Mermaid Melanie's 2nd Silicone Tail

[Mermaid Melanie]

Hey guys ! I promised to make another tail and detail the process if I won my diving competition and yippee ! I did ! So here I am again with the huge task of creating a new tail ! I learned a lot from making the first, I made mistakes which I hope to correct this time and there are things I would like to try out differently. Id like to think of this new tail as a progression of skills and hopefully it will show in the final product !

So far Ive been doing some drawings and designs of possible fluke shapes and some colour ways - this fluke was based off a butterfly wing
35937

Im hoping to be airbrushing this tail so figured I could get a bit more adventurous with the colour design
35938

35939

Colours in this tail were based on the goldfish in Fantasia <3
35940

Thats a few of the ones I've been working on so far. Let me know what you guys think !

Im going to be working on a new scale sheet as the first one I felt was pretty thick and I would like to make a thinner sheet this time backed onto power mesh to make it lighter weight for travelling with and hopefully easier to get on/off!

[LouLouBelle]

Love them! 2nd and 3rd are my favourites - I think the 3rd just wins... Maybe with a little more of the warmer burgundy colour in the centre of the purple areas, though - just to heat it up a bit?

Can't wait to see this! (And absolutely love the butterfly fluke!!)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[JoSea7]

That fluke is awesome!! Love the colors! The goldfish one looks very regal.. Is that a good word for that? Idk, that's all I could think of..[emoji39]


Jo

[Mermaid Melanie]

Thanks so much guys glad you liked them ! ( will have to scale them down a bit before I post anymore I think ! Ops ! ) :D Cant wait to get started on this tail - will be trying out new scales this weekend and will post results ! :D

[Mermaid Julianne]

You always have the most gorgeous designs, I'm so excited to see what you create 😀

Also, congrats on winning your diving competition!!!

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

[MermanOliver]

I would go for the second color pattern, although the fluke in the third is really interesting, too. In fact, they all look nice, so it's hard to decide ;) .
Sent from my phonebrick using Tapatalk.

[The Water Phoenix]

I really like the second tail design :)

[Mermaid Melanie]

Thanks guys ! I was doodling away all night - super tired today lol really love this colour combo and think I'm getting stuck on the idea of spots and stripes combo !
35941

[Merman Arion]

Thanks guys ! I was doodling away all night - super tired today lol really love this colour combo and think I'm getting stuck on the idea of spots and stripes combo !
35941

This is definitely the design I would go with for this new tail. Just my opinion.

Good luck Melanie. I'm rooting for you :cheerleader:

[Mermaid Melanie]

Thanks Arion ! <3 Im really loving the colours in that one ! I keep getting drawn into turquoise and pinks lol but the yellow in it gives it a nice lift I think and I can't seem to step away from the tropical feel haha !

[Ariel-Starfish]

Wow your designs are breath taking! :swoon:

[Luna Dreamtide]

Wow your designs are breath taking! :swoon:
Agree!! Gorgeous designs!

[Mermaid Marius]

Would you take commissions for tail designs? These designs are breathtaking and I have an idea for my tail but I haven't solidified it into the beauty that I want yet.

Sent from my SM-S920L using Tapatalk

[Ashton]

love the color combinations of your designs!

[Mermaid Melanie]

Hey Guys !

Sorry its been so long since I last updated anything ! I had exams at uni recently and its left me no time for tailmaking ! Im travelling to the Maldives on Friday morning and have taken on the very ambitious task of competing my tail in 4 days :eek: ! I didnt have time to sculpt a new fluke unfortunately so I have decided to use my original fluke mold. Since my original tail is very heavy I wanted to try and create something lighter and more suitable for travelling so the new tail is a prototype fabric and silicone hybrid tail. The body of the tail is airbrushed fabric with a glitter infused silicone coating which will join to the silicone fluke. My lovely mum is helping me to turn this out in time by doing the airbrushing of the tail body, while I have been working on the silicone fluke !

Also due to the size of the special fins monofin I had to change to use the Hydra fin to make it fit in my suitcase. This meant I had to cut the Hydra to fit the fluke shape. I managed to use a hacksaw to cut the shape and then used a soldering iron to melt and smooth the edges.

Here is the adjusted design for the old fluke with the new colour scheme.
39741

Sorry for the potato quality image of the fin but I'm pretty happy with the shape anyway !

39742

fluke mold

39743

Fluke poured and coloured yellow ( lemon curd kinda colour <3 )

39744

I started painting on Tuesday ( started this whole thing on Monday)

39745

Then built the colour up - I was hoping to airbrush the colour for the fluke but I simply don't have the time so Im doing my best with hand painting.

39746

I added fine glitter into the paint and Im really happy with how its turning out so far ! Today I will paint the other fluke half and add the yellow spots to the fluke. My mum is finishing spraying the body of the tail and then later this evening I will be stitching the body and then to silicone it, we are planning to wrap mannequin legs in cling film and then put the tail body over that to add the silicone top coat - then tomorrow I will join everything together and hopefully it will be cured in time for my flight on Friday morning.... It feels like an impossible deadline but we are doing our absolute best to try and finish in time. If it turns out well I will try and make another after new year :)

39747

Any feedback or advice would be greatly appreciated ! :D

[LouLouBelle]

Wow! Those colours are absolutely stunning already. I can't wait to see it finished! Good luck!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[PearlieMae]

Wonderful! I can't wait to see it!

