Russ Vick

The foam latex head is brittle and damaged in multiple areas. It had slipped forward from it’s animatronic skull and dried out in that position for a couple decades.

Rear view of head

Mouth and chin delamination

Damaged eye and surface shriveling

Interior head was stabilized and placed in its original position. The exterior is being consolidated before cleaning paint overspray on teeth and eyes from previous restoration attempt. A missing tooth and ear were also replaced.

Original paint scheme was requested after having been destroyed in a previous restoration attempt.

Damage above eye

Damage around mouth

Damage around chin area

The head was previously stored with this, now flattened chest piece, unintentionally folded into itself. Over-dried under the weight of the head for more than 20 years, the layered foam latex was much like a brittle wafer.

Chest piece reinvigorated and consolidated using archival polymer compounds.

Recreating the look of the original piece was requested. Archival scaffolding was added where missing foam once existed, then sculpted over with an archival polymer compound to match the original design.

The restored potions of the head were carefully tinted using dry archival pigment to match the look of the original design and material.

Damage to hand from a previous display armature

Loose fragments of dried foam latex from hand

Loose fragments were consolidated and matched to their original positions on the hand. Small gaps were sculpted in with archival polymer compounds to match the original design.

Underside of original body affixed to a display mannequin. The reticulated foam body completely deteriorated.

A soft archival polymer mesh body was constructed to match the original design and support the delicate costume. An archival foam skull and poseable neck were fabricated to display the head.

Foam latex mouth completely disintegrated. Nose and eyelids were dry, cracked, and separating.

Inside mouth and nose were consolidated and supported with archival polymer compounds. Oxidization in mechanical skull was stabilized.

Over-dried interior foam collapsed beneath its connected exterior fur

Significant damage behind beak, cracking throughout cheek area, and damage around eye.

Archival polymesh scaffolding was affixed to interior of damaged areas. Scaffold was sculpted over with archival polymer compound to match the original design. Repair was later tint matched to the age-darkened foam latex.

Detail of damage around eye.

An archival polymer compound was used to consolidate the surrounding area and fill the void. It was stamped to match the woven texture of the original latex covered fabric.

Production still - scene reference, courtesy LAIKA

Production still lighting reference, courtesy LAIKA

Hair and costume matted with dust from previous open storage.