The human knowledge - and sewing knowledge among all other fields of it - has been building up in layers, and its both very intriguing and useful to dig something up from previous eras. Just to look at it, or use a bit of it, or save it somewhere in your mind. Or to find out what has outlived until our days and what's forgotten and why.

This thing IS elegant, though some think opposite. Don't look at it so bluntly. Add some pearls, some heel, some elegant hairdo (and take off some hips - sorry for that, but this precious thing is not meant to hide the truth, but emphasize it!) - and voila.

It is worth the pages treated on the subject. I am waiting for the article with much interest.

I doubt that paper-tape mold is suitable for papier-mache modelling paste, because of high water content. It will soak paper tape and glue up and whole thing would fall apart.

I'd better give a try to duct-tape, which takes no water in (and adhesive tolerates water as well). Nevertheless, you would like to have precise tool for your future fitting, but duct tape shell would be too thin and soft to support quite heavy load of paper pulp, there is too big risk for distortion (considering that you have to halve the shell). Duct tape is watertight and exess humidity cannot evaporate, making drying time much longer.

Plaster mold would give best support and it tolerates water. It inhibits exess water from pulp and enables evaporation. This time it's best for purpose.