Editing Wildable cockpit

The '''Wildable cockpit''' was a modular [[Viper (TRS)|Viper]] cockpit set constructed for the [[Season 2 (2005-06)|second season]] of ''[[Battlestar Galactica (RDM)|Battlestar Galactica]]'' by production designers [[Richard Hudolin]] and [[Doug McLean]].<ref group="production" name="drexler_scifipulse_wildable_development">{{cite web|url=https://www.scifipulse.net/visual-effects-master-doug-drexler-talks-about-his-time-on-battlestar-galactica/#:~:text=Richard%20and%20Doug%20had%20built%20a%20new%20%22wildable%22%20version|title=Visual Effects Master Doug Drexler talks about his time on Battlestar Galactica|author=Doug Drexler|publisher=SciFiPulse.Net|date=January 11, 2017|accessdate=August 16, 2025}}</ref> The innovative modular design allowed set pieces to be "pulled apart in any which direction," providing unprecedented camera access for filming complex interior sequences.<ref group="production" name="drexler_scifipulse_wildable_functionality">{{cite web|url=https://www.scifipulse.net/visual-effects-master-doug-drexler-talks-about-his-time-on-battlestar-galactica/#:~:text=able%20to%20be%20pulled%20apart%20in%20any%20which%20direction|title=Visual Effects Master Doug Drexler talks about his time on Battlestar Galactica|author=Doug Drexler|publisher=SciFiPulse.Net|date=January 11, 2017|accessdate=August 16, 2025}}</ref>

== Development ==

The Wildable cockpit addressed significant limitations of the [[Miniseries, Night 1|Miniseries]]' integrated cockpit design, where Viper cockpits were permanently built into the full-scale Viper bodies.<ref group="production" name="drexler_scifipulse_season_one_limitations">{{cite web|url=https://www.scifipulse.net/visual-effects-master-doug-drexler-talks-about-his-time-on-battlestar-galactica/#:~:text=Last%20season%2C%20the%20Vipers%20had%20a%20complete%20cockpit%2C%20but%20were%20built%20into%20the%20body|title=Visual Effects Master Doug Drexler talks about his time on Battlestar Galactica|author=Doug Drexler|publisher=SciFiPulse.Net|date=January 11, 2017|accessdate=August 16, 2025}}</ref> The production team, led by [[Richard Hudolin]] and [[Doug McLean]], incorporated lessons learned from [[Season 1 (2004-05)|Season One]] to create an enhanced cockpit design described as "beyond astonishing" by visual effects supervisor [[Doug Drexler]].<ref group="production" name="drexler_scifipulse_design_enhancement">{{cite web|url=https://www.scifipulse.net/visual-effects-master-doug-drexler-talks-about-his-time-on-battlestar-galactica/#:~:text=designed%20a%20cockpit%20that%20was%20beyond%20astonishing|title=Visual Effects Master Doug Drexler talks about his time on Battlestar Galactica|author=Doug Drexler|publisher=SciFiPulse.Net|date=January 11, 2017|accessdate=August 16, 2025}}</ref>

== Visual Effects Integration ==

[[Doug Drexler]], serving as CG Supervisor, was assigned by visual effects supervisor [[Gary Hutzel]] to create a computer-generated version of the Wildable cockpit for point-of-view shots.<ref group="production" name="drexler_scifipulse_cg_assignment">{{cite web|url=https://www.scifipulse.net/visual-effects-master-doug-drexler-talks-about-his-time-on-battlestar-galactica/#:~:text=Gary%20asked%20me%20to%20build%20a%20CG%20version%20of%20the%20new%20cockpit|title=Visual Effects Master Doug Drexler talks about his time on Battlestar Galactica|author=Doug Drexler|publisher=SciFiPulse.Net|date=January 11, 2017|accessdate=August 16, 2025}}</ref> Recognizing the importance of accurate reference materials, Drexler personally photographed the physical set rather than relying on others, ensuring proper documentation for digital recreation.<ref group="production" name="drexler_scifipulse_reference_photography">{{cite web|url=https://www.scifipulse.net/visual-effects-master-doug-drexler-talks-about-his-time-on-battlestar-galactica/#:~:text=I%20would%20shoot%20my%20own%20reference%2C%20and%20build%20the%20CG%20set%20myself|title=Visual Effects Master Doug Drexler talks about his time on Battlestar Galactica|author=Doug Drexler|publisher=SciFiPulse.Net|date=January 11, 2017|accessdate=August 16, 2025}}</ref>

