Fans in bidding war for movie monster

Oct 30 2009 by Stuart Wilson

Bidding war for movie monster

A FILM buff has built his own life-sized monster.

Retired Stephen Crawford spent 18 months crafting a replica of the Predator for his living room.

Now he’s sparked a bidding war around the globe as fellow fans try to buy his creation.

Stephen, of Annbank, insisted: “I’m just a science fiction fan who’s always been interested in art.

“This is a hobby to me and I’m not in it to sell things and make money.

“But I’m getting bids from Predator fans in California and Texas who want replicas of the spear and head.

“There’s internet forums with thousands of members who buy and sell Predator stuff from each other – it’s unbelievable.”

Stephen’s life-size hobby began five years ago when he constructed a near 7ft Terminator.

It now stands guard in his daughter’s bedroom and he plans to complete the set with a model Alien next year.

Stephen, 52, revealed: “I made Predator out of a substance called Jesmonite, which is very like fibre glass.

“All in all, I probably spent £1000 doing it and really enjoyed it.

“When I built Terminator, it ended up at the science fiction convention at the SECC.

“I’m sure Predator will prove equally as popular, especially with the new Predator 3 film coming out next year.”