Project MerTail (Starting My Silicone Tail)

[Onyx Jewel Catfish]

I am making my tail!!! I don't know how to do all the fun things with my computer so bare with me. I have a Hydra to use in the Fluke and have started crafting scale molds. this will not be a fast moving thread as my day is filled mostly by my lil one, who is a very active tot.

[Onyx Jewel Catfish]

http://mernetwork.com/index/attachment.php?attachmentid=31140&stc=1

[PearlieMae]

So, not only are you a Mom, you're going to teach yourself to use the computer AND make a tail! Good for you!

There's lots of resources here, and lots of very helpful and supportive folks, so I'm sure your tail will be a success.

I look forward to watching your progress! Do you have a tail design yet?

PS: WOW! those are some impressive scales!

[Onyx Jewel Catfish]

I do not yet have a design I commissioned my stepdad to draw it up for me. he is currently Building a new home in the Mountains so I think it got put on the back burner. He used to do tat work and draw and inked a wonderful mer maid and man on his own thigh when I was young. I remember watching TV and he would be sitting on the couch working on his own pieces. I really hope it come out nice. If Not I may ask Lotus_Blooming if she has time for a commission. I have seen some of her Lovely work also. But for now am trying to have Patience.
I think I am looking at darker colors Blacks, Teals, Silver a tiny bit of Dark Blue. maybe some Purple but the latter 2 would be accent only. My inspiration for the scale come from looking at Pics of Sharkskin under a microscope.

[Onyx Jewel Catfish]

Also per Advice from PearlieMae I used Plastalina Clay to negative, and I used Smooth-cast300 for the mold. Thanks PearlieMae!

[Azurin Luna]

Oh, nice scales :D
I had almost the same idea for scales, if I would ever make my tail. Mine would be a little wider and rounder. I can't wait to see the end result!

Good luck :D

[Onyx Jewel Catfish]

Thanks Azurin Luna! I hope you get to make your tail soon!

[Theobromine]

I also love those scale molds! Fun fact, shark scales are called placoid scales or dermal denticles (they are structurally the same as vertebrate teeth!) I've been wondering when someone would make shark scales, I can't wait to see how this turns out!

[Onyx Jewel Catfish]

Thanks Theobromine.
Other news, I can not upload pics from my IPod. It won't let me change pic sizes.... And the thread only takes one size? That is dumb! I am so freaking pissed I wanna show my new baby scale mold I made... Feeling computer stupid and angry!

[Onyx Jewel Catfish]

31282 here are the little scales I did the other day!

[Onyx Jewel Catfish]

31283

[anceos]

That's a new design, i like it...

[Onyx Jewel Catfish]

Thinking my tail is going to be darker colored! Going to get some silicone next week to start a trial batch to see if I even like the way the scales fit together.

[Onyx Jewel Catfish]

Thank you Anceos!

[Onyx Jewel Catfish]

I got some dragon skin today!!!

[Onyx Jewel Catfish]

I think all I am doing is making a mess. The first two sets are full of bubbles, :-( And after pulling them out of the molds and trying to layer them as I would be I don't think that this scale design is going to work :-/ too much space open .

[Theobromine]

I would definitely recommend doing lots of little tests with the silicone and mold materials before you try to do a big scale sheet or anything. It will give you a much better feel for what works and what doesn't, as well as a feel for how to work the silicone to minimize bubbles and stuff. Molds with intricate or narrow little details can be tricky, but not impossible. I've spent a LOT of time playing with silicone by now and I haven't even made my actual tail yet, but the testing has given me the confidence to finish the big project. Let me know if you need any more specific pointers or anything :) also, feel free to post pictures of what you've done so far and we may be able to help you troubleshoot.

[Onyx Jewel Catfish]

It is so thick, & the bubbles stress me out... I know I can thin it and may need too . Thinking maybe my scales are too thin and inconsistant. How thick is a good scale? I made a shell that I liked though. Put a gromet through it and made it a key chain for my niece.

