Making of Hottoys Alien Bust

[Alice Adrenochrome]

The Giger mini bust has a nicely smoked dome... just enough to let the skull shimmer through, but not in a way that it's too blatant.

 

[MaulFan]

Exacly MaulFan. I want the Skull there, but I dont want to see it....McF got that right, you can sorta kinda see it, but unless you took off the dome, you wouldnt even know it was there...

A point where NECA dropped the ball on there ALIEN, probably the only flaw I find with it. They paint on the details, not sculpt them and then make the dome so clear it's impossible to not see the detail beneath, from the factory anyway. Sideshow's dio does a good job of letting the detail show while masking it a fair ammount too, it doesn't show through entirely depending on lighting and viewing angles, but you can see it if you want to.

 

[CelticPredator]

Agreed.........................

 

[occulum]

You're missing their argument though. They're not challenging that there was a skull in the film costume, but point out that because of the lighting and the KY smeared all over the dome, in the movie, the skull doesn't show through much and they feel the collectibles should reflect the screen appearance, not the prop design.

clearly the lighting of the collectible needs to be adjusted to reflect the lighting in the film ...

 

[DSD]

There's not really anything worth arguing about. There is no point in the film, and I mean actually sitting down to the DVD, where the skull is visible. The photo above isn't a shot from the film, it's a promo. Find me a paused screen from the DVD where you can see it and we'll talk.

Edit: I'm actually skipping through the DVD now, and even when you have a full close up in Brett's death scene, and when Dallas shines a light straight at it, you don't even get a single bit of the skull. No eye socket, no nose, not even any dark patches.

In actual fact I don't mind seeing the skull a bit on the toys. I mean - it is pretty cool.

 

[MaulFan]

This bust handles the skull well, they frosted the front so that the eye sockets aren't prominent and you just see some of the vertebrae like parts on the top.

To me, the part that shouldn't be visible are the eye sockets. What makes the xenomorph cool is no visible eyes or ears. When a products allows the skull eyes to show, it implies those are the creatures eyes and I prefer how it sees or survives with seemingly nothing to see with as an ambiguous feature.

 

[AdamBombOi]

No matter the argument, this is an outstanding piece of work.

Hell, I like this design IMMENSELY more than the Predator one.

 

[DSD]

To me, the part that shouldn't be visible are the eye sockets. What makes the xenomorph cool is no visible eyes or ears. When a products allows the skull eyes to show, it implies those are the creatures eyes and I prefer how it sees or survives with seemingly nothing to see with as an ambiguous feature.

I agree. Either Ridley or Giger, I can't remember which, mentions in one of the many DVD commentaries that the dome could be thought of as one big seeing organ, or it could be blind, or whatever. It's a very "alien" concept, and a strong visual idea. The eye-sockets are kind of sinister, but I prefer not seeing them other than as a point of interest in the prop's construction.

In fact, I suspect the only reason Giger used a skull in the first place was to give him a starting point from which to sculpt.

 

[wookster]

Fantastic pics, thanks for posting. My most anticipated bust so far, even more than the Joker for me.

 

[BillyBudd]

I don't like the clear domes either, and I'll never purchase an Alien collectible with a clear dome.

Look at the prototype Alien on Cinemaquette's site. It has an opaque dome, and it looks like it jumped right out of a television. It's awesome.

I think that Sideshow should have produced a variant of the Alien diorama with an opaque dome. The Aliens diorama looks much better than the Alien diorama.

 

[-Super Hans-]

I don't like the clear domes either, and I'll never purchase an Alien collectible with a clear dome.

Look at the Cinemaquette Alien. It has an opaque dome, and it looks like it jumped right out of a television. It's awesome.

I think that Sideshow should have produced a variant of the Alien diorama with an opaque dome. The Aliens diorama looks much better than the Alien diorama.

sideshow shouldnt make clear dome aliens full stop. it just dosent look good and it ruins the NECA alien aswell. tut

 

[danfaz]

No matter the argument, this is an outstanding piece of work.

Hell, I like this design IMMENSELY more than the Predator one.

I certainly agree with you there! In fact, this is the ONLY Hot Toys item I've ever purchased

 

[danfaz]

There is no point in the film where the skull is visible. Find me a paused screen from the DVD where you can see it and we'll talk

Now I'll admit I was wrong about that 1st pic I posted. It IS a pic from the filming of the movie (note the cameras), but it's not actually seen:

However, here are three scenes you didn't mention that do show the skull! Like I said, they're hard to see, but they are there:

Alien attacking lambert. Somwhat blurry, but you can see the ribbed skull:

Alien peeping Jonesy. Ribbing on skull very obvious:

And the best of all, Alien blocking Ripley from her escape:

Now, I'm not trying to be an azz, but I just knew there were certain scenes that showed the skull. And, yes, I do love this Hot Toys bust!

 

[CelticPredator]

I guess there is then...but its just so quick you cant see it...

 

[DSD]

Wow, I hope you didn't spend too long doing that!

Personally I think you're reaching a bit. Yeah, you can just about see some elements of the ribbing on the back of the skull, I'll concede that. But the eye sockets and nose elements? Nah.

And it certainly doesn't look like this:

But it's a fun discussion, and some of those shots you took are ace so we'll call it win/win eh?

 

[Sabres21768]

Well...huge props to my man Dan!

I can't believe I missed this discussion, but I've got to give it to ya dude...you proved your point.

Leave it to the die hard Alien fans...we know what we're talking about.

And dude...shades of the ol' Bio discussion on the "B pose" Brett death.

 

[uscmhicks]

I hate it when sabres , abake and danfaz are here.
I'm not an alien expert anymore then...

 

[danfaz]

But it's a fun discussion, and some of those shots you took are ace so we'll call it win/win eh?

Sounds good! Yeah, it's fun to "investigate" these topics.

@sabres...yeah, I was having some flashbacks of that one!

 

[BuGz]

The alien head from alien would have been completely clear. however due to the actor inside the suit the dome would steam up due to long periods of wear (condensation)

But it would be great if Neca & Hot Toys ect. would re-create that look of the smokey dome.

Awesome bust too!

Bri

 

[DSD]

Quite apart from anything else, the shots on this page have reminded me what an awesome creation the original Alien really was. It's been diminishing returns ever since really, and the modern take on the creature bears hardly any relation to the original. Such a shame.