Attack on Titan 3D Gear "Mist/Steam" effect

[Gaius]

Hello, everyone.
I am currently working on 2 sets of Attack on Titan cosplays, and I seem to be at an impass.
I am trying to work out a mechanism that will make the back mounted part of the "3D Maneuvering Gear" shoot "steam" like in the show.

Here someone made one that does just that
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFNtjSU_npo

My problem is that I need mine to be as screen-accurate as possible, so, I won't have room within that part of the gear to put a pressurized duster can. I am also limited by the rules of the competition I will be entering this with, which states the spray can not leave any marks on anything, and can not have any odour to it.
https://img0.etsystatic.com/022/0/8790505/il_570xN.524335290_3pme.jpg
http://static.squarespace.com/stati...09e35aa7e9fe2/1382587252099/RAH Mikasa 13.jpg

I scouered the internet, and could not find anything to help me with this.

Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[Riceball]

Personally, I think that compressed air would be your best bet, I don't know if the tanks seen on the maneuver gear actually match any real air tanks or not but you could always hide a can of compressed air in each tank then it would be a matter of hooking up the hose and rigging some sort activation system. Failing that the only thing that I can think of would be dried ice and water with a small fan to blow it out.

 

[Gaius]

I did think of putting the compressed air cans in false air tanks (put them inside the air tanks on the long rectangular parts), however this would involve having a hose connect form the can to the part of the gear work on the back. I've already experimented for many hours trying to make this work, but all I get is a frozen hose and no mist.

 

[madmikeee]

I did think of putting the compressed air cans in false air tanks (put them inside the air tanks on the long rectangular parts), however this would involve having a hose connect form the can to the part of the gear work on the back. I've already experimented for many hours trying to make this work, but all I get is a frozen hose and no mist.

Try mounting the can upside down, that will create the "mist" effect (BE SURE TO AIM UP TO PROTECT PEOPLES FACES!!) As for the hose, double up. (Measurements are arbitrary) Put a 1/4"" hose in a 3/8" hose then use some conduit to get the proper look the double hose will make a better insulator and that will prevent the hose from getting frosty from the compressed air. Or you could use hard lines like copper and wrap those in rubber hose, would make it more solid and have the same effect using the rubber hose as an insulator to prevent frosting.

 

[OldSkoolEffects]

I think you should avoid the upside-down compressed air at all costs. For one, you never know for sure where someone might be or if they could potentially have a reaction to the particulates, so there's a safety concern. Also, I've seen these systems malfunction more often than not, which results in the entire can venting and freezing everything around the can.

I think your best option would be to purchase a small off-the-shelf fogger unit, or hack an e-cig so you can use 100% deionized water.

 

[JPH]

Also consider having flour or talc to get puffed out

EDIT : added more pics

 

[RoboTrap]

High-power electronic-cigarette, with the e-cig fluid swapped out for fog machine juice (same formula, minus the nicotine and flavorings) with a small device to send an air burst through it, to simultaneously trigger the vaporization and expel the results. Perhaps a small balloon pump? With an old PC CD drive gutted to provide the mechanism? Wire up an external switch to the eject button, then mount the sprocket strip from the drive tray onto the balloon pump, then hit the switch and watch the drive motor compress the balloon pump (spraying out the "steam") and automatically stop and return to its start position.

I've no idea of the space you have, or if the motor would be powerful enough, or even what the effect you're going for really looks like, but hey, I haven't watched an anime in a decade and you haven't given any measurements of the piece in question. :unsure

 

[VelaNoon]

I'm prettu sure you'll get banned from the convention if you begin puffing flour or talcum powder from your costume.

 

[Gaius]

I'm prettu sure you'll get banned from the convention if you begin puffing flour or talcum powder from your costume.

Indeed; anything that requires ANY sort of cleanup would get me in trouble and makeme uneligable for the cosplay competitoin I'm making this for.

I have concidered using an E-cig, but from what my research has brought up it looks like it wouldn not be able to produce the amount of steam needed, nor at the pressure needed. The size and speed of which an upside down compressed air can makes is rather perfect for what I am trying to emulate.
Putting the cans in the "air canisters" as suggested would work great, however I still can't seem to get the mist to come out the other end of the tube rather than just super-chilling the inside of the tube.


for those who have not seen/read the show/manga: the steam shoots out of the device strapped to the lower back. The room inside it is about 4"h by 6" diameter cylender, with 2 colengers branching out of the sides
ref: http://www.xcoser.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/ac7549744ecd450b14364b7db96970e9/3/4/34891EA49D4E21109E9186DDE7BB5A05.jpg
The parts strapped to the legs:
http://static.squarespace.com/stati...09e35aa7e9fe2/1382587252099/RAH Mikasa 13.jpg

Thanks for all the help, but it's still being tricky...
and awesome progress pics, JPH.

 

[RoboTrap]

If the jacket overhangs the device, why not have the canisters in your lower back, presumably on the harness that supports the device itself? It could feed directly into it, but not be within.

 

[Gaius]

If the jacket overhangs the device, why not have the canisters in your lower back, presumably on the harness that supports the device itself? It could feed directly into it, but not be within.

The jacket is actually pretty short, so it doesn't overlap the device at all. However, you have a good suggestion I haven't thought of. If I can get the mist to work through just a small length of hose I will try seeing if I can have a can strapped on my back under the coat and still have it hidden.

 

[JPH]

I'm prettu sure you'll get banned from the convention if you begin puffing flour or talcum powder from your costume.

Whoa! I'm not saying you need to leave a trail to find you way home, or fumigate the area, but a little bit in a bulb from a blood pressure cuff (for instance) could lightly *poof* out a little cloud of stuff. There was a really good AOT build earlier this year where the guy used PC fans in the circular portions of his 3D gear, I am doing the same. And on you tube a guy made magnetic tipped rope for his grapples. I am determined to make mine out of aluminum.
Aee where you can add wingnuts, people a-love dem wing nuts

 

[OldSkoolEffects]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5QcJbBrVAQ&index=21&list=LLMTm8jQ0veBaE7nxQa1huQQ

 

[Raizer04]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5QcJbBrVAQ&index=21&list=LLMTm8jQ0veBaE7nxQa1huQQ

Now that is cool. He could mount this to a potentiometer instead of the big remote controller and it should work!