[Seph]

Hey there... Im putting together a cosplay and I had two questions pertaining to the rules and regulations of cosplay at the con...

Im putting together a "whiplash(iron man)" cosplay....

something like this

http://farm5.static....820ff5e2f_o.jpg

I have two questions on this...

Quote

"Extends more than six inches (6”) from your body in any direction. If you have a long tail, for example, it is acceptable if you hold it against your body, but unacceptable if you let it drag behind."

Quote

Is greater than your height in length when broken down.
~ Props must be approximately your height or less in length. (If you are under four feet (4’) tall, your prop may be up to four feet (4’) long.)

I wanted to use rope lights as shown in the linked image...
so how long would I be able to have rope lights? and I would assume it would be measured from the hand pieces? because I would like to have it extended to the back piece as shown here

http://www.shockya.c...ash_kickass.jpg


I understand that dragging around long rope would trip a lot of people, I would just like them as long as I can have them that fits within the rules..


and my second question

Quote

Has Live Steel. (Any object crafted from metal with a blade or pointed edge, sharp or blunt.)

In the original image I linked, the cosplay has flex conduit from the bottom of the chest piece to the sides of this belt...
would i "NOT" be able to do the same as it is steal?

Let me know, and thanks

-Seph

[KungPowKirby]

Your first link doesnt work. Also

[Seph]

KungPowKirby, on 21 January 2011 - 02:57 PM, said:

Your first link doesnt work. Also

i worked for me on my pc and cell phone....
maybe it doesnt work for you because you are from Des Moines, IA

[KungPowKirby]

Maybe. But I cant help if i dont know what your talking about.

[Millions_Knives]

i dont see anything wrong with this costume
if you can unplug the lights at the hands (a good plan any way as far as wiring)
they would be a prop
and will fall easily into those rules (as long as your not whipping them about)
just let them hang out for pics

[keiichi969]

as far as live steel goes:

In the prop business, we define live steel as anything made out of metal, that can wound/maim/kill/be-used-as-a-weapon. The con takes it a bit farther in scope I believe.


I'm not staff, so I can't tell you the steel conduit is fine, but it could be a bit heavy. Maybe spray paint some plastic conduit metallic color?




For the whips, perhaps having a length of black velcro attached to the handles, so you can loop them up and they'll stay secured? then when you want to display them, you can just fold the velcro around itself on the handle.


The bigger challenge would be how to power those things. You'll need a decent sized battery pack and some sort of inverter to power them. Your guy in the pic seems to have all that in a backpack. Not sure on the con rules on that, but again think weight.

[Seph]

Millions_Knives, on 21 January 2011 - 04:24 PM, said:

i dont see anything wrong with this costume
if you can unplug the lights at the hands (a good plan any way as far as wiring)
they would be a prop
and will fall easily into those rules (as long as your not whipping them about)
just let them hang out for pics

That was my idea as well.. to have them unplug at the handles

keiichi969, on 21 January 2011 - 04:40 PM, said:

The bigger challenge would be how to power those things. You'll need a decent sized battery pack and some sort of inverter to power them. Your guy in the pic seems to have all that in a backpack. Not sure on the con rules on that, but again think weight.

I work with lighting fixture designers, engineers, and electricians... trust me.. the "lighting" part of this cosplay is the easy part for me...

This post has been edited by Seph: 21 January 2011 - 04:53 PM

[Scott]

The pictures worked for me.

The bigger question here might be, how are you going to take pictures when you have stuff attached to your arms?!

I think Keiichi has a good idea with spray-painted plastic conduit. The main thing there would be a lot more maneuverability over metal, unless you can find some high quality metal ones that bend easily.

If you are really worried about the length, have the whips permanently in a shorter flowing motion like a compressed "S". So that way it would look like they are in action in a photograph, but really stationary (and short).

[Seph]

Scott, on 21 January 2011 - 06:01 PM, said:

The pictures worked for me.

The bigger question here might be, how are you going to take pictures when you have stuff attached to your arms?!

