The Sci Fi weekend saw the National Space Centre invaded by an array of characters, movie props, costumes, vehicles, star signings and the Alien Encounter.
The event also had several other groups in attendance adding to the UK Garrison to make a very special weekend, members of the Alien Legacy, Hyde Fundraisers, Exewing, UKCM and the staff from NSC. Star signings during the weekend included Al Matthews (Sgt Apone from Aliens), Colin Baker (Dr Who), Terry Malloy (Davros from Dr Who), John Leeson (voice of K9 from Dr Who), as well as Terry English who designed some of the costume pieces for Aliens (but also made the amazing armour for the film Excaliber), Terry also had some props on display which included a helmet from Alien 3, some marine armour as well as some lovely fantasy armour. A couple of lucky girls (Teri & Kris) got to wear some of the armour and proudly paraded around the space centre! Another great attraction was Harry Harris's Aliens prop collection; wow loads of really cool stuff including pretty much all of the main characters costumes as well as an alien! There were lots of the other props and costumes from film and television which included Serenity, Starship
s, Constantine, Riddick and Doctor Who among others. To compliment the Dr Who stand there were Darleks, Cybermen, Davros and K9 in attendance and other weird and wonderful characters! Another really interesting attraction was a make up session with Prosthetic Make Up Artist and Animatronic Model Designer Karl Derrick (The Hills have eyes, Gladiator) who made some of the UK Garrison members into the terrifying Borg from Star Trek Next Generation. This was a fascinating demonstration of special effects make up using prosthetics and costume to transform someone into a half human half-machine character. As usual the Garrison photo stand was up and running and doing very well and raising over £700! Well done to all involved! As well as the usual merchandise stalls there was a Delorian car on show similar to the one used in Back to the Future. There was many characters walking around the event to add to the sci fi atmosphere which included Colonial Marines, Predator, Dame Darko from Riddick, Darth Vader and Stormtrooper, Selene from Underworld, Robocop.
In my opinion the main attraction of the event had to be the Alien Encounter, billed as " A truly terrifying walk through experience at the Weyland Yutani Biological Research Facility based at the National Space Centre." Victims oops sorry, visitors were taken into the facility to watch a presentation film of the safety procedures and the rules and regulations of being allowed in this classified facility. Once they had done this they were escorted into main control lab where they were met by Professor Carabas and his team who were working at consoles with an impressive bank of screens with Weyland Yutani programmes and footage being played. The Professor talked the visitors through the experiments and research that they were working on which included alien eggs and using test volunteers!! Halfway through this the alarms suddenly go off and panic sets in as a group of marine’s rush in and explain it's not a drill and there has been a containment breach in quarantine. With the need of getting the visitors out quickly the marines have to escort them out safely so order the visitors to stick to them closely and not to touch anything! Leaving the scientists to fend for themselves the marines move out and into a dimly lit corridor with a very scary atmosphere! With the Sarge leading the group forward and a marine covering the back of the group the visitors are huddled in the middle. All of a sudden the main control lab where they had just come from eminated horrifying screams as the scientists are killed off. As Sarge tells the group to stay away from the alien egg in the corridor he moves up to activate the airlock, as he does so a scarily familiar sound can be heard. All of a sudden an alien appears in front of them, with the effect of a strobe light giving a very scary feeling the group fall back with the marines giving surpressing fire. As they back up another alien appears from behind the group coming from the main control lab. With the group trapped the sarge manages to push back the first alien so the group can escape into the airlock and into the next section. Unfortunately the marine who was covering the rear of the group was KIA. With very nervous marines waiting in the next section the group are ushered in whilst the sarge checks the room is cleared and safe, whilst they take a breather a marine picks up movement on the motion tracker. Trying to lock down the signal panic starts to set in as confusion and fear build up with the signal reading being only a few metres away. All of a sudden the power goes down leaving the room in almost complete darkness, with the signal getting closer and closer the marines suddenly look up at the ceiling expecting an alien to drop through. With everyone looking at the ceiling 2 aliens appear from behind one of the consoles and charge toward the group, with the marines taken by surprise, they manage to hold off the aliens so sarge can lead the group out to the corridor. As they try to break out, the door jams and the sarge orders the group to retreat, as the group turns around they are faced with 2 aliens walking towards them. Blocking the escape route with only one marine in-between them and the aliens, the sarge try’s the door again and manages to free it. With the group fleeing to safety another marine bites the dust saving the group!
The reaction from the groups of public leaving the Alien Encounter spoke volumes, some where laughing very nervously, some were crying, some hyperventilated and some where shaking! With people getting the reactions from the groups as they came out, the comments ranged from "very entertaining" to "I have never been so scared in my life". With all the hard work, blood sweat and tears that was put into this experience it paid off big time by just seeing the reaction from the public and the guys who where playing the roles. With it being such a success I won't be surprised to see this event being repeated in the not too distant future! Me personally I had the time of my life, I started the weekend as Ripley walking around the space centre, but my costume not being complete I didn't wear it too much. I was talking to the actor Al Matthews for a while who was really nice, and he asked me for my photo, which was very cool! Unfortunately no photo's of me in this kit but when it is complete I will post a couple of photos up on the gallery. The rest of the weekend I was extremely lucky to have the chance to be one of the aliens in the Alien Encounter! Wow what an ace costume I was given for the weekend, I would like to thank the 2 lads who lent me their costume, it fitted me like it was made for me, apart from the head band in the alien head which was really tight! I spent most of the weekend jumping out on very scared public, which was just such fun! I think one lady ended up falling on her bum after I appeared from behind her and scared the bejesus out of her! Everyone who was involved with the AE was just amazing. From the drama queens (in the main control labs) who were in the running for an Oscar for their dying scenes, Gary as the professor (who lived the role not played it), all the marines (who were very convincing), but special mention to Alex for his screams as he was killed by the aliens and Tony for his Hudsonisms as he was killed in the corridor. Richard and Giles for your fantastic tech behind the scenes work, who never saw the light of day! My alien buddies who were in kit for hours on end in hot restricting hardly any vision costumes, and everyone who made this happen, Malika, Geordie, John and anyone else I'm not aware of that worked on it all. Everyone take a bow!
Jo as Alien in top image, Thanks to Kris for group shot and Andy "Battie" Smith for Aliens image
thats mee hahahaha search me on facebook like unsf@live.com i m so fanatic of alien, aliens and alien 3!!!!!!!
Hurray for the USCM!!!!
Hi Francois,
Thanks for your comment, it was an amazing experience! We maybe doing it again this year, if we are I will post it up here on the site. Otherwise keep an eye out for Alien War which is returning to London later this year!
8-O
I would have killed to experience the AE!!!
You have to idea how lucky you are to have been part of that!
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