Smooth Sillicone Tails? No Scales?

[KayNS]

Hi There,

Just wondering if anyone has, or has seen silicone mermaid tails without textured scales, more like dolphin skin than fish skin?

The marine biologist in me gets a bit confused by the scales, biologically (I know, mythology and all). But humans are mammals, and (most) mermaid tails you see are oriented horizontally like a dolphin/whale's rather than vertically like a fish's. So if I were to ever get a silicone tail, I'd be really tempted to get it with a smooth, marine mammal-esque surface.

Perhaps I'm giving this a bit too much thought. hahaha

[jvry8c]

I have long wondered if anyone has done this. I was between marlin and dolphin merman tail but went with a marlin themed tail since I like them better and I could not find a tail maker who made porpoise/dolphin tails.

[Mermaid Mystery]

didn't the mertailor do this twice? I'm pretty sure he did two whale tails which were super cool.

[Merman Lir]

they'd certainly be easier to cast, not needing a scale mold... but seaming might be harder to hide.

biologically more accurate without a doubt.

[Keiris]

When Robert Short originally presented his concept for "Madison" from the movie, SPLASH, it was smooth grayish skin and dolphin like because he was thinking about it more logically. Alas, mermaids are (as far as we know) a fantasy creature and the scales and translucent fins make her even more fantastical. I think they made a more alluring choice in the film after Ron Howard's decision.

[KayNS]

When Robert Short originally presented his concept for "Madison" from the movie, SPLASH, it was smooth grayish skin and dolphin like because he was thinking about it more logically. Alas, mermaids are (as far as we know) a fantasy creature and the scales and translucent fins make her even more fantastical. I think they made a more alluring choice in the film after Ron Howard's decision.


Oh, I agree that the scales and fins of the fish-like tails are definitely beautiful!

[AniaR]

Our Jesse tail is pretty smooth. The 'scales' aren't more than a really tiny impression and don't show up much.

There's 100s of different mermaid types in culture though. I don't think they're all meant to be mammals

[KayNS]

I don't think they're all meant to be mammals

Nor do I. Just playing with an idea.

[Keiris]

KayNS, did you see that pic of Mahina Mermaid's boyfriend? I think it was her. Anyway, his tail is a black and white killer whale version that looks awesome on him. Very powerful! I can't remember if it was a shoot to publicize her Merfin company or just for fun. Raina might remember. Her brain's a lot younger than mine.

[KayNS]

KayNS, did you see that pic of Mahina Mermaid's boyfriend? I think it was her. Anyway, his tail is a black and white killer whale version that looks awesome on him. Very powerful! I can't remember if it was a shoot to publicize her Merfin company or just for fun. Raina might remember. Her brain's a lot younger than mine.

I haven't, but I'm going to look for it! Thanks. :-)

Edited to add:

Found it!

http://mernetwork.com/index/attachment.php?attachmentid=32291&stc=1

http://mernetwork.com/index/attachment.php?attachmentid=32290&stc=1

[Keiris]

You found it!!! What a gorgeous mer-couple! Nice to know my brain hasn't turned to total sea-foam!

[Ashe]

they'd certainly be easier to cast, not needing a scale mold... but seaming might be harder to hide.

biologically more accurate without a doubt.

I think it would be much easier to seam, actually! Seaming silicone tails is hard because of the scales. You need to stick the tail together without making the joining scales look goopy, kinda like sculpting the scales with more silicone.

Smooth skin tails on the other hand don't need to hide messy scales. You just smooth everything over with a layer of silicone after sticking them together. Just like blending two paint colors, you're blending the two parts of the tail together.

At least, that seems to make the most sense? I don't deal with much silicone aside from caulk haha

[Ashe]

Now with smooth skin tails... I think it would be so much harder to hide perfections like little bubbles and bumps. They would stick out like a sore fin without the distraction of scales, yeah?
I haven't looked microscopically close at silicone tails lately, but I know that some makers have mishaps all over, as per usual, but still look perfect because of the scales.

[Keiris]

I think what Lir meant is that a smooth, sleek skin tail will show a straight , long seam running down the sides of the tail a lot more. There wouldn't be any texture to detract from it. The scales, if cut in a zig-zag pattern along the edge of the scales and pieced together like a puzzle, eliminates that tell-tail (see what I did there) line.

I think on a smooth tail I would try to do one seam going down the center back and fit a dorsal into it to camouflage that.

[Fun123joker]

omg that picutre is sooooooo dramaitc. it looks like the cover of a romance novel.

