Steam Western, Cowboys in the UK.

[Mr Addams]

After due consideration, I decided that the best place for this topic is Geographical, rather than Metaphysical or elsewhere, as it is specific to exponents of the Weird West genre here in the United Kingdom.

For obvious reasons, Steampunk in Great Britain tends towards the Anglocentric. However, at the Asylum last year, a number of Wild West costumes were in evidence.

This topic is for practitioners of the Steampunk Old West, who live in the UK, With the following aims in mind.

Firstly, to establish just how widespread this interest is in this country, this is your chance to stand up and be counted.
Secondly, to exchange resources, to help those who are interested, to find British suppliers of kit.
And thirdly to explore the possibility of a SteamWest gathering at some point in the future. Are there any British Venues that would lend themselves to a cowboy collaboration?

An obvious idea would be to work towards a Gun fight at the OK Tearooms meeting at this years Asylum, or possibly, involvement in the Sunday parade.

So if you are interested in the Steamy Old west, or if you already have costume or kit, please make yourself known.
Any Ideas for an event or venue, or any other way of unleashing the inner cowboy?

[Engineer]

Me!

Have all the clothing I need, just working on armament.

[Hobart L. Whitlock]

I am sitting down , but please count me in...and my banjo.

[Herr Döktor]

Yup.

[Rockula]

Reckon so, Pardner.

I just a low slung Western holster.....for a Nerf.
 And I've been looking to get the rest of the clothes together for my Steampunked Tex-Mex (or maybe Tex-Mechs?) bandito.

[Mr Addams]

Well, that's five of us to begin with. All Be It fairly spread out across the country.
It is early days yet, but it is unlikely that we would all be able to gather for a specifically Western Event. It may be, that when more people express an interest, a suitable location for a gathering may become apparent.  

I know that Herr Doktor and Rockula, posed for pictures as steam westerners at last years Asylum.
Would this years Asylum be an opportunity to stage a gathering?
There are several possible options here. The ones that spring to mind are as follows.
1. Gunfight at the OK Tearooms. A meetup/Photo op during the day, at a suitable time.
2. Involvement in the Sunday Morning Parade. Whilst not strictly military, I think that a Steam Western Possie would fall loosely within the remit of the parade. May be worth checking with Tinker first.
There are several factors that would count against this. I know that Ians involvement with the 3rd F&M may exclude him from this. Likewise, if David (Engineer) and myself were to pursue the Steam Navy/Submarine service idea, this would possibly take priority as an option for the perade.
3. The involvement of a Steam Possie at the fashion show would possibly be an idea, certainly a different sartorial style for the event.

The above are just the first ideas that spring to mind, each has advantages and disadvantages, and of course, are only valid if there is enough interest in doing something Weird West at this years Asylum.

The intention of this topic is to encourage discussion, so any thoughts or ideas would be strongly encouraged.    

[Capt. Dirigible]

I'm hoping to do 'weird west' on the Saturday at Asylum this year if I can get it all together in time. The Countess' father is a huge John Wayne fan and has said that I can borrow his replica Navy Colt 44 and holster. With such a nice side-arm available it would be rude of me not to try and get an outfit together.

[Mr Addams]

So, Saturday at the Asylum is looking like a possibility.

I think that in some ways, Weird Wild West offers more options for gadgets than my usual steampunk persona. Generally speaking, I see no reason to carry gadgets with my usual costume, however, there are, for example, a lot of interesting possibilities for Steamy Sidearms.

[Argus Fairbrass]

When questing for clothes and guns etc, on line. I must confess I was quite surprised to discover how big Wild West re enactment seems to be up north. Some of the events that the FLB folks attend for example look to be pretty sizeable and very good fun.

I'm betting there would be a few willing candidates for Steamy West amongst that lot as well. Unfortunately in this area, other than the occasional line dancing troupe I'm not too aware of much going on.

[Engineer]

I just a low slung Western holster.....for a Nerf.

I could do with one of these also if someone has a working pattern.
 

[Capt. Dirigible]

I must confess I was quite surprised to discover how big Wild West re enactment seems to be up north.

Yes..it is quite  popular 'oop North'. I recall back in the 80s when I worked at Pontin's at Blackpool we would have 'pre-season' weekends for 'specialist groups' (much like we are doing at Camber next month) and we'd get Western re-enactment groups having get togethers there. They would have gun fights in the bar (really..with blanks)..we had a guy dressed as a Cherokee chief who (despite paying for a chalet) would pitch a teepee on the football pitch. Guys dressed as Union soldiers would do  several hours of 'duty' patrolling back and forth between chalet blocks before  going off at the end of their 'watch' and getting drunk. They took it all very seriously. I would say about 85-90% of the attendees were Northerners. It's quite odd to chat to a guy who looks the image of Buffalo Bill but has a really strong Blackburn accent! When he' wasn't dressed as Buffalo Bill he was a milkman!

