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.

An Ethical Dilemma

A while back, I had purchased a mask from RealMaskMasters (RMM) in China, and that mask was terrible. (If you don't remember that abomination, click here for the review.)

Recently, I found out that RMM also engages in recasting.

"What's recasting??" you may ask?

Well, recasting takes an existing mask and builds a slightly larger and less detailed negative around it to produce a mold to create more masks.

This, of course, violates the intellectual property rights of the vendors who created the original mask - and own the original molds. And RMM then sells their version for considerably less than the genuine article. And brags about recasting.

So RMM is a wicked and unethical company that you should never, ever, ever patronize, right? A cancel-culture example at it's finest...

Well ... sort of.

RMM also makes other items. Items that no other company makes. One of these things is a muscle torso vest.

Now I had gotten into a major hoo-hah with one of the big US vendors about buying the vest and the conversation went something like this:

HIM: "You should never buy from them! They're thieves! They've stolen IP from myself and other vendors!"

ME: "You make a good point. What are you selling to compete? They're selling the vest between $180 and $350. You know I'd be willing to go the cost of a mask or a little more from a US-based or Canadian-based name brand with a good reputation."

HIM: "I don't have anything! But you shouldn't buy from them!!"

ME: "You have an ETA for a muscle vest?"

HIM: "No!!! And mine will cost thousands of dollars!"

I think the issue here is a matter of perspective. As a producer, the company I was speaking to is intent on creating a "Rolls Royce" version of a muscle torso that will cost thousands of dollars sometime in the indefinite future. But to myself - a consumer - I'm happy enough with a "Toyota" version that I can buy NOW. 

Another way to think of this ... Do you use Irish linen napkins for everything, or are paper towels okay for some jobs? 

This attitude prices consumers away from that company and in a sense, drives them right into the arms of RMM.

I then said to him, "Why don't you build a better mousetrap? Make a less-expensive version than the super-detailed one you're thinking of and even if it's more money than RMM, you have the name recognition and reputation?"

But of course, that resulted in more ranting to the effect that "You're missing the point!"

I think not.

This is exactly the scenario on how CFX developed their "Mac" mask. I had an SPFX Handsome Guy mask where the paint literally peeled off the cheekbone. I didn't want to send it back to Rusty (because at that point, it was hard getting anything back from him), so I sent it CFX for a touchup. 

Their response?  

"So THIS is what everyone is raving about? Hell, I can do much better!"


And they did.

 
So the argument boils down to this:

A company is making a product that you do not at the present time; you have no concrete plans to make a competing product; and your version - whenever you decide to release it - will cost orders of magnitude more ... but you're angry with me for wanting to buy from them? And you'd rather scream than do something to make your company competitive in this area?

Another company chimed in saying they'd be happy to do one as a commission. When I asked the price, I got the "Well, it will be kinda expensive since we'd have to do the initial design and sculpture and molding and blah, blah, blah..."

Of course, I will NOT purchase a mask from them because of their recasting and egregiously large eye holes; but that shouldn't stop me from buying their torso.

So I did it; (and it was on sale as well!) and I was able to get it done in their "Dark" skintone. I wanted something to work with my Studio135 "Knuckles" half-mask and it's an almost perfect color match. I will need to send it off to someone for a repaint to get a 100% color match. I did manage to tear a small chunk out of the neck, which will need to be repaired (and perhaps reinforced).

The chest and abs are really well developed and defined, with a good buildup of silicone, and the back is pretty well-designed too; not too muscular, but in proportion to the entire vest.

The front goes all the way down to your pubic area, so you can definitely leave your pants unbuttoned... and maybe a little unzipped. The flashing on the seams is about a 7/10, but they are really not noticeable when wearing a shirt. The vest itself is about 8 pounds in weight - a good amount of silicone, but movement and flexibility are excellent. 

And while we're talking about US manufacturers, I could definitely see CFX creating this using their Duraflex© technology - it would truly be amazing - and no doubt, a good seller.

Couple of things I discovered:

• You NEED lube to get this on. I tried it with baby powder, but a good water-based lube like Gun Oil H20 or Astroglide is a must. I didn't want to get anything on the shirt I was working with, and that's probably why I tore the piece off the neck. Since it is open at the bottom, top and sleeves, I don't think alcohol as lube would work as it does for gloves/sleeves.
  
  
• While RMM claims that the torso vest will stretch six times its original dimensions, it won't. I'm a fairly trim guy and it was comfortably snug on me. I think the largest you can go is about a 40-inch chest.

So here are the pics (pre paint match) - I'll post more when I get it back.

And here's a Photoshopped version with the skintone darkened a bit:

Do I feel bad giving RMM money for the vest? Not really. I'm purchasing an original product, not one involved in IP theft.

Holiday Wishes

Well another year has rolled around, and again, I want to thank ALL my readers for their continued interest and viewership. 2019 had seen a lot more "review" type entries and videos as opposed to more fictional stories - I will definitely try to address that balance in 2020!

So... on behalf of independent angels, handsome-as-fuck cops  (who may or may not be latinos or muscle-bruthas at the moment), functionally immortal soldiers and all the other characters in my maskerverse, a very Merry Holiday Season to all and a Happy, Healthy (and Horny) New Year!