Photo Study #31: Breaking Bad (Or actually, quite good)

Ever since Evolution Masks came out with their "Chemist" - I've wanted  to purchase one. Badly.

And thanks to filing my taxes early, I did. At last.

For those of you unfamiliar with "The Chemist", the mask is a homage to Bryan Cranston's character "Heisenberg" on the series "Breaking Bad".

I tend to avoid monsters and "older age" masks, but I do have a few of each. I'm very particular when it comes to these two categories, and Jeffery Gardner's mask was something that definitely is worth owning. I do NOT have any "old fart" masks or zombies - those two types just strike the wrong chord with me.

First off, the design and paintjob on the mask is excellent. There is a dimensionality to the coloration that really makes it stand out. Earholes are well designed as well and very natural looking. I did find that the mask was slightly stiffer than than equivalent CFX, Realflesh or Studio135 masks, but not terribly so. There is no neck wrinkling at all.

 

Eye fitment is very good and very comfortable. The eyeholes almost go up to the lower lids; if I was to order this again, I would probably ask to have the eyeholes shrunk by about 1mm.

Lip fitment is a very good, but unique. In most other vendors, the lips try to "cup" around your own to provide the best fit. The "Chemist" lips tend to lay snugly on top of your own. Again, I can understand the reasoning behind this as Evolution is trying to provide the closest approximation to the Cranston character as possible vs. the best lip grip.

My one initial disappointment was the finish of the mask. Unlike almost all of my other masks (the exception being my classic SPFX Player), the Chemist was a semi-gloss finish versus the matte finish I have come to expect. However, the concerns vanished once I put it on, as the finish actually complemented the paintjob and made it appear more realistic, than less so.

 

The Chemist bib is on the small end of the spectrum. I've grown to appreciate the full and muscular coverage afforded by Realflesh and Studio135; the "Chemist" bib is even smaller than the CFX bib. With that said, however, I wouldn't expect a guy in this age group to be wearing a half-open shirt and flashing his pecs and washboard abs.

 Having this mask would not be complete without a few accessories in line with the TV series - the hat, the sunglasses and the regular glasses.


Glasses are available on Amazon:

Sunglasses: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009YL2PAO/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Eyeglasses: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000KZ3XI6/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1


The hat was a little harder to come by. The style is a "Porkpie", but it is extremely difficult to find the hat in an XL or XXL size. Remember, once you put on the mask, the circumference of your head gets a lot larger. I was able to find one at a reasonable price at  Village Hat Shop.

Crushable Wool Porkpie Fedora: http://www.villagehatshop.com/show_product/451139-3052

Overall, I'm extremely happy with the mask, and look forward to seeing what other masks Evolution will develop!

Photo Study #30: Square-Jawed

While I had initial reservations about Realflesh Masks new creation - "The Hero", I bit the bullet and decided to purchase one. My biggest concern was the transition of the nose into the forehead. It seemed a bit abrupt and unrealistic.

My concerns were unfounded.

I am extremely happy with the new addition, and I think Ian Marier has made some definite improvements in both the eye and lip fitment with this mask.

Ian's lips - while good - had a tendency to be a bit thick-shaped. The new sculpt for the "Hero" has a much-improved lip movement and cupped fit, much more in line with the gold standard Studio135 design.

Realflesh has always had a near-perfect eye fit, and this one is no exception. I do feel that there have been designed enhancements made here as well - there is less stretching downwards on the lower lids when opening the mouth wide open.

Chest and bib are definitely up to the incredibly well-muscled standard that Realflesh pioneered. I'm very happy to report that the traps have been built up as well  - more so here than in their previous masks - which helps with establishing the proper proportions of masks vis a vis the wearer.

I'm not quite sure who this mask will be yet, but as you can see by the wig, I'm leaning towards a pilot/military figure like Poe Dameron of "The Force Awakens" fame.

A Holiday Message From Mateo

So on behalf of all the cops transformed in dark-skinned ghetto thugs, guardian spirits with more than a little bit badboy thrown in, Ukrainian crime lords, cocky fighter jet pilots,  amoral (and sinfully handsome) Indian mobsters, and rubberized studs in all colors....

MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND

A WONDERFUL, HAPPY AND HEALTHY 2017 !!

Imitation is...

... the sincerest form of flattery...

For those of you unfamiliar with Polo Polo Pluto, he is one drop-dead handsome Asian rubberman who happens to own his own shop and models his wares for all to see (and drool over).

I was particularly impressed with his "Pisces" suit and wanted to get myself a copy. Unfortunately, he is not selling outside of China at the moment, and I really didn't feel comfortable opening up an AliPay account (somehow, giving my bank information to an Alibaba subsidiary did not inspire the warm fuzzies for me.)

So I reached out to the folks at Aqualatex and asked if they could do a similar suit. I also didn't quite feel comfortable with the zip-over bondage gloves that covered the regular gloves. They could... within limits. The color scheme, for example. Since they only offer toe socks in black, I was constrained to what I could do for the suit.  

Other than that, they did an outstanding job. I went with a metallic bronze and black combination and as with their red suit, it fits great! I was getting a military vibe with this type of suit, so I had also added some hash marks in metallic gold onto the right sleeve. Unfortunately, gold on bronze doesn't show up so well... I wish they had asked me about it... nevertheless, I love the suit and love how it feels!