how to make a fake head

[chess]

hello all...

 

I need to make a fake head for a production of Richard III I'm SM for... but it needs to be fairly weighty (so it doesn't look too fake) and obviously needs to look like the bloke whose head gets cut off!!! :o

 

I have photos of his head (front and both sides)

 

I just wondered if anyone had any tips on what to do to make it look semi decent?

 

thank you!!!

[GridGirl]

I'd be inclined to do something along the lines of making a mould of his face, like you would for mask-making, and then use latex and the mould to make a "skin" which looks like his face. You can then attach this to a head made of whatever and if you paint the "skin" properly it should look OK!

[andy_s]

to make the "foundation" for the head, you could use one of those polystyrene wig blocks that cost a couple of quid from shop display shops or hairdressers sometimes sell them. You'd need to hollow out the centre and fill it with sand perhaps to give it a bit of weight as required.

[chess]

I'd be inclined to do something along the lines of making a mould of his face, like you would for mask-making, and then use latex and the mould to make a "skin" which looks like his face. You can then attach this to a head made of whatever and if you paint the "skin" properly it should look OK!

 

okay- problem is that he has a lot of facial hair- that he probably won't get rid of

(he's a fairly old man- and a bit set in his ways)

 

I think a lot of the modelling work will need to be done with him present won't it...

 

oh jolly good (!) :o

 

to make the "foundation" for the head, you could use one of those polystyrene wig blocks that cost a couple of quid from shop display shops or hairdressers sometimes sell them. You'd need to hollow out the centre and fill it with sand perhaps to give it a bit of weight as required.

 

yeah I think that's what we're thinking... how would I seal it to make sure the sand stayed in? *chess thinking*

 

thanks for the advice though!!!

[the kid]

Well you could do the best you can and do some forn of upper face mask, eyes, nose that area. Remember the vacaline!!!!

 

If he does have facial hair is it going to matter if the jaw line is not too perfect. if its a chubby face then bulk it out in a cast.

 

Re hollowing it out and filling. Possibly a clay or expandable foam plug of sorts

[chess]

that's what I thought as well... hmmm I shall have to investigate further...

 

thanks :o

[Guest lightnix]

Click here for an old post of mine with a link to a very useful site for making moulds of heads, body parts, etc. :o

[chess]

ooooooh thanku- that looks really good!!! :D

[andy_s]

[]

 

yeah I think that's what we're thinking... how would I seal it to make sure the sand stayed in? *chess thinking*

 

thanks for the advice though!!!

 

either cut a plug of polystyrene (perhaps discarded packaging from hi fi etc??)to fit and glue in using polystyrene-friendly glue, or get a can of expanding foam (from DIY shop or builders merchants) and squirt a bit in the hole. this can be cut and sanded flat once it's cured. you need to be careful with this though as it expands an enormous amount....

 

regarding the hairy-faced actor, I'd probably go with the latex version, then perhaps buy / acquire a cheap wig of the right shade and use that, or fake hair from somewhere like Charles Fox that sells theatrical make - up. However you do it, probably quite a long and fiddly process (that's why theatrical wigs cost so much)

 

oops didn't spot the other posts pre-empting my reply....