[Mermaid Melanie]

Thanks lovelies ! :D

got the spots on the front of the fluke ! very happy ! :D

39748

Finally we got the colours right for the tail body - slowly but surely coming along !

39749

[lynsea]

Your fluke mold has always been my favorite. Can't wait to see how the tail turns out!

[Mermaid Melanie]

Thanks so much Lynsea ! :D I must admit I was disappointed not being able to make the new fluke in time but I do love the shape of my first one ! :D

I had some left over silicone so brushed it into a shell and when I pulled it out I thought it would make a cute pare of hip fins so I've gone and thickened them up a bit :)

(this is the back side)

39750

[Misty Lau]

Wow, that tail is looking great! So happy for you!

[PearlieMae]

39747

Any feedback or advice would be greatly appreciated ! :D

I got very excited when I saw this one, but then realized the purple-y part was a reflection of blue sky from a window!

It's still stunning, I love the how it's turning out!

[Mermaid Melanie]

Ah if I had time to do a more elaborate paint job I would love to! Its just after 1am here and thats me just put down the brushes ! Got the tail body painted and coated in glittery AF silicone lol its so sparkly ! Tomorrow I'm putting everything together - I'm delirious now but in my head I'm on schedule and should have a tail by Friday morning :D

[Mermaid Melanie]

https://www.instagram.com/p/BOBOpwahgzk/?taken-by=copperlocks

Last day to finish the tail - my first tail took me a year to make and this is being done in 4days ! I still havent packed my bags for my holiday tomorrow ! ahhhh better get back to work on it !

[lynsea]

So did you coat fabric in silicone?

[WaterDragon]

Wow that is stunning *.*

[Mermaid Alea]

Oh my gosh I am so excited for you! Your new tail is looking great good luck finishing it! :)

[Mermaid Melanie]

Aw thanks guys ! :D well its been chaos trying to finish but I finally got it done today ! :D YAAAAYYY

Yeah Lynsea its airbrushed fabric then coated with a glitter silicone top layer - I wanted to make a travel tail that was lighter weight but still silicone so I think this has worked out well ! If I had more time Id like to have made extra fins and a top but 4 days isn't bad for making a tail start to finish ! :D

39766

I managed to adjust the sizing today, prep the monofin with lace covering to hold the silicone fluke, sandwich my fluke halves and finally adjust and attach the tail body - its been hectic but so worth it ! very happy with the outcome ! :D My mum helped me non stop through this and I couldnt have done it without her help ! Lets hope it holds up well and Ill get lots of pics and videos on the trip ! :D

[PearlieMae]

I adore this!

[lynsea]

Thanks for answering all my questions, one more if you don't mind. How did you attach the fabric fluke to the body?

Also, it turned out amazingly. Even more so considering how quickly you did it!

[Misty Lau]

It's stunning! Congrats!

[Rett]

Oh my goodness! You finished this tail in 4 days and it is easily one of the most beautiful tails I have ever seen! I am in love with the shading and coloring on the fluke! It is so beyond gorgous!

ETA: You better post some more pictures of the finished tail soon!

[Mermaid Melanie]

Hey guys ! sorry I didnt reply sooner, I was away on the trip right after finishing the tail ! :D Thanks so much Im so happy with how it turned out ! :D

Lynsea - I attached the two just using silicone and pins to hold the fabric in place over the fluke ! Its worked out well and after using it I had no issues so it seems to be strong enough ! I normally superglue lace to the monofin and the top of the pockets to add extra grip for the fluke and the bottom of the tail body - I did this on my first tail and it held us really well but after a lot of use it does come away a little but I don't find it hinders its performance !

Rett - Thanks so much! :D It was such a hectic project to try and finish but luckily my mum was an angel and helped me non stop to get it done in time ! Anddd... heres some pics from the trip ! :D more to come I just got back so have tons of processing to do !

39858

39859

[Rett]

Oh my goodness it is gorgous! :jawdrop: :swoon:

[PearlieMae]

:swoon::yay::dance::hail:

[Mermaid Melanie]

Had a total panic as the airline lost our bags with my tail, dive equipment, camera equipment and all my new clothes !!! :O been hounding them all day and finally tracked em down and just bee delivered now safe and sound ! PHEW !

[Neerai]

So wonderful work!! Stunning on water!!

[Fifi Tigg]

Beautiful tail!

[Avya]

It's so beautiful! 😍 Oh my goodness!!

Sent from my SM-G935W8 using Tapatalk

[Mermaid_Izzy]

The colors are gorgeous! And I absolutely love you fluke!


Sent from my ShellPhone using Tapatalk

[Azurin Luna]

Love the colors! It looks really nice

[Mermaid Tami]

Beautiful!!!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[xaccer2]

искр (http://audiobookkeeper.ru/book/1505)

[xaccer2]

212.8 (http://cottagenet.ru/plan/293)

[xaccer2]

зрен (http://eyesvision.ru/lectures/108)

[xaccer2]

rota (http://eyesvisions.com/physics/37)

[xaccer2]

Лосе (http://filmzones.ru)

[xaccer2]

разн (http://gadwall.ru)