Trooping the Steampunk Banners, Asylum 2012 suggestion

[frances]

Thank you Timetinker,

"The caravan sites will be full of steampunks and indeed develop into their own party venues." Oh goodee!

[frances]

I have a feeling I may have inadvertently upset the Aslyum organisers.  Dear Timetinker and ladyelise if I have I am ever so sorry;  I know that it is very hard work organising such a large event.  There is no way I would put you out if I had realised that my inane burblings might have caused you even one moment of miff.  I was seeking information in a light-hearted manner.  If you feel that I was being critical of your organising ability then please do accept that I was not.  You do have my permission to slap me on the behind with a feather, in public, when you get to see me later on this year if you feel that it is deserved.

humbly,

your servant

[TimeTinker]

Certainly not upset Frances.

You have however ventured into an historical quagmire.

The community argued for around a year about the ins and outs of a UK convention - the event did not seem any more likely to materialise. We decided to put our heads above the parapet and organise one on the basis that "if we do it right people will want to come".  Four years later more and more are getting involved so we accept that maybe we have got it right in some way.

In the past there have been lots of people happy to tell us how things should be done.  We value constructive feedback based on fact and reasoning. We always listen. We also always answer to show we have listened, thought about it and made decisions - hence the response to your comments.  Such replies come out of showing respect to Asylum goers by hearing what is being said.  If we disagree then that is as honest a response as agreement.

However idle comments or criticisms based on ignorance are often confusing at best, destructive at worst.  Only you know how constructive your comment was intended to be. How constructive it actually was is judged by all readers and not just the Memsahib and I.

If your point was fundamentally about missing items because you get there

"just as the item is closing up"

then surely this is more a question of personal decision making, prioritising and time management than event planning and organisation.

You therefore cause no offence with regard to our organisational abilities so no need to apologise.

[frances]

Oh dear, now I feel even worse.  I was not aware of the history at all.  So sorry.

I promise I will stop making light-hearted comments just to fill up the space at the end of a line of writing.  *slap*

[greensteam]

Oh dear, now I feel even worse.  I was not aware of the history at all.  So sorry.

I promise I will stop making light-hearted comments just to fill up the space at the end of a line of writing.  *slap*

Frances,
There is an excellent reason why The Major's BG name is TimeTinker: he is the only person with the necessary special capabilities that enable him to enjoy all the parallel sessions at the Asylum events each year.

I have pointed out to him more than once that this is deeply unfair to the rest of us poor mortals who can only manage to do simple single time jumps and not multiple parallel ones.

But, does he care? Not a jot - on he goes- organising fabulous Asylums* year after year and each year I get to less and less.

mumblemumblemumble....

;-)

greensteam


* Asyla??

[Kathy_Davidson]

Right, material bought. Now I'm off to B+Q for a pole

EDIT: B+Q have a very sub-standard selection of basic poles and even the curtain pole options were lacking. Same for Homebase. I had to go to Wicks in the end and the only one I could find that was long enough is a tree stake that is also 50mm. A lot wider than I would have liked.

Grr. Oh well, Keep calm and Craft. A light sanding and some dark varnish and I'm sure it will work fine.

EDIT EDIT: Hey, that looks neat 

[Kathy_Davidson]

Well, here is my effort so far. just a little more gold braid to get on there and it's all done. Now if only it would fit through my sewing machine. I predict very sore fingers in my near future.

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/16353971/2012-07-07%2021.55.23.jpg

[greensteam]

Well, here is my effort so far. just a little more gold braid to get on there and it's all done. Now if only it would fit through my sewing machine. I predict very sore fingers in my near future.

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/16353971/2012-07-07%2021.55.23.jpg

What is your unit? One of the light brigades?

[Kathy_Davidson]

 :)Heehee, nope

We are the Steam Confederacy of Little Gaslamp.

I was going to put the letters on as well but it would have been too fiddly and I have mountains of other things to finish as well.

[Capt. Dirigible]

Kathy, not wishing to rain on your parade (no pun intended) as you have clearly put a lot of work into your banner..but surely the emblem you have depicted is an oil lamp...rather than a gas lamp?

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

GAS LAMPS





OIL LAMPS

[Kathy_Davidson]

  at what point does art have to be acurate when something else looks better 

[Capt. Dirigible]

at what point does art have to be acurate when something else looks better 

Hey..no probs..just making an observation.

