Step 9: Bane's Mask
I had initially planned to make the mouthpiece on top of a paintball mask, but eventually decided it would be easier and more accurate if I just sculpted it from scratch. So I did. Then, like Batman's mask, made a plaster mold, and cast it out of latex. For the mouthpiece, with all the little air holes, I drilled holes into a piece of the Tupperware container, and glued that in.
Then I had to fit it to Kevin's head. To make the mask easily removable, I decided to make the mouth piece and the cheek pieces separate, attachable via Velcro. The cheek pieces, made from foamie sheets, were attached to an over-the-head piece of cloth as a template. I trimmed it down and re-sized it until it was the right fit and shape on his head. Then I cut a long piece of foamie sheet for the middle of the head, and added some tubes onto the sides. The tubes I used were a 3/4 inch protective wire wrap, cut in half lengthwise
The tubes on the mouth. Boy. Sometimes it stinks to be dedicated to details. Looking at high-resolution official pictures of Bane, I noticed that some of the tubes had a specific texture. It wasn't just ribbed, it was like a diamond pattern. I searched internet stores, hardware stores, anywhere to try and find something that texture that was flexible or modifiable enough to use. I didn't. The only places I saw it was on metal tools, like dentist picks or jewelry tweezers. I finally noticed that the sculpting tools I had already have that texture on it, and got smart and decided to dip them in latex. After a few layers, I could peel it off, turning it inside out, and that would give me a flexible tube with that diamond grip texture. Voila.
The ribbed tubes were initially going to be 1/4 inch protective wire wrap, but that ended up not being quite as flexible as I wanted. A friend recommended Lego Technic hose pieces, which were much better. The flat tubes on the sides would just be pens. For the little pieces where the tubes connect to the mask, I used cut up pieces of pens. Sometimes I wanted slightly larger diameter pieces. It was difficult to find tubes like that in just the size I was looking for (that I could cut with scissors), and so cheap noisemakers I found ended up working. For the flexible tubes, I put pieces of bent wire on the insides to help keep their shape. All of this hot glued on. More detail pieces on the sides made from foamie sheets glued on. Same as the details on the tubes on the middle of the mask, in addition to power cord tube running underneath the cheek pieces, and small rings for the tabs on the middle of the mask.
Looking at behind-the-scenes pictures of Bane in daylight, you can some subtle colors; it's not just solid black and silver. Finding just the right color was a challenge, but it ended up being mostly an olive drab mixed with a little bit of blue.
Most homemade Bane masks I've seen have been sculpted as a whole and then cast into a latex mask. That's a good way to do it, especially for a tight fit, but I do like how it looks pieced together from parts, rather than just a single rubber piece.
Then I had to fit it to Kevin's head. To make the mask easily removable, I decided to make the mouth piece and the cheek pieces separate, attachable via Velcro. The cheek pieces, made from foamie sheets, were attached to an over-the-head piece of cloth as a template. I trimmed it down and re-sized it until it was the right fit and shape on his head. Then I cut a long piece of foamie sheet for the middle of the head, and added some tubes onto the sides. The tubes I used were a 3/4 inch protective wire wrap, cut in half lengthwise
The tubes on the mouth. Boy. Sometimes it stinks to be dedicated to details. Looking at high-resolution official pictures of Bane, I noticed that some of the tubes had a specific texture. It wasn't just ribbed, it was like a diamond pattern. I searched internet stores, hardware stores, anywhere to try and find something that texture that was flexible or modifiable enough to use. I didn't. The only places I saw it was on metal tools, like dentist picks or jewelry tweezers. I finally noticed that the sculpting tools I had already have that texture on it, and got smart and decided to dip them in latex. After a few layers, I could peel it off, turning it inside out, and that would give me a flexible tube with that diamond grip texture. Voila.
The ribbed tubes were initially going to be 1/4 inch protective wire wrap, but that ended up not being quite as flexible as I wanted. A friend recommended Lego Technic hose pieces, which were much better. The flat tubes on the sides would just be pens. For the little pieces where the tubes connect to the mask, I used cut up pieces of pens. Sometimes I wanted slightly larger diameter pieces. It was difficult to find tubes like that in just the size I was looking for (that I could cut with scissors), and so cheap noisemakers I found ended up working. For the flexible tubes, I put pieces of bent wire on the insides to help keep their shape. All of this hot glued on. More detail pieces on the sides made from foamie sheets glued on. Same as the details on the tubes on the middle of the mask, in addition to power cord tube running underneath the cheek pieces, and small rings for the tabs on the middle of the mask.
Looking at behind-the-scenes pictures of Bane in daylight, you can some subtle colors; it's not just solid black and silver. Finding just the right color was a challenge, but it ended up being mostly an olive drab mixed with a little bit of blue.
Most homemade Bane masks I've seen have been sculpted as a whole and then cast into a latex mask. That's a good way to do it, especially for a tight fit, but I do like how it looks pieced together from parts, rather than just a single rubber piece.
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Extra special thanks to alexthemoviegeek for an excellent and detailed guide!
Advice to people making their masks for Halloween: I recommend lining the inside with black duck tape. If you sweat a lot it can make the paint run and can make the foamie pads wet so a line of duck tape can help with comfort.
For the tubes on the mouth I found some at a Lowes hardware store in the plumbing and electrical section, (the black wool-looking tubes) and for the others I used jumbo ribbed straws with regular straws inside them with bent metal wire inside that.
I also sewed the whole the thing together through the foam and the metal rings on top because it was very fragile and I guarantee you will be lifting it up on your head to drink and talk so it should be able to take a lot of movement.
Good luck!
Would you be at all interested in a payment for hire of your mask for ASAP should you be situated in the UK? I need the item before Friday and I am happy to transter a substantial amount VIA PAYPAL if you wish. I will return the item after this weekend to you via registered post so I know and you know you have received the item safely. If your interested please get in touch ASAP. The mask looks incredible, well done!!!
My details are hamersleywill@hotmail.com and if you want to ring me its +447905 270009. Name is Will :)
Hope to hear from you soon .
Thanks
Heres a few changes i have employed, lets see how they turn out but so far been very helpful and easy especially for the novice (me):
- Skipped the latex mask because of my lack of experience with the process and lack of time (started this on the sunday before the premier of the movie). Instead used a Paint respirator found here: http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&productId=100537039&R=100537039
- Instead of lego pieces for the ribbed tubes (which were expenses because of the full lego sets) I used cheap accordion straws usually found on kid's water bottles
- Added the velcro to the back. The two ear flaps attach first then the head flap goes over it
Going to paint the mask tomorrow, give the flaps foamie detail, and add the leather straps and gromits to the top.
Thanks again, and all hail Hot Glue, saves me from breaking my back too hard ;P
http://www.instructables.com/id/Bane-Mask-The-Dark-Knight-Rises/
Thanks to the big velcro flaps that hold it together in the back its adjustable to most heads.
http://i.imgur.com/UK8Q3.jpg
I will be posting a mini instructable on the mask soon