Awhile back, I started up a topic asking about compatible figure parts to Playmates. Among these discussions I found out Kenner's Aliens line was about the right height, the figures themselves based on a scrapped cartoon based on one of my favourite films.
My plan? Get the figures, and repaint them in Starfleet colours based on their role on board the Sulaco in the film. Ripley, mission specialist and cargo mover, Drake, security, Bishop, science officer, Hicks, second to Apone (when Gorman's out of the way) etc. The plan was to make them similar to the Starfleet guys in "The Siege of AR-558", while keeping each marines personal look and style from the original figure at the same time.
It took awhile to get it of the ground, but I've started and completed the first "wave" of my marines, with at least one more to come (I need Vasquez, the made up O'Malley, and Apone made officially by Kenner, and I'm working on the other four named marines with other figures), and along the way I've expanded the line-up.
Without further ado, the crew of the USS Sulaco!
Commander Hicks
Rank: Commander
Assignment: USS Sulaco
Duty assignment: Commander of USS Sulaco, second in command to Captain Apone.
Notes: Gained multiple battlefield promotions. Veteran of the Cardassian Border war, the Klingon war (2372-73), the Dominion war, and multiple skirmishes. Known to sleep through combat drops. Proficient in the use of many regulation and non regulation Starfleet weapons, in particular standard pulse rifles, portable photon torpedo launchers, type 2 and 3 phaser rifles, and an antique pump action shotgun.
Lieutenant Commander Hudson
Rank: Lieutenant Commander
Assignment: USS Sulaco
Duty assignment: Chief of Operations
Notes: Veteran of the Cardassian border wars, the Klingon war (2372-73), and Dominion war, as well as many small skirmishes. Lost lower right arm on stardate 51149.5, suitable replacement was made from available parts which Hudson refuses to remove for artificial replacement. Reprimanded for multiple acts of insubordination to senior officers. Expert with computer hacking.
Lieutenant Commander Ferro
Rank: Lieutenant Commander
Assignment: USS Sulaco, IRS Thea
Duty assignment: Pilot
Notes: Veteran of the Cardassian border wars, the Klingon war (2372-73), the Dominion war, and multiple skirmishes. One of three people trained to pilot stolen Romulan shuttle IRS Thea. Expert Pilot.
Ferro without jacket
Lieutenant Drake
Rank: Lieutenant
Assignment: USS Sulaco
Duty assignment: Chief of security, smart gunner
Notes: Veteran of Cardassian Border wars (as a civilian miner), the Klingon war (2372-73), Dominion war, and multiple skirmishes. Certified driver of marine vehicle Stinger X-37. One of only five Starfleet officers fully trained to use experimental “smart gun” based on scrapped TR-116 rifle research and development plans.
Lieutenant Dietrich
Rank: Lieutenant Commander
Assignment: USS Sulaco
Duty assignment: Chief medical officer
Notes: Veteran of the Cardassian border wars, the Klingon war (2372-73), the Dominion war, and multiple skirmishes. Expert with battlefield medicine and triage. Trained under Dr Julian Bashir on Deep Space Nine.
Lieutenant Gorman
Rank: Lieutenant
Assignment: USS Sulaco
Duty assignment: Mission observer and field commander
Notes: Attached to USS Sulaco to monitor and observe marines by Starfleet. One year out of the academy, he gained a field promotion on stardate 51149.5. Inexperienced, the Dominion War is the first major combat he has served in and is held in low regard by his fellow marines for this.
Lieutenant Commander Bishop
Rank: Lieutenant commander
Assignment: USS Sulaco
Duty assignment: Science officer
Notes: Specialises in the sciences and serves as a reserve medic and engineer for Lieutenant's Dietrich and Crowe. One of five Maddox class androids reverse engineered from Soong type android Lore. Damaged by plasma explosion on stardate 51149.5. As a result of battlefield repairs both Lance and Henriksen Bishop are visually distinctive to other Maddox class androids.
Lieutenant Ripley
Rank: Lieutenant
Assignment: USS Sulaco
Duty assignment: Mission specialist
Notes: Has expert knowledge on Xenomorph species. Class 2 licence for Power Loader. Expert with flame throwers. Promoted to Lieutenant for acts of valour at Archeron (LV-426).
And, of course, a group shot:
Continued after this short break