'Bye 2020!

I'm glad to see this dumpster fire of a year end - and I'm sure this sentiment is shared by many of you as well...

And hopefully, 2021 will be better and I hope my mood improves to start writing more stories again.

 

So given the dearth of new characters in the blog, I  (and four rookies from the Four-One - one as his "new and improved" muscle-brutha self) want to wish you and yours the best and a Happier New Year!

 

Photo Study #42: The Black Model

Like Rodney Dangerfield, young guy masks don't seem to get any respect. "Old Fart" masks seem to be the major money-maker, probably since they are easier to create a realistic impression and few people are going to stare hard at a senior citizen. 

Also, those discounted "early bird" dinners pay for the mask in no time.

So I was very happy when Yves Gravelle of Metamorphose masks came out with a new younger, sleeker, black guy mask. 

Yves has really taken up the challenge of filling the void left by Studio135 and has been producing absolutely amazing masks that are close to or matching Bryan Silva's amazing talents.

The "Black Model" is a mask that aims at a mid-to-late twenty-something and does it with a great deal of aplomb. This mask is slightly thinner than his recent masks (like the Clark) but is constructed just as sturdily; the bib is well developed and the material produces a nice grip on the face which definitely improves eye and lip fitment. The interior is silky smooth and extended wear is extremely comfortable.

The reference pics for my mask were Brandon Carter and Simeon Panda. Brandon for the skintone, eyebrows and waxed head; Simeon for the facial hair.

Brandon Carter has been one of the top personal trainers and nutritionists in North America for over 10 years. He has worked as a fitness model for Nike, Puma, Adidas, Men's Health, and many others. Brandon Carter was born and raised on the South Side of Chicago. He went on to study Marketing at Howard University's prestigious School of Business. Brandon works full time as CEO of "Bro Laboratories", a sports nutrition company that makes the best bodybuilding supplements the world has ever seen.

Simeon Panda is an English professional bodybuilder, who currently competes in Musclemania. Simeon has been lifting weights since he was 11 years old, and his transformation over the years is incredible. Right now, Panda is one of the most popular figures in bodybuilding; with millions of followers on social media. Owner of Just Lift®, he is a fitness entrepreneur who is featured on Forbes as one of the worlds top ten influencers for fitness. Simeon has immense popularity not just because of his amazing physique, but for his character and high standards in representing the sports fitness industry. He has competed in Musclemania® competitions worldwide, winning the European Championship in 2013 and earning himself Musclemania Pro® status. 

Yves (as usual) did an amazing job of adapting the pictures to reality. Mask fitment overall is a 10/10, with eye fitment a solid 9.9/10 and lip fitment a 9.95/10. Other than the Studio135 masks, this mask is the only one that you can actually smile in and have it MOVE with your mouth.

So if you are looking for a hot-looking young black guy, look no further - get the Black Model from Metamorphose Masks!

UPDATE

I've also added a video review of the mask as well...

Public Service Announcement: Fitment Tips - Making Your Mask the Best it Can Be!

I've been wanting to do a video like this for a while, so ... no time like the present!

Photo Study #41: "Man"ning Up

I've always had great service from Realflesh Masks.

There was a period of time when (allegedly) there were lapses in communications, slow delivery or no delivery, but in all my years of working with Ian Marier, I have never had a problem.

Over the years, Ian has constantly improved his cores and paint jobs - he's particularly adept at bald heads - perhaps because he has one himself. His stipple stubble paintjobs are beautiful, and even the non-stubbled paintjobs have a pigmentation and patterning that is 100-percent natural.

Realflesh Mask's earlier masks tended to be built on a larger core; smaller than SPFX and slightly larger than CFX. His later works have shrunk a bit in a good way and fit snugly without being tight.

I recently purchased "The Man" and I am extremely happy with this mask. "The Man" I believe is based on a slightly older (probably late 30s) character, with a strong brow, defined features and a well-muscled neck. The mask also has Realflesh's signature sculpted bib, which allows you to leave at least three buttons open on your shirt. The features are a tad bit softer than the "Hero".

I had seen some handsome latino pics that had the same facial structure and dimensions of the mask, so I decided to have the mask haired that way as well. 

I also did some searching to find a skintone which would look great. Ian did a blend of the pics I sent and did a spectacular job - I also checked and my "Latino" gloves I received from CFX will also be a great match!

Skintone reference pics for "The Man" mask

Ian promised me between 6-8 weeks for completion and he was good as his word; he also did an amazing job on the paintjob, particularly the shaved head. There is a dimensionality to the paintjob that is really unique.

Eye fitment is very good, but you do need a little bit of makeup around the eyes to achieve a seamless illusion. Lip fitment is a solid 9.25 on the Silva scale; the lips cup well, and there is no issues speaking or even smiling a bit.

