Above and below: The Alien's head in various stages of construction. The incorporation of a human skull into the head can be clearly seen! You can also see how Bolaji Badejo wore the head like a hat -with a chin strap to hold it on. A plaster cast was taken of him which you can see the alien head being fitted to.

The "Space Jockey" at Shepperton after principal photography was completed. A few weeks after I took these shots this set was shipped to the USA where it was vandalised and set fire to outside a movie theatre.

The Alien Derelict in various stages of construction. Detail was added using Plasticine! -and EMA plastic piping by the late Peter Voysey.

This model of the entrance to the Alien Derelict was built by the Art Dept at Shepperton as a guide to the constructors of the full-size set. Peter Voysey then copied it on the miniature.

I was called over to Shepperton (from Bray studios where the model crew was based) to add detail to the flame thrower, for the scene where Parker finds it after Dallas' death.

The Art Dept at Shepperton built this mock-up of the Narcissus in cardboard as a guide to the builders of the full-size set.

We built the front of the refinery in scale with the large Nostromo. Hundreds of plastic kits were used to detail it. In particular Tamiya 1/24th scale tank kits. A collectors item these days!

 I was given 4 hours to build a small refinery for the shot of it approaching the alien planet.

The Narcissus sits in its "garage" supposedly under the starboard side of Nostromo's "wing". The set was approx 30 feet long and was made of several 8ft x 4ft vacuum formed panels which we stapled onto a wooden frame.

A re-designed engine room tower before painting. The large Nostromo nose section can be seen in the background.

The completed new engine room set. The tube-like structure sticking up in the centre is actually one of the large refinery's docking ports being re-used! (see photos of large refinery section)

C/U of the re-designed engine room tower. All that work and it's only on screen for 2 seconds!

The final version of the large Nostromo ready for filming

Effects Technician Roger Nichols works on Nostromo's "plumbing". The rear bulkhead of the model, with the smaller octagonal engines attached, can be seen standing on the floor.

C/U of the nose of the large 8ft Nostromo model.

The 1/24th scale enlarged section of the nose of Nostromo built for close ups where the crew are seen moving around inside whilst the craft sits on the planets surface.

Preparing to film the undocking sequence.

Nostromo tries a take-off in the model workshop!

The Nostromo before additional probes were added. (photo c.20th Century Fox)

The spectacular lighting rig built by Dennis Lowe for a shot of Nostromo coming into land, but never used in the final film.

Martin carves the miniature of Kane's burial shroud in jelutong wood.

The full-size burial shroud.

The hatchway through which Kane's body is ejected was actually a miniature approx 12" x 10"!

A space helmet sits on the bench at Bray Studios after shooting. I cried as I saw it put on a bonfire!

The full-size Narcissus set at Shepperton Studios.

One of Ron Cobb's original drawings of the nose of Nostromo

One of several full-size vehicles built for the cargo bay of Nostromo. Part of it is very briefly seen in the final film as the crew search the ship for The Alien

The Narcissus miniature.