Tusken mask build problem

[kibosh]

I was humming along building my Studio Creations based Tusken mask, and ran into a snag. The problem I'm having relates to wrapping the leather straps around the mouth. I got the first one on okay. Sort of. I used an old leather belt for this. As you all know, a belt bends great. In one direction. It does not want to bend, at all, in the other plane.

The leather looks pretty good to me.

I had a REALLY tough time getting the leather to follow the edge of the mouth, and line up together under the chin. I couldn't bend the leather to my will, so I had to cut a wedge shaped piece of leather out, and pull the cut edges together. You can see the resulting seam below. It allowed me to bend the leather strap so the ends would meet. I'll cover this with some sort of weathering to hide it better.

I don't want to leave a cut in the second layer as it will be more prominent, but I'm having an even tougher time getting the strap to wrap properly. This is how it's wanting to come together underneath.

I assume I'm not the only one to run into this. How is everyone overcoming it??? At this point, I'm seriously considering cutting this layer into two strips; one seam under the chin, and the other at the bridge of the nose. The rounded vertical strip should cover this. Two pieces seem to line up a little easier than one.

Any other suggestions, ideas, advice???

Thanks!

 

[theyrenotdolls]

I'm not sure about belt leather that's been treated, dyed, etc. but raw leather becomes very pliable/moldable after soaking in water.

I was humming along building my Studio Creations based Tusken mask, and ran into a snag. The problem I'm having relates to wrapping the leather straps around the mouth. I got the first one on okay. Sort of. I used an old leather belt for this. As you all know, a belt bends great. In one direction. It does not want to bend, at all, in the other plane.

The leather looks pretty good to me.

I had a REALLY tough time getting the leather to follow the edge of the mouth, and line up together under the chin. I couldn't bend the leather to my will, so I had to cut a wedge shaped piece of leather out, and pull the cut edges together. You can see the resulting seam below. It allowed me to bend the leather strap so the ends would meet. I'll cover this with some sort of weathering to hide it better.

I don't want to leave a cut in the second layer as it will be more prominent, but I'm having an even tougher time getting the strap to wrap properly. This is how it's wanting to come together underneath.

I assume I'm not the only one to run into this. How is everyone overcoming it??? At this point, I'm seriously considering cutting this layer into two strips; one seam under the chin, and the other at the bridge of the nose. The rounded vertical strip should cover this. Two pieces seem to line up a little easier than one.

Any other suggestions, ideas, advice???

Thanks!

 

[stormtrooperguy]

i'd suggest not using an old belt... get a strip of undyed leather from tandy online. wet it and wrap it around, then dye it brown.

i got a godzilla kit for mine, and the strips were all pre cut / measured to fit perfectly, but if i was doing it myself, i'd do the undyed leather thing.