My recommendation? "The Man" is a definite buy. Go for it!

And with a wig... I've been told that this does seem to give it an 80's George Michael vibe...

Photo Study #40: CreaFX - Encore

Several years ago, I had purchased a CreaFX "Frank" mask. CreaFX is a high-end mask, makeup and prosthetic company located in Florence, Italy. 

While the mask was interesting and well-fitting, the eyeholes were too large and I sold it. As you know, that is the thing that absolutely kills a mask for me.

I had contacted Danilo (the owner) recently and explained the situation. "Would it be possible to get a new Frank, but reduce the eyeholes?"

And the answer was "Yes!"

I sent Danilo pics of where the previous eyeholes were too large for me and I received a new version of a "Frank" that I am truly happy with.

With that said, there are a few caveats:

The mask is THIN

CreaFX tends to make masks that are about half the thickness of a Studio135 Chiseled mask and about about 40% the thickness of a CFX, Realflesh or Metamorphose mask. While this is great for the face, there is a higher tendency for the neck to wrinkle. The mask comes in an "standard" version and an "applied" version (even thinner to be worn with prosthetic adhesive). Also, you need to be a bit more gentle with the mask as it is thinner than US- or Canadian-based masks.

It has a small bib

This is definitely NOT the mask to wear with a wide open shirt. The bib is small and unsculpted, so you are limited to leaving the collar and perhaps one other button open.

The ears are (still) the weakest part of the sculpt

The design of the ears on the mask are not as well defined as other makers, although I DO see improvements from the original Frank mask I had purchased.

With that said, the mask is beautifully made; the flashing is perfect, so no seams are visible and the paintjob is top-notch, with subtle gradations and little imperfections that make it perfectly realistic.

The mask is cut on the smaller side, but because of the thinness of the mask, it provides a superior fit. 

Eyeholes (reduced) are now perfect. Danilo and I jokingly refer to this as the "Americano mod"

Lip fitment is excellent, with a strong 8.75 on the Silva scale.

Hair punching was done by CreaFX. I know from the experience of punchers like Jerry Almond or Anne-Marie Scott that punching a very thin mask is difficult. I felt that it was worth the additional cost to have it done by the manufacturer - this way, if anything did go wrong, it could be fixed (or a new mask cast) right there. I sent Danilo some reference pics, and he did a beautiful job of adapting this to the mask.

So I can definitely recommend the CreaFX "Frank" with the americano mod for anyone looking for a thinner, good looking young guy mask.

An Ethical Dilemma - Follow Up

Sometimes you have to do something wrong to do something right.

I received my RMM muscle vest back from the guy who color-matched it to my mask and it is incredible to say the very least. He did an excellent and amazing job with adding depth to the musculature and contouring along the pecs and abs. Nips were darkened to provide a more realistic look as well. I'm also considering getting some nip rings.

Earlier, I had ordered a pair of gloves from CFX that was actually a "three-fer" - the skintone matches my Studio135 "Knuckles", a custom toned CFX "Derrick" and a Metamorphose "Soul Man". Again, they are a perfect match to the torso. 

Alert #1 - you can't wear a mask with a sculpted bib with the muscle vest; it would be too thick. I will try the Derrick with the vest, but your best bet will be a half-mask.

Putting it on and taking it off

I had originally tried the muscle vest with baby powder and that was NOT a good idea. You need LUBE and lots of it. Give a generous coating to the inside of the vest (front and back) and then do your chest and shoulders as well.

For those of you who enjoy latex as well, you may have some silicone-based lube around ... DO NOT USE IT. 

Alert #2 - The same way that the only thing that sticks to silicone IS silicone, the only thing that can break down silicone IS silicone. 

Get yourself some good water-based lube; I like using Gun Oil H20, but something like Astroglide should work just as well. After the vest, I put on the mask, and finally, the CFX sleeves - best way to put them on is to roll down the sleeves halfway, add some lube inside and rub around, then lube your hands and slip them in. Roll the sleeves up, then "burp" any air out of the palm by making a fist and lifting the edge of the sleeve.

The Final Result

The final result is amazing. The vest is extremely comfortable and I didn't feel excessively hot either; I'm sure that I could have worn this for several hours without any discomfort. Add a couple of bead bracelets, an oversized watch, makeup and my brown contacts, no one could spot the disguise. I cheated a little this time with the sunglasses; I didn't use my Mehron Celebre makeup or the brown contacts.

So, while you may not like RMM's business practices, I would not fault you for buying the vest and having a blast!

And here's some composite shots - just for fun... 

UPDATE - April 19th, 2020

I made a movement video showing the torso and the entire transformation - this time I inserted the contacts and used the Mehron makeup around the eyes.