Can you ID the following equipment? Melissa, a digital artist who has to reconstruct the
set of the movie Aliens (a 1986 James Cameron sequel to the seminal 1979 Alien from Scott
Ridley, has asked me to identify the large computer props that were used in the original
set. She identified an Alto cabinet: that's how she originally contacted me, to get
the exact dimensions. But for the rest shown here we came up empty. The only thing I could
see is an upside down industrial CRT terminal and a keyboard that appears fake. The only
clue I have is that this was filmed in the UK in 1985 and Melissa believes part of the
equipment came from British Airways "Boadicea" ticket reservation system.
You can browse all the pictures at once here on Goolge Photos:
https://goo.gl/photos/dZHzWM5ArvHjV9AN7
Or view the original full res pictures individually from my DropBox:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/32371244/Aliens%20Set%20Equipment%20ID/…
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/32371244/Aliens%20Set%20Equipment%20ID/…
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/32371244/Aliens%20Set%20Equipment%20ID/…
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/32371244/Aliens%20Set%20Equipment%20ID/…
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/32371244/Aliens%20Set%20Equipment%20ID/…
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/32371244/Aliens%20Set%20Equipment%20ID/…
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/32371244/Aliens%20Set%20Equipment%20ID/…
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/32371244/Aliens%20Set%20Equipment%20ID/…
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/32371244/Aliens%20Set%20Equipment%20ID/…
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/32371244/Aliens%20Set%20Equipment%20ID/…
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/32371244/Aliens%20Set%20Equipment%20ID/…
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/32371244/Aliens%20Set%20Equipment%20ID/…
Here are Melissa's original comments on the screen shots:
"- Hypersleep-Ops Unkown Unit: I am unsure what exactly this is. It appears to be
similar in size to the Alto cabinet.
- Unknown Ops Console keyboards: I had talked to Richard Thomson who I found through a
Google search and he suggested maybe this isn't really a keyboard, but blank keys
stuck on a sheet of metal, as it doesn't look to him like there's travel distance
for the keys.
- Unknown Ops PC Terminal: Richard also suggested that to him, it looks like a monitor
placed upside down. He thinks the grid and circle pattern on the "top" is where
rubber feet would have been.
Also paired with this monitor appears to be a flat keypanel about the size of a standard
keyboard. The surface is shiny. If I can find some better images I will include them in a
reply. You may be able to make it out in a couple of these clippings
Pictured in these photos are large units. I've brightened them up and removed the
colour from some because they had a harsh red lighting that was hard on the eyes and
washed out any colour anyway.
The actress running alongside the units is Sigourney Weaver who stands about 5'11
tall. That should give an approximate size.
It's been stated that somewhere in this scene, the setbuilders had used British
Airways' old ticketing computer system as set dressing when they upgraded and were
discarding the old units. They were called "Boadicea" but when I google search
that, All I get for results is one black and white photo from the 1960s and nothing in
that image is recognizable. So I have no idea which units these "Boadicea" units
are.
In the last image attached (Ops Standing units 9) I have boxed in the best shot of the
opposite sides of the units that I have. Note the other units on the right side of that
image. If you can help with these as well that would be so cool. It's possible these
could be part of the Boadicea units too.
I have NO idea what any of these are, so anything you can tell me is appreciated!"
Marc