Adam Savage Meets The Original Aliens Power Loader Prop!

[@tested]

Learn more about this prop and check out the full Propstore catalog at: bit.ly/propstore_tested2024

[@misaneko420]

You should check out the "Argo ATLS" Mech in the game Star Citizen which is currently the newest "Power Loader" added and its so much reminding us at the one from aliens too

[@hacksmith]

6:31 -- I have the same arm, unfinished! Bought it on auction a few years ago to go with our real life power loader we built -- which you've gotta come pilot!!!

[@thiago4santos]

Adam MUST drive it!

[@littledoc4741]

hell ya that power loader is so awesome ,I am surprised he did not drive it yet,and also so many other awesome builds you guys have done thru out they years ,he would definetly love spending thime there I would love seeing all that ,that is a ner's dream becoming reality and you guys made it posible , legends

[@simacmanus4645]

I'd love to see Adam's opinion of your power loader.

[@GeneralBuckles]

OR ! hear me out.... Sigourney Weaver piloting it!!

[@Oblivion-of-nothing]

i came here to suggest you guys do a colab hahaha

[@patrickmcclung3]

Hi, my name is Pat Mcclung. I was on Aliens’ back at Pinewood Studios in 1985-6. Jim Cameron designer the Power Loader, Atmosphere Processor as well as the Queen Alien. And lots more. He is quite a good designer and artist. Robert Skotak did a lot of designing on the Colony complex. The Drop Shop stared out life as a foam core model that Cameron made on a week end, it was finished out by Ron Cobb. The Power Loader was made at John Richardson’s SFX shop at the studio. There was a large body builder inside the suit behind Ridley. Can’t offhand remember his name, but it will come back to me no doubt tomorrow. Anyway lots of interesting stuff happened on that movie.

[@ClaymateDesigner]

It's great to hear from someone who was there. Aliens director's cut is simply the boss. BTW. I SO believe that the drop ship fired at least one rocket when escaping from the atmosphere processor. It's obvious when you single step the relevant part. As they featured the rockets being loaded AND the stowage wings in several scenes, it was a shame to edit these out. AM I wrong about my assertion ?

[@gyjdsss]

Hi pat, hope you are well. The power Loader operator was a guy called John Lees, he was from my small home town in West Yorkshire UK, I met him a few times at a local gym and he was a fantastic person. Unfortunately he has passed away now.

[@patrickmcclung3]

@ Thank you! He was a great guy. I’aways been bad on names.

[@patrickmcclung3]

@ I’ll have to go back and look at the movie for that rocket firing shot, we didn’t do any rocket fire firing rigging that I remember. That was 38 years ago! So I might be wrong. I do remember drinking lots of tea. The only tea you could get in the markets here in Los Angels was Lipton tea and it was terrible. I got hooked on Earl Gray Tea, I still drink it.

[@bobgeldoff9413]

err its james not jim

[@cinegeek]

Ron Cobb was a absolute legend. One of my favorite designers. Seeing his work in The Book of Alien and The Art of Star Wars really opened my eyes to art design in film. My sketchbooks in H.S. were full of attempts inspired by his drawings.

[@repletereplete8002]

same for me with the school sketchbooks. The art of Alien inspired me to become a professional artist.

[@cinegeek]

@@repletereplete8002 that is awesome. It inspired me to be a filmmaker. :)

[@NotPork]

Easy mistake to make, but that vehicle is NOT the daihotai tractor seen only in the director's cut. This one is seen parked in the rain next to the BAR sign in the theatrical cut

[@King_Henry]

Yeah this wasn’t Newts’ fathers rig at all. It was definitely the one parked, like you said. Interesting they didn’t just say that.

[@Flat0Line1]

@@King_HenryI think they really just got it mixed up :D sadly

[@SeanPaulNotTheSinger]

Can we take a moment and just appreciate how prepared Adam was for that visit and bit? His uniform shirt was completely on point, while not all at the same time. Love it, and his expertise and understanding that really allows you to appreciate the work being done and the efficiencies being used due to extreme time constraints that are forced on them due to production requirements.

[@fen4554]

It's hard to describe how it makes me feel seeing that power loader arm. 30 some years ago when I was 10 and I had to do something that I was afraid to do, inside I would imagine being inside that suit. Just the idea alone would make me feel strong.

