Mu-TH-UR Computer 6000

[Mike Rush]

Just when you think there's no more research to be done... my good friend and expert on the Alien series Harry Harris has turned up an old photo of the key. The quality isn't great but it's a fantastic find.

Ladies and gentlemen, behold:



Not only the best side-on view so far (and therefore my best chance to get the shape right), but also some intriguing new clues about the 'contents'!

Thanks Harry.
_________________
Mike

"We're not heroes - we're from Finchley"

[Gaff87]

That is a great pic!!
Can't wait to see your version Mike.
Thanks for sharing this pic, Mike & Harry

[Space Jockey]

I'm sure you've already done this, but I had nothing better to do on my lunchbreak so...
...if it helps, great, if not, that's fine too. If it does, pm me with an email address and I'll send you the cad file.

[joberg]

Good pic Mike (more info is always a good thing).
Yes, Space Jockey, that's looking accurate alright

[Harry Harris]

Thanks for the kind words Mike.

I'm sorry that image isn't any clearer but it was taken a few years before digital cameras were made available and photographed with a 'point & shoot' 35mm automatic. The key is actually pretty small on the original image as I think I had to be a quite a distance away from it to get it anything like in focus!

Nice work there Space Jockey, although I overlaid your drawing on the photo that Mike posted and it doesn't quite match. Was that deliberate to compensate for something optical perhaps?

Harry
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[Space Jockey]

Hi Harry, nice to see you here!
Yes it was; though nothing would be as good as being able to measure off the real thing. With all the reference shots of the Nostromo I had access to one thing I found when creating blueprints from images is that sometimes the perspective is distorted in some way, so its tricky to get it 100% dead on. So I used the image above as best I could along with the images from Propstore of London.

By the way, again if it is of some use and a dimension isn't quite right, let me know and I can soon correct it.

[Mike Rush]

I bet you thought this thread was dead.

I don't think Bob is going to be able to take all those measurements for us, so Plan B is to make a crude mockup key, send it to him, and have him see whether it fits in the box!

I finalised my 'best guess' key outline, based on all of the photos and measurements available. I printed it onto some foamex, and then stacked a few layers together to get what I believe is the right thickness. I then cut them out with a jigsaw - not easy and I didn't have much time, so it is a bit rough. Once again, the key is a lot smaller in real life than in the imagination! I did two so I can keep one and send one to Bob.



Here's a view showing the real magnet, which will be on the final key but not this mockup.



I just needed to add the handle, to ensure that the thickness is correct too. I had the dowelling, which I cut down to size and put double-sided tape on the backs.



It was very satisfying to attach these to the key and have everything begin to take shape.



Almost done - just the ends to trim off.



And that's that. I had to see how it compared with the screengrabs, so I played Dallas for one photo.



I think it holds up! So I'm ready to send this to America now. Before you ask, I deliberately won't be painting the handles or trying to make it look any prettier; this is because (as silly as it sounds) I would hate for Bob to say "that's great, thanks" and think it's the final thing. The final thing will (I hope) look a lot better than this.

In other news, I bought some of that clear 202 resin which literally arrived today, so there will be some testing in the near future.

Here's an interesting question. Up to now I had assumed that the 'clear' part was a separate piece, somehow attached to the handle. However while making this mockup, I have become convinced that the real key was probably cast entirely in clear, including the handle; then the wood and metal parts added. Once painted over nobody would know; and it saves a potential weakness where the clear meets the rest. Does that sound reasonable?
_________________
Mike

"We're not heroes - we're from Finchley"

[SKIN JOB 66]

WAOW Mike, great to hear talk about this project again !

Your progress is really impressive, the end is (almost) near...

... and I truly think your theory aobut how the key was finaly made with part of the handle casted in clear resin sounds really convincing !

GREAT JOB !

Fred

PS : You're a rather convincing right Dallas hand !


