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Member since 6/18/12
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Posted on: 6/21/17 11:42 AM ET
I'm looking for a pattern to make a mascot....I have M6106 for the body but I need to make a horse/mustang head. Does anyone know where I could get a really realistic pattern for a horse or a mustang? Or, can anyone guide me on how to improvise one?

Any help is appreciated...
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karen
  
Member since 1/3/10
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Posted on: 6/21/17 2:43 PM ET
Well, I ran into this mask today on Amazon: Horse Mask
It's probably not what you are looking for, though.

My friend and I made a paper-mache wall-mounted moose head trophy more than 20 years ago. We covered it with faux fur. The base was made of chicken wire.

I think I'd start with a paper-mache or cardboard base for a mascot head, but I'm not experienced in the genre. Do you have a picture in mind of what you want the outcome to look like yet?
  
Member since 1/3/10
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Posted on: 6/21/17 2:54 PM ET
Makezine Tutorial: How to make a school mascot head


-- Edited on 6/21/17 at 3:16 PM --
  
Member since 1/3/10
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Posted on: 6/21/17 3:09 PM ET
Basics of mascot building
Suggestions include building head on a football helmet

Mascot head range of motion blog post

Tutorial: paper mache mascot head


-- Edited on 6/21/17 at 3:17 PM --
  
Member since 7/9/06
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Posted on: 6/21/17 6:06 PM ET
I'm also curious about the look you want, the proportion in relation to the human body, how long does it need to last and are you on a tight budget? If it were toony, you can get away with more than a realistic head. Also find out how claustrophobic the wearer might be. Smaller realistic heads don't have the breathing space a larger, cartoon head does although they usually have fewer issues with weight and the view ports might actually be were the wearers eyes are ( that latex horse mask has it's view ports in the mouth and nose).
I'd try cosplay.com forums for mascot info and also fursuiting. Say what you will about furries, but there are craftsmen who make stunning suits and heads. The one time I made Silver the Hedgehog, it was from info from the furry community.
Silver was made with JoAnn's 1 in. green foam and formed by patterning. I suck at sculpting ( like that bear in the tut) and the mess of carving was not acceptable. The green foam has enough body to form well, recover from squishes, and is lightweight. I had a plush toy for visual reference and used it do figure out the seaming and pattern shapes. For a similar approach, you might look for a realistic horse toy pattern and scale up the head or at least make a base from it. The details like nostrils can be cut with minimal carving and glued on in an additive way.
I noticed there was some ref to football helmets, which I didn't use because I wasn't sure how to glue to it. A bike helmet was easier to find and light weight and the wearer did not want their ears covered since the head dampened sound as it was.
For closer fitting lightweight heads, many use a Balaclavas and build on that with .5 -1 in. foam. Lots of ways to approach this. Anyway, the cosplay.com links should keep you busy.
Shel
  
Member since 6/18/12
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Posted on: 6/22/17 7:34 AM ET
Wow thanks for all the great advice, everyone!
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karen
  
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