The discussion of the Alien series of films and the props used in them is the aim, but if it's got Big Bugs and Big Guns, then they are welcome too!





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 Post subject: Cons and Security
PostPosted: Sat Feb 16, 2019 10:38 pm 

Service Number: A05/TQ2.0.32141E1
Country: United States
There have been several security incidents at cons through out the united states either where security did not secure a weapon, or a loaded weapon was allowed into the convention area and an unstable person was able to cause some havoc.

As such many cons are now severely restricting what you can do and how you can display your weapons if not out right banning them all together.

The best thing to do is to let the event organizers know what you are bringing and make sure that security gets briefed ahead of time to ensure that you can get past security without issues and to minimize any extra needed safe guards the venue requires you to do.

Often times security is not the best as resources are stretched thin especially now when police and EMS are being shot at by random people and no one wants the job as it is a very low paying job. There are national shortages of law enforcement and fire fighting personal as we speak. The good folks are retiring early and leaving the profession with their skin intact so to speak, so a lot of good talent is literally disappearing from our men in uniform. Missing this talent means that folks that could easily identify some of these items are not staffing security and it is human nature to fear that which is not known. Education and clarification are sometimes the best way to minimize con stress and issues for all involved.

A while back I typed this up to help the local fanboy folks in security know what they would be seeing with our
group when we had the aliens case reunion:
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This is Gabe and we talked briefly on Thursday afternoon. I am a member of Alienslegacy.com and I was just wanting to give your group a heads up on the props you would be seeing from our group and what to expect. This may help you clear folks faster through your security check point and know what to look for.

As you stated it is mister David Heynen's event so he is the master of it all. Whatever he says we go with.

The m56 smart gun
https://www.hollywood-collectibles.com/ ... ctid=16582
(this site has some good pictures of what a good replica would look like)
https://www.therpf.com/showthread.php?t=218089
(this guy has about 17k tied up in an accurate build out)

The m56 smartgun is a modified German MG-42 with motorcycle parts and a camera for target tracking/correction. There are resin castings, hybrid metal/resin kits, full metal kits that are non-functional, and the fanatical demilled screen accurate replicas. A more common one is the modified airsoft unit. This work in tandom on their mods with a steadicam vest rig for mounting and stability.

M41A pulse rifle
https://www.hollywood-collectibles.com/ ... 273&page=1
https://www.evike.com/products/39362/


The Pulse rifle initially drafted by James Cameron was set to be an MP5 with a shroud and a 12 gauge shotgun. However, he ended up going with a thompson because of the throatier sound. Most pieces now are either full on cast resin, or airsoft thompson rifles with a shroud and a faux shotgun, though some enthusiasts hack the shroud and fit an airsoft shotgun in there. There are 1 or two full on fully functional weapon replicas in existence that you can find videos of on youtube. Evike.com sells a matrix pulse rifle with the snow wolfe electronics setup built-in. There are cast, moulded resin pieces and fabricated metal pieces.

M240 incinerator
https://www.hollywood-collectibles.com/ ... 273&page=1

The M 240 is a modified M16 outfittied with parts to function as a flame thrower. Most replicas are either full on cast resin sets or pieced together resin and metal parts. Many folks just make their own.

The motion tracker
http://www.virtualfrontiers.co.uk/motion%20tracker.htm
https://www.hollywood-collectibles.com/ ... ctid=16584

This unit is a heavily modified kanco 423 impact drill with parts and pieces for aesthetics and functionality. completely harmless.

These are the premier costume makers for this genre section:
http://www.chefscreations.co.uk/
http://www.nickatronprops.com/
http://goldenarmor.com/
http://spatcave.com/

I hope this helps you.
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Feel free to make it your own, and please feel free to correct me in anything that might be inaccurate. I was but a baby when the film came out so a lot of the finer details I am literally too young to know first hand. Saying that I would stress it is important to learn as much as we can from the older members while we still have access to their vast stores of information and knowledge.

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


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 Post subject: Re: Cons and Security
PostPosted: Sun Feb 17, 2019 5:29 pm 
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Location: Hamburg
Service Number: A03/TQ3.0.12136E1
Country: Germany
I would stress the material used for these props.
They can't be made to fire. As for AirSoft what has been done to disable them and explain this to security.


On a side note:
There are also a few "Con knifes" that pass security checks.
http://www.nickatronprops.com/ Nick stoped doing USCM props on a regular basis as far as I know.
http://goldenarmor.com/ Ahem. If you check the comments on that seller you may want to remove the link.

One could also add:
https://www.alchemyarms.com

_________________
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


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PostPosted: Sun Feb 17, 2019 6:31 pm 
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Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Service Number: A01/TQ2.0.42137E1
Country: United States
Most local conventions are volunteer run, which gives you the opportunity to get involved in setting policy. I've submitted policy suggestions to my local cons that have been well-received and allow for trooping with the props we love.

I think it's important to stress when discussing this policy the difference between REAL weapons and PROP weapons.

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


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 Post subject: Re:
PostPosted: Mon Feb 18, 2019 12:10 am 

Service Number: A05/TQ2.0.32141E1
Country: United States
Erik_MAA wrote:
Most local conventions are volunteer run, which gives you the opportunity to get involved in setting policy. I've submitted policy suggestions to my local cons that have been well-received and allow for trooping with the props we love.

I think it's important to stress when discussing this policy the difference between REAL weapons and PROP weapons.


Exactly education is key. too many folks don't even know what a prop is. With the rise of new conventions all over, we have to be part of the solution, not the problem.

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