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(The scans were a bit small so I took the liberty of transcribing the article.)
ALIENS FIREPOWER
Let me introduce you to a personal friend of mine. This is a M41-A Pulse Rifle, 10mm, with an over and under 20mm Grenade launcher.
With that line of dialogue spoken by Michael Biehn (at that time USCM Corporal Dwayne Hicks from the James Cameron movie, "ALIENS"), he introduces both Sigourney Weaver and all ALIENS fans to the most sophisticated Science Fiction weapon ever to be used against extraterrestrial life forms in film history.
Since Director James Cameron is very well versed in the field of weaponry, he designed this fantastic piece of hardware based on two actual guns: the WWII 1928 M1A1 .45 cal. Thompson Sub-Machine gun and a 12 gauge Franchi Spas-12 autoloading shotgun. Incidently, Cameron also previously employed the Spas 12 as the weapon of choice for our favorite Cyborg in Cameron’s first film, “The Terminator."
Before we delve too deep into this article, let me introduce you to a "personal friend of mine” and an extremely talented craftsman, Steve Dymzo. Steve is personally responsible for this spectacular piece of destruction, along with a few other goodies also featured in this article. He is one of those people whose talent could easily go un-noticed and un-tapped, if not given the proper arena to display it. Steve is a detail oriented Maniac! The only way to describe the props and weapons he builds is to simply say, “they are all out of control!" The Editor of HOBBY/FX has already informed me of at least, at last count, eight more features on the models, props and weaponry put together by this talented artist. And the best thing is, he just keeps building and designing new things, mainly because Hollywood keeps making new movies. So, remember this brief introduction, because we are promising to deliver more of Steve Dymzo in many future issues of HOBBY/FX. We could go on and on with this massive collection, but for right now, back to the impressive M41-A Pulse Rifle.
The main body of this piece is actually the M1A1 Thompson Sub-Machine gun. With its 30 round capacity magazine, firing .45 cal. ammunition at a very high rate of fire, it is a formidable weapon in itself. The 30mm grenade launcher mounted underneath the barrel, in actuality, is the Spas-12 shotgun. It’s innovative ability to function as an autoloading or pump action shotgun at the touch of a button, surely led to it being chosen for the completion of this compact package of devastation.
Certain cinematic liberties were taken for dramatic reasons. This is not intended to take anything away from the ability of this weapon but to let you, the reader, know some of the inside details.
Unfortunately, since no one makes a model of this rifle, Steve, admiring this weapon so intensely, built the one featured here totally from scratch. An all aluminum receiver was constructed to exacting specifications, utilizing the original blueprints of the Thompson Sub-Machine gun. An aluminum frame was chosen in place of the proper material of steel, as to keep this project totally legal. Otherwise, this would be considered, "the construction of a destructive device" by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. I would then be delivering this article from behind the walls of a federal penitentiary.
Once the frame was completed, all the internal and external components were purchased and fitted. They were then all black anodized. A new handgrip was required, so it was sculpted and cast in resin, to duplicate the one used in the film. The retractable slide and barrel housing hood also needed to be machined from aluminum and slotted to match the existing slots on the Spas-12 shotgun housing.
A ball detente was used to provide a secure two-position lock, as it slides along the top of the receiver. Once the main body of the weapon was finished, both the barrel housing and foregrip of the Spas-12 were fitted to the frame. Incidentally, these parts, the barrel housing and the foregrip, had to be installed backwards to duplicate the look of the actual Pulse Rifle used in the film.
A shell ejection port needed to be milled out of the shotgun barrel housing. The charging bolt was then installed within the Thompson frame. Depressing the trigger will cause the bolt to move forward, unless the fire selector has been set to the "safe" position. With all the component parts finished, in their sub-assemblies, it was then encased within the main frame housing. Since this housing is not commercially available, precise measurements were calculated from available still photographs, as well as the videocassette of the ALIENS film. This was accomplished thanks to a VCR with an exceptional freeze-frame button.
The housing is also solid aluminum and is fabricated in two identical halves. An integrated circuit chip, illuminating the LED's, was then fitted within the housing. This is used to display the number of rounds remaining in the magazine... simulated of course. The entire circuit system is switched on and off by depressing the trigger on the grenade launcher. One trigger pull, turns the system to the "on" position and an additional pull of the trigger "deactivates" it. This is so the circuits are usually in the "off” position, to conserve battery and LED life.
