Welcome to Meet the Cosplayer, where I introduce you to some of the fantastic, creative talent within the Rainbow Six: Siege community. This series is meant to showcase the amazing cosplayers no matter their skill level or experience.
I sat down and spoke with cosplayer HAWXGamer141 about his history with cosplay, what got him into it, the challenges he faced and other things.
HAWXGamer141 resides in Birmingham, UK, and is a retail sales assistant for a electronics retailer.
What got you interested in cosplay?
“My interest in cosplay started with airsoft and wanting to make a loadout based entirely on Ghost from MW2 (the older better one), I hadn’t heard of cosplay really back then but I was already unknowingly cosplaying but just in a skirmish instead of a convention centre.
My love for siege cosplay started when I bought Jägers flight helmet while in America on a trip, eventually building an airsoft loadout around it. Found out there was a big event in Canada SI19 and wanted to show up and meet some people who were as crazy as I was and wouldn’t you know it but I found the community that changed my life there.”
How long have you been cosplaying for?
“SI19 is where cosplaying formally started, I honestly didn’t expect anyone else to be as crazy as I was spending hundreds on gear and then even more time and money flying to these events. I had no ties to the community before this event so I was jumping in and blind.
I was welcomed with open arms and before I was even flying home I had another meet up planned back home at MCM Birmingham. Having that kinship changed me for the better no two ways about it.”
What has been the most difficult part about cosplaying for you?
“For me currently it’s the increased restrictions with regards to props/costumes imposed by venues, it’s driving away friends from attending events that we have been looking forward to for months.
Outside of that it’s mostly just storing and travelling with the damn cosplays, flying with them and finding some options to stow them at events can be taxing but usually there’s a way to handle it so there’s nothing insurmountable.”
When cosplaying, what have been three most important things for you to have with you?
“For me it’s always been Hydration, Snacks and Friends. Making sure we are all topped up and well in the variety of climates we find ourselves in is always important to make sure we all enjoy ourselves and can bring the characters to life around the arenas.
Third and most importantly is the friends, I wouldn’t have even 10% as much fun at any event if I didn’t have a wonderful bunch of idiots to spend it with. They make all the money, time and effort worth it in the end.”
When you started cosplaying, what was an obstacle or challenge that you encountered?
“At SI19 it was finding somewhere to change, sometimes that can still be an issue to this day, I’m glad my cosplays don’t tend to be too complex on the base layers for that reason.
I also stressed too much about minor details when I started out, I feel like as long as people can tell who you are you’ve done your job, you will always be your harshest critic especially because you are the one who spent 3 hrs trying to identify Bandits shoelaces.”
What advice would you give to people wanting to start cosplay for the first time?
“If you want to cosplay, just reach out! especially to people who have cosplayed the op or character that you are interested in, I don’t know a single cosplayer who wouldn’t love to yap your ear off about every detail (and oopsie) on their cosplays. Which will make your life a lot easier if you decide to pull the trigger!
But a few quick fire ones; Take it slow but don’t leave it all to a week before con and rush it. Sew things down properly and don’t use hot glue and prayers (also thread your pouches onto your vest properly, you paid for every inch of that webbing you might aswell use it). Ignore the fabric universal holsters they look floppy and awful, same with vests make sure you put a plate in there to make sure it looks rigid and right!”
HAWXGamer141 can be found on your favourite social media channels here:
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/alfiebanks14
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/hawxgamer141