My Tusken Raider Page
     Ok, so my custom Mandalorian is well on it's way to completion, so I figured I'd start on another costume that I'd been wanting to do; the dreaded Tusken Raider. Also known as Sand People.
      I had purchased a replica baseball batting helmet at the 99 cent store with the idea of cutting the bill off and using it in my Mandalorian helmet. After cutting, I realized it would be a perfect base for the crown of my Tusken. Here's where I started.
       I wanted to try using more "found" items, and also was after a "different" twist on the normal costume (read; I'm cheap). I settled on using brass garden hose nozzles as the horns and tusks. They worked great! I did hacksaw off the threaded portions, leaving only a flat base to attach to the mask. Using JB Weld, this was easily accomplished.
        I needed the face portion of the mask. I used a styrofoam wig head thing (?) and bulked it up to my head size with crumpled newspaper and a couple layers of papier mache. On this, I sculpted/poured a plaster rendition of what I thought the mask may look like. I then covered this with about three fiber glass and resin layers (only one layer of cloth). When cured, I busted the plaster out and was left with a near-perfect-fit-to-my-face mask. This, I fiberglassed to the batting helmet.
        
Fiberglassed base-mask attached to helmet. Short brass hose nozzles attached to top of helmet, as well. Eyeholes cut out.
Sorry, Oakland fans. I root for the Padres, anyway.
Vinyl attached to mouth area, long brass nozzles attached to tusk area, aluminum "teeth" attached in proper place (drilled holes are to allow bonding agent a place to "grip" to), and canvas attached. The canvas is one piece that goes all around underneath and is split to allow insertion of my head. The edges have been hot glued to the mask, and the back has industrial Velcro sewn in for a tight closure.
Leather wraps applied to the snout.
Page two....
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