As a kid I had all the monster models, Frankensten, Dracula, Wolfman, Mummy, etc. My brother gave me the whole set for Christmas and I’ll be building them again. Back then I was on a very limited budget and could only use the paints I had but this time I want to try to get the colors right.
My question is what do I use to paint Dracula’s face and hands? Remember he’s dead and he should be kind of pale. I had thought about a deep blue base coat and a white wash but that’s not looking right so should I keep going with another white wash or mix something else up?
Anybody got any ideas?
Also what about Frankensten? I do have the Tamiya yellow green and thought about using it on his face and hands.
I will be using mostly Vallejo paints but also Tamiya and Model Masters acryl paints too.
Well since the original movies were B/W I’d say the sky’s the limit!
The closest reference was the old “Munsters” movies from the 60’s. They made the actors up in such a way as to mimic the orignals. Grandpa was a vampire, and his face was essentially white over the normal skin tones. Herman was a really bright sea green with natural pink lips.
Here’s how I did Hermann, if you don’t mind. I deviated from the screen version a bit. I painted the lips after looking at my dogs mouth. [:S]
To paint Drac I’d go with lighter shades of flesh. I’d add just a hint of blue or purple to the facialcreases/shadows for that whole “undead” look. A recently dead human lying face up is really really pale, the blood having drained by gravity.
Wolfman and the Mummy can be painted in natural colors as they depict versions of reality. The only opinion here is don’t go to dark on the fur or wrappings.
Colors of actors, make up and costumes can be found here.
BELA “DRACULA” LUGOSI: Flesh; his pale face was achieved using green undertones. Max Factor made makeup especially for Lugosi. Green flesh is a tell-tale sign something is wrong with the Count-I prefer a natural pale, maybe offset by a greyish base coat, which is more believable. Lugosi wore dark lip rouge-a deep burgundy. His black evening clothes are offset with an off-white vest and tie, and a white handkerchief. The ribbon on his gold medallion is debated as blue or red (Forest Ackerman recalls either one. The medallion was stolen from him.) The black neck cord seen in most of the stills leads to a monocle. It is silken with a copper clasp. The monocle itself is a dark tortoise-shell with brass eyelet for the cord. He wore a ring that is likely gold or silver with a black onyx.
Here’s where it gets interesting-the cape lining; Purple, worn on stage in the play 1927; Grey, as worn in the 1931 film.
BTW if you have the Creature from the Black Lagoon he was Moss green and did NOT have red lips or gold highlights those where added for publicity shots taken by Life Magazine, those pictures can be found here.
