Hey all,
I posted this on the RPF but thought you would all like it. We did this on a short schedule and tight budget for our convention last year but are expanding it this year and making it alot more refined and accurate.
Last year we held our first convention with all our props on display and had an over whelming 6000 attendees (not bad for a first time) but one thing we wanted to do was not only display our props but give the attendees some fun free interactive sets for photo ops and walk throughs and in my mind an Aliens set was ideal.
So I started first trying to get the frame built and after alot of hunting found a very nice chap who was able to do the basic shape in sections which we needed (Paddy Hoyne Designs: Dublin Comic Con- Set Building) as between a full time job none of the three of us had time the time and the event was drawing close (a couple of weeks away)
So once the frame was built, the next step was detailing and we set aside a week for this (well a few days in the week when we could) and we got to work. The piping was salvaged from various sources (found in a ditch at the industrial area we were in) and cut to fit each piece but the main part was going to be the 'hive' and due to limited space we could only make the set so big.
With that in mind the idea was....chicken wire and foam! We laid out each wall section we wanted to do and got a basic shape with the wire and other alien pieces we wanted to incorporate and then got to work with the foam and as it was drying we pulled it to give that stringy and organic effect.
To top it off we cut up plastic sheets and screwed them into the wall (the pulling effect of the screw turned the plastic into more of a tendon if we got lucky) and then coated it all with latex and lashed some paint on quickly.
For the victim we used a life cast of me (unpanted) in foam and then one of the lads made a great motor to make the chestburster move and wiggle. (no vids i am afraid) and to top it off i coated the walls themselves with latex and just rubbed my finger along it to give the webbed effect (and also the pipes and hazard signs)
He/I was painted before the show
Also to give the set that LV426 feel we had some signage made up to match ''Level 2'' and placed it around the area with some compulsory warning tape just to top it off. For the flooring we used a long rubber conveyor belt (more so for safety to stop people slipping) and moss/peat (yes you heard me) around the eggs just to quickly diffuse the ground as remember this was all dark bar the side lighting and flashing orange light as the roof was covered in a black cloth and face huggers.
At the entrance we had our sentry gun (with a proper stand and rotating) along with some misc USCM items (and a USCM set of armor thanks to Supa Troop) and of course some Alien eggs and an Alien. Total build time about 2 weeks or so for everything
The 'colonists' were escorted through the tunnel by some brave Marines (some of which were the RPF's own Supa Troop and Supa Fem / Simon and Jacquie ) who did an amazing job (and Jacquie made an amazing Ripley) and were a pleasure to meet (just wish I had more time to chat at the event)
We will be fixing the frames and expanding this for DCC 14 and hope to really improve everything (new chestburster already sculpted and more upgrades on the way)
Hope you like
really well done guys looks like I'll have to attend your next event for a picture opportunity 
