11
Oct 08
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Blue 7 Studio Scale (1/24) X-Wing

This beautiful piece was built from a cast kit that has original lineage back to the PYRO Models used in 1977’s STAR WARS. Cast obtained from Scott Alexander of Atomic City Models, this piece originally began life as a closed wing version of RED Leader, painted by Scott Alexander himself. I had not seen any closed wing X-Wings made before this time… though there may have been some somewhere. Sadly, Red Leader had a bit of an accident, and then was sent to artist R.L. Bleecker to re-build. Robert took this closed wing X-Wing and made it amazing as he changed the red stripes to blue… just as the original models began life as. We had yet to see anything past Red 6 in wing identification, so Robert came up with what you see here… a solid block to indicate up to 6, plus a single strip to make it Blue 7. Again, nobody had done anything past Red 6 at that time, which made this highly unique. Then there was the fact he made the stripes blue… which again nobody had been doing at that time. Soon after we found some photos of the Red 12 studio model, and it’s markings. Robert also made the R2 unit have a clear dome, with a Pilot at it’s stick that could possibly be Lando Calrissian? It is for you to decide!

Fantastic work all the way around. It was a blast to photograph back then (2008). Never the less… this stands on it’s own as a great display.

I would like to thank both Scott Alexander and Robert Bleecker for their excellence in bringing this to life. Especially R.L. Bleecker for his great imaginative skills.

Above: Kurt Kuhn with the Studio Scale BLUE 7 X-Wing

Model Information

Current Owner: Kurt Kuhn of Kuhn Global, Inc.

Build Artist: Re-Build by R.L. Bleecker

Parts Mastered & Once Offered By: Atomic City Models

~Hours Vested to Final Display: 250

Total Vested Cost: Unknown

Current Estimated Value: $2,800 USD

Current Appraised Value: TBD

01
Oct 08
-

1:32 Mk7 Colonial Viper

The 2003 Ron Moore reboot of Battlestar Galactica took us into a completely different imagined arena of the already fantastic 1978 Glen Larson television show and 1979 film. With this re-imagining came new designs of the ships we all loved. One of those models was from the conceptual art of Eric Chu, then digitally made by the artists at ZOIC, many of whom are very known, and shown on my Modelers Miniatures & Magic site. The model shown here today is of the Mk7 Colonial Viper design, and to my knowledge was the first parts made of it by Rob Durham. It is 1:32 and was built up by artist Chris Dobinson. It is beautiful with it’s detailing and weathering. Chris even managed to make the tiny pilot helmet look as if it were lit, when it is not.
Below are my Blue Screen Photos of the 1:32 Mk7 miniature that I took of it when I received it back in October 2008. I actually showed this piece on Modelers Miniatures & Magic back on March 27, 2009… 5 months after receiving it. I must admit that it was a pleasure to photograph this piece in so many different angles. While some angles are better than others, all are still magnificent. Chris did amazing work here and I am grateful.