[@Sashazur]

I wish I’d come up with a great way like that to psych myself up for things when I was a kid.

[@JustinWahlne]

Dude, that's awesome.

[@993mike]

I’m about the same age as Adam, and I remember when Sigourney came out of the compartment in the ship wielding the loader suit to confront the Alien queen with the sound of heavy metal footsteps, and the opening night theater audience just lost their minds! Man, so many epic moments like that in the top-tier 80’s and 90’s action films.

[@fen4554]

@@993mike I wish I could have witnessed that. I was in my 20s the first time i got to see a rescreening of it in a special theater that focuses on old movies. But even then the theater erupted during that scene.

[@stardestroyeruk7025]

that model of "StarBug" and "Ace Rimmers" dimension jumping fighter in the opening!!!!

[@marks6928]

Glad it wasn’t just me who spotted that, awesome to see. Smoke me a kipper, I’ll be back for breakfast.

[@keng6663]

Oh yeah!

[@mooferoo]

Seems like a niche, and maybe low budget thing, but i'd have loved to see that up close.

[@Thomas_Esson]

@@mooferoo Just FYI, multi-angle high-res images are available in their online catalog.

[@stardestroyeruk7025]

@@mooferoo they are from the British Sci-fi comedy show Red Dwarf

[@PrimeMKTO]

Prop store vids have become my favorite on the channel. Here for the one day builds, but I can’t get enough of the props.

[@Cheesius]

I love that you're wearing a Nostromo patch on your shoulder! So appropriate!

[@NotMorganFreeman.]

That's actually a crew shirt from Alien he's wearing. He has some previous videos of it.

[@CaptainTiberius1]

Love it when Adam goes to Prop Store - they always seem to have the best stuff!

[@LostButMakingGoodTime]

Seeing this kind of content with Adam is awesome simply by virtue of his enthusiasm and expertise. But I have come to regard the up-close exposure to movie props to be quite bittersweet. I am a movie buff and learning about the craft of movie-making is always fascinating to me, but seeing how truly makeshift and superficial most props are when you get close exacts a price in your memory of the scenes in which they were utilized. The way these things are brought to life and get the job done when seen through the camera is truly amazing.

[@jmsmith6]

I went to a prop show in my teens, and had the same reaction. I got to see the car from Blade Runner(small model) and was like, that’s it? Seeing the Alien queen up close was amazing though. That was the one piece everyone flocked to.

[@MrJest2]

"Through the camera" is a truly different world than how we perceive reality with our own natural senses. Many decades ago, I went on the old-school Universal backlot tour. One "exhibit" was a filthy ally way, absolutely trashed. Absurdly so. The presenter then played a vid clip of the same environment on film, and the difference was astounding. What looked ridiculous in person looked "simply normal" on film. Strangest "props in real life" moment to me, however, was going to the _Art of Star Wars_ show back in the 90s. More than anything else, what struck me looking down at the mannequin supporting the (yes, somewhat slapped together out of what appeared to be cheap cotton bed sheets) costume was how friggin' *tiny* Carrie Fisher was. If she was a full 5 feet tall I'd be amazed.

[@DrachenGothik666]

@@MrJest2 She was apparently 5' 1". There's not many people I'm taller than (I barely scrape 5' 3"), but it throws me how _tiny_ she was.

[@MrJest2]

@@DrachenGothik666 And you always have to take "celebrity statistics" with a grain of salt; they tend to exaggerate their height while reducing their weight. What people report isn't necessarily reality, especially in such an image-conscious industry. All I know is what I saw, and the neckline of that dress was well below a foot from my eyeline, and I'm six feet even. I was agog - a few years earlier I'd met and hung out with Peter Mayhew, and while he was kinda tall, he didn't strike me as inordinately so (tremendously kind and friendly fellow, though). But beside her, he was head, chest, and *elbows* bigger than her.

[@johnDingoFoxVelocity]

Okay. So the power loader arm was also a part of the owner's collection who also owns the actual power loader itself out of Seattle Washington went on tour at the Seattle science center. As a part of a special effects exhibit, it went from there to the science fiction museum at the then called music museum now called the museum of pop culture. In Seattle Washington. Several people knew of the existence of the other arm but very few have seen it.

