FYI - I just started something I am calling "A Dalek Year" where I am going to chronicle, day by day, building a full-size Dalek in my basement. There is some info out on my tumblr (http://avant1963.tumblr.com/) and the first 2 days if anyone is interested. I'm feeling a little anxious about this one.

Hooray! We're helping!

Welcome to the forum, man!

These are all pretty low-budget (except for the animated chestburster which has pneumatics and a prop controller) and are primarily cardboard, chicken wire, duct tape, and papier mache with carpet glue. I've got some "making of" pictures over in my Tumblr site if anyone is interested.

This is a Flickr set with a lot of day-of-the-party pictures: http://www.flickr.com/photos/avant1963/ … 997086090/

The Alien lifecycle starts with the egg pod (or for you what-came-first-chicken-types - the queen... but I didn't get to build a queen). These all started life out as a huge balloon. I created 3 different eggs; closed, opening, and open. They were painted with what is affectionately called Monster Mud - a mixture of wall spackle, paint, and some sand to give texture. These guys were presented with some color LEDs and a fog machine.

Making of: http://avant1963.tumblr.com/post/105925 … us-34-days

Born of the pod, is the appropriately named FaceHugger. These are the wonderful creatures who only goal in life is to attach to your face, lay an embryo down your throat and die. I love them so much I built two. One huge one for the Egg Pod scene and one I could wear around the party (and be part of the chestburster prop).

Making of: http://avant1963.tumblr.com/post/750275 … ace-hugger

Making of: http://avant1963.tumblr.com/post/104804 … facehugger

After a gestation period (that seems to fluctuate from movie to movie) the little bugger is ready to be born, though the chest of the host. For his trouble, the host dies. This one was animated with a windshield wiper motor that shook the body and then an air ram that shot the little Alien through the chest all run by a prop controller.

Video in action: http://www.flickr.com/photos/avant1963/ … 7997086090

Once our little guy is all grown up (timing also seems to vary per movie) he becomes a full size Xenomorph. The one I chose to build is based off the original Giger design from the first Alien which housed a human skull under the head-dome. He had a mouth that opened and closed and a working tongue with the handy extra mouth. I built it on a little rig that I could roll back and forth from the wall to have it lurch out at people.


Making of: http://avant1963.tumblr.com/post/105923 … us-34-days

The Alien lifecycle ends usually with a kick-ass woman and a flamethrower, shown here, Ripley, played by my wife. The flamethrower was a replica of the original from the Alien movie.

Making of: http://avant1963.tumblr.com/post/105926 … us-34-days

All of this was put together for a Halloween party that I throw every year. A lot of work for one day, but I enjoy creating and figuring out how to make this stuff with basic ingredients and know-how.

Thanks for indulging this long, first post. Cheers!
-Walt