Saber Forum

Please check out my old thread here for my first mask construction, I didn't want to necro such an old thread:

http://www.saberforum.com/index.php?topic=27938.msg412915#msg412915

SO!  It came time to finally admit that the chrome face plate just wasn't going to work the way I wanted.  I'm really bummed too, 'cause I looooved the solid chrome look, but the mask (being from a Halloween store) was just too flimsy to make me feel comfortable that it would last and the fog issue. 

Yes, the fog, blah.  I wear glasses, it's a fact of my life.  I can't stand using simple eye drops, so the thought of contacts makes me cringe, what's a Jedi to do?  Put on a mask!  The biggest issue of all was fogging, even if I could get the mask to stop fogging, my glasses would.  I thought about putting fans in, but that is just more weight and the noise was an issue, it's not like Stormtrooper and Vader helms where the thick plastic and padding hide the noise well.

I had gotten wind of a type of mask I had never thought of, airsoft masks!  These things are frickin' awesome!  So many styles, colors and sooo inexpensive.  Long story short, after months of waiting, a USA seller got this particular mask in and a month after that, put them on sale for a measly $56.

This is the "prototype" stage, using the existing crown I had made for the chrome mask, I modified it to fit the new mask and used a new hood to cover over it.  The hood is held on by the same hardware used to attach the crown to the mask, so it's a permanent placement.  Later I will be making a new hood, one without red and larger in the back so it is easier to slip on, this one is pretty much a place holder:
(http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa95/cujoe_da_man/Mask%2001.jpg) (http://s199.photobucket.com/user/cujoe_da_man/media/Mask%2001.jpg.html)

Showing the inside of the mask with the modified crown.  The original crown had a strip of aluminum running all the way to my chin to help support the old chrome face plate, no problem with this new fiberglass mask.  The strip was cut and used as a cross-member to give more lateral support.  Needless to say, this new setup feels like a motorcycle helmet.  This pic is actually slightly older than my current setup, the foam is now down on the brow/cross-member to protect my noggin from that little screw in the center.  I am using the existing hardware that was there to hold the mask's original head strap on with some washers on the inside and rubber washers on the outside to aid in keeping the metal from gouging the fiberglass and paint:
(http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa95/cujoe_da_man/Mask%2002.jpg) (http://s199.photobucket.com/user/cujoe_da_man/media/Mask%2002.jpg.html)

The crown detached from the mask for painting.  This shows a bit more detail on how I put it together.  This is modified from my old setup, so some of the hardware you see here is actually unnecessary, but since it held together so well, I just left it.  I would have used rivets, but I may be adding some things later, also they don't seem to touch the mask, so that's not a bad thing.  This also shows the padding in the new position for my forehead:
(http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa95/cujoe_da_man/Mask%20Crown.jpg) (http://s199.photobucket.com/user/cujoe_da_man/media/Mask%20Crown.jpg.html)

And the current state of the mask itself, currently drying after a fresh coat of paint, though not the last.  I primed the entire outside, then masked off the vent to keep it black and blasted the entire thing again with Rust-oleum 'oil rubbed bronze'.  You can almost make out the little metal flakes in the paint.  Tomorrow will be a new coat of 'flat antique nickle' which will also have a similar metal flake on the upper and front portion of the mask, the raised areas.  The lower "chin" will be left darker.  Then probably a matte clear coat after that:
(http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa95/cujoe_da_man/Mask%20Paint.jpg) (http://s199.photobucket.com/user/cujoe_da_man/media/Mask%20Paint.jpg.html)

The best part of this?  No fogging!  Also, it's so much more sturdy now, I mean the mask itself is supposed to take direct hits from airsoft guns, so I don't have to worry about any major damage from light use.  Are there some things I would do different?  Heck yes, the crow would be completely redesigned to fit the new mask, but since I had it done already, I was able to make it work.  For now, it's still in the construction stage, but as I said to a friend of mine (before painting), I could put on my outfit and don my mask and be perfectly happy with it!

Parodija! :D
(Impressive!)

More painting, lots and lots of nooks to tape up, but I have to if I want it to look good!  It's still a similar paint job as the original, except the silver is a bit darker and I used Rust-oleum 'flat antique nickle', leaving a nice contrast to the 'oil rubbed bronze' of the lower portion.  Also masked off the mesh and the small little detail areas on either side of the mesh, still have some minor touch-up work to do, but overall, it's turning out nice.  I also left it black inside the recessed area around the mesh as well.  This should help with any glare from the sun.  Now all that's left is to get some clear-coat on it to seal it and begin working on a new hood!

(http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa95/cujoe_da_man/Mask%20Paint%2002.jpg) (http://s199.photobucket.com/user/cujoe_da_man/media/Mask%20Paint%2002.jpg.html)

veryy cool!

I really like the look of this mask!!

That is one damn fine mask? Totally bad-ass. Point to you

Great mod of that mask! +1

I like what you did with the mask!

I know kind of an old post but seriously cool mask :P Where did you get it from or is it original made? Think of the design though. Kind of reminds me of The Day The Earth Stood Still robot alien sort of

Liking the look of this