I like the little soldier idea... you can mount blinky LED lights on thier heads at night. You just might find the soldiers wholesale from overseas.
I'm considering using animation in some future masks- using a new type of micro servo motor... a kind of artificial muscle made of electro-sensitive strands that contract on electrical impulses, and can be installed in very small spaces. They can be operated by a standard RC unit.
Funny you mention the Claymore Mine- that one did actually cross my mind recently. I am planning a
hand grenade mask, and may have it at this next burn along with two new works-
"Bugsy", an insect head, cross between a Mantis and a Locust... then there is
"Iron Hat" a sort of voodoo daddy look.
Once I get the technos worked out on posting pictures here, I get some for you and others to see here on E Playa to consider possibilities, ideas and uses of materials. (Still having them either not appear, or drop off later after posting. I'll resolve it however.)
Meanwhile, at least a glimpse is available at:
http://www.geocities.com/rx_norman
)'(
The Kernul