[@allochthonplays2978]

That scene from _Aliens_ was so iconic. Seeing the prop kinda gives me chills.

[@trespire]

Catterpillar got calles wanting to purchase their Power Loader.

[@RyderDavis]

I knew Ron Cobb a little. Very sweet guy - who designed to have a Krups coffee grinder as the Mr. Fusion in Back to the Future. That model coffee grinder is also seen in Alien. Also, one can be seen in Dan Aykroyd's kitchen in Trading Places.

[@j.w.r3730]

I always saved the spruce frames,they make great piping layers in the background details in compartments and such. They're great for making details more busy and textured.

[@marks6928]

Aliens is my favourite movie. Adam is one of my favourite people. The Prop Store videos are my favourite content on Tested. I’m freaking out right now.

[@jakerazmataz852]

Tough call between this and T-2.

[@joshguenther]

I really love how much you can see Adam geeking out over these props, as would I!! Just amazing seeing these legendary props "in the flesh". As an amateur prop maker myself I can definitely appreciate the attention to detail and the work that goes into it. Thanks for sharing!

[@michelleagnew8780]

This is so cool! Thank you for taking us along on this adventure!

[@GreenAppelPie]

The design looks quite modular, like you'd combine different bits to create the machine you needed. Probably the most practical design for the fictional backstory. Really well thought out.

[@foabmoab]

I love practical props and models for movies. I wish it was more widespread to see these days.

[@jrr2480]

Disney needs to have some people do some digital scans of these props, before they eventually disappear from history.

[@ConstructBreakdown]

Screw Disney lol.

[@stephen300o6]

Does it matter if this stuff disappears?

[@ButterfatFarms]

​@@stephen300o6does it matter if you or I disappear either? Not really nothing matters.

[@jrr2480]

@@stephen300o6 yes.

[@SA-bq1us]

Disney needs to stay away

[@rperisho163]

Back in the summer of '88 there was a traveling SFX museum exhibit that landed at the Museum of Science & Industry, Chicago. They had so many great pieces, including the Alien Queen & power loader suit. Seeing that arm was such a throwback.

[@MrMrbrianbechtel]

Yeah it came to Columbus Ohio As well. They had a full size Jaws as well

[@MrSteve280]

Set and model designers/builders are the real miracle workers of TV and movies. Actors and directors stand on their shoulders.

[@martinboulianne2360]

its so nice to see the passion and knowledge coming out of Adam!!

[@mazzamonk]

One of my friends was one of the operators of the Alien Queen in Aliens... Love your vids

[@RedGandalf]

The science museum in St. Paul MN had an Aliens exhibit once long ago. They had a full size power loader on display with rotating amber light going. It's an early memory, but quite vivid in my mind.

[@DrachenGothik666]

Wish I had the income & the space to keep something like these pieces. Aliens is one of my all-time favourite films & I re-watch it every couple of years. Saw it in the theatre six times in it's first run & I'd be in the back, scribbling like mad, trying to draw the queen. Favourite movie monster, ever.

[@bobbressi5414]

Ron Cobb is an amazing technical artist.

[@gumbootnet]

"was" : (

[@eugeneyung7922]

11:37 unbelievable! Shaun of the Dead! I never thought i'd see something like that. The "you've got red on you" shirt and Nick Frost's shirt is right there too. 😮

[@catinmyhat]

I was distracted the whole time by that shirt...did you lock the door?

[@SteveIgnat]

11:05 Those are used on industrial equipment today, and from my personal experience, I've operated many truck-mounted cranes that utilized similar joysticks. They work quite well!

[@kevinlucas8437]

That arm from aliens was one of the coolest things in movies !! Can't believe no one has made this for practical use in a warehouse !!!!

[@jesperwall839]

Not that easy, but Hacksmith Industries have done it with some success. It’s here on KZbin 👍

[@nagualdesign]

It's nowhere near as practical as a forklift or telehandler. And yet probably far more practical than humanoid robots. 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@RickC_]

I saw the full Power Loader at the Maryland Science Center along with the Aliens Queen. (many years ago)

[@UnseenMenace]

Syd Mead is the GOAT

[@Lucien86]

I think the little wheeled crawler is not the main one we see in Aliens but one used in a background shot of Hadleys Hope. I've seen pictures of the main one and it looks different - on tall suspension struts and the model was bigger and remote controlled for filming.