Drexler's documentation process resulted in over 150 detailed reference photographs capturing the set's construction and design elements.<ref group="production" name="drexler_scifipulse_photo_count">{{cite web|url=https://www.scifipulse.net/visual-effects-master-doug-drexler-talks-about-his-time-on-battlestar-galactica/#:~:text=over%20150%20images%20of%20a%20%27BSG%20Mk%20VII%20%22Wildable%22%20Cockpit%27|title=Visual Effects Master Doug Drexler talks about his time on Battlestar Galactica|author=Doug Drexler|publisher=SciFiPulse.Net|date=January 11, 2017|accessdate=August 16, 2025}}</ref> These materials were subsequently lost for nearly a decade before being recovered during archive maintenance in 2017.<ref group="production" name="drexler_scifipulse_reference_recovery">{{cite web|url=https://www.scifipulse.net/visual-effects-master-doug-drexler-talks-about-his-time-on-battlestar-galactica/#:~:text=the%20reference%20went%20missing%20for%20almost%20ten%20years|title=Visual Effects Master Doug Drexler talks about his time on Battlestar Galactica|author=Doug Drexler|publisher=SciFiPulse.Net|date=January 11, 2017|accessdate=August 16, 2025}}</ref>

== Production Impact ==

The Wildable cockpit exemplified the collaborative relationship between the art department and visual effects team that characterized the series' production methodology. Drexler noted the exceptional working relationship with Hudolin and McLean, describing it as "one of the best working relationships we have ever had with an art department."<ref group="commentary" name="drexler_scifipulse_collaboration_praise">{{cite web|url=https://www.scifipulse.net/visual-effects-master-doug-drexler-talks-about-his-time-on-battlestar-galactica/#:~:text=one%20of%20the%20best%20working%20relationships%20we%20have%20ever%20had%20with%20an%20art%20department|title=Visual Effects Master Doug Drexler talks about his time on Battlestar Galactica|author=Doug Drexler|publisher=SciFiPulse.Net|date=January 11, 2017|accessdate=August 16, 2025}}</ref>

The modular design's flexibility proved essential for achieving the complex interior cinematography required for the series' realistic combat sequences, supporting the show's emphasis on practical effects and authentic environments.<ref group="production" name="drexler_scifipulse_filming_advantages">{{cite web|url=https://www.scifipulse.net/visual-effects-master-doug-drexler-talks-about-his-time-on-battlestar-galactica/#:~:text=This%20would%20make%20shooting%20much%20easier|title=Visual Effects Master Doug Drexler talks about his time on Battlestar Galactica|author=Doug Drexler|publisher=SciFiPulse.Net|date=January 11, 2017|accessdate=August 16, 2025}}</ref> The innovation represented a significant advancement in television production design, allowing directors greater creative freedom while maintaining the series' signature aesthetic realism.

The wildable cockpit saw reuse throughout not only the Re-imagined Series until its conclusion, but also in ''[[Caprica (series)|Caprica]]'' as [[Air Force Viper]] cockpits used by [[Philomon]] and [[Zoe Graystone]] and, lastly, as the [[Viper Mark III]] cockpit in ''[[Blood and Chrome]]''.