[Theobromine]

Just be careful with silicone thinner, because that can also make the final cured silicone softer and weaker. SmoothOn and most other places recommend pouring the silicone in a thin stream into a single place in the lowest point of the mold to minimize air entrapment. Another thing you can do is just use a sacrificial paintbrush and paint a thin layer of silicone into the mold to make sure it gets into all the details, then pour the rest in after that.

[JamesGunnels]

What material are you using to make the molds?

[Onyx Jewel Catfish]

It was very thick and not pourable, like a soft peanut butter consistency.

[Theobromine]

Did you stir it thoroughly before measuring and mixing? Sometimes the material can separate and you need to stir it for a few minutes to make sure everything is homogenous (unmixed or incompletely mixed product can cause cure problems as well, or can result in oils exuding from the final cured silicone, so it pays to be careful).

[Onyx Jewel Catfish]

Sure did three min each seperately and and about five combined since I knew I had an 8 min pot life.

[Onyx Jewel Catfish]

Made a tiny batch of silicone this weekend and it was still really thick but was a lil less bubbled. And the color I got this time was amazing. Pictures to follow.

[PearlieMae]

Sure did three min each seperately and and about five combined since I knew I had an 8 min pot life.

Sounds like you spent too much time mixing and the silicone was starting to set up.

[Theobromine]

It sounds like you're using the Fast cure speed? It's a lot easier to work with something that doesn't cure so quickly. I've been using Medium and I thiiink Pearlie uses Slow (correct me if I'm wrong). It's just easier when you have more time to work with it and don't have to rush. You can always apply heat to the silicone once it's in the mold to get it to cure faster at that point (I use a heat gun, just make sure you're using a heat-resistant mold material as well). You can also try chilling the unmixed A and B portions in the freezer for a few minutes once you've measured them out. Silicone cures a lot slower when it's cold, but unlike latex it won't be damaged by it, and it will cure just fine once it comes up to the right temperature (room temperature, but you can still apply heat to speed it up).

[Onyx Jewel Catfish]

They only had fast and Extra fast

[Onyx Jewel Catfish]

Thank you Theobromine for the tips!

[Onyx Jewel Catfish]

Thanks Pearlie I will try less stirring.

[PearlieMae]

Stir well, just not too long. I use medium. I don't use a heat gun, but I do use a desk lamp with a 60 watt bulb.

[Theobromine]

You're welcome, and I hope the tips help!

Pearlie, I must have been thinking of someone else then. I normally just use my heat gun, but today I set some of my molds on top of my snake's light fixture so it would cure faster while I was working on something else :P Hey, it worked...

[Onyx Jewel Catfish]

so even though they are bubbly here is what they look like grouped together.

[Onyx Jewel Catfish]

Single Scale

[Onyx Jewel Catfish]

Bought some pigments. Going to start some experiments soon. My son will be one in a few weeks and he is gaining independence so I, therefore have been on the chase. He climbs everything. Pushes his high chair and boxes to make a baby ladder.... He is very intelligent and brave. Quite frankly he scares me how fast he picks up on things. I may not have me time for a while.

[Mermaid Wesley]

Stir well but slowly. I like to pigment one of the parts so I can see if it's completely mixed. If there are a few little air bubbles don't worry though. It happens.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Mermaid Caspiana]

This is going to be cool. Can't wait! :)

[Onyx Jewel Catfish]

Have a new shape set but my molds are too deep now... So the scales come out too thick. Grr.

[Onyx Jewel Catfish]

So, going a new route to get my scales even and so they fit together well. I am going to out source them to a 3d printer. I am not happy with my inconsistency in depth in the clay, the slightly off center lines or any of it.... Yay for my FIL and my Friend who work with 3D files and printing

[Mermaid Alea]

Ooh I can't wait to see how the 3D printing goes! I am in a class right now where we will get to use a 3D printer for some of our projects.

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