Ian Rankin has life mask of his face made

SCOTS crime writer Ian Rankin has had his famous face immortalised and copied in a life mask.

Ian Rankin having the plaster applied to his face. Picture: Pressteam

Rankin, 52, posed with his thumbs up as the plaster-like material dried in around his head and face. He tweeted snaps of the process to his 54,000 Twitter followers along with the message: “I am having my life mask made. May try tweeting some pics.”

The Edinburgh-based author joked: “Another rubbish Mummy sequel.”

The pictures show Rankin wearing protective clothing as he is covered in plaster for the mask.

Thumbs up from the author: Picture: Pressteam

Dozens of comments flooded in from amused fans who had spotted them.

Susie McLean posted: “You look very medieval - I pray you sire, taste this posset, made with the finest jamaica sugar.”

Jane Smith posted: “That’s a good look for you.”

Chris O’Donoghue joked: “Bet you’re looking forward to the straws up the nostrils!”

Rankin came face to face with the masks of infamous body snatchers Burke and Hare when he opened the new Museum of the University of St Andrews in 2008.

The honorary graduate of the University was met by the ‘life masks’ of the serial killers and grave robbers when he opened the museum.

The plaster mask of Irish immigrant William Burke was made in 1829 - a year after the infamous Burke and Hare murders began and the year of his death by hanging aged 37.

The Hare mask was a copy of the original.

Other famous celebrities who have had life masks made include Hollywood superstars Brad Pitt, Johnny Depp, Lord of the Rings star Elijah Wood and Elizabeth Taylor.

Rankin recently revealed he was targeted by email scammers who sent out a bogus appeal for money.

Friends of the writer received messages saying that he was stranded in Manila in the Phillipines with no cash.

It claimed he had been robbed by bandits who stole his credit cards and mobile phone and urged his contacts to send him money to get home straight away.

However, Fife-born Rankin was at his home in Edinburgh working on his new novel and warned people to be aware of the con.

Last year he revealed he was planning to release his debut single after being signed up to Charlatans singer Tim Burgess’ record label. The track is a spoken word piece, set to music, about a musician and his dying wish to have his ashes scattered in the guitars of his friends.

Rankin wrote the lyrics which will be read by actor Craig Parkinson on the record which is called A Little Bit of Powder.