[@Flat0Line1]

3:00 - Guys, how can you mixed up the vehicle from extended version (which has different design with 4 pair of wheels on high legs and door at the front), and this - which from theatrical version - it's just parked nearby bar in the background X). That's why this model lacking many details

[@UncleJackOnline]

great prop, but my eyes keep being drawn to The Kurgans armour in the background and wondering if it was worn by Clancy Brown as the auction references hero armour

[@williamr3840]

9:50 But the story is that they weren't... With Cameron constantly arguing with and having to push the reluctant British film crew to do what he needed them to do. It's well documented. :0/

[@matthemming9105]

Using the sprue frame itself is a peak prop builder move. Legendary.

[@trevorberridge6079]

The P-5000 Power Loader Arm reminds me of the Robocop suit in so much as it portrays weight, power and solidity while being made of surprisingly light material and being relatively delicate. It's a wonderful illlusion. In the film you totally buy that this is a massive, incredibly weighty piece of equipment. It doesn't give itself away.

[@Simon_Rafferty]

The Aliens Loader inspired me to work in Robotics, which eventually led to me working in Movie SFX - which has a nice circularity to it!

[@robotmonkeys]

I saw the loader and the queen years ago when it was on a tour at the Science and Industry Museum in Chicago. That exhibit also had various Star Wars costumes. I remember Lando’s ROTJ general uniform, Darth Vader, and an X-Wing pilot suit

[@djstumpy7399]

Dude, I spotted Starbug 1 and Ace Rimmers ship from Dimension Jump . it looked like Adam at the start was bent down, having a look at them. They were so cool seeing as they had a very low budget on Red Dwarf.

[@pyroslev]

Need Adam to go visit the Hacksmith and rock around in their Power Loader.

[@thesteve4235]

Its a much brighter yellow than I expected.

[@ryandowney9383]

I'm sure that was done on purpose. Since it's mostly in lower light so it still has to be recognizable as yellow in those scenes.

[@troy4340]

Remember things look much different on film

[@ryandowney9383]

@@troy4340 That's why you can't use cows, you have to use horses.

[@Chef_Alpo]

Perhaps a necessity for filming as some have stated, but also possible that the color was adulterated during restoration. I don't recall the gloss coat, but again, screen use.

[@nagualdesign]

It'll have a similar albedo to Sigourney Weaver's skin, so it responded similarly to the lighting, as you see it in the film.

[@shaggycan]

4:00 sepia ink wash is my everything. It can fix so many painting problems.

[@simongander3089]

Similar to your comment about the sprues under the vehicle - if you watch Alien, the final scene in the escape ship, there’s a close up on one of the computer terminals and you can see the interface is clearly surrounded by a large piece of empty model sprues. Works quite well! But is quite obvious once you’re aware.

[@PushingTooManyPencils]

What an amazing piece. Such a timeless design.

[@traumgeist]

If you watch the Aliens crew interviews, one of them tells an anecdote about how the guy in the power loader suit played a prank on Sigourney Weaver by installing a balloon in the backrest (The kind you tie into a poodle) and then inflating the balloon after she was strapped in.

[@nagualdesign]

I think it was the rest of the crew playing the prank on Sigourney _and_ the guy in the suit.

[@lewis7515]

"Tie into", a what, now?..

[@DrachenGothik666]

@@lewis7515 Balloon animals are a thing: take a super long, thin balloon & twist/tie it into various shapes. Surely you've seen this before? It's often a staple of clown performances.

[@electricsnut]

Adam waving his hand around that model was making me nervous 🤣

[@NekoFallen]

Seeing this display of items from the screen and how Adam is geeking out over the smallest detail never gets old! I really think that Adam needs to come up here to Canada and visit The Hacksmith to see, as well as pilot, his full-sized, fully functional, Power Loader!

[@NeddyRoosevelt]

I love how Stephen from the London Propstore and Brandon from the LA Propstore look almost like they could be cousins or something.

[@drivethru6155]

It's like the pink-haired nurses in Pokemon Centers, they're all related lol

[@Tocqueville2023]

think of all the props of sci-fi movies were actually reasonable concepts for future developement..When Adam mentions the designer of this vehicle he considers the designer had a suspension in mind..Great design!

