Three built up Mini-G's!

  
Kit Instructions, Decals and Box

  
Basic Parts with Kit and the base

 
A primed kit, and 1 kit bronzed and 2 primed

  
Base Bronze (L), Applying antiquing Gel to Bronze coat

  
Finish after wiping off the antique gel

 
Final pictures of the finished Antiqued model

  
Painting in the recessed bay, engine and nearly finished 2

  
Some Completed pics

  
And Some more

  
On the base, and the 3 together

UPDATE: 1/02/2006 - Kit Review

On the left are Pictures of the new Alliance Models Mini-Battlestar Galactica from the new TV Series available from Federation Models. This excellent model was created by Coby Lorang. (See my other Review Here) These are new castings after the initial run by Coby. The only differences I noticed in this kit vs. Coby's original was the deeper recessed landing bay openings, and the holes to mount the 'arms' were readily cut out with blocks in them to position properly.

1. An Antique Finish
2. Ship with a "Museum"
3. Ship without a "Museum"

Here is my review of this wonderful Kit.

Getting Started

The model comes very nicely packaged in a sturdy box. You'll find a one page sheet of instructions and a decal sheet protected in a small plastic bag. First thing you will notice is how remarkably clean this kit is. Very little flash and cleanup. (However, I received the kit in pieces, so yours may differ if still connected to the resin trees). The detail on this kit is astonishing for its size. The level of detail is incredible. Also new for this kit from Coby's run is the inside of the landing bays have the little 'shrouds' that were missing. (They are actually the door covers when the bays are retracted). Before painting, I chose to 'drill out' the tiny front RCS thrusters in the head, and all the ones on the rear engines. They will be the last to be painted with black.

Painting

The three main parts all get painted separately first, assembly will be at the end. The kit, base and plaque needs to be washed in warm soapy water to get any casting residue off of it. Once dry, just airbrush a good coat of primer all over the kit. The instructions have a good reference to paint colors, or you can choose to customize your own. I prefer to work with colors that look best to my eye, and I like to add some 'aluminum' in the mix to give it a slightly reflective finish. Just apply your base coat down and let it dry. Then, you simply put a lighther colored dry brush finish all over the model. The 'ribs', panels and engine details pick all this up very nicely. After that is all down, I then shoot a clear coat over the model. Next I thin down some dark gray, very thin, and dab a small brush in all the recessed panel lines. Capillary action will draw this 'wash' along all the panels, and if any get on top, just wipe it off. This gives a lot more depth to the panels. I also painted the landing bay decks in a very light camoflage gray. After all this is done, shoot another coat of clearcoat on the whole model.

For the Antique finish, I simply painted the model a base coat of bronze. Then brushed on some antiquing Gel, and rubbed that off with a cloth. That's it, that simple, and the effect is awesome.

Decals

Museum

Base

Conclusions