Alien / Nostromo Uniforms

[joberg]

Yes, it does. As you know the costume designer will exaggerate the wear & tear for the camera/lighting. Always the same spots being used-up: pockets, sleeves, collar.

 

[ID10T]

This day is turning into six monkeys humping a football, but maybe I'll have time to further "ruin" my patches later...

 

[Collektor]

Kinda looks like the Polo one I found but with a lining. Polo was a single layer of cotton- very light but decent overall. Collar probably similar to the Alpha.

Adam still has it (Guinea pig) so I can’t post pictures of it to compare.

Polo gets ahold of some interesting patterns from time to time. Years ago I snagged a Polo leather jacket, that was, aside from the color and level of distressing, a dead ringer for Snake Plissken's EFNY jacket, all the details were spot on, down to the welted button hole on the lapel.

 

[ID10T]

I’d like to see that, maybe try to find one too!

 

[Mottrex]

In other news we found ourselves in Barcelona and saw this..

What's that...

There's also an Alien museo you say five minutes from our hotel!

 

[Collektor]

I’d like to see that, maybe try to find one too!

Not to derail this thread, so only a couple pics.
I snagged it of Ebay in 2017 for a low price because there's an oval spot on the back of the collar where the dye didn't take (factory defect I'm guessing) and the seller had lowered the price. Considering how thrashed Plissken's jacket is, no little missing dye spot was gonna deter me from a 36 year quest to find that jacket. I've owned two other versions, one from Magnoli, and one I had custom made from Johnson's Leathers in SF from photos of an original 1930's horsehide in the same pattern, and of the three, this one was the most accurate in terms of cut and fit. If they'd made this in the same leather as the Bond Skyfall Levi's Menlo jacket it would be the perfect repro in my book.

Edit: Forgot to add, I was actually looking for The Governor's leather shirt jacket from TWD season 4, which I'd heard was a Polo jacket, and this came up in the 'similar items' list.

 

[djsuen]

In other news we found ourselves in Barcelona and saw this.. View attachment 1805137


What's that...

There's also an Alien museo you say five minutes from our hotel!

You can request a visit in the Alien Museum here info@museoalien.com
I am the owner

 

[Mottrex]

You can request a visit in the Alien Museum here info@museoalien.com
I am the owner

Yes we met last month, I was the one with a long beard and almost tripped over lol.
Can't wait for the Expansions!
And anyone wanting to visit won't be disappointed it's Brilliant!!

 

[JrnymanProtectr]

Does anyone have a spare 3in or 4in wide dark green or black Weyland-Yutani wing patch for a flight suit? I’m in Los Angeles and mistakenly ordered one that’s 5in wide. I’m looking to snag it and sew it before next weekend (Monsterpalooza). PM me if so! Thanks!

 

[Jason1428]

Got the jacket in today, so on to the comparison. It should be noted my genuine MK3 was bought used and came with a lot of natural wear and distressing.

At a glance or to the uninitiated, it would appear as the same jacket, but looking closer this is what is present/not present on the Alpha vs the MK3:
*No shoulder epaulets.
*Zipper runs fully from the bottom hem to the tips of the collar.
*Zipper tape is not free floating on the last few inches as it is on the MK3.
*Zipper is a dual zip allowing it to be unzipped from the bottom up, but it is not an escape zipper.
*YKK metal zippers, brass.
*Collar shape is smaller and not correct.
*Missing the vertical stitch pleat below the chest pockets visible on the MK3.
*There is no hidden hood behind the collar.
*D-Ring tab on the chest is about 2 inches lower than on the MK3.
*Wrist tabs are more pointed shape,
*The neck closure tab is longer and narrower. Retention loop under the collar for the tab is identical to the MK3.
*Small side entry pockets have been added at the waist, pocket bags are small.
*The pen holder is not padded or doubled fabric as it was on the MK3.
*Buttons are the wrong color, they are also slightly bigger and coin shaped rather than the taper on the MK3 buttons.
*No interior pockets, but neither does the MK3
*Zigzag stitching on the storm flap and under the collar, not present on the MK3.
*No seat warmer panel and loop on the interior back of waist as visible on the MK3.
*Waist adjustment is a ribbon similar to the pull ribbon found on an M-65 field jacket as opposed to paracord on the MK3.
*No underarm gusset as present on the MK3.
*Two sleeve articulations on the back of the sleeve that are not present on the MK3.
*Sleeve cuffs have gussets above the adjuster tab.
*Fabric is a 55% cotton 45% nylon ripstop, it does not feel cheap, but definitely doesn't feel as tough as the fabric on the MK3.
*No evidence of the honeycomb insulation found on the MK3 interior.
*Lighter weight, likely nowhere near as warm as the MK3.

My evaluation:
Retails on Alpha Industries for $300+shipping, on par with what I paid for my MK3 back in 2012.
A fairly decent repro considering its a mass production off the rack item.
Would need a substantial amount of work to get the collar accurate and adding the epaulets to the shoulders.
No idea how well it would take dye, but then I've heard the MK3 can be tough to dye.
The side handwarmer pockets are a nice addition, as the regular pockets are really more for storage than putting your hands in on the MK3.
After hand stitching the compression lacing on the sleeves of the MK3 because I couldn't find anyone local that would take on the job, I can say the Alpha jacket's material is likely to not be as difficult to get a needle through it.
Build and stitching quality is on par with any other Alpha Industries jacket I own and should work fine as a light to mild cold weather jacket.
The biggest plus for me, is the sizing options, as even before I chonked up in the gut, the MK3 I got (Size 7) was already a 'suck in that gut' to get it zipped.

If you're looking for screen accuracy, the one ID10T linked is a much better option if you can't find an actual MK3. If you want a jacket that has that aesthetic and is easier to size up or down and the price point is ok with you, this fits the bill.
Verdict: 3 out of 5 facehuggers

Good to read a Pros & Cons review from a member who is well Gem'ed on the MK3. Thank you. Have noticed a couple of sites selling MK3 cut style jacket. One called Uniform Bridge sell something similar & do a black or blue coulor, which look close to what the dyeing fan members where aiming for. interesting times .

 

[ID10T]

Slightly off topic, but if you like Alien, check out “Breach” with Bruce Willis.

I just learned of it and I think it is a decent movie with plenty of Alien influence.

 

[grndkntrl]

Slightly off topic, but if you like Alien, check out “Breach” with Bruce Willis.

I just learned of it and I think it is a decent movie with plenty of Alien influence.

Oh hell no!

That movie is so bad I had to stop watching it less than halfway through.

The writing is awful, the directing is awful, the acting is awful, the SFX is awful....

It completely tanked, and it's insulting to compare it to Alien!

 

[ID10T]

I think "awful" is a bit strong. Working in a video store, I have a good metric for "awful".

"Megaforce" comes to mind...

But regardless, the influence is VERY strong.