Ridley Scott's original classic Alien recently turned 34 years old, and to mark the occasion we want to share this excellent bit of news: model & collectible company Round 2 has faithfully reproduced MPC's 9” Alien model kit, which was first produced at the time of the film's release in 1979. Along with the coveted Kenner 18” Alien figure and other movie tie-ins from that year (most of which were pulled rather quickly off the market), the MPC kit is remembered fondly by many genre fans and builders, has been a sought-after treasure for collectors ever since.
Jeff Saylor at Figures.com posted several amazing images of Round 2's reproduction, which not only recreates MPC's original moldings, which AMT/Ertl also did in the late '90s, but also restores the vintage box art and hand-drawn instruction sheets from 34 years ago.
While it's not as detailed as many modern vinyl kits, it does have nice articulation (the arms and head move; the infamous inner jaw is retractable) and it's a fairly easy build (Skill Level 2, age 10+), with only seven steps to complete. It even includes a clear head dome, which with some care can be painted to be partially translucent like H.R. Giger's movie monster itself.
Round 2 will release the Alien kit later this month. Drop by their site for updates, and be sure to check out Jeff's photo gallery at Figures.com.