The discussion of the Alien series of films and the props used in them is the aim, but if it's got Big Bugs and Big Guns, then they are welcome too!





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 Post subject: Fanmade: The Motion Tracker (Harry Harris)
PostPosted: Fri Oct 31, 2003 3:35 pm 
Well folks, my 'nearly all the real parts' Motion Tracker is finally finished!

I've had a Kango case and all the parts for longer than I can remember but I managed to find some time in late summer (that's usually the third week in August for those of you who aren't familiar with the British weather) to get it all done, and here for your viewing pleasure, it is!

The case in all its' shiny glory:

Attachment:
new_case.jpg
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Sanded and ready for priming:
This was a hard step as I felt I was runining the shiny red beauty of the case, but it was worth it! Still need to remove the chuck tube as well of course. I used a hacksaw to remove most of it, then removed the rest on a disc sander.

Attachment:
sanded.jpg
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During the priming stage:
My thanks to Spellbinder99 for his advice at this and the next (colour coat) stage:

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primed.jpg
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Painted components pre-assembly:

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colour.jpg
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Inside view of the front body section:
All the attached parts are held on with small screws.

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inside.jpg
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And here it is fully assembled!

(pick pending)

Using a mix recommended by a few folks (you know who you are, I can't remember - but thanks anyway!) of 50% Humbrol Brown Bess to 50% thinner the colour coat was a great success, but be warned - in that ratio the paint is very thin so care must be taken not to over-spray, which can lead to the paint running. I gave my Tracker about five very thin coats.

To stir the Brown Bess thoroughly I used a piece of brass rod about 2" long with a 90° bend at the last ¼" and stirred the paint with that in my Dremel. I cut a disc of plasticard slightly bigger than a Humbrol tin, made a small hole in the middle and put the rod through that. Holding the disc tightly onto the open tin I just ran the Dremel for 30 seconds or so which seemed to do the trick, and no spills!

(pic pending)

For the record the 'pump' thing on the bottom, the rear knob and the rod on the left-hand side that connects the rubber tube to the handle are spares that I got from Deck36. I've not installed any electronics as yet as it's principally to be used to display with my Hudson costume when it's on the mannequin.

Anyway, enjoy! :)

Harry.
Edited by: [url=http://pub217.ezboard.com/bthealienslegacy.showUserPublicProfile?gid=harryharris>Harry Harris[/url] at: 4/22/04 9:03 am


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 Post subject: Re: My Motion Tracker... Finished! (Download intensive).
PostPosted: Fri Oct 31, 2003 3:51 pm 
Woah!
An unscratched Kango housing! That's a truely rare thing used in a really nice buildup! :)

Cool!!!,
Stefan





Edited by: [url=http://pub217.ezboard.com/bthealienslegacy.showUserPublicProfile?gid=bugstomper>Bug Stomper[/url] at: 10/31/03 8:56 am


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 Post subject: Re: My Motion Tracker... Finished! (Download intensive).
PostPosted: Fri Oct 31, 2003 5:40 pm 
Nice job Harry, very well done :D



<span style="color:black;font-family:FederationBold;font-size:medium;]Adapt-Overcome-Survive


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 Post subject: Re: My Motion Tracker... Finished! (Download intensive).
PostPosted: Fri Oct 31, 2003 5:48 pm 
Amazing work, man!! It turned out perfect. :D

Tom

[img]http://www.m41a.com/z_temporary/octsig.jpg[/img]


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 Post subject: Re: My Motion Tracker... Finished! (Download intensive).
PostPosted: Fri Oct 31, 2003 6:10 pm 
Looks great Harry. Mine's almost done - just need to get off my a--.

:)


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 Post subject: Re: My Motion Tracker... Finished! (Download intensive).
PostPosted: Fri Oct 31, 2003 6:41 pm 
Did you give it a coat of lacquer at all Harry?

Bess Brown really annoys me with the way it shows up all the oils from your hands when you touch it - although that can also help with weathering!.......... So actually it doesn't annoy me at all. ;)
[img]http://www.milmanuals.com/images/whine.jpg[/img]


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 Post subject: Re: My Motion Tracker... Finished! (Download intensive).
PostPosted: Fri Oct 31, 2003 6:53 pm 
Ahh man ... *sigh* ... it's so pretty ... :-D

Good work man, you'll be the bell of the ball, I'm sure.



"Colonial Marines never dies, they just go to hell to regroup."
Sgt.Balder


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 Post subject: Re: My Motion Tracker... Finished! (Download intensive).
PostPosted: Fri Oct 31, 2003 6:54 pm 
Thanks for your kind comments folks!

As far as I know none of the original props from Aliens had a lacquer coat and as that can considerably change the colouring of the finish I decided against it.

It's just got that oily 'used' look! ;)

Harry.
Image


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 Post subject: Re: My Motion Tracker... Finished! (Download intensive).
PostPosted: Fri Oct 31, 2003 7:29 pm 
kool tracker Harry, keep up the hard work now ;)
"Better to stay silent and let them think you a fool, than to open your mouth and confirm it"


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 Post subject: Re: My Motion Tracker... Finished! (Download intensive).
PostPosted: Fri Oct 31, 2003 7:55 pm 
Fantastic work Harry :)

One day I will have one of my own. I hope.

Paul.

The Colony - My collection and current prop projects.


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 Post subject: Re: My Motion Tracker... Finished! (Download intensive).
PostPosted: Fri Oct 31, 2003 8:04 pm 
Here's another view of it for you all:

Image

Harry.
Image


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 Post subject: Re: My Motion Tracker... Finished! (Download intensive).
PostPosted: Fri Oct 31, 2003 8:57 pm 
OUTSTANDING!
Looks great Harry.
Steve


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 Post subject: Re: My Motion Tracker... Finished! (Download intensive).
PostPosted: Fri Oct 31, 2003 9:35 pm 
:shock: congratulation's on a job well done.

