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This unusual ship appears to represent a very early version of the Galactica, which, judging by the size of the bridge windows, seems to be a much smaller vessel than the one we’re used to. Note the fins and the hangar pods. This picture may represent the destruction of Carillon or the escape from the Nova of Madagon. |
| This is a really nice illustration worth reproducing larger than the others. McQuarrie’s Galactica, here under furious Cylon attack, is shaped very like the sfx model, but is more slender and elegant. Note the unusual object attached to the bottom of the landing bay. We’ll see what that is in the next picture.... |  |
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A view from the cockpit of a viper on final, and one of a number of instances in which the production team would have done well to hew more closely to McQuarrie’s vision. The pilot is obviously seeing his flight path through a head-up display. And the object at the bottom of the hangar bay pod is clearly a device intended to recover powerless vipers and possibly catch and stop vipers out of control. Very interesting! |
| The Galactica bridge, visualized by McQuarrie, and vastly preferable to the set as built. Why the set designers thought the bridge should have a window (!) is beyond me; this view of a smaller bridge with a tactical display is considerably more realistic. |
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Another McQuarrie bridge painting, this one from the Dart Flipcards set (accounting for the obtrusive logo at the bottom), and looking to be a little smaller than the version shown above. Adama looks remarkably like Commander Straker from UFO here! |
A viper launches from the Galactica. Note that the launch tube is slanted towards the front of the ship, at a somewhat sharper angle than the tubes on the actual model. A defensive laser turret is visible attached to the bottom of the hangar bay pod. |
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The Galactica and fleet escape from the Colonies. |
A viper sets down on an unknown planet. McQuarrie’s vipers are similar to the ones actually used in the series, but are more angular and have round engine pods. Note the landing gear. Not only is McQuarrie’s landing gear more realistic than the gear on the models, the wider track would have made the landed viper more stable. Check out those wacky mushrooms! |
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This is a very early viper indeed (but notice how McQuarrie reused the background in the painting above!), and resembles strongly both the Star Wars Y-Wing fighter and the snowspeeder from The Empire Strikes Back. This image is from the Dart flipcards set. |
| And this is another McQuarrie viper scene, on a desolate planet with a huge moon in the distance. |  |