[Ms Pipistrelle]

Out of curiosity is there a minimum length for the banner pole?  I was wondering about wooden broom handles...

[TimeTinker]

I would not use a standard length broom handle.  If you can find one of the long ones this would be short but suffice.

A reminder though folks...

GET YOUR FORMS IN.

We have to build a wooden display frame for these.   We can't do it if we don't have the details of your banners.

[Kathy_Davidson]

Will be sending it in this evening, promise. Already filled it out, just needed to add the picture of the banner. Soon as I get home it will be winging it's was across the aether net.

[sebastian Inkerman]

When I was building the 3rd's banner pole, I used the 8' long by 1 1/4" wide dowel from B&Q. I just had to hunt for a little while to find a straight one in the stack that they had. I then found a metal supplier for the socket as (for ease of transport) the pole had to be in two halfs, sawed the pole into 2 pieces and then trimmed down one end on both pieces so that the socket would fit, turned a finial for the top, stained it all a nice deep oak colour and bob's your doughnut.

You can get an already made flagpole from Newton flags, but they are a little pricey and if you have a little bit of time and wood working knowhow you can certainly make your own. IIRC they are around £80 for an 8' pole.

If you're making a banner, there are 2 ways to go with the attachment to the pole, you can either use 2 sail eyelets and a rope and toggle, or you can do what it looks like Kathy has done and made a pocket for the banner so that it can slide down and remain straight.

If you are going for the 2 sail eyelet, I would suggest a couple of curtain weights sewn into the bottom of the flag just under the bottom eyelet, this will mean that the flag won't ride up the pole as you are marching with it.

[Kathy_Davidson]

A long curtain pole would also work and you can get them pre stained/painted. Again, a rather pricy option because you end up paying for all the bits you won't need. In the end I have to get a tree stake from Wicks as no where near me had anything else remotly suitable. It's just with in the diameter requiements and was suprisingly cheap. A quick sanding and some wood stain and it was ready to go.

[Ancient Design]

Question, and please understand I'm not trying to lawyer around the guidelines, would it be acceptable to have a banner flag (one a lot 'longer' than it is 'wide') which had a supporting member to ensure it's display whilst on parade, if this was removable and thus reverted it back to single-pole for display purposes? Like this:


Where the left hand image shows the banner during parade (imagine it being carried in the 'left' direction), but upon the conclusion of the parade, the top-piece is removed as per the image on the right.


Just a question, not a problem if that's not workable

[Capt. Dirigible]

Question, and please understand I'm not trying to lawyer around the guidelines, would it be acceptable to have a banner flag (one a lot 'longer' than it is 'wide') which had a supporting member to ensure it's display whilst on parade, if this was removable and thus reverted it back to single-pole for display purposes? Like this:


Where the left hand image shows the banner during parade (imagine it being carried in the 'left' direction), but upon the conclusion of the parade, the top-piece is removed as per the image on the right.


Just a question, not a problem if that's not workable

I think Major Tinker  would prefer  a regular 'flag' type banner as specified in an earlier post:

Banner:
1.
a. A piece of cloth attached to a staff and used as a standard by a monarch, military commander, or knight.
b. The flag of a nation, state, or army.
2. A piece of cloth bearing a motto or legend, as of a club.

It seems I need to be more specific.

Please do not include any crossbars, extensions, rigidity enhancers or other structures or ideas which will deliberately keep the banner(flag) rigid and thus operating as a sail unless you are prepared to stand and keep an eye on it all weekend.

[Kathy_Davidson]

  You could always assign a 'Flag waver' in your colour party. Attach a peice of string to the flag and have them wiggle it every now and again to make it flap if there is no wind.

[sebastian Inkerman]

If the fabric is light enough, even walking will create enough of a breeze to make it wave.

[Kathy_Davidson]

Form sent. All official now. Everyone else don't forget to send it in if you haven't already:

http://steampunk.synthasite.com/contributing.php

[Wilhelmina Frame]

I was hoping to have a USA banner to display but it seems unlikely due to time constraints. Certainly can't promise anything by the July 31st deadline.

[Mr Peter Harrow, Esq]

Will it have all 50 cogs on it?

[Wilhelmina Frame]

Will it have all 50 cogs on it?

actually, that was the plan yes but again -- I may not be able to pull it off.