A clay original was made for the maquette, from which a plaster mould was made for a resin copy.

 

Steel legs were added, then the whole maquette was vacuum metallized to produce the shiny surface finish.

 

Tubing for the legs was satin-polished prior to fabrication.  The tubes were then jigged to produce the correct leg angles.

 

Knee joints and base plates and tubes were welded together to form the legs.

Decorative "muscles" and "veins" were added to complete the legs.

Once on site, the legs would be bolted to a top frame within the head of the Martian.  First, the decorative head sections were built up around this top frame.

The head of the Martian is comprised of the top frame and six decorative sections that bolt together.

The underside head sections were fabricated, then mechanically polished.

Installation of the sculpture was in two stages.  On 29th March 1998, the structural sections were erected.  A week later, the head sections were bolted in place.  Paving and a commemorative plaque were laid to complete installation.

 

The Crashed Pod was made from a pre- fabricated, grit-blasted cylinder, which was cut to produce an angled base. Decorative markings were polished onto the surface, and a clear anti-graffiti coating was applied.

The cylinder was filled with concrete, and lowered on to its foundation by crane.

Decorative brickwork was built up around the cylinder to complete the Crashed Pod.

The opening celebrations on the 8th April 1998 featured a light show and a contemporary version of The War of the Worlds performed by the local dramatic society.  The event also went out as a live radio broadcast.