Nikk Hearn-Sutton SOC Posted July 9, 2004 Report Share Posted July 9, 2004 Does anyone know where i can find pictures of the smartguns used in ALIENS that where modeled after the MK Series and how the came up with the concept to use the harness and arm for the guns. Okay operators, HOOK A BRUTHA' UP!!! SOLID!!! B) Nikk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Eric Fletcher S.O.C. Posted July 9, 2004 Premium Members Report Share Posted July 9, 2004 Does anyone know where i can find pictures of the smartguns used in ALIENS that where modeled after the MK Series Google is your friend.... also this is really a off-topic question. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred Davis Posted July 9, 2004 Report Share Posted July 9, 2004 Does anyone know where i can find pictures of the smartguns used in ALIENS Here ya go... http://www.encom.demon.co.uk/sg.htm The heavy-duty smart guns, used by Drake and Vasquez, were actually German WW2 MG42 machine guns with drum magazines, with a stedicam harness built around it. The firing handles and switches were actually handle bar grips from a Yamaha motor cycle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Simon Jayes Posted July 9, 2004 Premium Members Report Share Posted July 9, 2004 These "weapons" were built by a UK amourer by the name of Simon Atherton. He talks about them in a documentary "Superior Firepower: The Making of Aliens". I believe that the original concept of using the harness was Jim Cameron's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Marc Abernathy Posted July 9, 2004 Premium Members Report Share Posted July 9, 2004 this was discussed in the old archives last year. you could also search there to get some more info. i believe michael stumpf was the one who was speaking on it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Howard J Smith Posted July 10, 2004 Premium Members Report Share Posted July 10, 2004 Hi Nikk A little bit of movie trivia for you - My first mk3 was one of the Smart guns used in Aliens - people used to say "that looks like the thing from 'Aliens' and I said it is!" John Ward suppiled both the systems for the film and myself and my friend Vince bought them after. All the best Howard J Smith MK-V Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdegraff Posted August 4, 2004 Report Share Posted August 4, 2004 I've been approaching the problem from the other direction, since I don't own a Steadicam rig. I had an opportunity to buy a VERY used Mod III vest and pulled patterns from it. I also have a pair of spring covers that I've made vacuform molds for. From the many pics of the arm I've collected online, a friend started doing CAD drawings. Using those, I built a handmade mechanical prototype of the arm which works *great* for the smartgun, but wouldn't work for sh!t with a camera ;). I've got original source parts for the headset, shoulder lamp, and gun as well. My de-activated MG42 is still in the process of being molded, but I've got pics with my old one which is made from a stretched Ruger 10/22 dress up kit. You'll have to excuse the armored breastplate in these shots. The anchoring points were a total improve about 20 minutes before most of these shots were taken. Couldn't stand the look in my face on this shot. This shows the accurate struts on the sides of the gun though, as well as the headset. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikk Hearn-Sutton SOC Posted August 4, 2004 Author Report Share Posted August 4, 2004 That's pretty sweet does anyone know where I can find actual pic of the smartguns taken from the movie??? :unsure: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruben Sluijter Posted August 4, 2004 Report Share Posted August 4, 2004 That's pretty sweet does anyone know where I can find actual pic of the smartguns taken from the movie??? :unsure: here's a couple, birt dark but they are from the movie http://www.arniesairsoft.co.uk//projects/aliens/support.jpg and http://www.arniesairsoft.co.uk//projects/aliens/firing.jpg Peace, Ruben "Say hello to my leetle friend!" Sluijter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brett Manyluk Posted August 4, 2004 Report Share Posted August 4, 2004 Hey Jesse, nice to see you on THIS board. You should direct people to your website. I think they would find it very informative. Come on, what steadi op didn't think the smart gun was the coolest rig ever? Brett Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdegraff Posted August 4, 2004 Report Share Posted August 4, 2004 Hey Nikk, I've got lots of reference on the gun, including lots of original parts. My end goal is to offer kits or complete builds to those that are interested. The gun bodies are going to be vacuformed plastic, or possibly fiberglass. Detail bits will be resin casts using some of the stronger casting resins that are available. The armored breastplate will be vacuformed styrene or abs plastic. If you're interested in more info, you can e-mail me at wyrwolffatyahoo.com (replace the at with @). Regards, Jesse Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Alec Jarnagin SOC Posted August 5, 2004 Moderators Report Share Posted August 5, 2004 "I built a handmade mechanical prototype of the arm which works *great* for the smartgun, but wouldn't work for sh!t with a camera" Then who cares? Sorry to be so harsh, but this IS a Steadicam forum.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdegraff Posted August 5, 2004 Report Share Posted August 5, 2004 Hey, Nikk was asking about smartguns, so apparently *he* cares. I have info, so I'm helping. Then who cares? Sorry to be so harsh, but this IS a Steadicam forum.... {sarcasm}Nice to see such solid support....{/sarcasm} Luckily, not everyone in the Steadicam community has had your response, Alec. I've gotten help in the form of pictures, parts, and information from 4 or 5 ops on this board and elsewhere on the 'Net (thanks guys!). If you don't care about the movie props, don't read the thread. Simple. Regards, Jesse Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Alec Jarnagin SOC Posted August 5, 2004 Moderators Report Share Posted August 5, 2004 Jesse, Okay, sorry I was a little too harsh (very long day in an open dirt parking lot, baking in the sun with enough humidity to swim in - all Steadicam, all day). Anyway, I suppose the name of your thread does imply that it is not Steadicam related, but perhaps the customary "(not Steadicam related)" in the topic line would be appropriate. That reminds me, don't we have a section for off-topic subjects? I guess I'm mostly venting at the lack of Steadicam topics these days. I've been on this forum since its inception and the AOL folder before that. While I'm thrilled that we have gained international membership and a very diverse crowd, we have some how digressed in our discussion. I was away from the forum for two weeks and upon my return all I found was in-fighting, personal slander, sales pitches, etc. Now, none of this has to do with you Jesse, which is why I'm apologizing. Just fed-up. Lets talk about Steadicam. As for your smart gun, good luck. Alec Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdegraff Posted August 5, 2004 Report Share Posted August 5, 2004 Hell, I was in the rig for four hours, indoors, not the greatest a/c unfortunately, and sweating my ass off. I can only imagine the "fun" involved when you're outdoors, schluping 50+ pounds of rig and camera, and trying to get good shots. That'd make anyone ornery ;) No offense taken! Anyhoo, Nikk started the topic, Brett told me about it, and I was just replying. Perhaps it should have been started in the OT section or with an OT disclaimer, but that was Nikk's call. <shrug> A little ON topic, here....Always loved the Steadicam since I first saw The Documentary back in about '85 or '86 while taking film and video production classes at a local junior college. Financing and grades were a problem, so I never pursued any further degree in filmaking. Years later I managed to fall back into video production and media streaming in a corporate environment, which is what I do for a living now. I work on amatuer film now and then as DP, camera op, effects (both 3D and physical), editing, etc., and still aspire to own a real Steadicam someday ;) With the new rigs that were just(?) announced, that's more of a possibility than ever. Take care, and stay cool in the shade if you can ;) Jesse Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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