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THE FUTURE IS A THING OF THE PAST

[stephen210]

WOW!! Mike outstanding work. I am with Fred too. I think you are right in your ideas of how it was made.

Bob's status.. He has had eye laser sergery here last week. He has been on bed rest per his Doc. He told me he feels real bad about not getting the measurments. I told him not to worry. He needs to get well.
Kathy can check the handle if Bob is not up to walking around yet.

I will let him know the moc up is almost ready. he will be so happy.

Great work again Mike

Steve

[Gaff87]

Outstanding, Mike!!

Everything looks spot on.

Can't wait to see one cast in the clear resin.

Glad to hear Bob is on the mend, we're all thinking of him.

Neil.

[andy]

Considering we don't see any attachment screw holes as we do for the magnets from where the handle is attached, I believe are probably right. I am so going to want one of these now. Awesome work.

Andy

[Gespenster]

Mike,

I've been 'in and out' of the prop replica boards over the years and you continue to amaze me with your skills and dedication to researching and recreating props from the Alien/Aliens saga.

Bravo!!

Keith

[Mike Rush]

Really? Are you sure you're not thinking of someone else??

Gosh... ... well thank you very much Gespenster! I just try and chip in here and there when I can.
_________________
Mike

"We're not heroes - we're from Finchley"

[joberg]

1: I didn't think the thread was dead...just waiting for new info.
2: Mock-up looks very good.
3: Theory of one piece of clear plastic including handle is jiving.
4: Hands + handle are spiffy.
5: Dedication to the project is commandable.


-----------End of Transmission-----------

[superjedi]

Your mock up looks great!
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I find your lack of faith disturbing. . .

[Mike Rush]

Resuscitating this thread once more...

I posted my key mockup to Bob Burns, via Steve (thanks Steve!). I thought I would have to wait a while to hear back. However, before you could say 'overmonitoring address matrix' I suddenly received this:





Just to clarify, that's my key mockup resting in Bob's original prop box.

My key, for which I had no real dimensions and had to rely on reference photos and screengrabs. I know I sound like I'm showing off, and well... maybe I am a bit. Just this once.

To see it just nestled snugly in there is a real buzz. All the planning, drawing, and yes, even the maths, really paid off!

Calming down now; the shape may be there but I do admit that I looked at it and thought "it could be larger and still fit". Even Bob said it was smaller than he remembers. I think it could possibly go up 5 or 10% and be a really good fit.

So my next step will be to overlay my drawing onto these photos and calculate by how much I can scale the key up. I will show the results of that here. Then I think I will knock up another mockup and send that to Bob, as long as he doesn't mind. That way we'll be 100% certain that whatever I finally make will be, you know... it.

In other news: remember the mystery electrical parts that will be needed to fill up the clear section of the key?



I think I know what part A is.

I was reading a thread on the RPF about a lifesize landspeeder build (that's from Star Wars ), and it contained this photo of some greeblies on the bonnet (or hood). Notice the parts I highlighted in green:



Look familiar? So I PM'd the builder and he told me what they are: glass vacuum tube sockets. Presumably that whole rack was part of an old amplifier. I've had a search and they would seem to be the right size. Trouble is I can't find the correct seven-pin version we need, for sale anywhere. Six pin, eight pin... and I think that nowadays you get more modern replacement sockets which are sometimes white... so maybe I will need to find some old amp to take apart!
_________________
Mike

"We're not heroes - we're from Finchley"

[joberg]

Very good job Mike! A few adjustments and it's going to be perfect
BTW, saw that 1:1 Landspeeder at the RPF and you're right; it seems they used the same kind of "wheels".

[SKIN JOB 66]

I'll second what joberg said... (WOW !!!)



AMAZING WORK !!!

Fred
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THE FUTURE IS A THING OF THE PAST

[stephen210]

OUTSTANDING MIKE!!

Home run on this one. Again...

[Gaff87]

More outstanding work Mike!
Soo cool to see your key in the real box aswell.

Big thumbsup.