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Battlestar Galactica | ||||||||||
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attlestar Galactica was (and remains) a television phenomenon. When it aired on TV in the 1970s, people tuned in to watch the plight of humanity after it was nearly wiped out by a villainous race of robotic creatures called the Cylons. After a Pearl Harbor-like sneak attack on the 12 human colonies, the remnants of humanity included only those who could board a ragtag fleet of ships bound together and protected by the last Battlestar—Galactica.
This series is considered by some a cheesy sci-fi series, but to others it was the next Star Trek. After decades of wishful thinking and several serious attempts to bring the series back, a new series of Battlestar Galactica has just ended its first season on the SCI FI Channel, to high critical acclaim.
Since it left the air, the series has enjoyed a cult following that has spawned comic books, toys, models, books and action figures. Joyride Studios' entry into the foray consists of two of the famous spaceships and a Cylon Centurion from the original, now-classic series.
The Colonial Viper has been considered by some fans the most beautifully designed space fighter in science fiction. It is a long, sleek, jet-like ship with three rear engines mounted in a triangular cluster. Fins protrude from each. Forward of the lower fins are two laser cannons. The canopy sits just in front of three huge air intakes (for aerial flight).
The Cylon Raider, also considered a near-perfect ship design, is an oval with two rear-mounted engines and a front cockpit. Inside the cockpit sit three Cylon pilots.
Resembling a cross between a medieval armored knight and a Roman centurion, the chromed Cylon Centurion is a robotic menace with a roaming red laser eye and a blaster.
Joyride Studios' renditions come packaged on a carded bubble pack. Each of the warships measures just under 7 inches and comes with a display stand. The Cylon Centurion is about 7 inches tall and comes with his blaster.
Gorgeous detail at any price
The Cylon Raider is probably the nicest toy made yet of this fighter. The tiniest detail is here, lovingly rendered to near perfection. The paint is beautiful. Though it's seemingly just gray and matte black, a careful eye will notice the almost imperceptible wash of gray paint all over the surface of this ship, which gives it a subtle touch of reality—as if this were a miniature of a real spaceship, and not just a model.
With some effort, the louvered cockpit snaps open on hinges to reveal three seats. The rear seat contains a small rubber figure of a Cylon pilot. Two empty seats can be filled with two separate finely carved Cylons. Sadly, the hinge is not perfect, and the cockpit opens easily only about 30 degrees.
The Colonial Viper's detail matches its companion's. With even the tiniest piping along the hull and fins sharply present, this ship is the nicest version I've seen of this size. The twin blasters are offset from the hull, perched on the two lower, slanted fins, just as they should be. The paint is clean and well done.
Like the Cylon Raider, the Viper's canopy is tightly shut, but when you get it open, it reveals a cockpit in which can sit a tiny Colonial Pilot. For its size (1 cm) the pilot is sharply molded and painted.
Three separate landing gear pieces also come with the set. Each fits into a slot on the underside of the ship. This is contrary to the way many toy spaceships are designed, which often have landing gear that hinges down from recesses inside the ship. This usually requires bulky hatches that detract from the ship's accuracy. While this way of thinking maintains the accuracy, those three pieces can easily be lost.
The one problem I had with this ship was that one fin came off easily. I jammed it back in, but without glue, and it is still sits loose in its slot.
The Cylon Centurion is a nice figure. Accurately detailed in chrome and paint, he stands in a combat pose, with blaster rifle in position. The head rotates, and the shoulders have a range of movement (beware—the shoulder caps will pop off), as do the upper arms, wrists and mid-calves.
The laser eye is painted on, which is a bit of a disappointment. Some effort to create a light source would have been appreciated. And with limited articulation, getting him to stand securely is no joy.
All in all, with the flaws in execution taken into account, this set of Battlestar Galactica toys is probably the best bar none—and that includes the well-known and well-loved original line Mattel made in the 1970s.
For the price, you can find no finer models of these ships. I've seen very expensive statuettes of them that are no better detailed or painted. These make the original line (long sought after by collectors) look like cheap knockoffs. — Sean
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