Additionally, special instructions were programmed into the circuits, so that if the system is on, the insertion of the magazine into the ammo well, will instantly activate the readout and display OO...it then rapidly counts the numbers down and stops at 95. This is to duplicate the action of the Pulse Rifles used in the film. Two 30mm, high explosive, thumb press-activated grenades were also machined out of aluminum stock and fitted with a "two position" click button. They were then fitted with a protective "pop-off cap, to allow insertion into the shotgun feed tube. This Pulse Rifle weighs in at 16 pounds. It is mostly fabricated of machined aluminum, steel, brass, plastic and resin, as well as components of the actual firearms. It has a total length of 32 inches and will function exactly in the same manner as the originals in the film. The only exception is the capability of it chambering a "live" round and firing it.
Presently, a simulated firing mechanism is being considered for installation to the system. This will consist of an internal battery-operated glow plug, which when activated by the depression of the trigger, will ignite a wad of flash cotton. This combustion, within the steel barrel forces a fireball to blow' out of the tube, simulating a launched grenade.
A ton of research was done to duplicate the functions, as well as the impressive look, down to the last nut and bolt. Steve took that extra step and painted this weapon with the look of battle damaged nicks & dings, giving it the appearance that this "bad boy" was tossed around an APC or had seen action somewhere in the galaxy.
Unfortunately, due to the extensive technical knowledge and a clear understanding needed as to the familiarity with actual weapons function, it would be extremely difficult to turn this into a "how to" article. Luckily, by relying on the skills of a trained engineer, skilled machinist and the imagination of James Cameron, Steve Dymzo made the M41-A Pulse Rifle project a reality.
When all Pulse Rifles are "slung”, the Marines fall back on both their military Sidearms and other weapons of choice, which they like to keep handy for "close encounters."
The Heckler and Koch VP70Z is an 18 round, magazine fed, 9mm semiautomatic pistol. It has a very innovative design, which allows it to fire in three round bursts, when the carrying holster is attached to the grip to form a shoulder stock. Much of the receiver is constructed of hard plastic and has only four moving parts. When in the "machine pistol mode", it is capable of firing the equivalent of 2,200 rounds per minute! Ample firepower to handle anything encountered on a "bug hunt."
The VP70Z mentioned is not a designed prop constructed by our artist. It is, in fact, a Collectors Armoury replica pistol.
Traditionally, our earthbound military forces have carried their own personal weapons into war. Evidence of this can be seen in the film, when Corporal Hicks uses a military issued Remington model 870 Mark II, 12 gauge, 7 round shotgun.
This shotgun was originally chosen by the USCM (then known as the USMC back in the 60s), as the most reliable combat shotgun during trials. After a few modifications, it has remained in military service ever since.
Knives have been used by armed forces as far back as the need for soldiers to go off into battle. Regardless of advances in military firepower, it's still evident that soldiers will put their trust in a good piece of sharpened steel. The next time you tell your "artificial person" to "do the thing with the knife", make sure you hand them a MKII Gerber with serrated edges. It has a specially coated handle with what Gerber calls its', "cat-tongue grip.” This makes the knife virtually "slip-proof, once you've got it in your hand. With these features, it's no wonder Androids never miss... "hardly."
From head to toe, the Colonial Marines are absolute "bad asses". The battalion in the film carried serious “state-of-the-art” firepower. Even their helmets are equipped with an advanced surveillance camera with an “auto-focus" wide angle lens. It has a self-contained communications system, which allows the marines to communicate with one another, as well as back to their command post. Keeping the overall traditional look of the M1 helmet, popular since WWII, it was modified with additional armor reinforcement to the front piece and equipped with extra armor plates on the back. This, protects the otherwise exposed neck. Infra-red visual scanning lenses, housed within the helmet, round off what is now more than just a "pot" protect its wearer from flying shrapnel, or that annoying, acidy Xenomorphic blood. Steve copied this helmet to a "T".
There is quite a bit more we could go into. From the Bronica Savanna survival cigarette lighter that Michael Biehn had strapped to his military chest harness (once available in most cigarette smoke shops), to the simple smart gun magazine plug, that Vasquez hands over to Drake when they were told, "there will be no firing down there". This simple little contraption was purchased at a local toy store, painted flat black and a head phone jack added to the end, all for literally around $5.00.
Steve swears by good photos and has trained his eye to do more than just watch a film. He says, "you would be very surprised at the weapons and gadgets used in these films and what they really are made from and where you can get a hold of these things."
A special thanks to Steve and the team of talented and dedicated fans of this genre, that helped in the birth of this spectacular weapon. The M41-A Pulse Rifle.
As I stated early on in this feature, the promise has been kept to dazzle you out of your mind with some of the "really cool stuff" Steve has created, and has in his personal collection. Future articles will explore deeper into the intense collection of our featured craftsman, so by all means stay tuned!
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