Capricom - Communications Ship

For the build diary, click here.

This is a non-canon model I designed as a "Cable Van" of sorts. Capricom is a pun on "Caprica" and "communication", and the companies tag line "When people talk, we listen" is meant to be taken two ways - at face value or more sinister (eavesdropping). I thought that it's funny on the show, how you see newscasters and reporters, but there's no "News Ship". Maybe this addresses the problem?

Naturally I wanted there to be many antennas and radar dishes.

The round ball echoes some of the stranger high powered television transmitter housings I have seen online.

The asymmetrical design screams "design by committee" to me, which makes sense with a vehicle like this. It's built for function.

The logos were placed in areas that would show up from almost all viewing angles. They may be running from the Cylon tyranny, but branding is still important!

It has, to me, a very "original series" feel to it.

I tried to use vintage model parts where I could, thinking about how Apogee would have slapped pieces down.

The sphere is made from two Plastruct hemis.

There's a Star Wars "Battle Droid" part in there, which embarrasses me.

The engine cans are from the Saturn V, and the parts they attach to are from a model train factory building.

These are B-29 fuselages.

Can you spot the drinking straw?

I really enjoy using parts in unrecognizable ways. Engines are hard to disguise when the halves are mated.

The entire command section is from a 1/200 boat kit!

The figures are 1/160th scale, which works for my purposes. The windows just look smaller now.

The parts that look particularly mechanical get the most soot and grime.

A classic BSG builder part makes its appearance as the main support for the engine section!

Varying the weathering along a hard edge gives the appearance of different panels.

The front has a "landing pad" where a small craft, like a Raptor, could land.

Can you spot the SAFS body?

I'm really pleased with the engine section in particular.

It was made up late in the build, as I built... so there was a 50/50 chance it would have not worked!

It's silly to add detail in areas where most people might never see, if viewing the model in person. That's why I showcase it here!

And that's why I have a lot of shots of this area, haha.

The lighting is sparse - static white in the inhabitable sections, and blinking port and starboard indicators elsewhere.

This should give you the sense of how big this model is in real life.

Here's how the Capricom Communications Ship would look from the Hestia, which I just made up for this photo. The Hestia apparently has windows like a microwave oven.

For the build diary, click here.