It would actually be hilarious to have an iron suit making contest at a con. XD See who can make the best suit head in 12 hours with the given materials or whatever time span you'd like.

Furry Fiesta had a MacGyver fursuit construction panel the last two years. In 2011, Lucky Coyote and Azure Coyote competed building reasonable fursuit heads and handpaws out of garbage. 2012's panel was a two-hour head construction. Couldn't find videos of 2011, but here's a short clip from 2012: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfvhmUHpdSQ

Oh man, that would be awesome to see or participate in!

Not quite what you have envisioned I'm sure, but FurFright does a Frankenfur contest every year. I believe it's two hours with the given materials to make head/partial/whatever you can, and they judge the entrants. ^^

That sounds like it'd be really fun! :D

I think so too. Hopefully this year i can go to it.

XD
I see it too when I was reading it , too.

Project Fursuit with Tim Gunn

MAKE IT WORK

I hope you plan to find a way to mitigate that center seam

The time is up, everyone put your glue guns down and bring your suits up to the front for grading, hurry hurry, no slacking. Beetle! I said put the glue gun down! :3 lol

LOL I didn't read Matrices journal yet, but your last sentence reminds me of the tv show "Chopped" on Food network. It's very familiar to hear competitors say things like "I didn't plate all of the food I made, the meat is undercooked and the food looks messy on the plate. I hope the judges will appreciate what I DID accomplish and I won't be chopped." :P
Sounds similar to fursuit-making with a deadline, "Some of the fur is hot-glued onto the head instead of sewn in some places, the symmetry is a little off, and the airbrushing looks messy.. but I hope the customer doesn't notice and appreciates what I did."

Exactly the reference I was thinking of.