HI everyone, I finally got my hands on a TOTS Kirk mask and I am ready to convert it! For those who have converted theirs, what did you do for the eye cuts, hair, and paint? I’ve heard people using dremels for the eye cuts but I am unsure which bit to use. Or, what type of scissors work best? I’d like to use the hair already on the mask. Any advice on how to make it look better? I’m pretty excited to convert this thing. I also have an airbrush which is what I plan on using for it. What did everyone do for paint?
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Remove the eyebrows and sideburns. Where the sideburns were, fix the hairline with adhesive/glue before painting.
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Slit the mouth. Follow a screen cap to determine the length of the cut.
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Draw the eye cuts on first. Use screen caps and behind the scenes photos for reference. Using scissors will get you rugged cuts, that can easily be smoothed with a conic dremel bit for sanding.
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Tape off the hairline to avoid getting paint in it - some is okay. Use a white spray paint (Krylon or Rustoleum will not crack, as cheaper brands do). Spray from a high angle down at the mask. This will get you accurate flesh spots every time - neck, cheeks, nose, lips, etc. Make sure to get the coverage you would like, but keep the high angle in mind, as to avoid covering flesh spots that are accurate to the movie. Coat lightly, and build up to desired opacity. It shouldn’t take more than 2 thin coats, and you don’t want to apply too many layers.
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Since you have an airbrush, I would recommend watering some black acrylic down and spraying the hair - not too dark. Get some good coverage, but remember that variety in color is good. It should really just mute the color nicely. Keep a sponge handy to dab down any spots that get on the white paint, as it will stain the mask and give you a “weathered” look.
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If a weathered look is what you are going for, you can use the sponge to blend some watered down black into the flesh spots on the mask. Start very light, and let dry. Continue to layer to your preference if you are not satisfied, though I don’t think an H1 should be very weathered. Just softly in areas like the chin, neck, nose, sideburns, etc.
This is awesome advice!! Thank you sooo much! Can’t wait to give this a go!
Here’s a tip, reference the hero in this shot for eyecuts
Wont spray paint not stick to latex very well? I thought you need a latex ratio with paint for it to stay on to the latex and not peel.
That’s a common misconception. I’ve spray painted 3 masks so far with very pleasing results. Never had an issue.
Hahahah…you WILL have an issue sooner or later. That’s terrible advice to give someone that is expecting their new paint job to last as long as possible. You need to use latex paint on latex, if possible.
I think it’s so funny we still have that conception about spray paint dictating how we replicate the hero, considering the real mask was spray painted. If you haven’t used spray paint, I understand your concern, but as I’ve said, I’ve used it on 3 masks now. Not only have I not had any issues with bonding or cracking, I’ve found the results to be far more accurate. Here is my TOTS Kirk I did this year, before I did the hair and weathered it.
Give it a year, the whole thing will looked more cracked than a ghetto sidewalk. That was a rookie mistake I made. I tried “whitening up” a Don Post 06 mask, and it started cracking and chipping a few months later. Looked even worse a year later.
Thanks everyone for their feedback. I actually have a bottle of sprayable latex I plan on mixing with oil paints or acrylic before airbrushing. I can see how spray paint could cause problems down the line, and I plan on keeping this thing for a very long time. Better to be safe than sorry!
No worries at all! Do what feels safe for your mask. My main piece of advice is to remember to spray from a high angle. I think you’ll be very pleased with the results.
Good luck with your mask!
Don’t mix oil paints with latex, oil breaks down latex. Oil paints are good for rubber cement based paint with a thinner but this is toxic stuff, bad fumes. Acrylic and latex is much safer but still keep proper ventilation in mind and use a mask/ventilator if possible.
Also if you’re using scissors for the cuts I’d recommend a good pair of cuticle scissors. (Small curved blades)
I’ve used the sprayable latex/acrylic mix before. The result is actually quite good.
Ah. Thanks! I like working with acrylics more anyway. What colors did you use on the mask? Like which colors to mix to get the right white color?