Back from NakaKon where Steam was well represented
I was pleased to see many more steampunkers at Kansas City's annual anime convention Naka-Kon. Last year there were 3 of us, there were closer to 1-2 dozen steampunk insprired outfits this year, and for a nearly exclusive anime con, this was something nice to see.
I changed my look up for this years con with a time travelling steampunk that was part homage to Alan Quartermaine. The Con proved one thing: bigger is better when you build weapons if you want the attention of con-goers, photographers and lovely steampunk women (such as the lovely Tammy above). I enjoyed myself immensely and made many good friends and contacts for future events.
The new gun I'm holding started out as a NERF Firefly Revision 8, and became what I've dubbed "Bumblebee Revision 9", it's essentially a portable cannon loosely based on a WWI water jacket cooled British machine gun in rifle form.
I added a solid maple forestock and a 40 inch 30mm barrel to the gutted NERF. It's a prop gun now and was well received by the crowds as I was constantly stopped for photos. Click on the photo above to see the gallery of photos from Naka-Kon, or this photo below to see the step by step building of the new weapon - I did not document this one as well as other guns I've done, but you'll get the general idea.
As I get some better photos of my outfit I'll post them, I didn't get any shots of myself save the one above, but the outfit was a nearly entirely "found" costume I pieced together from trips to the Salvation army. A pair of hunter green wool-blend pants from the 1950s ($5), a beautiful green diamond print dress shirt from the 1970-80s ($4) and a great pair of black oxfords with non-slip soles ($4). I already owned the brown suede vest and brown antiqued leather backpack and my jewelry and watches. It proved to be quite a hit.
Vendors were also representing the steampunk theme with many leather and watch themed booths, but I felt their prices were exorbitant. It didn't stop many young con-goers from buying leather masks, smocks, watches and jewelry.
Add into the mix that Conquest 2010 in Kansas City will be themed "Steampunks and Evil Geniuses" as well as the R.O.S.E. (Royal Order of Steampunk Enthusiasts) Steamposium in St. Louis and this season should prove quite fun for me attending these cons and showing off my winter's work in COSPLAY form.
And while I whipped this up from an old woman's belt ($2) it didn't quite work the way I wanted to and started to come apart a few times during the con, I need a slightly larger piece of leather for the next version of my $15 Time Traveler Compass/Sundial, because as you know, a time-traveling steampunk needs to set his pocket watch regardless of the millieu.
-zen
I changed my look up for this years con with a time travelling steampunk that was part homage to Alan Quartermaine. The Con proved one thing: bigger is better when you build weapons if you want the attention of con-goers, photographers and lovely steampunk women (such as the lovely Tammy above). I enjoyed myself immensely and made many good friends and contacts for future events.
The new gun I'm holding started out as a NERF Firefly Revision 8, and became what I've dubbed "Bumblebee Revision 9", it's essentially a portable cannon loosely based on a WWI water jacket cooled British machine gun in rifle form.
I added a solid maple forestock and a 40 inch 30mm barrel to the gutted NERF. It's a prop gun now and was well received by the crowds as I was constantly stopped for photos. Click on the photo above to see the gallery of photos from Naka-Kon, or this photo below to see the step by step building of the new weapon - I did not document this one as well as other guns I've done, but you'll get the general idea.
As I get some better photos of my outfit I'll post them, I didn't get any shots of myself save the one above, but the outfit was a nearly entirely "found" costume I pieced together from trips to the Salvation army. A pair of hunter green wool-blend pants from the 1950s ($5), a beautiful green diamond print dress shirt from the 1970-80s ($4) and a great pair of black oxfords with non-slip soles ($4). I already owned the brown suede vest and brown antiqued leather backpack and my jewelry and watches. It proved to be quite a hit.
Vendors were also representing the steampunk theme with many leather and watch themed booths, but I felt their prices were exorbitant. It didn't stop many young con-goers from buying leather masks, smocks, watches and jewelry.
Add into the mix that Conquest 2010 in Kansas City will be themed "Steampunks and Evil Geniuses" as well as the R.O.S.E. (Royal Order of Steampunk Enthusiasts) Steamposium in St. Louis and this season should prove quite fun for me attending these cons and showing off my winter's work in COSPLAY form.
And while I whipped this up from an old woman's belt ($2) it didn't quite work the way I wanted to and started to come apart a few times during the con, I need a slightly larger piece of leather for the next version of my $15 Time Traveler Compass/Sundial, because as you know, a time-traveling steampunk needs to set his pocket watch regardless of the millieu.
-zen