

Viper in the Space Needle A reflection of Seattle's iconic Space Needle can be seen in the canopy of the Viper Mark VII as the ship heads toward its destination at the Experience Music Project/Science Fiction Museum.

Disassembled Viper Mark VII Crew members move a piece of the jet toward the Experience Music Project|Science Fiction Museum.

Colonial Warrior Helmet Headgear of this design served as standard equipment for Viper pilots in the original 1978 Battlestar Galactica series.

Viper at Rest The Viper Mark II takes its position in the Milestones Gallery at Seattle's Experience Music Project|Science Fiction Museum.

Cylon Raider A close-up of the Cylon Raider shows the biomechanical ship's freaky red eye.

Approaching the Science Fiction Museum The Experience Music Project/Science Fiction Museum looms over this gleaming piece of Viper Mark II fuselage.

Starbuck's Pin A detail of Kara "Starbuck" Thrace's Viper pilot uniform, which was featured in the 2004 series. Photo courtesy Alec Peters.

Major Lee "Apollo" Adama Call Sign The Viper Mark VII fuselage bears the insignia of Maj. Lee Adama, portrayed by Jamie Bamber in the reimagined 2004 series.

Starbuck's Dog Tags Katee Sackhoff wore these dog tags when she portrayed Kara "Starbuck" Thrace in the 2004 Syfy series.

Colonial Uniform Detail This belt buckle detail is part of the female Colonial Warrior Viper pilot uniform worn in the 1978 Battlestar Galactica show. Photo courtesy NBC Universal Archives & Collections.

Colonial Sidearm This Colonial sidearm was used in the 2004 reimagined series. Photo courtesy The Space Age Trust.

Viper Prepares for Landing A hardhat watches as the Experience Music Project/Science Fiction Museum team hoists the fuselage of a Viper Mark II used in the re-imagined series. Ship courtesy NBC Universal.

Viper Concept Art These Colonial Viper sketches from the original series will join the exhibition at a later date. Photo courtesy NBC Universal Archives & Collections.

Starbuck's Painting Kara "Starbuck" Thrace's painting was seen in the re-imagined series. Photo courtesy Alec Peters.

Viper Installation 7 Surrounded by guitars, the Experience Music Project/Science Fiction Museum team hoists the fuselage of a Viper Mark VII used in the 2004 series. Ship courtesy NBC Universal.

The Arrow of Apollo Believed to point the way toward the missing 13th colony of Earth, this mythical artifact was seen in the 2004 reboot of Battlestar Galactica. Photo courtesy NBC Universal Archives & Collections.

With the Saturday launch of Battlestar Galactica: The Exhibition fast approaching, organizers are putting final touches on the show, which will include Viper Mark II, Viper Mark VII and Cylon Raider warships that formerly did intergalactic battle on the small screen. The prop fighters were so large they had to be disassembled to fit through the museum doors.

Presented by Seattle’s Experience Music Project/Science Fiction Museum, the tribute covers the original 1978 Battlestar Galactica TV series as well as Syfy’s Peabody Award-winning reboot. Dozens of props, costumes, concept drawings and storyboards will be on display, along with interactive “Cylon/Human” installations.

Galactica stars including Edward James Olmos (who played Adm. William Adama), Michael Hogan (Col. Saul Tigh) and Kate Vernon (Ellen Tigh) are slated to take part in Saturday’s opening hoopla along with Ronald D. Moore, executive producer of the 2004 series, and Glen A. Larson, who created the franchise.

Check the gallery above for beauty shots of the Vipers in transit, as well as sneak peeks at uniforms, weaponry and concept art from Battlestar Galactica: The Exhibition, which runs through March 4, 2012.

Photos: Rich Hobby. Follow us on Twitter: @hughhart and @theunderwire.

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