PS I dragged my wife to the cinema early on this evenning
to watch alien and I must say it was great I was loughing
for joy and my wife was screaming her head off what a wonderful evenning this has been:lol:
Edited by: [url=http://pub217.ezboard.com/bthealienslegacy.showUserPublicProfile?gid=hicks2012>hicks2012[/url] at: 10/31/03 2:37 pm


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 Post subject: Re: My Motion Tracker... Finished! (Download intensive).
PostPosted: Fri Oct 31, 2003 11:34 pm 
WOW, Harry! WOW!:D

Kevin
The Sarge's Site
[url=http://ca.photos.yahoo.com/bc/ssgtburton/lst?.dir=/Sarge%27s+Pics&.src=ph&.order=&.view=t
&.done=http%3a//ca.photos.yahoo.com/]Sarge's Pics[/url]

"Marines I see as two breeds, Rottweilers or Dobermans, because Marines come in two varieties, big and mean, or skinny and mean. They've got really short hair and they always go for the throat."


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 Post subject: Re: My Motion Tracker... Finished! (Download intensive).
PostPosted: Sat Nov 01, 2003 1:46 am 
WoW megga cool 8)


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 Post subject: Re: My Motion Tracker... Finished! (Download intensive).
PostPosted: Sat Nov 01, 2003 2:54 am 
Wow, what a fantabulous Christmas present you've made me!

Brilliant work.

Lewis


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 Post subject: Re: My Motion Tracker... Finished! (Download intensive).
PostPosted: Sat Nov 01, 2003 3:20 am 
Nice work indeed Harry!:)

Cheers

Tony
When you are out of Pulse Rifles, you are out of Weapons!


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 Post subject: Re: My Motion Tracker... Finished! (Download intensive).
PostPosted: Sat Nov 01, 2003 3:21 am 
Awesome job! Very nice!


M-di H'chak/M-di H'dlak


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 Post subject: Re: My Motion Tracker... Finished! (Download intensive).
PostPosted: Sat Nov 01, 2003 5:43 am 
Harry, that MT is a thing of beauty and must be a prized item in your collection!

-Rich

LP


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 Post subject: Re: My Motion Tracker... Finished! (Download intensive).
PostPosted: Sat Nov 01, 2003 7:10 am 
Fantastic work Harry !!

Time to replace your MT image against this new one on your side.






just do it !


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 Post subject: Re: My Motion Tracker... Finished! (Download intensive).
PostPosted: Sat Nov 01, 2003 4:13 pm 
Impressive, to say the least. :D

Not only the Tracker, but I see some fantastic photography techniques at play here. Harry, would mind sharing a few tips on lighting and camera techniques??? Your shots always looks so clean.

Thanks,

Tom


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 Post subject: Re: My Motion Tracker... Finished! (Download intensive).
PostPosted: Sat Nov 01, 2003 5:48 pm 
Very nice work!


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 Post subject: Re: My Motion Tracker... Finished! (Download intensive).
PostPosted: Mon Nov 03, 2003 5:09 pm 
Quote:
Quote:I see some fantastic photography techniques at play here. Harry, would mind sharing a few tips on lighting and camera techniques??? Your shots always looks so clean.
Thank you Tom!

The results were far more luck than skill to be honest, not to mention a decent camera. All I really do is just push the big silver button! ;)

I shot the tracker on a large sheet of paper (slightly off-white but not quite 'cream' in colour) in front of a window with the sun coming in, using the fill-in flash to counter the darker shadow areas. I went through a bit of trail and error to get it right.

A few of the shots were adjusted in Photoshop7 to enhance the brightness or in some cases to darken the shots where the sun had washed the image out a little.

I use a Nikon Coolpix 5700 camera which I love, but have by no means mastered - I keep it on the automatic setting nearly all the time!

Harry.
Image


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 Post subject: Re: My Motion Tracker... Finished! (Download intensive).
PostPosted: Wed Nov 05, 2003 6:05 pm 
Apologies for my late reply.

Harry, As everybody has already said, :shock: :shock: :shock: Wow!!!

That looks absolutely fantastic, ready to track some Bugs in style!! :)

It looks perfect in every way, including the colour, which due to the nature of Bess Brown can be hit and miss at the best of times.

Quote:
Quote:To stir the Brown Bess thoroughly I used a piece of coat-hanger wire about 2" long with a 90° bend at the last ¼" and stirred the paint with that in my Dremel. I cut a disc of plasticard slightly bigger than a Humbrol tin, made a small hole in the middle and put the rod through that. Holding the disc tightly onto the open tin I just ran the Dremel for 30 seconds or so which seemed to do the trick, and no spills!


What a great idea, I must give that a try! :D

It really looks like a piece of freshly issued military hardware and it's going to compliment your Hudson display no end!!

Just a quick question, What is the small disk to the left of the pump in the second picture? I don't recognise it.

Another quick question, where are people getting the large washer for the end of the tracker?

I've checked out my local hardware stores and so far, have come up empty! :(

Your tracker has inspired me to get my arse in gear and get mine finished, if it's half as good as yours I'll be happy!

Take care,

Andy



"I'm going to live forever, ...........or die trying!!"


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 Post subject: Re: My Motion Tracker... Finished! (Download intensive).
PostPosted: Wed Nov 05, 2003 7:03 pm 
Very nice Harry!
fdoveraker@att.net


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