"Just to let you know, there were Colonial Viper toys released in the 70's. There was a Colonial Viper, a Colonial Probe ship (which kinda resembles the 6th Millennium Viper from an episode of the Classic Series), and a Scarab ground probe, which was a wheeled vehicle with a Viper nose section. (All three ships could interchange with the Viper nose section.) There was also a Cylon Raider released. The ships were probably about 6 inches long."
I know those well. It was interesting their concept of the probe and the Battlestar Galactica story.
Interestingly enough, when the Return of Starbuck episode happened and he combined a Viper front with Cylon thrusters I thought of the toy line you talked about.
"They had spring loaded, launching plastic missiles...which I think were later fixed to the ship, since a child had died from swallowing a Boba Fett action figure launching missile piece. "
Oh was it a Boba Fett action figure? Am I evil for liking Boba Fett even more for that? :P No I seriously thought it was Battlestar toys that did it.
Anyyyywaaayyy.. I know they had THAT Viper, and as a kid I had a Viper model. Great stuff.
No, I have always been baffled that they never made a ship for the 3" model line like the Star Wars (and Buck Rogers) figures had.