Studio Secrets

Studio Secrets

Modelling methods at Madame Tussaud's almost haven't changed in 200 years. "It's the same process basically, and the same kind of wax is used," says Craig, head of the portrait studio of the museum. These days, however, the bodies are made of fiberglass while originally they were made of leather stuffed with straw.

Ever)' year about 10 new figures are made at Madam Tussaud's. As soon as a person is chosen, the first step is to collect information It means photographs and articles if the person is alive, or portraits and biographies if the person is dead.

Then it must be decided in which part of the exhibition the figure should be be placed, what the post-should be and its relationship to other wax portraits.

Sittings usually take place at Madam Tussaud's studios. But if celebrities can't visit Madam Tussaud's London studios, then the sculptors go to them. Queen Elizabeth II for example, receives sculptor s at Buckingham Palace.

The measuring has to be very accurate. "We usually take about 150 measurements," says Craig. It takes about six months to complete a figure. Most of the time is spent on the head. The sculptor begins by modelling the head in clay. At this stage the hair is also sculpted. When the sculptor is satisfied with the clay model, the wax one is being made.

The next important stage is to fix the eyes. These are individually made and painted to match the exact colour of the celebrity's eyes. The eyes are then fixed from inside the head.

Human hair, matched for colour and texture, is inserted in the scalp with the help of a tiny fork. The next process is colouring which is done by skilled artists. Once or twice a year die colour is washed off the head with soap and water and the head is recoloured.

Madam Tussaud's costume designers work as much as the sculptors do.

Indeed, the historical figures in the exhibition give an excellent opportunity to study the dress of previous generations. Nowadays celebrities often give their own costumes to the exhibition.

Audioanimatronic figures are carefully planned and programmed by a team of engineers. Speech and sound are recordered onto CDs and synchronized with the movements.

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