse's TOS viper just for fun. I've begun the panel variations and weathering as well as various blk washes to pick out details. Am off now to do a commission painting for a good customer out in Calif. So I'll be back with more tomorrow! :D
Goodnight! :colonial:
http://tinypic.com/k3nq8i.jpg
http://tinypic.com/k3obc5.jpg

LET'S HAVE FUN WITH THIS!!

Though you all would like to take a peek at the original drawing that I had done back over 2 years ago when I was originally pre-paring for this project. I really did'nt like the DeSanto design, and as you can tell.... :LOL: I TRIED a little to much to alter it back to TOS viper as much as I could. :wtf:
It was ridiculous now that I look back at this drawing, but I hated it. Now i love it. And understand the evolution that it took. But still, here is my silly re-designing of the Mk.IV viper. A blast from the past! :D
http://tinypic.com/k3vrpv.jpg
:D :rotf:

Hey can I get a copy of that to go with my Viper?

Jim :eek:

I kinda was gonna frame this and place it above the viper squadron that I'm gonna make. I could probably make prints of it for $20.00 a piece. If your interested? Are you still interested in the painting of the Frazetta remake of the warrior women? If you are, I'll make a package deal on that set up. :salute:
I've decided to do another painting of that same theme that Frazetta had done, but with all the female warriors wearing the DeSanto outfits and the Mk.IV Vipers behind them with the advanced cylon raiders overhead! But, making them in very dense watercolor and gouache and hand painting each one so that each will be unique and original in itself. And only offering a limited set of 10 just exclusively for the purchasers of the Mk.IV viper kits. 18x24" heavy archival watercolor paper with signed certificate of authenticity. The price will be especially low at $ 125.00 and will be shipped for free to those that want it. This is a great idea that I'm about to discuss with Terri, (if I can ever get her to answer the phone!!! :D ) Just came up with this idea on the spot while typing this reply. My mind is racing through a constellation of thoughts and ideas. I wish I could write them all down. But too fast! :devil: I've decided that just for fun...again :D I'm gonna throw in another old pic of this project back when it was just begining over 2 yarhens ago, this is cool for me to come across, cause I have so many pics of this build-up it's ridiculous, I could write a book, and fill it with pics. :rotf:
http://tinypic.com/k49qpx.jpg
The wings were just too long, and the fuselage was all the wrong shape to fit the intake area and according to the plans, just wrong underneath in general. so I remade the whole thing...no problem! :D
http://tinypic.com/k49qvt.jpg
And last but not least, one of my very favorite pieces is one of the blasters that I got from Rob over at sci-fi models that I worked over like HELL and spent a long time on the finish. I still have yet to add the red and yellow light details, but I just think that painted activation and power light look like s**t! But I'll add them if I figure out a way to make them look realistic. I now love this piece and everyone has played with it! :D
http://tinypic.com/k49r82.jpg
Just for fun! :LOL:

Everything is coming together very nicely, can't wait to see the finished product.
If your viper looks this good, the raider should be the cats meow when done!
Keep up the great work.