Just want to discuss the differences you’ve observed between indie masks and mass produced masks. I’ve only had two to compare. Tots Elrod and Martin Pena H2m1 new mold.
Elrod-
- “General public” thought it looks just like the movie.
- Had a strong latex smell that stuck to skin
- Details not bad but not perfect
- Thicker than H2M1
- Cause my nose and eyes to burn and itch because of latex and smell.
- Hair was some weird fiber attached to a net
- Overal decent for general consumer
Martin Pena H2M1 new mold
- “General public” thought it looks just like the movie.
- Latex smell wasn’t as strong as Elrod.
- Detail is great, shading, color etc!
- Thin. I only have Elrod to compare, but it’s thinner than Elrod.
5.No itching or burning because of mask!
- Hair is great! Very hero like!
- Great great mask! Good for collectors. Can nail the look of Myers H1 in my opinion
Indie masks are more expensive, which directly ties into another difference, they have more details and better paint work than mass produced masks. Mass produced masks like the Elrod can be ok, but the issue with them is in the name itself, mass produced, because they have to make so many really quickly, they don’t have time to put in lots of details, whereas indie masks are made one at a time, so you get way more detail with them.
My Elrod specifications-
- Washed out detail!
- Bright white paint job and touch of fleshtone on neck area, lite gray shadings on Mouth, Nose Tip, Both Inner Ears, and Eye Corners and Outline on Cheeks!
- Dark Brown Synthetic Hair (Fiber) glued to the surface of head! No Net on mine**
- 23 & half size!
- Thin pull!
- H8 Hair style going on…hair glued behind lower part of ears around neck!
My 1ST COPY…TOTS CAPTAIN KIRK specifications-
- Poor Quality Brown Synthetic Hair! Old man bushy eyebrows lol!
- Hair was glued to head but not in the right linement the was it supposed to been!
- Bloated Features in the Left Side of the Face (Side of head down to the jaw)
- Paint job was Nicely done!
- Thin/Medium pull!
6.About 24 inch!
- Heavy Latex Smell!
- After taking it off my eyes did itch and burn a little, Nose did a little too!
- Fairly good detail
My 2nd COPY…TOTS CAPTAIN KIRK specifications-
- Poor Quality Brown Synthetic Hair! Old man bushy eyebrows!
2.Hair was glued to head and in good linement!
- NO BLOATED FEATURES****COMPLETE H1 SLIMNESS**
- EXCELLENT DETAILS!
- Thin/Medium Pull!
- Lite Latex Smell!
- Almost 24 inch!
- Worn with (NO) issues, Burning, Itching…ETC!!
- Good Paint Job!
- I would really have to say this is a True TOTS GEM, Every so often you land a really, really good one like this! I got lucky
I don’t really have a indy mask to compare anymore! But I’m saving up for something nice!!
I made a few posts about the Pyscho VS the Elrod and the Maniac VS the Hospital masks a while back. Hope they’re of help. I didn’t do one of my TOTS Kirk and my Creep, but I can do that now…
The TOTS Kirk is well painted, considering it’s a massed produced mask. It doesn’t compared to Justin’s work at all, but I do like it, and the speckled texture is a nice touch of realism. I will say the paint isn’t as light as the originals or Nik’s work. The hairline on the Kirk is actually surprisingly good. It juts out in a classic receding hairline just like the original, and though the sideburns could be more accurate, this is a simple fix with a steady hand and a sharp pair of scissors. The eyebrows are really the worst part of the whole haring. Way too fluffy, and needs to be trimmed back a lot in order to look like Kirk eyebrows. The quality of the hair is surprisingly decent. It’s not indy quality, but it’s not bad. When I saw the blond was changed to the brown, I was actually disappointed. I thought we were getting that junky hair from the H2 masks. This hair is nice, though. Though it comes overstuffed, the hair combs really well, and styles into a perfect Kirk pompadour with ease. This is honestly not something I can say of my NO Creep. The Creep’s hair, while superior in quality, is harder to style, and I have to constantly play with it to get it to look right.
Moving on to the sculpt, it’s not bad. Some copies are horribly bloated, but thankfully my copy is not. The eye cuts could definitely be moved closer together, but it doesn’t kill the sculpt altogether. The paint really accentuates the sculpt, and brings out the Kirky cheeks and features on the mask that sometimes get drowned out in the conversion. The details are nowhere near the depth they are on the Creep, but it’s not bad. Honestly the biggest problem I had with the mask is that I had to cut the mouth slit myself.
Overall, I think the TOTS Kirk is a fine mask, and definitely a great addition to my collection.