I think Keiichi has a good idea with spray-painted plastic conduit. The main thing there would be a lot more maneuverability over metal, unless you can find some high quality metal ones that bend easily.

If you are really worried about the length, have the whips permanently in a shorter flowing motion like a compressed "S". So that way it would look like they are in action in a photograph, but really stationary (and short).

well.. if you really look close at his cosplay.. his arms are not exactly heavily bound.....
im not trying to make a photo copy of his cosplay...

the only parts I would like to use from the image I posted was actually related to the two questions I originally posted...

how long can I have the rope lights..

and I use the flexible conduit..

there is actually no such thing as plastic electrical conduit.. well.. at least not to be used in actual commercial electrical use....



I was talking with a friend of mine who was interested in possibly building a cool costume for a photoshoot...
(for her. but I then decided I can make it for me as well)

By fluke I watched iron man two the next day and decided that I wanted to build a "type" of whiplash costume....

I am making my own version of whiplash which was discussed here..

http://www.acen.org/...70

so I am using the character "whiplash" from ironman as an inspiration for my own custom....

im going to make the costume and already have the harness and arc reactor.. and rope light...

I thought It would be cool to be able to wear this custom at acen...

according to acen rules posted here

http://acen.org/content/acen-rules

I see two "grey areas" im trying to clear up for my specific application. If memory serves correctly, IRT is responsible for ensuring that anyone's cosplay be under code under the acen rules..

so i posted my questions in the IRT questions forum as I would like to hear directly from IRT so that there would be no problems at acen.....

Im putting together this outfit... it would be cool if I would wear it at acen.. but it would suck if
"you cant wear this because of this "one" thing"

If i can make this outfit acen code, I will, if not, Im pretty confident I can work my inspiration to fit acens rules.... which is why I am asking before I start to finalize my base design.....

if I cant use the conduit.. i wont...
if the rope light has to be so short it will not look cool.. i wont even bring it to acen......


I need to know two things......

can I use flexible conduit.....
how long can I have the rope lights.....

[Scott]

Seph, on 21 January 2011 - 06:53 PM, said:

I need to know two things......
can I use flexible conduit.....
how long can I have the rope lights.....

Indeed.

[keiichi969]

Quote

there is actually no such thing as plastic electrical conduit.. well.. at least not to be used in actual commercial electrical use....

I don't mean to be rude, but yes, there is. I know of about a half dozen places that sell "non metallic flex conduit". Look at Carflex by Carlon, or Liquitite just two name two. And yes, they're rated as good or better than flexible metal conduit for industrial or commercial applications. Heck, you can even bury them like metal conduit.


As far as the rope lights go, from my understanding, if you break them down, the length from the handle to the tip of the whip should be at maximum, your own height when extended. Since you stated you are thinking of using a connector, you can disconnect the whips from the power source. So from the butt of the whip to the tip, it should measure your height.

And since the rope light is pretty flexible, you can coil them up and that would make them quite portable. You could even put them in the backpack with the power source to keep your hands free.


To be honest, I fail to see where the "live steel" rule plays into effect here. I mean, the conduit will be attached to the costume, right? its not like you could readily remove it and start beating someone with it. Even then, its flexible, so its not going to inflict massive damage. The live steel rule is pretty much there just to keep the Bleach LARPers coming home with their limbs still attached.


But again, that's up to the powers that be. I'm just trying to offer some alternatives and ideas that would give the same result, and possibly avoid the problems.

This post has been edited by keiichi969: 21 January 2011 - 08:49 PM

[Seph]

keiichi969, on 21 January 2011 - 08:46 PM, said:

I don't mean to be rude, but yes, there is. I know of about a half dozen places that sell "non metallic flex conduit". Look at Carflex by Carlon, or Liquitite just two name two. And yes, they're rated as good or better than flexible metal conduit for industrial or commercial applications. Heck, you can even bury them like metal conduit.


As far as the rope lights go, from my understanding, if you break them down, the length from the handle to the tip of the whip should be at maximum, your own height when extended. Since you stated you are thinking of using a connector, you can disconnect the whips from the power source. So from the butt of the whip to the tip, it should measure your height.

