Macready's flamethrower... Working version?

[Hazelrah]

This is more of a question/ brainstorming session... I want to cosplay as Macready from John carpenter's the thing, and I was wondering if anyone could help me with a bit of a thought puzzle on the best way to make it "function" in a con safe manner. I was thinking of combining the technology from those fake fire cauldron you see at halloween with the fans and the colored fabric, and the wacky inflatable flailing arm tube men you see at used car lots and such. I figured what better place too come than you brilliant souls who can make just about anything work? So, do you think it's even feasible or is it just too impractical?

 

[NorthernIndie]

Maybe make two heads for the flamethower "gun." Interchangeable so you're not stuck with the fake fire one for the entire con.

As per the mechanics, a fan of some kind. Initially my thought was one of the little personal fans in the head, but figured you might need something stronger, what that is escapes me, so I leave it up to someone else.

Sprouting out of the head is some short lengths of orange and yellow silky/lightweight fabric. Hidden in the head, some orange/red LEDs.

 

[Strikerkc]

yea, I'd go purely the ribbon rout. anything that puts out particles/chemicals, regardless of toxicity is going to cause you problems. it'll get on people's costumes, lay around to be cleaned up, irritate people's lungs or eyes, etc.

if you want to get really fancy, instead of just having the ribbon hanging off the nozzle, you could have a way for it to be inside, non visible, and blown out to its full length when activated (by fan, most likely). can just have a way to pull it back into the flame thrower when you're done (handle on the side, cord running with it inside the tube, etc)