Scales question

[Mermaid Kalahari]

Hi everyone,

I have a question, I've tried to search on here but didn't really find anything. When it comes to making a scale sheet mold, is there a difference between bigger or smaller scales? And thicker or thinner scales? Does one work better then the other or does one not come out well in the silicone stage?

[Rebela Hunter]

I'm not a tailmaker, but I would assume it doesn't make a difference, so long as they're made right

I'll jump bump this thread for you and hopefully you get some good answers! <3

[Mermaid Kalahari]

I'm not a tailmaker, but I would assume it doesn't make a difference, so long as they're made right

I'll jump bump this thread for you and hopefully you get some good answers! <3

Thank you 🐬 Yeah I just am not sure if small ends up getting lost in the final product. Instead of circles I have been thinking of using hearts, either side depending on how a pointed scale would look. 🖤 I guess that's what sample swatches are for 😜

[Sirenalia]

Tailmaker here! It all depends on what you like!! I personally love big graphic looking scales, but little scales (like on the original splash tail) look great too!!

[Mermaid Fenicia]

My tail is made by using hearts, but I used the PearlyMae-technique (all single hearts made out of dragonskin 'glued' together)
Here (http://mernetwork.com/index/showthre...s-(pic-heavy)) you can see how I made it

[PearlieMae]

I use 5-7 different sizes on my tails. But I do individual scales, not scale sheets!

[Mermaid Kalahari]

When you do single scales, how many molds do you guys make? Like just a couple or do you have like 10-20 to get more in a single batch? I've been thinking about trying single scales but I haven't researched yet how much it takes for one batch to cure and how long you have after curing to be able to glue other pieces together.

[Mermaid Fenicia]

I have 20 big hearts and 20 in a size smaller.

[Mermaid Kalahari]

Looking at cookie cut outs for scale shapes and I came across this. Would silicone be able to cite in a silicone mold?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0188...ID=71SA36ppgKL

[PearlieMae]

NO! Silicone sticks to silicone. You'd have use a mold release, and then you'd never be able to get your scales clean enough to adhere them together.

[Mermaid Kalahari]

NO! Silicone sticks to silicone. You'd have use a mold release, and then you'd never be able to get your scales clean enough to adhere them together.

Thanks! I wasn't sure if it had to be the same type of silicone for them to stick. Do you have any idea how the silicone would react to a metal cookie mold?

[PearlieMae]

Silicone peels out of metal perfectly...but NOT non-stick metal...it must be bare metal!

[Freshwater_Nim]

Heya! Just a short comment, I actually made my enitre fluke in a silicone mold. It does work! But you need to make Super sure you've got a good even layer of release agent. (Vaseline worked well for me). If you don't you end up like me and my dorsal fin..which is now fused for all eternity with its mold.

So it works, but it's risky