And since the rope light is pretty flexible, you can coil them up and that would make them quite portable. You could even put them in the backpack with the power source to keep your hands free.


To be honest, I fail to see where the "live steel" rule plays into effect here. I mean, the conduit will be attached to the costume, right? its not like you could readily remove it and start beating someone with it. Even then, its flexible, so its not going to inflict massive damage. The live steel rule is pretty much there just to keep the Bleach LARPers coming home with their limbs still attached.


But again, that's up to the powers that be. I'm just trying to offer some alternatives and ideas that would give the same result, and possibly avoid the problems.

and also

Quote

Has Live Steel. (Any object crafted from metal with a blade or pointed edge, sharp or blunt.)

I understand there point as to carrying around possible shanks and what not.. but If you really think about it a belt buckle is "live steel"
but as i said.. i just want to make sure..

and thinking on it more, I dont even think that conduit would match my harness in the first place...


that exactly my point....

Quote

"Extends more than six inches (6”) from your body in any direction. If you have a long tail, for example, it is acceptable if you hold it against your body, but unacceptable if you let it drag behind."

so basically.. as long as I dont drag the rope around(which I wouldnt).. and as long as it is under my height(5 7" not that I would have it that long anyways) I should be ok.....
but as i said.. i want to make sure I am not misinterpreting the rule...

[keiichi969]

Quote

I understand there point as to carrying around possible shanks and what not.. but If you really think about it a belt buckle is "live steel"

How is a belt buckle "live steel"?

[TheRabbi]

Sorry it's taken me so long to get to this.

We count costuming as something that is attached to your body or clothing. We count props as things that you hold or holster. If the whips are attached to a harness like in your second picture, they will be counted as costuming, which means they must always stay within 6 inches of your body. If the whips are hand-held instead, they fall under the "your height" rule.

For the most part, I don't see anything in that costume that counts as live steel. Live steel has points or blade-like edges (dull or sharp). (As a note: most belt buckles don't count for this, but I'm sure you could come up with one that does.)

Above all, if you do decide to do this costume, please be safe with it. Having whips and other really long props makes for a really easy way to trip or hurt other congoers, and I really don't want to see your weekend ruined by something stupid like that.

[Cricket]

I'm going to agree with Rabbi here, As long as you keep the light/whips contained so they are not dragging behind you (exceptions made for photoshoots and common sense(It's a super power ya know!))

If you ever question for steel that is not in the shape of a weapon swing by the pen (IRT HQ) and we'll take a look at it and give you a final yes or no, as pictures and descriptions sometimes fail to translate over the net and what we could claim is perfectly fine on a picture or description (or vice versa) may not stand true come con time.

For instance there is a link cosplayer that has the megaton hammer. while it's ALL steel (75lbs infact) and has no sharp edges, it's too heavy to be used as a weapon, but we ask him to only bring it to photoshoots because it's still a giant hammer.


Note: I'm going to talk to someone about the wording in the live steel section as it's phrased to also include blunt objects, but i believe (and i could be mistaken) it's SHOULD read "Has Live Steel. (Any object crafted from metal with a blade or pointed edge regardless of being sharp or blunt.)" oh punctuation, the difference between I helped my uncle Jack, off a horse and...yeh.

[TheRabbi]

Cricket, on 13 February 2011 - 02:39 PM, said:

Note: I'm going to talk to someone about the wording in the live steel section as it's phrased to also include blunt objects, but i believe (and i could be mistaken) it's SHOULD read "Has Live Steel. (Any object crafted from metal with a blade or pointed edge regardless of being sharp or blunt.)"

The Rules said:

Has Live Steel. (Any object crafted from metal with a blade or pointed edge, sharp or blunt.)

I could be biased, but I don't see a difference in meaning or another possible interpretation here. Congoers, is this phrasing unclear?

[KungPowKirby]

Hmm while the first one is fairly clear, the second one is more so. It would be harder to be confused. Clarification can always be a good thing imo.

[Cricket]

Just saying i personally think the comma after pointed edge could be seen as to include blunt metal objects like a staff, bat or man sized spork.