Alien Covenant - Lifter
Director: Ridley Scott
Production Designer: Chris Seagers
VFX Supervisor: Charlie Henley
While developing the two small shuttles, Chris Seagers and I settled on the idea that both craft would have shared components. The VTOL thrusters and main engines are nearly identical, by design. This modular idea is reflected in much of the human technology. However the two shuttles needed to remain visually distinct from one another.
From the start, the Lifter was conceived as a flying cargo platform, with a crane and a small pressurized cabin. It went through many changes in terms of size and proportion, but kept its basic identity throughout. I did a version of the interior cab; the final was developed in the art dept. as they were planning the full sized cab and deck.
A final detail pass merged many elements created for the set build and many additional details into a definitive version developed for MPC after production wrapped.
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Lifter - very early version - it had 2 cranes for a brief time
Lifter - early version - a construction vehicle on top shown for scale
Lifter - early version - crane articulation and ramp
Lifter - early version - crane articulation and ramp
Lifter - interior cab concept - the final was developed by the art department
Lifter - interior cab concept - the final was developed by the art department
Lifter - interior cab concept - the final was developed by the art department
Lifter - an early pass at belly details - the platform was narrower at this stage
Lifter - an early pass at belly details - the platform was narrower at this stage
Lifter - final concept - underside details with places for the alien to hide
Lifter - final concept with additional deck details
Lifter - final concept with additional deck details
Lifter - final concept - with elements created for the full sized set
Lifter - final concept - with elements created for the full sized set
Lifter - final concept - underbelly
Lifter - final concept - underbelly - an alien stowaway seems to have hitched a ride
Lifter - final concept - underbelly
Lifter - final concept - merging the full sized set with the overall ship
Lifter - final concept - the crane head built by the art department merged into the overall ship