Last minute halloween costume.

[Professor Fzz]

I need your suggestions.  I found myself with a late invitation to a halloween party, and set about to make a mask this evening.  This is what I ended up with after one evening's work (sorry for the poor picture):



I'm not really happy with it, but can't quite decide why not.  Obviously the brass needs toning down a lot, but somehow it didn't work out quite how I imagined.  Do you have any suggestions for how to improve it (with the limitation that I only have one more evening to work on it)?

[Professor Fzz]

Here are a few slightly better pictures:

[Torvald_Faust]

I shall think about it, sir. Perhaps I shall come up with something. Hopefully, in time.

[Elepski]

Define the eyes more... goggles perhaps?... you can clearly see the mouth.. but the upper face is somewhat unclear

[Torvald_Faust]

Perhaps the expression is too...vacant? I have the same problem with making a gasmask work; too often, it looks like you have a permanent ' ' expression. I fear that adding 'goggles' would do just that. Perhaps adding extra 'slats' to the mouth would look spiffing?

[James Harrison]

Perhaps add some slightly darker patches, streaks, blemishes et al to the brass to make it look as though it were wrought from a flat piece of metal, rather than cast as it does at present.  It's a very good mask as it is though!

[Professor Fzz]

Define the eyes more... goggles perhaps?... you can clearly see the mouth.. but the upper face is somewhat unclear

I think you're right - the eyes need to stand out more.  Also I don't think you should be able to see through to my eyes underneath - they're a little too far back from the front of the mask (a necessity to fit my rather large nose inside the mask!).  But I don't think goggles will work this time.  Maybe I'll put some sort of mesh in the eye sockets and illuminate it with yellow or red LEDs?  The obvious downside being I'll probably dazzle myself.

Perhaps the expression is too...vacant? I have the same problem with making a gasmask work; too often, it looks like you have a permanent ' ' expression. I fear that adding 'goggles' would do just that. Perhaps adding extra 'slats' to the mouth would look spiffing?

I see what you mean.  A more menacing mouth expression would help.  Slats might work - I'll see what's lying around at home.  Originally I planned to put some mesh over the mouth area, but if I'm going to do that for the eyes, I probably don't want to do the same for the mouth.  I'm also wondering if it really could do with a chin added below the mouth?

Perhaps add some slightly darker patches, streaks, blemishes et al to the brass to make it look as though it were wrought from a flat piece of metal, rather than cast as it does at present.  It's a very good mask as it is though!

Thanks!  Yes, I definitely will tone down the brass - just bought some black paint - I can see an evening of dry-brushing coming up.

[Torvald_Faust]

Maybe I'll put some sort of mesh in the eye sockets and illuminate it with yellow or red LEDs?  The obvious downside being I'll probably dazzle myself.

I like that plan. Could you not shield your own eyes from the light...? I think it has been done before.

I see what you mean.

Good to hear, sir

A more menacing mouth expression would help.  Slats might work - I'll see what's lying around at home.  Originally I planned to put some mesh over the mouth area, but if I'm going to do that for the eyes, I probably don't want to do the same for the mouth.

Good luck with that; bodging like that can be quite fun indeed!

I'm also wondering if it really could do with a chin added below the mouth?

Could you not create something temporary to affix to the mask? That way you can see what it will look like.

[Professor Fzz]

A more menacing mouth expression would help.  Slats might work - I'll see what's lying around at home.  Originally I planned to put some mesh over the mouth area, but if I'm going to do that for the eyes, I probably don't want to do the same for the mouth.

Good luck with that; bodging like that can be quite fun indeed!

Indeed!  This whole mask is one big bodge - the ingredients are three breakfast cereal boxes, a shoe box, and quite a lot of hot glue.  That was all I had available in raw materials when I decided to make last night.

Thanks again for the suggestions.

[Torvald_Faust]

You are quite welcome, sir I do love giving suggestions! Makes me feel like I still contribute - my own bodgerings have been absent as of lately, as I have absence of free time

[Eddy Bea]

I would add something (subtly, perhaps...) to the area between the jaw and the zygomatic plate.  It looks odd to me being the brassy color while the cranial portion is a more matte steely color. It would help give the mask an overall feeling of depth without being too busy.

[Professor Fzz]

I would add something (subtly, perhaps...) to the area between the jaw and the zygomatic plate.  It looks odd to me being the brassy color while the cranial portion is a more matte steely color. It would help give the mask an overall feeling of depth without being too busy.

I had to look up "zygomatic plate" to understand what you meant.  Thank you - I learned something new today!

Yes, that area was originally black (the cranial portion is also black, though it doesn't really look black in the pictures).  I painted it because I was being lazy, and afterwards decided I probably shouldn't have done so.  Maybe I'll just darken it more than the surrounding areas.  But maybe it's also an opportunity to add some fine detail; perhaps something than implies a mechanism.

[Eddy Bea]

I had to look up "zygomatic plate" to understand what you meant.  Thank you - I learned something new today!

Ha, I hadn't even realized I'd slipped into anatomical terms. Too many paleontology classes for me. Glad I could be of service, though, in your knowledge finding quest.

Yes, that area was originally black (the cranial portion is also black, though it doesn't really look black in the pictures).  I painted it because I was being lazy, and afterwards decided I probably shouldn't have done so.  Maybe I'll just darken it more than the surrounding areas.  But maybe it's also an opportunity to add some fine detail; perhaps something than implies a mechanism.

Now that I'm looking at it again, perhaps a rust color might be nice. I was also thinking mechanical detail, but I'd be careful about going too far. I'd loathe for such an exquisite mask to become too busy for its own good. I'd definitely like to see the final product if you end up making any changes.

[Professor Fzz]

Thank you everyone for you suggestions - they were very helpful.  I'm quite pleased with how it turned out in the end:







I added a chin, which really seems to help.  The mouth is made of sharp pointy nails, which reduce the vacant expression.  And the eyes stand out much better now, with a couple of yellow LEDs making them glow nicely.  Some black tape inside serves to avoid me being dazzled, though it does reduce the visibility a bit.  And another great thing about a top hat is plenty of space for batteries!

[T.Taylor the Third]

you made that in 1 day!!!!! egad man you have some major talent

[Torvald_Faust]

That is some first class bodgering, Professor I was glad to be of existence!

[James Harrison]

Now that is most splendid.  My word, how quickly you must work to get it done in one day!

[Emmeline X]

I couldn't draw a stick figure in one day, let alone do that! It's a most remarkable piece of last minute bodgery, Professor 

[Professor Fzz]

Now that is most splendid.  My word, how quickly you must work to get it done in one day!

Well, two evenings/nights really.  I didn't get too much sleep either, as you can probably tell from the times of my posts.  But hot glue is the key for rapid construction - when glueing cardboard, it sets in about 5 seconds, which lets you glue lots of pieces in very rapid succession. 

I've added a few pictures showing some of the steps in construction - they give some idea.  But I was in a rush, so didn't take as many construction pictures as I should have. 

Is anyone else going to the Dean Forest Steam Railway Hallowe'en night tomorrow?

[Dusza Beben]

Great quick build!
The chin really made a difference!

DB