[@repletereplete8002]

7:49 Whilst initially Syd mead took a pass at the power loader the one in the film is pretty much as James Cameron designed it, if you see his sketches. Mead's was very bulky and more of a mech which Cameron seems to has used for the ones in Avatar.

[@Daveyboy100880]

I don’t recall Syd Mead having anything to do with the powerloader (I can’t remember any Mead artwork for it, at least!). To the best of my knowledge, the powerloader was mostly Cameron’s concept and design, with heavy input from John Richardson & his SFX crew while they were building it and Crispin Sallis, the set decorator.

[@albertvermeule5844]

As allways a joy to watch with a big 'wish i was there feeling'. Controlstick on the powerloader seems to be cast from a Avro Vulcan controlstick, but if so, they have modified it, made it a bit simpler and moved some pieces around.

[@ChristopherDoll]

The Power Loader full sized costume was definitely on display at Paul Allen’s Science Fiction Museum in the early 00’s

[@vancemartin9790]

I remember that! My wife and I saw it, along with the queen. We were stationed in Bremerton, WA when I was in the Navy. Loved that place!! It's still cool, but NOTHING like it was back in 2006!

[@DrSuperKamiGuru]

I'm not really a movie person, about 3-4 per year, but these prop video are always so cool.

[@DarkestVampire92]

Well now you've gotta go see the functional one at the Hacksmith's workshop :P

[@charlesswanson8664]

I remember seeing what was presented as the complete power loader and alien queen props together at the Seattle Science Fiction Museum years ago. My memory was that, even though they were big, they seemed larger onscreen.

[@mzaite]

Ok I saw both a Starbug and Ace Rimmer's Reality barrier ship in the intro!

[@patriotic80]

This is so cool . This is one the awesome part of movie business. Its all about creation,no politics. Creative Ideas and art minus all that are what movie and music making are all about.

[@ryandowney9383]

11:38 OMG, it's Hellboy! Please do a video about that!

[@name_o_person]

Always enjoy the enthusiasm! When i saw the thumbnail i was hooked. A prop i wanted to see and the very person i knew would have all the same interests and more.

[@wirelesmike73]

Wow! What a piece?

[@boonies4u]

Hacksmith made a real power loader I'd love to see what Adam thinks about it after looking at this.

[@mikecarter8880]

Pretty sure I saw the full loader on display back in the early 90s at LA's Museum Of Science And Industry. They also had miniature cars from Blade Runner. Old days before everyone had a camera with them. Wish I had pics of those.

[@virtualsoran]

I really hope we get to see more of the T800 arm in a future vid!!

[@alfredbautista3165]

🤩Wow!! That's is an awesome place

[@VoltaGhost]

I see Vigo The Carpathian drip! Very cool!

[@gavinstubbs3949]

Props esp sci fi props love em there art to me see people thoughts of future in there head becoming real world iteams amazing

[@bobfrode]

love the closeups with chucky in the backgound observing.. lol

[@RightOnJonCrane]

Right On! 🙌 Love these visits to Prop Store!! 😃 They always have amazing stuff!

[@cryophile]

Adam's institutional knowledge is great. I wish I could download it into my brain.

[@donaldbohn3183]

I'm also reminded of the "I once caught a fish this big." scene from the movie Dave, which also starred Sigourney Weaver and Kevin Klein.

[@Miko80]

I love the Nostromo crew shirt Adam is wearing.

[@ast3663]

isnt that the craft Newt's parent went to the Juggernaut alien ship, where her father then had the facehugger on his helmet? I love the paint job on this..and the powerloader is film history

[@NotPork]

@@ast3663 no, this is a different vehicle, seen parked next to the famous BAR sign

[@JolynBowler]

Terrific tour. Thanx Adam and the Tested Team. 💙🌻💙

[@f1matt]

Love seeing the raw sprues on the underside

[@ezioauditoredafirenze8352]

It's savage time!

[@iamKORHAL]

I'm hoping Hacksmith gets to visit this too or already have

[@samfromportadown]

Hacksmith built one that actually worked. Although they switched out the legs for a tracked base from a skid steer.

