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Madame Tussauds Reveals Clay Head Molds of John Mccain and Barack Obama

With just 15 days remaining before Election Day, Madame Tussauds today released photos of clay head molds for Senator John McCain and Senator Barack Obama.  Madame Tussauds’ studio artists have been feverishly working to produce the clay head molds – a crucial step in the up to six month-long figure creation process. Because all three U.S. Madame Tussauds attractions – New York, Washington D.C. and Las Vegas – are planning to unveil figures of the new President on Inauguration Day, January 20, 2009, the artists have been working around the clock to keep the process moving forward as the Presidential race remains too close to call, or in Tussauds’ case, too close to wax.

“Madame Tussauds is 100% committed to unveiling a wax figure of the new President in all three of our U.S. attractions on Inauguration Day. In fact, we could not imagine not chronicling this historical moment in our country’s history, which is why our studio artists have been working non-stop to ensure we are ready to roll on January 20th,” said Janine DiGioacchino, General Manager of Madame Tussauds New York and Washington D.C.

Studio artists in Madame Tussauds’ London facilty have been busy studying hundreds of photos and watching hours of video footage to create the clay head molds, and will use their research to ultimately finish the figures as well. The figure creation process is incredibly intricate. Artists INSERT each strand of hair individually; creating just the head of the wax figure can take up to five weeks alone. Materials such as red silk are used to create the veins on the eyeballs and knotted rope is used to create the look of veins.

“We always seek to provide our guests with an opportunity to get ‘up close and personal’ with their icons – individuals who have impacted or will impact our country, and the world – from heads of state to Hollywood legends. The next President is widely believed to potentially be one of the most influential people in modern American history, so our studio artists are doing whatever it takes to be ready for Inauguration Day 2009,” said Adrian Jones, General Manager of Madame Tussauds Las Vegas.

If Senator McCain wins the election, all three U.S. Madame Tussauds attractions will unveil figures of the Arizona Senator. Earlier this year in February, a wax figure of Senator Obama was unveiled at Madame Tussauds Washington D.C. If the Illinois Senator wins the election, he will have two additional figures – one at Madame Tussauds New York and the other at Madame Tussauds Las Vegas. Once the Presidency is decided on November 4, Madame Tussauds’ studio artists will use the clay head mold of the winning candidate to complete the figures in time for Inauguration Day.