== References ==

=== Production History ===
{{reflist|group=production}}

=== Commentary and Interviews ===
{{reflist|group=commentary}}{{Indicator|Caprica}}{{Indicator|TRS}}{{Indicator|BAC}}
[[Category:Production materials]]
[[Category:Sets]]
[[Category:Viper Mark VII]]
[[Category:Season 2 (RDM)]]
@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-[[File:TRS - Wildable Cockpit.jpg|thumb|The "wildable cockpit" built during [[Season 2 (2005-06)|Season 2]], and used throughout the [[Re-imagined Series]] universe.]]
 The '''Wildable cockpit''' was a modular [[Viper (TRS)|Viper]] cockpit set constructed for the [[Season 2 (2005-06)|second season]] of ''[[Battlestar Galactica (RDM)|Battlestar Galactica]]'' by production designers [[Richard Hudolin]] and [[Doug McLean]].<ref group="production" name="drexler_scifipulse_wildable_development">{{cite web|url=https://www.scifipulse.net/visual-effects-master-doug-drexler-talks-about-his-time-on-battlestar-galactica/#:~:text=Richard%20and%20Doug%20had%20built%20a%20new%20%22wildable%22%20version|title=Visual Effects Master Doug Drexler talks about his time on Battlestar Galactica|author=Doug Drexler|publisher=SciFiPulse.Net|date=January 11, 2017|accessdate=August 16, 2025}}</ref> The innovative modular design allowed set pieces to be "pulled apart in any which direction," providing unprecedented camera access for filming complex interior sequences.<ref group="production" name="drexler_scifipulse_wildable_functionality">{{cite web|url=https://www.scifipulse.net/visual-effects-master-doug-drexler-talks-about-his-time-on-battlestar-galactica/#:~:text=able%20to%20be%20pulled%20apart%20in%20any%20which%20direction|title=Visual Effects Master Doug Drexler talks about his time on Battlestar Galactica|author=Doug Drexler|publisher=SciFiPulse.Net|date=January 11, 2017|accessdate=August 16, 2025}}</ref>
@@ Line 13: / Line 12: @@
 == Production Impact ==
-[[File:B&C - Wildable Cockpit in Blood & Chrome from Doug Drexler.jpg|thumb|The wildable cockpit being used for ''[[Blood and Chrome]]'' as the [[Viper Mark III]] cockpit, the last known time this cockpit was used in the [[Re-imagined Series]] canon.]]
-The "wildable cockpit" built during Season 2, and used throughout the Re-imagined Series universe, exemplified the collaborative relationship between the art department and visual effects team that characterized the series' production methodology. Drexler noted the exceptional working relationship with Hudolin and McLean, describing it as "one of the best working relationships we have ever had with an art department."<ref group="commentary" name="drexler_scifipulse_collaboration_praise">{{cite web|url=https://www.scifipulse.net/visual-effects-master-doug-drexler-talks-about-his-time-on-battlestar-galactica/#:~:text=one%20of%20the%20best%20working%20relationships%20we%20have%20ever%20had%20with%20an%20art%20department|title=Visual Effects Master Doug Drexler talks about his time on Battlestar Galactica|author=Doug Drexler|publisher=SciFiPulse.Net|date=January 11, 2017|accessdate=August 16, 2025}}</ref>
+The Wildable cockpit exemplified the collaborative relationship between the art department and visual effects team that characterized the series' production methodology. Drexler noted the exceptional working relationship with Hudolin and McLean, describing it as "one of the best working relationships we have ever had with an art department."<ref group="commentary" name="drexler_scifipulse_collaboration_praise">{{cite web|url=https://www.scifipulse.net/visual-effects-master-doug-drexler-talks-about-his-time-on-battlestar-galactica/#:~:text=one%20of%20the%20best%20working%20relationships%20we%20have%20ever%20had%20with%20an%20art%20department|title=Visual Effects Master Doug Drexler talks about his time on Battlestar Galactica|author=Doug Drexler|publisher=SciFiPulse.Net|date=January 11, 2017|accessdate=August 16, 2025}}</ref>
 The modular design's flexibility proved essential for achieving the complex interior cinematography required for the series' realistic combat sequences, supporting the show's emphasis on practical effects and authentic environments.<ref group="production" name="drexler_scifipulse_filming_advantages">{{cite web|url=https://www.scifipulse.net/visual-effects-master-doug-drexler-talks-about-his-time-on-battlestar-galactica/#:~:text=This%20would%20make%20shooting%20much%20easier|title=Visual Effects Master Doug Drexler talks about his time on Battlestar Galactica|author=Doug Drexler|publisher=SciFiPulse.Net|date=January 11, 2017|accessdate=August 16, 2025}}</ref> The innovation represented a significant advancement in television production design, allowing directors greater creative freedom while maintaining the series' signature aesthetic realism.