Under increasing economic pressure, the major world governments have announced that the extra-terrestrial military services are to be privatised. As such the Yutani mining corporation will go into partnership with long time military suppliers, Weyland Propulsion Laboratories, to form the Weyland-Yutani Corporation. Weyland-Yutani will take over running of the Colonial Marines, weapons and vehicle development, and xenological research studies. The primary role will be to defend humans working outside the boundaries of Earth.
One of the fundamental changes for Bella and Ella is that they are now contractors. Base pay will now be supplemented by campaign allowances for those fighting in conflict zones, and retrieval bonuses calculated for squads that preserve or regain significant Yutani assets. Additional funding and slashing of bureaucratic channels means Bella and Ella have more freedom to do what they want to the truck.
To begin with, the girls have decided to add some firepower. They are going to mount a Weyland smart gun on the cabin roof for the passenger to operate with a joystick and monitor. The basis for the gun is a UA571 sentry unit from a 1:10 scale NECA Aliens accessories pack. I think it works as an upscaled larger calibre vehicle-mounted unit.
The sentry gun is a bit rough up close. The plastic is a poor quality casting in brittle material with warping and sink marks largely hidden by the weathered olive paint job. The muzzle snapped off while I had it stored, so I replaced it with aluminium tubing and filed flat as many surfaces as I could. Primer revealed a major hole where filler was required. I will have to retouch some of the coloured details, so while I was there I replaced the black camera lens with clear plastic.
I used some of the other accessories from the NECA pack to detail the operator station and plumb in the cabling. A controller joystick was found from a pistol grip leftover in a Gundam pack. With leftover personal weapons in the NECA pack, the girls commandeered the pump-action shotgun for themselves.
I had assumed from the movie that the guns used in Aliens were energy weapons given the term ‘pulse rifle’ and the use of the power unit attached to the UA571 sentry guns in the second photo. However the Aliens Wikipedia indicates they fire caseless projectiles and the round drum on the side is a magazine. Hence access is required to change the magazine, and so the girls have added an access hatch which provides some protection.
The cabin will later be protected with armoured panels and glass, but that is coming up later.
