TheRapidsNerd Posted March 1, 2009 Posted March 1, 2009 The Steampunk Airship Revenger and it's crew headed off to Chattanooga, Tennessee for ConNooga. It was a grand weekend with friends and more than a few surprises in store. It also marked a turning point for my humble enthusiast blog. Simply put, I met some great people and just had a blast! If you're familiar with SCA or Ren Faires, you know that groups are organized by houses, manors, clans, etc. In Steampunk, your group is organized by Airship. Just like each house has specific jobs to be part of that house, there are specific posts (Navigator, Ship's Engineer, etc.) With all that in mind, my Steampunk name is Otto Von Clank. I'm the Revenger's Bavarian steamborg, humorist, and experimental platform for one Professor Phinius Phalin. (Yep, it's just as cheesy as it sounds and THAT is precisely why it's all so fun!) Throw in a bad accent ala Artie Johnson and there you have my charactor in a nutshell. May end up doing this in 2 or 3 parts since I'm fighting a cold and pretty tired. Even so, I'm glad to share the fun and hope you all enjoy! (Some photos courtesy of Jake Polatty and Basil Kittrell) J-Pop and Metro Guys, anyone? More to come tomorrow. Some intricate and well done custome chain mail. It's times like these I could kiss the inventor of Spandex. 'Scuse me? Can I get a group shot with you and the Icee Bear? Cool points for creativity. The biggest drunken master jug I've ever seen. Aren't you a little young for all that Saki? he new washboard player for the Sand People Jamboree band. The old one went in on a side project with the Country Bears. Lord Vader is on the rebound after that whole Padme thing. Apparently, his new S.O. is the spokesmodel for Red Bull Goth. This is where some guy leans in from the side of the screen and says "Toasty!" Booth lady lines up her next win and Trooper seems to be losing his lunch date. Our Airship captian tries foam sword sparring with a deceptively fast booth lady. Meanwhile, one of the Storm Troopers is lining up a lunch date at Imperial Cafeteria. Hello Kitty! One of the Con Vixens group and her first year and I think her first con. Always happy to see Nekos. Independent horror movies and small brains make this guy happy. Of course, his celeb booth neighbors might have had something to do with it too. Even with failing camcorder, It was great to get a picture with Patricia Albrecht and Samantha Newark. That's right! Pizzazz and Jem from the 80's cartoon. These were two very sweet ladies and awesome to meet them. "It's showtime Synergy!" Now just what IS under that trooper's kilt? Fett's Jangos? "But guys, it's all the rental place had, I swear!" Yes, that is a Kilt-Trooper. Proof positive you can make a living getting medieval on other people. Some good craftsmenship here. I'll take a set with the side mounted gatlin gun, please. Also have a strange itch to start a welding career. odd. One of the aisles of the ConNooga Dealer Room. The 3 guys in the left forground are some of the other members of our steampunk airship crew. Adorable, however, the poor thing would starve if I took it home. This lady and her friends sold Brain slugs, with the sales benefitting the Brainslug WDF (World Domination Fund) and Warmer Floors, Warmer Tomorrow's Fund. After the last Cobra revolution fiasco, Baroness has resorted to other creative incomes. First stop was the dealer room after a quick check in and get badges. So how many Joes can you name? If you can name the Cobra Twins, give yourself a funnel cake. Next morning at a proper breakfast, we bumped into Erik Yates from In The Loop. Believe it or not, he's a guy you really can warm up to. Halfway to Chattanooga we stopped for a much needed round of Vault and mom nature. Apparently even bathrooms need loving too. The trip got off to a late start last friday after picking up our Naviguesser, Oliver Skyline. We also discovered the truck tailgate was down after driving across town. Oops!