[TimeTinker]

The majority of the 3rd Foot & Mouth have got or can pull together steam western outfits and some of us are plotting something western themed for later in the year/early next year but shush...don't tell anyone, it's a secret.

[Capt. Dirigible]

The majority of the 3rd Foot & Mouth have got or can pull together steam western outfits and some of us are plotting something western themed for later in the year/early next year but shush...don't tell anyone, it's a secret.

Mum's the word

[andrew craven]

I love the wild west and its history. I have a 1933 German zeppelin jubilee badge for the north to south of America. It was that that has inspired me to combine Germanism and American wild west in my Led Zep Kapitan's outfit. All I need now are the replica cap 'n' ball revolvers and holsters to complete the desired look I wish to aspire to. I would love to get involved in this caper!

[Sir A Poiselamppe]

I too have a partiality for the western look.....just have to get around to modding my Shotgun,,,,

[Argus Fairbrass]

I must confess I was quite surprised to discover how big Wild West re enactment seems to be up north.

Yes..it is quite  popular 'oop North'. I recall back in the 80s when I worked at Pontin's at Blackpool we would have 'pre-season' weekends for 'specialist groups' (much like we are doing at Camber next month) and we'd get Western re-enactment groups having get togethers there. They would have gun fights in the bar (really..with blanks)..we had a guy dressed as a Cherokee chief who (despite paying for a chalet) would pitch a teepee on the football pitch. Guys dressed as Union soldiers would do  several hours of 'duty' patrolling back and forth between chalet blocks before  going off at the end of their 'watch' and getting drunk. They took it all very seriously. I would say about 85-90% of the attendees were Northerners. It's quite odd to chat to a guy who looks the image of Buffalo Bill but has a really strong Blackburn accent! When he' wasn't dressed as Buffalo Bill he was a milkman!

And I thought I was having fun in the 80's. Obviously I was in the wrong place.

In all seriousness though (just for a moment). I'm guessing we're reaching the level of exposure with Steampunk that a large amount of the Brit re-enacting set must now be aware of it. The ones that take it very seriously may well end up cocking a snook in our direction. But I suspect it's also likely that other folks who are maybe a little more relaxed about the whole thing could well be having their interest piqued.

We've certainly seen some fine examples of that already, and I have a sneaky suspicion there will be more.

[Madasasteamfish]

I'm looking at cobbling together a weird west costume for this year's asylum (I still need to obtain some items, though that should be possible at the steampunk market next weekend in Leeds).

[Eric T Paradigm]

Count me in folks.
I had a steam-western outfit at the Asylum last year and will plan to bring it this year. Definitely in for a nerf gunfight providing it doesn't involve walking!

[Engineer]

Having secures a Tesla Ranger badge from the Girl Genius site a couple of years ago, that will be the direction I'm aiming for my costume.

[Mr Addams]

Well then. Thats now 11 names in the pot, plus however many are in the 3rd Foot and mouth Contingent. Thats quite a jump since I was last online.

So, It looks as though we are heading in the general direction of "Gunfight at the OK Tearooms" for the Asylum this year. (Subject, of course to the agreement of the event organizers, and the general consensus of the group.).

A full blown Nerf shootout !!!

I had better start modding that maverick

[TimeTinker]

I am sure we can find space for a steamwestern gunfight (nerfs only guys) at The Asylum.  Shall we say Saturday afternoon or what about Friday afternoon for the early arrivers?

[Capt. Dirigible]

  Shall we say Saturday afternoon or what about Friday afternoon for the early arrivers?

Oh, at High Noon surely?

[Rockula]

  Shall we say Saturday afternoon or what about Friday afternoon for the early arrivers?

Oh, at High Noon surely?

http://www.infinitarian.com/dalek.html

[IGetPwnedOften]

A full blown Nerf shootout !!!

I had better start modding that maverick

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Sorry, couldn't resist it - not sure how handy it would be for the quick draw however...

[immortalis]

My costume I wore to Asylum last year was western like, not sure if I hit the mark with western or steampunk but hay its a start.  I will be adding some new bits for the seaside including my western-ish nerf gun I have in the pipeline.

Any other steam-westernpunks going to the seaside?  Maybe a meet up?