SithLord wrote:
Exactly, it is a physical lifting of a layer of paint from that area, but not just because of a thumb pressing against it. I've seen enough masks to know that when you have a curved surface like that with paint on it, and the paint dries and lifts a bit from the curved surface, that area will flake off first if under stress. So it wasn't just the fingers going against it but going against a curved surface where the paint would be more likely to come off or flake. But nice association of the thumb and the shape of the flaking but I think it is also just because of the shape of the cheek at that point....if you look carefully at the curvature of that surface, the scar follows it.
In my experience, paint flaking will leave remnants and evidence on other areas following the flaking, if you follow what I'm saying. There is no evidence of any extending flaking from the C scar. It's mainly a scratch or indentation in that specific area. There are other areas like the eyebrows and the mouth wall where flaking does occur and based on my theory it's consistent with that guy's hand and that ring scraping across those areas. You can see flaking in those areas for sure, but not on the C scar itself. Plus you have the tiny bits of buildup along the curve, which wouldn't be there under flaking. There is also some paint chipping going on all over the faceplate, but that's not the same as flaking. I've also owned my share of helmets around 25 + or so at one point and I used to work in construction and did painting for a while, so I'm well aware of what paint flaking is and what can cause it and the C scar isn't a product of flaking, in my opinion based on actual experience. However, like I said, it's just my opinion and I try to back up what I say with whatever evidence I can show. It doesn't matter either way, I'm not going to debate now HOW the C scar came about. All I wanted to do was show that it certainly was not "painted" on.