TheRapidsNerd Posted March 1, 2009 Author Posted March 1, 2009 Grab your 20 siders and your magic missles for the next round of Con pics! Yep, time for photo ops...right after this commercial break sponsored by cool, crisp, refreshing Coca Cola. More pics in a few. Back at the dealer room our group makes plans for some photo ops in a bit. The look on Lane's face is priceless. See how many childhood cartoons you can find here. Interesting detail, no? And some of the corner architechture. Looking up at the dome in the main lobby. Pretty place to walk around. We did several group shots and random photo ops in this area. The weather and sun were our friends. See? That's the sign on top of the hotel converted from an old railroad depot. And odd angle shots too. I like artsy repeating shots. Since the ConNooga was held at Chattanooga Choo Choo, there was train stuff to be seen. You could have dinner in dining cars like these and sleep in passenger cars converted into Victorian hotel rooms. Brilliant! Train Robbers...in their natural habitat. Now with jingly spurrs and quick draw action! Random Chevy Magnum Ghostbusters whip. Yep, another Con Vixen model. *sigh* Hello ladies and gentlemen. I am entertainment for this for this caption. How's it going Tyler? Brook and Lane (2 other members of our Steampunk Crew) in an impromptu photo op. Brook's new Pith Helm and world map corsette would make the Adventurer's Club proud. We just have to be careful plotting courses... Lane also has some of the greatest facial expressions. Even with Death, when you gotta go, you gotta go. So the Grim Reaper has a new hobby as a stilt walker... Can't you almost smell the stale cheetos and warm Dr. Pepper? Random look at more of the dealer floor. There was a stage at the far end where the panels and costume competitions were held. The Fandom Calendar girls. *sigh* I love cons... This Army bombsquad robot was driving around handing out flyers and water bottles I thought of Billy Joel, but then, I might be crazy. Yes, some of the booths were a bit Spartan, even with Master Chief on patrol. JemMom and Jem. Thinking of you Big Mike. This is a VERY happy nerd with Chase Masterson from Star Trek DS-9. Also a nice lady. This is a VERY happy nerd, with Lyric, a nice lady and one of the Con Vixen models. This is Lyric, a nice lady and one of the Con Vixen models. Be ALL you can be...in spandex. About time the Army got with the program. Sorry Second Life folks, no scripting, motion or tail chat. I checked until The Thing, cleverly disguised as Godzilla, attacked... Either that, or it's another match made at con. R2-franken droid was one of a couple custom Astromechs milling around...
TheRapidsNerd Posted March 1, 2009 Author Posted March 1, 2009 Satisfied? Refreshed? Good! Time for more ConNooga fun! And since this is a drum circle, it's a perfect place to end this TR on an upbeat. Oh yeah, I had fun. Guess who at the drum circle? I'll give you a hint. It's not Artie Johnson. Remember Lyric? Of course you do. Thinking of you Fudgey and Divv. This was a must. I knew it! I'm surrounded by geeks! The Firefly and Serenity fans will recognize that hat. Another shot of Brooke while resting in the hotel lobby. Photographs well, doesn't she? You're looking at his crotch aren't you. In between a couple photo ops and making plans to get together later that night. Glory be! Another group shot! I feel so rock star! Ok, not really, but a guy can dream, can't he? I loves me some trains. The Captain is thinking green...or about to beat down the guy on his left for "borrowing" his line. Note to self: I owe him a quarter Yep, another photo op. It's no coincidence that most of us could double as extras in Firefly. Group shot with the Train Robbers. Hey, anybody seen my wallet? We're trained professional hams. Who am I kidding? I'm the ham, the others are the professionals. After Brooke's Coke promo, our captain was so energized, made The Flash his bitch. And now we'll REALLY end this TR, with Wonder Woman. Because that's how every TR should end. Thank you all for reading and hope you had fun. On a cool side note, I got to record an impromptu interview with Lloyd Kaufman, President of Troma Entertainment. That's the group behind the Toxic Avenger series and Poultrygeist. After recording a really funny interview (the man is a master of schtick!), my camera crashed and lost it. My buddy Jake got stills of the interview, but what a bummer. Even so, it was still a great experience and first interview. Gotcha! You thought the TR was done. No way! Bonus encore! Translation: So I forgot a few pics. It happens.
Speeddeamon128 Posted March 1, 2009 Posted March 1, 2009 Awesome TR I didn't no there were SciFi/Fantasy conventions. There seemed to be some cool stuff there.
dandaman Posted March 1, 2009 Posted March 1, 2009 If I lived closer to you guys, I would so freakin' do that steampunk thing. Dan "Is the name 'Doctor Reginald Wexley' taken?" Smith
printersdevil78 Posted March 2, 2009 Posted March 2, 2009 Wow, that was great! I don't know which was better, the show or the venue. And I'm insanely jealous that you got to meet Jem! I gave some thoughts earlier this month about whether I could successfully organize a sci-fi con in my area. Honestly, I would be looking at it more from a money-making standpoint than a fan (though I would enjoy it as both). There are some very good potential venues, but I'm not sure it would draw a crowd. For now it's on the back burner--assuming it's on any burner at all.
PoisonedPirate Posted March 2, 2009 Posted March 2, 2009 Yay for the person dressed as Poison Ivy in the background! I've always wanted to go to one of these... maybe in the future! Also what are the little green head globules alien things? I recognise them from somewhere...
BeemerBoy Posted March 2, 2009 Posted March 2, 2009 I'll be honest. I read that lead-in and had absolutely no effing clue as to what in the heck you were talking about. lol After a little research, for those still clueless, here's Steampunk in a nutshell, I guess. I still don't get it, but it's a fun report nonetheless!
printersdevil78 Posted March 2, 2009 Posted March 2, 2009 ^^The brain slugs are from "Futurama," AKA one of the best animated shows ever!