[@EdwardandJessicaMiller]

See this would be a great application on a farm or construction site.

[@Concreteowl]

This stuff should be in a museum.

[@Thomas_Esson]

Lots of incredible film artifacts like this are in museums, in a large part thanks to private collectors. But there aren't enough presently to accept (let alone display) everything, and the market continues to drive new discoveries. If you'd like to see more in museums (as would I), your best method of influencing that is to frequently visit current museum collections and encourage others to do so. In my experience over the years, I've found prop and costume exhibits to be rarely swarming with visitors to the same degree as more mainstream fine art.

[@TheDevilWAH]

I think ed-209 RoboCop is also I the same family as the power loader. With the sounds, moment and stomping.

[@JGreen-le8xx]

That is the biggest Black & Decker adjustable wrench I have ever seen...

[@MasterMayhem78]

I’ve been totally in the Alien zone lately. Just watched Romulus the other day, great movie. Just started Alien Isolation. The timing on this video is perfect 👍🏻

[@nickfossett9752]

So disappointed to learn you were in England, and I didn't get the chance to shake your hand and thank you for the magic you gave us

[@Dummatzen]

I hears somewhere that the sound of the foot of the loader is a stapler.

[@Uubier]

Lol i can confirm that mobile contraption i did think drove the other way, but when i looked at the glass end a little longer i realized i had it backwards and that the glass is slightly pushed out on the high side so an operator can lean "out" and be able to see more directly down infront of them to either observe something or view and obstacle

[@onedaystudios1]

In 1990 I was lucky enough to work with Ron Cobb on 'Garbo', the only film he directed. He designed the titular robot garbage truck, and it was built in Melbourne. I can't help but wonder if it's still out there somewhere!

[@TheJudge_GER]

8:12 although not "original", I know that there is one full size in Cambridge, ON, Canada @hacksmith :)

[@Tula-cs1ef]

I love these videos where you can't tell if Adam is feeling out because he's a massive nerd or because he's admiring the work of another craftsman

[@garym9023]

I know Adam is a huge fan of the original Alien movie. I wonder if he has ever experienced the video game Alien Isolation. As a hardcore fan of the first movie myself I cannot express how much this game captured the aesthetics of the original film. As well as how good the story was. I know he's probably busy with other priorities but I think he should DEFINITELY experience it.

[@minnesotajones261]

Just looking around, I see Chucky, a pumpkin from Halloween III (?), and Belloq's ceremonial staff from Raiders!

[@SamKimpton]

AS soon as I saw that model, I was like, "That's a Ron Cobb design for sure".

[@malaudisa]

The craftsman is the one who builds models; the artist is the one who conceives them, draws them, and then builds them.

[@securityrobot]

You’ve just described the late Bill Pearson, he’s one example that had combined both of those attributes. There are many more I could list.

[@starhawke380]

Adam needs to go visit the Hacksmith and drive the PowerLoader they built.

[@EdwardandJessicaMiller]

The power loader is such an awesome piece of machinery that I’m surprised Caterpillar Inc. never actually put them into production, even if only the top half as an add-on to one of their backhoes or tractors.

[@johnDingoFoxVelocity]

And yes there is a full sized power loader sitting at the science fiction museum in seattle washington

[@Thomas_Esson]

It's currently sitting at MoPop, or it was at one time? Another commenter seemed to suggest that was many years ago, and I never saw it in my frequent mid-2010s visits. But I'd love to know if it's back.

[@johnDingoFoxVelocity]

@@Thomas_Esson its been there since I didn't think it left the sci-fi museum there

[@Thomas_Esson]

​@@johnDingoFoxVelocity I guess the year of your last reference point is the question; I spent many hours there between 2014 and 2019, and never saw it on display.

[@j.w.r3730]

I remember when the US Navy supposedly took a real hard look at producing a real loader for Aircraft Carrier use after seeing the movie. They deemed it impractical on a carrier because it could be unbalanced in a tipping event of the deck. Or the damage it could do if it fell into one of the elevators,say on top of a fighter or a helicopter. I was in South Florida when there was a radio station claimed somebody had reported seeing being tested it in a road construction location. And had it in Miami off of I95 and was lifting drain pipes and such according to a witness claim. And of course, it was supposed to be all hush hush,lol...