[Mermaid Kelda]

I think what Lir meant is that a smooth, sleek skin tail will show a straight , long seam running down the sides of the tail a lot more. There wouldn't be any texture to detract from it. The scales, if cut in a zig-zag pattern along the edge of the scales and pieced together like a puzzle, eliminates that tell-tail (see what I did there) line.

I think on a smooth tail I would try to do one seam going down the center back and fit a dorsal into it to camouflage that.
I reckon Kalani sounds onto it with the smoothing over idea, though. If you pigmented the silicone and then airbrushed over the top you wouldn't be able to see the seam at all.

[sculptor]

Many years ago, there was a Madona video that was shot in black and white and used dolphin inspired tails. They were mammal consistent and believable. They had the look of dolphin skin and appeared to even have a sense of blubber weight. I never heard who made them.

although they were very well done, in my opinion the scaly, more fish based merbeings are prettier and more magical

[Princess Pearl]

Juku's new silicone tail is smooth.

[sculptor]

With regard to seaming. I have done a lot of silicone work and Butting two pieces of smooth silicone together in a perfect invisible seam and smoothing more silicone over it is my idea of a nightmare. It sounds easy, but is not.

[Mermaid Olivia!]

I think this is the music video you're talking about! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8q2WS6ahCnY

[sculptor]

I think this is the music video you're talking about! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8q2WS6ahCnY
That's it, thanks. I hadn't seen it since the days when you could turn on mtv and see music videos.

the mercostumes were obviously sculpted in 3D rather than a flat sheet. So they were most likely made with two seams. Either on the side or top and bottom.

[Keiris]

I always liked that video! That would have been fun to do.

[KayNS]

I think this is the music video you're talking about! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8q2WS6ahCnY

I LOVE those tails! The dorsal ridge, the muscular look, the shape of the peduncle! Very very cool.

So, now I need 2 more tails; a dolphin-y one and a magical fish-like one. :-D

[MermaidAine]

Just because...here is what is on Wikipedia regarding those tails in the Madonna video

The video was conceptualized by Ritts, who wanted to portray Mermen (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merman) in their natural habitat, but Madonna baulked at the idea since she wanted to be portrayed as herself, but keep the Mermen also.[47] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherish_(Madonna_song)#cite_note-detail-47) Four male performers were signed for this, one of them being Tony Ward (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Ward_(entertainer)), who would become Madonna's boyfriend later, with the other three being water polo players from nearby Pepperdine University.[47] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherish_(Madonna_song)#cite_note-detail-47) There were four Merman tails created by Global Effects in North Hollywood, California, for the video.[47] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherish_(Madonna_song)#cite_note-detail-47) Three full size tails for the mermen were cast in a solid highly flexible rubber, each weighing around 40 lbs. This was necessary to make them neutrally buoyant in water as lighter tails would have floated, causing the swimmers to be head down in the sea.[47] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherish_(Madonna_song)#cite_note-detail-47) Once in these tails, the polo players needed to be carried to and from the water and once inside, they had tremendous swimming power and agility. This was partly due to a plastic spring like armature cast into the flipper of each tail.[47] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherish_(Madonna_song)#cite_note-detail-47) One of the reasons that this video was shot in black and white was because the water was very cold, causing Madonna's already pale complexion to look even whiter.[48] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherish_(Madonna_song)#cite_note-fouz233-48)

[KayNS]

Thanks Mermaid Aine!

[Ciriun]

Did anyone else watch that and keep thinking "Dangit Madonna, get out of the way! I wanna see more tails!" Nothing against her, but those tails are amazing!

[Mermaid Kelda]

Yeah, her cameos were far too long. I wanna see more mermen!
:rollover:

[OceanWhisper]

Wow those tails are so realistic!! Nothing against fish- tails, but the dolphin tails have a different kind of realism to them, you know? Either way I want a dolphin tail one day :D

[PearlieMae]

With regard to seaming. I have done a lot of silicone work and Butting two pieces of smooth silicone together in a perfect invisible seam and smoothing more silicone over it is my idea of a nightmare. It sounds easy, but is not.

I've actually found a way to do this with overlapping pieces for a completely smooth, featureless join, but for now, I'm keeping it my little secret!

[WaterDragon]

Has anyone been able to find pictures of the mermen tails in that video? all I've come up with are two pictures of the child in his the tail.

[jukumerboii]

my silicon tail is smooth! no scales!

[KayNS]

my silicon tail is smooth! no scales!

Cool! I'd love to see pics!