So I don't do a ton of conventions (like 2 or 3 a year). However what I see frightens me! Thanks to a few jerks, the 'prop weapons' game is on the brink of collapse. Seems all that is 100% allowable anymore is 'foam' props.

"Is that some kind of joke?"
"I wish it were"

At the latest event I attended, my FLAMETHROWER was flagged. I was warned by local con-goers (obi wan and seven) that anything metal or airsoft was out, so I thought "i'll bring the flame unit". Not good enough apparently!

I had 2 event staff members turning it upside down and talking to each other and hashing it out, then THEY CALLED IN BACKUP. They could not rule it as a 'safe' "weapon". A flamethrower, guys!. The guy told me it looked awfully realistic. He said he wasn't sure because 'he' would allow it, but he would not guarantee I wouldn't get stopped by another employee and forced to leave. MY FLAMETHROWER was 'too realistic'. As if it might THROW FLAMES?!?!

Suffice to say, my wife's "3rd string" M39 was used (the broken one that was obviously broken and hollow. It had an in tact handle so it worked for us when holstered).

Obiwan Kowalski had a nice foam pulse rifle he slapped together for his daughters. This is what he was allowed to bring and this was the most advance weaponry at the con. He had a damn good point when he said "its all about the paint, right?". Yes it is. This can work.

I tell you, we live in a world where the "nice things" will be relegated to 'wall hangers'. While unfortunate, I am not one to take these challenges lying down. I intend to build a new arsenal of FOAM PROPS! (Just in time too... I was out of things to build )

Until I get my builds under way, please if anyone has some foam stuff they built, please do post it and show it off. Foam is the future (apparently)!

I think it would be awesome to have 3:4 scale foam Pulse Rifle for the youngins... My daughter would love one:

_________________

Did someone say tiny foam pulse rifles? Yes, please!

_________________
"I'm working on it ... "

I made a foam smartgun and and harness with working arm for my son.






Us at a convention yesterday with the south west colonial marines!

_________________
Happy Happy, Joy Joy

Holy cow Stimpy! I saw this on facebook when you posted, but I didn't realize it was foam. You have any progress pics of the build? I'd like to see a full thread on that sucker.

Thanks bigbisont! Yes the smartgun is nearly all eva foam. So is the chest plate and shoulder lamp box. I do have pics of the build and i do intend to make a build thread when i have the time in the near future!

_________________
Happy Happy, Joy Joy

What about Nerf guns and mods? Are these going to be out for conventions as well?

Get involved with your local conventions. It's been a mixed bag here, but we have some conventions that are willing to develop reasonable policies and consistent enforcement.

_________________
Sci-Firepower Prop Collection:
https://www.facebook.com/scifirepower/

They give me a little grief But when I show them they are usually fine.

_________________
The impossible takes a while longer and goes over budget too...

This thread is gonna rule!

Already some great submissions

_________________
Lt. Melissa L. Klassen, ALG
AL Colonial Admin. - Executive Officer (XO) -- 2021-2022
RCCM | Royal Canadian Colonial Marines - Commanding Officer (CO) -- 2021-2022

Read the AL Charter Rules & Regulations: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1i3gd9QUyIqI_6rfk8kpxspbKU-JT4MBAjLPxfCkvGJ8

Awesome pictures.

Like you said. Know the leadership. If they know you, the staff knows you, and they know you are there to not cause trouble and make things more enjoyable for everyone, they will not hassle you as much.

_________________
The impossible takes a while longer and goes over budget too...

my next project is a foam pulse rifle. I'll get some pics up once its started. all i had at that last con were some grenades. I figured even a motion tracker would probably get flagged. theres no reason. there havnt even been any problems at con. and that last one was only the second one theyve done.

This makes me glad I don't go to a lot of conventions.

_________________
"Awww, someone tell me that's a boot!

It's a boot!"

III drops

All awesome foam builds! And I’m not much of a foam guy. Yeah conventions are really starting to suck..

We're having similar problems here in the UK, things aren't as bad YET, but are starting to get that way.

