Guide to making your own kigurumi cosplay mask~

[Wyu]

STEP 10
Inserting the padding
MATERIAL: foam padding

This is the last step of the mask making process. The mask cannot be worn yet, as it is hard and loose inside. If you put it on now, it should be quite painful when it knocks about.

So you need to put padding.
I am very sorry, I did not take any pictures of this key step as it is often a very short process. OK they main thing is, pad the insides of the mask TOP, CHIN, NOSE BRIDGE, LEFT/RIGHT TEMPLE, these locations so that when you wear it, the mask is firmly attached to your head.

Its really simple, just use your own creativity and initiative. If you don't pad, you won't feel comfortable anyway, so its something you will work out yourself even when not shown. Remember, if the padding is too thick, just cut it thinner. If it is too thin, just take it out and glue it back again. Contact glue is a strong and easy to use glue in this case as well.

I got a few pictures of it from the inside, but not the whole process.
Paddings can vary A LOT in positioning depending on your preferences.


The paddings in the picture is done inside a Fibre glass mask. The material is thinner so the padding can be thicker.

So now you can turn this:


Into this ~


And many many more... which anime girl/boy do you want in real life? hehe~




My thoughts: By no means this is going to be cheap, that is why the masks costs so much. And considering this method is already the cheap method. The professional methods uses silicone molds and Fibreglass which are ridiculously expensive. I just paid AU$580 for 20kg of silicone to make 1x master copy for 1 mask. I won't do it if not already paid by a customer.

The guide is finished, I will show demos of the mask below and open for discussion~ I hope you find the guide interesting.
If you like what you saw, come support my site at http://www.kigurumicosplay.com too~
If you will like a report on other related things, like using professional tools and methods or any qusetions, feel free to ask~^^
If you're new to kigurumi cosplay perhaps you should read this thread first.
http://forums.sgcafe.com/showthread.php?t=34246

In case the guide is so long people don't know where it ended, here is a sign your eyes won't miss
FINISH

[asumi_chan]

omg! that's incredible. i love this!!! LOL

[Eriol]

woah! impressive. hehe

[DeidaraGS]

Thanks for the awesome tutorial!

[lockie]

airbrush for $39!?

which shop? and what's the brand of the airbrush, gotta know man. xD

[Wyu]

airbrush for $39!?

which shop? and what's the brand of the airbrush, gotta know man. xD

Though its not really related, i guess i can still answer that.

Its a single action airbrush shown in the picture below.
Bought it from the hobby store in sunshine plaza.
You will probably cry if you want to cover the whole mask in 1 colour using those sparmax airbrush for painting model kits which costs $120 (look at my air compressor picture above).
The cheapo airbrushes which are coarse is best for this purpose.

[saku-chan]

omg. Long report, but very much appreciated. Some of your comments are funny.
And YESH, Art friend should pay you for advertising them and their products. I dint know they have this and that, lol ^^;
Air brush! Wanted to ask about it, but lockie asked already. LOL.
I have always wondered about the wig part. Now I see. 2 wigs combine into 1. COOL!
Thanks again for the awesome report!

[Wyu]

Thanks, Just wanting to spread the fun~
Its really really cute if you have seen them in real life, you can't imagine~

Who here thinks they have the funds and the creativity to do it?
Its really not cheap I know, but I think more adult members should be able to fork out about $300~$400 to attempt. As the masks are replicated from one original, the more people share the cheaper. I think if about 4-5 people share, under $200 can be done easily. BUT don't mark my words under $200, never done like that before, but only simple mathematics.
Maybe if you ask art friend to sponsor for some ads for them?? Buy in bulk??

Can always start making now and be ready by the next event.
You'll be the first too (second if including me~)

If can find a group of people seriously want to do it, I can provide support.

[LittleYuki]

in malaysia there is an art craft shop tat sells the hard mask which have the scuplture of a human face just stick the eyes will look the same

well havent had tat much money to buy a paint spray T T
envy~

[Wyu]

in malaysia there is an art craft shop tat sells the hard mask which have the scuplture of a human face just stick the eyes will look the same

well havent had tat much money to buy a paint spray T T
envy~

There are many types of masks out there, but I haven't seen any which are made alike to the kigurumi cosplay style.
I'm pretty sure those masks are by far nothing like kigurumi cosplay masks.

Why not show a picture of it.

There are many mask makers and cheapo masks available online too. But so far every single one I've seen ...unfortunately will make you look rather hideous if not fetish-like. I only know of one mask seller in Japan which makes really good masks but you have to communicate in Japanese and they ship in Japan only.

If someone don't wish to buy from me, then I strongly suggest the Japanese ones are their only remaining option, which is actually a little more difficult to obtain.

Otherwise, you have to settle for just plain crappy~

[b4By_d3n1s3]

Wyu>> Great tutorial hahah! Might give it a go some time. BTW, just a question, do you think this is a suitable method to apply for mascot head making?

[Wyu]

Using the paper mache is going to be quite heavy.
Well, maybe with fibreglass it will still be a little heavy, but I believe it will be lighter than paper mache.
But it all depends on how large you want your mask to be.

Mascot, which one are you referring to?

[b4By_d3n1s3]

I guess more in general where it requires the usage of cloth and fur as well. Is it possible to use this as a base then glue gun fur and cloth over it? =)

[Wyu]

It is more depending on how big you want your head to be as I said.
If its too big, you'll be having an extremely heavy mask, and an even more heavier and expensive ORIGINAL head scultpture lol~

You can do whatever you want with it after you get the mask done be it cloth or fur... depends on your creativity that time.

[vogue_ace]

greeeat tutorial. u put in lots of efforts