TheRapidsNerd Posted March 3, 2009 Author Posted March 3, 2009 I'll be honest. I read that lead-in and had absolutely no effing clue as to what in the heck you were talking about. lol After a little research, for those still clueless, here's Steampunk in a nutshell, I guess. I still don't get it, but it's a fun report nonetheless! You bring up a good point. I should have explained what the heck it was. Short answer: Alternate Victorian Future with a kind of Adventurer's Club whimsy, gadgetry, and a contrast between society refinement, and the industrial revolution. (Thinks a minute.....) Yeah, that' about as clear as mud too. We'll try again here...and in English. Fantasy Alternate Victorian Future with steam powered gadgets. Yes, that's better. Wow, that was great! I don't know which was better, the show or the venue. And I'm insanely jealous that you got to meet Jem! Printer is most correct about the Futurama Brain Slugs and the awesomeness of that show. It was wierdly cool to meet the voice talent and people behind that cartoon. Two VERY sweet ladies and I wish them the best on thier current endeavors. The fact I remembered the tagline after a handful of episodes many years ago scares me ..Guess I'm a closet Jem fan? Well, it can't be TOO bad, since there are no plans to visit JemCon. I've always wanted to go to one of these... maybe in the future! If you get a chance, they really are fun. Yes the geek factor is high, but if you like anything remotely related to anime, cartoons, sci-fi, fantasy, yadda yadda, it's fun to put together costumes and hangout with other crazy creatives. The detail work and thought that goes into some costumes is amazing. I'd recommend ComicCon, DragonCon, and there's another big one, but I can't think of the name right now. Take your Ren Faire pirate mentality and you'll have fun. If I lived closer to you guys, I would so freakin' do that steampunk thing. Dan "Is the name 'Doctor Reginald Wexley' taken?" Smith It is NOW . All yours friend. Hey, go for it. It's never too early to wokr on a charactor ideas. Chances are there are folks nearby who feel the same. I'll ask a buddy of mine on how to find out what groups are where and try to pass that info to you. That way you can talk with them and go from there. When I find out more, will gladly pm you. If I can help otherwise, glad to to that too. Appreciate all the responses and kind words.
dino Posted March 3, 2009 Posted March 3, 2009 This looked like it was alot of fun. I must be a bigger nerd than I thought I was, cause I found it all to be very cool. Great TR...Cool costumes, girls in spandex, "Toasty" reference, it had it all!
paintballer Posted March 3, 2009 Posted March 3, 2009 MASTER CHIEF!!!11!1 Total Win. plus the spandex part, that was cool too.
PoisonedPirate Posted March 3, 2009 Posted March 3, 2009 See I knew I recognised them from somewhere! The chances of me going to one of these is pretty slim seeing as I live in Reading and can't drive... I need to convince my sister to take me to one of these for my Birthday - can she go as Zippy the Rainbow Unicorn? That'll make her happy lol! How do I find what's happening where in the UK?
dandaman Posted March 3, 2009 Posted March 3, 2009 ...Okay, clarification. Can my steampunk B-reality look like this? "Where we're going, we won't need horses."
TheRapidsNerd Posted March 4, 2009 Author Posted March 4, 2009 ...Okay, clarification. Can my steampunk B-reality look like this? - dandaman can she go as Zippy the Rainbow Unicorn? - PoisonedPirate There great thing about cons, Steampunk, etc, is that the creative doors are wide open for practically anything. So, yes and yes. MASTER CHIEF!!!11!1 Total Win. plus the spandex part, that was cool too. - paintballer You know you've done something right when you a get a "Total Win". Thank you! I'll keep an eye out for Master Chief stuff for you in the future This looked like it was alot of fun. I must be a bigger nerd than I thought I was, cause I found it all to be very cool. Great TR...Cool costumes, girls in spandex, "Toasty" reference, it had it all! - dino Embracing your inner nerd is not a bad thing. Some people even turn it into a lucrative online persona. Kidding aside, always appreciate the kind words and glad you and the others had fun here. That's what counts.
PoisonedPirate Posted March 4, 2009 Posted March 4, 2009 You know all the big conventions they hold? Do you have to be a registered character like Naruto or can you be anyone you like in any world you like?
TheRapidsNerd Posted March 4, 2009 Author Posted March 4, 2009 You know all the big conventions they hold? Do you have to be a registered character like Naruto or can you be anyone you like in any world you like? You can be anyone or anything in any world you want. No limits. So if one morning you said to yourself "Hey self! I wanna be a bunny with a pancake on my head, wearing a Hello Kitty t-shirt, an eyepatch, and carrying a ginormous anime sword, for Dragon Con.", you CAN do just that. To get a better idea of what all can be seen and done, check out the photo galleries at DragonCon.org. Think you'll enjoy it.
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