Sci-fi models
USS Sulaco
Aliens (1986) · Colonial Marines transport
The Sulaco was a nightmare to paint. I masked the individual colour variations across the hull plating to create the patchwork grey finish.
The broad panels show that work most clearly. Against them, the ship’s thin forward structures and bulky rear section give it its long, industrial silhouette.
A little background
Sulaco takes Ripley and the Colonial Marines to LV-426 in James Cameron’s Aliens. Syd Mead was a major contributor to the film’s vehicle designs. The ship’s heavily industrial exterior suits its role as a military transport, carrying the equipment needed for the expedition.
Another interpretation
The actual model
The original photographs show my physical model. The two AI images extend it into imagined surroundings; they are not frames from a film or series.
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