Taylor Jean
Well-Known Member
Hey guys, I wanted to share a project I've been working on for a friend of mine, a screen-accurate V for Vendetta mask! Many of the masks for sale are way off either in shape, color, or are just not completed to the quality of the original. This is a very special build in that I'm trying a lot of new techniques. I already have a blank mask and I've slowly been working out the details on how to finish it. My build will include: Airbrushed paint job, black leather straps, wet-formed leather interior, and fabric mesh for the eyes and mouth.
I received my paints earlier this week (from Paint), though my compressor died on me. So the tests will most likely commence tomorrow or next week. I'm using the Badger ModelFlex Marine series paints, which have some really spot on colors for this mask. There's an eBay seller who offers fairly inexpensive leather cuts, I picked a smooth black cowhide for the straps (eBay item number 330868651751) . The interior of the screen-used mask I learned was done by wet-forming thin leather to it. (Leather By Johan: May 2005 and Wastekeep Photo Gallery :: Making the Arlecchino Mask have some great photos of the process.) A huge thanks to J EM for helping me out earlier with the details. My client decided to simply do without the leather lining, though I'd love to get around to trying it out for myself. Instead I'll be applying brown paper mache to mimic a classic Venetian mask. Finally, for the eyes and mouth I will stretch a black mesh (Black Power Mesh Fabric - $6.95 | onlinefabricstore.net) over the inside to conceal the wearer. I've included some pictures below of the reference materials and of my work so far:
At the moment I'm deciding on what leather weight in which I should use for lining. Two companies have suggested that I use a 2-3 ounce leather (Tandy Leather Factory - Oak-Leaf Tooling Leather Sides) and stain it once I'm done. I may end up mixing http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/en-usd/home/department/leather-dye/2614-04.aspx with http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/en-usd/home/department/leather-dye/2614-03.aspx since I can't find a spot on color dye. Should I go with a thinner leather than 2-3 oounce? Anyone with some leather experience please chime in. I've been told it has to be vegetable tanned tooling leather. I am also meeting with Tandy leather in person to get another opinion later this month.
I received my paints earlier this week (from Paint), though my compressor died on me. So the tests will most likely commence tomorrow or next week. I'm using the Badger ModelFlex Marine series paints, which have some really spot on colors for this mask. There's an eBay seller who offers fairly inexpensive leather cuts, I picked a smooth black cowhide for the straps (eBay item number 330868651751) . The interior of the screen-used mask I learned was done by wet-forming thin leather to it. (Leather By Johan: May 2005 and Wastekeep Photo Gallery :: Making the Arlecchino Mask have some great photos of the process.) A huge thanks to J EM for helping me out earlier with the details. My client decided to simply do without the leather lining, though I'd love to get around to trying it out for myself. Instead I'll be applying brown paper mache to mimic a classic Venetian mask. Finally, for the eyes and mouth I will stretch a black mesh (Black Power Mesh Fabric - $6.95 | onlinefabricstore.net) over the inside to conceal the wearer. I've included some pictures below of the reference materials and of my work so far:
At the moment I'm deciding on what leather weight in which I should use for lining. Two companies have suggested that I use a 2-3 ounce leather (Tandy Leather Factory - Oak-Leaf Tooling Leather Sides) and stain it once I'm done. I may end up mixing http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/en-usd/home/department/leather-dye/2614-04.aspx with http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/en-usd/home/department/leather-dye/2614-03.aspx since I can't find a spot on color dye. Should I go with a thinner leather than 2-3 oounce? Anyone with some leather experience please chime in. I've been told it has to be vegetable tanned tooling leather. I am also meeting with Tandy leather in person to get another opinion later this month.
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