Frankenstein mask help

Weezer

Weezer

Well-Known Member
Hi there,
Due to the lack of time this year I've decided to dust off my Frankenstein suit to hand out candy. I don't want to go overboard this year with extreme makeup (prosthetics) this year. Fortunately I found this mask in the bottom of a box at the local surplus shop for $4.

The fit is horrible!:eek I know... it looks like I'm a 12 year old sporting an adult mask. The reality is I'm 6 feet tall and 33 years old. I thought for the price I'd pick it up and see if any members out there would have any tips on how to get this thing to fit a little better.

Now laugh at the photo...:lol
 
It looks vinyl. Stuff it out with newspaer to a shape you like, the hit it with a heat gun or hair dryer. This may help to reshape it.

you could also slip foam blocks into the head and cheeks to pad it out.

Pat
 
How tight it the top of the head. I wounder if you could cut it off at the eyebrows and hairline and just paint your face to match.

Pat
 
Just my humble opinion, but at some point it really comes down to time vs. money. You are going to have to pour a LOT of time and effort into that mask to make it look half decent. I know that's not much help, sorry. 2 cents

The only thing I can think of is to follow patsmear's advice and cut the top of and try to blend it in some how. You could fill it with expanding foam and maybe get it to work.

If it is vinyl you can always try the Don post helmet trick and put hot water in is to get the shape back somewhat. If nothing else, soak it and then put it on a mannequin head, but try to let the top become rounded. Then you could fill it with foam sheets to fill it out while you wear it.

I just don't know if it makes sense spending a lot of your time trying to make a silk purse out of a sows ear.
 
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I did a quick google and it looks like a very good Frankenstein mask can be had for about $65!

imageuploadimagew.jpg



That's $61 more than you budgeted, but still I'm impressed at the value. :lol

Actually look around, this is some kind of licensed Universal Monsters thing. I did find it for $25 at another place but they were sold out.

Also seems to be black-and-white, so you might have to touch it up for some color.

k
 
I have one of those masks and they're not bad. The sculpt is very nice but it's a little big. As for the color, it looks black and white in the pictures because it has a very desaturated color scheme but there are hints of a very grey green. I may be willing to part with mine if your interested... Let me know.
 
Thanks everyone.

The black and white mask is very impressive, but they always look better in the production photos.:lol

I think I'm going to try the "stuff and heat" trick. The biggest problem is the top of the head needs padding. I tried the mask on with a small towel folded up inside. I think 1" upholstery foam will do the trick. I have a can of heavy duty spray mount... can that be used to glue down the foam?

If I can just get the cheeks and chin reshape, it would help this mask look a little better. I mean for $4 what do I have to lose.

I'll keep you posted. Please keep the suggestions coming.

Thanks for the offer b89, but I think I'll stick with my sow's ear.:lol
 
The photo of that Frankenstein's Monster mask looks good because it's not actually a photo of the mask - it's a photo of the sculpt. The mask is still okay, but no where near as detailed and sharp as the photo. I also have one. Yeah, it's really big.

Try this: put a piece of stiff cardboard into the top of the mask, then throw some foam on top of that so the top of the head is flatter. If you like what it does, then use spray adhesive to stick it in permanently.

Rick
 
Quick update...

Last night I made a cardboard insert and stuffed the mask with newspaper. Tonight it got a good shot of heat with the heat gun. Originally I was going to stick this monstrosity in the oven, but it didn't fit.:lol

I'm kind of happy with the way the mask looks when it's stuffed. The cardboard insert really helped. I've also made a foam insert that will be glued to the cardboard. To get a little better fit I'll probably need to fill out the forehead and cheeks with additional foam. From what I can see the heat seems to have knocked this mask back into shape.:thumbsup

I'm not sure if I'll have time to do touch ups on the paint, maybe next year. I was going to air brush liquitex acrylics to fix up the existing color? Will that work?

Thanks everyone. I'll keep you posted.
Enjoy the recent photos.
 
True! :sleep

And yet tedious to have to point out. :lol

Let us not also forget that she is the "Bride of Frankenstein's... Monster". :sleep

imageuploadimageo.jpg
 
Does anyone know what kind of paint I can use to do a few touch ups to the mask?

I'm also at the point where I want to glue in the cardboard insert. Would it be better to use Shoe-goo or stick to my original plan of using spray glue?

Thanks.
 
What ever glue you use, test a drop on the back of the mask incase it has a bad reaction.

As for the paint, there are a few things. Get some liquid latex and mix a little acrylic paint in it, or Use acrylic paint and then cover it with a couple of coats of clear plasti dip spray. The plasti dip will create a barrier that still allows the mask to flex without cracking the new paint.

Pat
 
Thanks patsmear. I'll see if I'll have time to paint the mask before Halloween. If not this year definitely by next year.

Your earlier suggestions regarding reshaping the mask really helped in a big way. Thanks.
 
Hedjii72 said:
Actually, she is indeed "the Bride of Frankenstein", according to Dr. Pretorius.
Click to expand...

Well, Pretorius is wrong about a lot of things. :lol

imageuploadimagek.jpg


Technically the "Bride of Frankenstein" would be Elizabeth, who is Henry F.'s fianceé.

imageuploadimagek.jpg


The monstrous female played by Elsa Lanchester, is credited as "The Bride". But obviously she is made for the Karloff character.

Unless the Bride is actually... "The Mistress of Frankenstein". :confused

k
 
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