I know this is an old thread but I felt I had something to contribute to it.
I'm aware that in this post 9/11 world there's a lot of fear of terrorism and attacks against the country, to the point that we're basically afraid of our own shadow. We actively warn each other to not build and/or display something that might be "too scary" in appearance that might bring the feds down upon us.
But there's something important to also remember. A lot of the bombs and detonators and explosives used in movies look very little or nothing like their real world counterparts. No visible timers with audible beeping noises, no conspicuous wires sticking out, no stenciled on warnings about the explosive nature of something. For a long time I wondered why this was, until I read on another site that it's a necessity for the professional prop designers to make such ridiculous looking items so that they don't get in trouble with the government. What they make has to look unrealistic enough that they aren't seen as a possible threat.
And a lot of what we make is based on these ridiculous ideas of what explosives look like.
I'm also not overly concerned because I've seen a large number of airsoft models that look like machine guns and sawed off shotguns and grenades and such, and they look pretty real and are lacking orange muzzles. But so far I haven't heard any chatter on the various forums about members being raided because they showed off their airsoft claymore, or their Tokyo Mauri CAR-15 with 11" barrel and three position selector switch set to full auto.
I'm not saying don't worry, far from it. I'm just pointing out that we might be blowing things out of proportion with our fear here. At least that's my position until I see otherwise.
I'm aware that in this post 9/11 world there's a lot of fear of terrorism and attacks against the country, to the point that we're basically afraid of our own shadow. We actively warn each other to not build and/or display something that might be "too scary" in appearance that might bring the feds down upon us.
But there's something important to also remember. A lot of the bombs and detonators and explosives used in movies look very little or nothing like their real world counterparts. No visible timers with audible beeping noises, no conspicuous wires sticking out, no stenciled on warnings about the explosive nature of something. For a long time I wondered why this was, until I read on another site that it's a necessity for the professional prop designers to make such ridiculous looking items so that they don't get in trouble with the government. What they make has to look unrealistic enough that they aren't seen as a possible threat.
And a lot of what we make is based on these ridiculous ideas of what explosives look like.
I'm also not overly concerned because I've seen a large number of airsoft models that look like machine guns and sawed off shotguns and grenades and such, and they look pretty real and are lacking orange muzzles. But so far I haven't heard any chatter on the various forums about members being raided because they showed off their airsoft claymore, or their Tokyo Mauri CAR-15 with 11" barrel and three position selector switch set to full auto.
I'm not saying don't worry, far from it. I'm just pointing out that we might be blowing things out of proportion with our fear here. At least that's my position until I see otherwise.
