The Ships of Battlestar Galactica

From the inside flap Battlestar Galactica Shipyards is an encyclopedia of the ships from the Battlestar Galactica universe. Spanning three TV series: the original from 1978, the reimagined series from 2003, and the 10-part web series from 2012, this book features ships from the time of the First Cylon War to the stealth craft Blackbird from After The Fall.xa0All the major ships from the shows are featured in CG renders - wherever possible using the original VFX models. Author and science fiction editor Jo Bourne manages the Hero Collector book division for Eaglemoss Ltd. She has edited and contributed to books on space, war, ancient history, folklore and natural sciences. Neil Kelly is a writer and editor, working on reference books and magazines, as well as TV and movie tie-in titles for international publishers. Richard Mead is a writer and editor who specializes in film and TV-themed publications. He is the author of a dozen books on subjects ranging from football to piracy, and has written on a variety of iconic characters including James Bond, Harry Potter, Mr Bean, and Transformers.Freelance writer and editor Alice Peebles has specialized in non-fiction subjects for both adults and children since 1991. Her field of activity ranges from children's series to highly illustrated, coffee-table books published by National Geographic and Dorling Kindersley. Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. FOREWORD Battlestar Galacticaxa0holds a special place in the history of sciencexa0fiction. It was the first television series to truly capitalize on the successxa0ofxa0Star Wars,xa0and years later when it was revived, it became one ofxa0the most critically admired sci-fixa0shows ever made.The ships were always at the center of that. In 1978 nobody had everxa0dared to put so many different spaceships on screen at one time, andxa0what’s more, most of them were designed by the legendary Ralphxa0McQuarrie. Sadly, we haven’t beenxa0able to document the entire Ragtagxa0Fleet from the original series, but all the principal ships fromxa0Galacticaxa0itself to the Cylon Raider are here, all carefully recreated in CG.When the show returned in 2004, the designs were lovinglyxa0updated, and Adama andxa0Galacticaxa0had a new fleet to shepherd toxa0safety. We’ve worked with members of the VFX team to bring those toxa0you in the kind of detail that has rarely –xa0if ever – been seen before.xa0Similarly, we’ve included the re-imagined versions from the prequelxa0series,xa0Blood & Chrome.Our goal has always been to provide the most extensive guidexa0possible to the ships of different science fiction universes, and we arexa0particularly proud of this volume, and hope that it will take its place onxa0many shelves around the world. VIPERxa0MARK III An upgraded version of the battle-proven Mark II Viper, thexa0Mark III saw combat in the later years of the First Cylonxa0War. Introduced toward the end ofxa0the First Cylon War as thexa0successor to the Mark II, the third-generation Viper wasxa0a single-pilot, multi-role strike ship. Its design inspiredxa0subsequent iterations of multi-role Vipers in the years followingxa0the Armistice, culminating in the highly advanced Mark VII.A slightly larger craft than the Mark II, the Mark III featuredxa0several functional and cosmetic alterations. The angularxa0forward fuselage contrasted with the rounded profile ofthe Mark II, while segmented hull plating allowed for easexa0of access to the ship’s systems for maintenance. Controlxa0surfaces were fitted to stabilizer fins for improved atmosphericxa0handling. In addition, the dimensions of the atmosphericxa0intake ports were marginally increased, withxa0a more squared-xa0off shape. Conversely, the single-pilot cockpit canopy wasxa0slightly curved in comparison to the previous model’s hard-xa0edged contours.The Mark III’s three sublight engines differed from the Mark IIxa0in that the thruster cowlings tapered inwards. The new shipxa0also featured cantilevered landing gear for improved stabilityxa0on planetary touchdowns. The three landing skids retractedxa0flush to the ventral fuselage, eliminating the need for gearxa0bay doors. The fighter was equipped withxa0internally mountedxa0missile launchers; hardpoints on the underside of the fuselagexa0allowed additional munition pods to be fitted. The ship’sxa0primary dogfighting and strafing armaments were twinxa0kinetic energy weapons which were installed on fore-mountedxa0port and starboard fin struts.The Mark III was painted gunmetal grey, with red stripesxa0bordered by white trim running along the upper fuselage andxa0stabilizer fins. Inside the cockpit, a central screen displayedxa0DRADIS (Direction, Range Andxa0DIStance) scans, system statusxa0read-outs and targeting information. Advanced RCS thrustersxa0gave the Mark III improved maneuverability, while tylium fuelxa0powered the Mark III’s sublight engines.In the final years of the First Cylon War, a virtual-realityxa0Mark III Viper training program was utilized to hone rookie pilots’ combat skills. Newly graduated Ensign Williamxa0Adama undertook a mission simulation using the Mark IIIxa0program on his holoband device. Engaging in combat with two Cylon Raiders, Adama shot down one of hisxa0adversaries, but was hit by debris. The impact shattered hisxa0cockpit canopy, making it impossible to see through. Withxa0the surviving Raider in pursuit, Adama ejectedxa0his canopy.xa0Though he was protected by his pressurized helmet andxa0environment suit, radiation exposure would kill him if hexa0didn’t swiftly return to base. He also faced another problem:xa0his kinetic energy weapons werexa0jammed. In a daring move,xa0Adama inverted his Mark III and flew alongside the Raider.xa0Pulling out his sidearm, he blasted the Cylon ship through his open cockpit, destroying it. Adama had successfullyxa0completed the top-tier Level 6. An over-confident Adama was disappointed to bexa0assigned as a Raptor pilot instead of being selected to joinxa0the Galactica’s Viper squadrons. Sent on a secret mission,xa0Adama rendezvoused with the Battlestar Osiris, partxa0of axa0“Ghost Fleet” hiding out in Cylon territory. Equipped withxa010 new Mark IIIs, the Osiris jumped into orbit around the icexa0planet Djerba, a former Colonial resort seized by the Cylons.xa0Escorted by two Vipers, Adama piloted the Raptor Wildxa0Weasel down to the surface. The Osirisxa0and the Wild Weaselxa0both came under attack from a Cylon Basestar. One escortxa0Mark III was destroyed, while the other held off the Raidersxa0before being forced to retreat. Adama destroyed the finalxa0pursuer, dumping fuelxa0in the Raider’s path and igniting it. Inxa0orbit, the crippled Osiris detonated its nuclear warheads as itxa0rammed the Cylon Basestar, destroying both ships. Read more