Introduction: Constructing Anubis

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Begin by creating a paper template of the mask and mount it on a sports face mask as a base.

Take the template apart, transfer the head and ears to cardboard (matte board.)

Build out features with Styrofoam; smooth with light hobby putty.

Paint.

Cut 200 yards (yes, 600 feet) of 1/8 cord for hair.

The video shows all the steps.

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Materials used:

1 sheet of matte board approx. 24" X 30"
several sheets of thick grade paper stock approx. 24" X 30"
1 roll of paper mache material
6 oz. air dry modeling putty
6 oz lightweight hobby putty or wood filler putty
1 Worth brand face mask (see pic)
1 roll 3/4" painter's masking tape (get GOOD masking tape)
1 roll packaging or scotch tape
1 bottle Elmer's Max glue (NOT regular Elmer's)
1 sheet 18 X 24 X 1" carvable Styrofoam
Approx 6 yard of gold material
200 yards (or more) of 1/8" rattail cord or similar (gold leaf if you can afford it)
1 pair of gold reflective sunglasses, polycarbonate lenses
8 oz can of gold leaf paint
Black gloss, clear, and metallic gold spray paint
two 5' lengths of PVC pipe, 1 3/4" and 1 1/2" (smaller fits inside larger)
1 length of foam plumbing insulation
1 black cloth beanie
1 cheap plastic colander with lots of divisions (see pic)
1 piece of flexible rubber or vinyl material
1 full body black suit from any costume supply house
General hardware: pipe cleaners, small nuts and bolts, etc.
Anything gold-ish for costume embellishments (jewelry, etc.)
Tools: utility knife, X-acto, Dremel, carving tools, files, sandpaper, paintbrushes, scissors

Step 1: Create a Paper Template.

Create a paper template beginning with the head.

Step 2: Create the Ears Template.

Continue building the template with the ears, then test in by mounting it on a sports face mask, which will be the foundation for the mask. It may take a couple shots to get the ears right, this is why we're doing it with paper.

Step 3: Create a Nose.

I used a 1/8" piece of rubber packing here, but you could use anything flexible - vinyl, cloth . . . get creative.

Step 4: Transfer to Cardboard, Assemble, Shape It Out.

Take it all apart and transfer the head and ears only to thick matte board for a base. We will use the paper pieces for the rest. Use Elmer's Max glue (not standard Elmer's) for all. Mount the base to the face mask, then shape the Styrofoam to round out the hard edges.

Step 5: Smooth and Paint.

Smooth it out and supplement the sculpting by laying one light layer of mache material over all, then smoothing the material patterns with with lightweight hobby putty. Minimize the use of heavy sculpting putty; this was used only on the eyebrows and ears. A thin layer of sculpting putty goes in the ears, then carve out the lines with a sculpting knife.

Cut a breathe-hole under the jaw - you will need it.

It will take alternating layers of black and clear to build up enough paint to get a glossy finish.

Mask off the gold areas and spray with metallic gold.

Step 6: Create the Hair and Eyes.

You will need at least one 200 yard roll of 1/8" cord. I couldn't find metallic, so used gold tone and had to paint it.

Glue the lengths to one side of paper intended to roll up over to get a "curve" where it "grows out." You'll need at least 20" for the strands from the front of the head and 14" from all the others. This mask has a total of 440 strands (give or take.) :-)

A 99 cent store colander was used to round out the back of the head. Cut it so it partially wraps around the sides, and use the cut piece to go under the bottom of the head as shown. Use three nuts and bolts or pop rivets to attach it to the cardboard, you want this to be fastened solid.

Glue a piece of metallic gold material under the hair in case anything shows through.

Thread the "hair" down and around the head in clean lines and fasten with fabric glue, then paint the hair with gold leafing.

The eyes are from a pair of gold reflective sunglasses glued to the inside of the mask. Once in position, use a moto tool to carefully carve out the irises (and so you can see better.)

Step 7: Costume Embellishments.

The rest you can probably figure out - using a metallic material, create the shoulder piece, skirt, arm bands. The staff is constructed of two pieces of PVC pipe, one inside the other, and foam plumbing insulation for the head. :-)

The video shows all the steps.

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