So far it only seems to be the larger cons where they are clamping down on prop weapons. Though the smaller cons are asking to check to make sure they're replicas not real (which is fair enough).

I've managed to avoid any problems thus far as I only troop as part of a club at the bigger cons and the rules regarding invited costumers are more lax than people who are paying customers. But I fear it may only be a matter of time before they start getting funny about invited clubs too!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pcd_ZM9zvlU


So today I was looking for some full size pulse rifle blueprints to print out. After the last con and not being able to bring my Snow Wolf, and seeing some of the other foam rifles on here Ive decided foam is gonna be the safest way to go. Well I found some new plans on Evil Teds website. They are 5 dollars, are a PDF and print on 13 standard printer pages and they also include 24x 36 I believe. I got some heavy cardstock from wallyworld. Of course the accuracy isnt going to be perfect just by going with the plans but its foam so it can all be adjusted. Its easy to see that a few copyright precautions were taken.) This will really speed up a last minute foam build. I may even print on some high gloss paper and have it bound, just to add to my ALIENS collection.

So a full year with not being able to carry her pistol at conventions, I finally started a foam Smith and Wesson model 39 for my wife.

To start, I made a 1:1 template. Feel free to download yourself if you want to make one!


I confirmed the size against a Matsuo resin one (which is a hair undersized due to the natural shrinking that occurs from casting), and some "real" faux ivory grips (seen in the pic on top of the printed 'pdf' file).

Considering this 'gun' will spend most of its time in the holster, I will be using the grips on the foam! Should look darn decent when holstered.


Here I drew it all out on to some floor matt foam and got to cutting. I decided I would add the trigger, sights, and hammer seperate, so I ended up simplifying the shape a bit and not cutting those out.


Updates to follow...

alright I think I am done. I made 2. One is pure foam, but the other I tried to have some fun with and "jazz up" with plastic accents.

The process:
-Cut super rough shape
-Use angle grinder with fine grit sanding pad to round off rough edges (it sands AND melts from the high RPMs)
-Use head gun to smooth out the sanded edges
-Use thinner foam to cut out detail shapes (glue and heat as needed)
-cut out and glue whatever hard pieces I can find (in this case, airsoft parts and actual M39 grips!)

In the pic on the right here you see where I used PVC pipe to make the trigger guard. I didn't want these to be foam because I didn't want them to squish inside the holster. It worked out pretty well and sturdy I think.


Here is a good look at the non-foam parts I imported (slide release latch, slide catch, mag release button, actual M39 grips)


Here is a good look at why you shouldnt glue aluminum foil on to foam! (Didnt start out that wrinkled...) But also a good look at a 'safe' orange barrel after I drilled a hole out and stuffed it in there.


Here are my 3 model 39s (My "Matsuo", my "hero foam" [with fancy plastic parts], and my "stunt foam" which is pure foam)
I tell you, between the 3 we better have at least one "convention-safe" pistol!

Dang, nice work Terran!

_________________
"Awww, someone tell me that's a boot!

It's a boot!"

III drops

Nice work! Always great to have "con safe" props.

_________________
Sgt. Frank Peters 'reload' Smartgun Operator
A03/TQ3.0.12136E1 "It will be no picknick!"
AL Colonial Admin. - Sergeant at Arms (SgtA) -- 2020-2022
GERCM - Executive Officer (XO)
UKCM Foreign Legion: The Deviant Dragoons

I wanted to build a full on Colonial Marine Armor and cammies set (albeit Army equivalent, guess why?) but the only places that I would wear it is conventions, as the armor wouldn't survive airsoft but I know quite a few staff members of the local cons’, and they would defecate a brick if someone came in with a Pop-Tart shaped like a gun. Might just make a set without the body armor, just cammies, helmet and headset.

It would be awesome if a bunch of hardcore vets would put together a scifi con, I bet that would be the best con ever! They’d probably kick the mockups out that didn't look REAL ENOUGH!

Well here we are at con season. Time to get going on that foam pulse rifle that I never worked on..

Less than 2 weeks to go!

Here is my new foam progress


DOH! no luck with picture hosting