May Hauls

[Onslaught Six]

Take pictures of that there costume. Did you do a full-on helmet or just a lame mask?

Box from Scourge containing RID Megs and Desert Ruination, as well as a bunch of crap that isn't mine so I don't care. Woo! I actually never got Megs/Gigs proper, just Devil Gigs, so it's weird having the original. He's pretty! Can't believe Scourge didn't want this, but then, I'm one of the biggest RID fans in the world. My girlfriend saw him and said, "Holy crap, that guy looks cool." And she doesn't even like TF.

[BWprowl]

Take pictures of that there costume. Did you do a full-on helmet or just a lame mask?

Full helmet, with the attachable jaw/mouthplate. The slit at the connection point of those is the only point I can actually see out of. I'll have my brother take a picture of me wearing the whole thing this weekend (I don't own a camera) and post it then. I'm pretty happy with how it all turned out! It's my first 'big' cosplay, so I'm kind of anxious (My friends and I did Rocket Grunts a couple years back, but that's a fairly simple outfit).

[Shockwave]

Take pictures of that there costume. Did you do a full-on helmet or just a lame mask?

Full helmet, with the attachable jaw/mouthplate. The slit at the connection point of those is the only point I can actually see out of. I'll have my brother take a picture of me wearing the whole thing this weekend (I don't own a camera) and post it then. I'm pretty happy with how it all turned out! It's my first 'big' cosplay, so I'm kind of anxious (My friends and I did Rocket Grunts a couple years back, but that's a fairly simple outfit).

This sounds awesome and I'm with O6, you definitely need to post pics when you can.

[Onslaught Six]

Damn! Did you just buy one, or actually make it yourself?

I did a Protomen-style Protoman cosplay for Otakon last year (that I occasionally break out for other occasions) and I've made a few other rather lame attempts at cosplay over time, so I haven't really had a "big" cosplay ever. For a brief time earlier this year though, I thought about doing Firefly from GI Joe. (The main thing that stopped me was price and temperature--all that urban camo gear would easily cost $60+, and all the conventions I go to are in the summer, so REALLY hot.)

[BWprowl]

Believe me, I'm not exactly looking forward to tromping around late-May San Jose in a black track suit with gloves, boots, and a helmet, but I will soldier on. For JUSTICE!

I made the helmet. Started with this old, open-face motorcycle helmet I had lying around, sprayed it the correct colors, then hot-glued all the design elements to it. One reason I went with Kamen Rider #2 was for practicality reasons: The helmets of the original Riders were closest to the shape of the helmet I had available, and the single-stripe tracksuit that Rider 2's costume uses as a base was easily available at Target.

EDIT: Oh, yeah:

For a brief time earlier this year though, I thought about doing Firefly from GI Joe. (The main thing that stopped me was price and temperature--all that urban camo gear would easily cost $60+, and all the conventions I go to are in the summer, so REALLY hot.)

Just reminded me of last year, when they ended up having to crack down all the people doing Resident Evil/Metal Gear Solid/Any other military-themed cosplay, telling them to ditch their costumes, since the good people of San Jose were (understandibly?) getting a little freaked out at all the people walking around in paramilitary gear wielding realistic-looking (airsoft) firearms.

[Onslaught Six]

What a bunch of wusses! Never heard of anything like that at Otakon--although I did hear things recently about how you're not supposed to have face coverings (masks, helmets, etc.) in the touristy area (which isn't part of the con)? Not sure if that was just a rumour or if I'm confusing it with some laws some people were trying to pass. I forget.

[138 Scourge]

So, I got some birthday stuff yesterday...

-Bottle of Jameson. Fine, fine whiskey, lemme tell you.
-Odd new shirt. Dark blue with green flames. I like the colors, but not sure it suits me
-and I got a fair amount of cash that I put towards a 42" flatscreen TV. Which is kind of nice. I feel all fancy. But between the moneys I got for my birthday and the moneys I've made selling toys lately, I got this thing for about sixty bucks, so that's not a bad deal.

[BWprowl]

I was getting stopped for photos it feels like every ten feet. Then I attended a Rider/Sentai cosplay gathering, which included a big Super Hero Taisen photo taken. I'll see if I can find more pics taken in a few days.

Fanime was cool. I bought way too many toys. From the swap meet, got:

Energon Roadblock
Spychanger Optimus Prime (RiD Scourge repaint)
Guy who sold me those threw in a little bootleg Mini-Con Inferno
G1 Tailgate
G1 Cutthroat
G1 Mini-Spy (this particular one's a dune buggy of some sort)
Go-Bots Herr Fiend (All this was in a 'lot' with Tailgate, who I wanted because of his appearances in MTMTE. The whole bunch cost me five bucks total.)
Kamen Rider W Driver ID-holder
Light-up Kamen Rider Kuuga keychain
Kamen Rider Fourze Astro Switch #7 - Parachute (I don't have a driver to use it with, but it was two bucks, and I wanted at least one Astro Switch to flick around, so okay)
Plus a copy of ROBOT #10

Then bought some stuff proper in the dealer's hall:

SIC Kamen Rider Stronger & Tackle (Bluefin booth had one set, I've been wanting this for ages. It's an awesome set)
Kamen Rider Joker SD trading figure
Kamen Rider Ibuki and Shadow Moon trading figures
Mid-size PVC statue of Gretel from Black Lagoon
Figma Subaru Nakajima

Also picked up a print and a keychain from this girl in the Artist Alley, since none of her stuff was pandering fanart and I wanted to support her for that (the Artist Alley is otherwise too full of people hawking prints and pins on the basis of people just liking the characters represented, rather than actually selling their art on its own merits) and her art was really nice anyway, plus my 'prize' for my team winning our round in Kajetokun's Banzai Arcade (we beat a Geodude): A copy of Gamepro from March 2002. This thing has Protips! Like, actual, non-ironically used Protips! It's hilarious!

All in all, a pretty cool weekend. First time I've participated in a cosplay gathering, and that was cool just to be able to BS with people in person about Kamen Rider. Awesome.

[Onslaught Six]

That's a damn well put together costume.

Spychanger Optimus Prime (RiD Scourge repaint)

I keep one of these on my desk at work. He's perfect for that!

Go-Bots Herr Fiend (All this was in a 'lot' with Tailgate, who I wanted because of his appearances in MTMTE. The whole bunch cost me five bucks total.)

Herr Fiend is one of the coolest Gobots. Be glad you got that one. Also, sweet, Tailgate. (Is it sad I want new toys of all the MTMTE guys?)

[BWprowl]

That's a damn well put together costume.

Well thanks!

Herr Fiend is one of the coolest Gobots. Be glad you got that one.

The legs on mine are wicked loose, so he won't be standing up in robot mode any time soon. He's in pretty good condition otherwise, though. Has most of his paint intact, unlike the unfortunate specimen that's used on tfu.info. It's an ejoyable toy just from how different the transformation is from most TFs; I've always found the 'heads' on Super Go-Bots to be amusing as hell.

Also, sweet, Tailgate. (Is it sad I want new toys of all the MTMTE guys?)

It makes sense. Most of the RID guys already have new toys, but there're quite a few MTMTE guys lacking new toys. Tailgate would be pretty easy, just repaint/remold the new Windcharger mold. We've had Rodimus for years, as well as Cyclonus, Drift, Red Alert, and Ratchet, and there's a decent new Magnus coming soon in the FoC line. Swerve is coming out as one of those Asian exclusives. I've also heard rumors of a Rung toy in the future, though I can't substantiate those claims. Rewind could conceivably be a repaint/remold of the new Rumble mold. We badly, badly need a new Whirl toy, even without MTMTE as a factor. You all know my feelings on Skids, but I wouldn't be surprised if Hasbro rolls out a new toy of him in the next couple years.

Oh, and I totally neglected to mention it, but upon returning last night, I had a delivery from Scourge waiting for me: Universe Razorclaw bitches! Aw, yeah! My love of the Tigerhawk mold is well-documented, and this is the snazzy black and purple evil repaint that doesn't auto-fire his missiles when you drop his wings. God this is a cool toy. Scourge, you're a bro among bros for getting this to me.