Ascas first silicone mermaidtail in the making!

[Asca]

Hi! My name is Emily, i'm 22 years old from Sweden. I dreamt of a mermaidtail since I was 16 and now I will finally make one of my own. I'm studying to become a propmaker at a university here in Sweden and for my final graduationproject i'm doing a tail. Here you can follow my project, I also set up a youtube channel and a fb page.

EDIT: It is decided that I'm going to help some refugee kids learn to svim this summer in the tail with some swimming teachers :)

https://www.facebook.com/Asca-Creations-479573782170009/?fref=nf

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyGoS6m9Xwt34IQhSZ0v3ZQ

[Asca]

I got a 3 part mould. Moulded the legs and feets seperatly so I could have it in the "swimmingangle"
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160413/d389612e9a8546002f4d47de204c5cb2.jpg

I used a soap as a release agent and added Moldano type 3, a really Hard plaster and hemp cloth to my moulds.

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160413/9e9df78b4f2419f5589b822b0079450a.jpg

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160413/d59cd66f21e011a779f1fc47d4c1e44c.jpg


Got I hole that I patched up. Had trouble reaching in my cast with plaster. My arms are obviusly shorter than my legs so I had to take a stick and poke around the plaster.

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160413/cdb0117b249415dfc179ed4b7b9eaa09.jpg


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[Luna Dreamtide]

Wow I've never seen anyone attempt a multi part mould. I'm excited to see what you do. :)

[Asca]

I created multiparts moulds before but never in this scale so im on an adventure! :)

I got a 2 months deadline to when it have to ben finished

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[Asca]

Its geting there. Just have to grind it så it gets a smoth finish
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160413/5ba6c9790b5d1bf28bab4aca2f7c2b2d.jpg

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[Luna Dreamtide]

Already looking good. Good luck :)

[HamptonsMermaid]

So cool that this is what you're doing for school! Would be so nice to have the resources of a university for this kind of project. Those school deadlines are a bit of pressure but it will make you get it done!

[Shyren Shey]

How cool! I wish you good luck with your deadline and can't wait to see what you make with your prop making training!

[Asca]

My university gave me around 250 dollars to do this project. The rest is funded by the district I live in, they have a program. If I do something for the money that reaches out to kids and teenangers I get money. So i'm gonna help refugee kids learn to svimm this summer :)

Im chose to do my tail at home, like 70 miles (not american) from the school so i'm a bit on my own here in my fathers garage.

Thank you for the support! :)

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[Asca]

Todays update!
https://youtu.be/qTQV3QRPRA4

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[HamptonsMermaid]

Aw so cool to hear about working with refugee kids! Good point that many may have been traumatized by water, and in many parts of the world swimming lessons are only for the rich with pools.

When it comes to the practicality of teaching children you will need assistants. If you're in a tail you won't be able to properly help, rescue or hold a child in the water because you can't really stand. Having an assistant with legs free will also help show kids how to use their legs to swim properly as well. You'll need a high ratio of instructors to students, maybe even 1:2, depending on age and swim a level.

Good luck!

[Asca]

Im doing this togheter with the ordinary sviming instructors so I won't be on my own :)
I will be more of a tool to them and hopefully diffuse the kids potential fear of going in to water. Invite to play and make it a more playfull enviroment. We are also going to have a interpetator with us so we can communicate properly with the kids.

Here in Sweden all sorts of sports are quite easy to access for almost everyone and not so expensive. We have great clubs for kids here :)

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[Mermaid Lorelei]

That sounds like a lovely program, Asca!

[Asca]

Thank you Lorelei :)

Here is an update how my scales look http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160417/71532de7f365547c7a27263ec664b8b7.jpg


The plan is to make a mould of these and then make alot of scales fast out of clay by pressning it down in the mould.

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[Luna Dreamtide]

They look really cool. They reminds me of dragon scales. I love it!

[Mermaid Summerlilly]

Oooh pretty scales! Good luck on this tail! Excited to see it. :thumbs-up:

[kaikannibal]

I love these scales! Can't wait to see more progress! :)

[Asca]

Thank you :3

My mould worked as I hoped!

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160420/c61a5afa10f1089217d1d05fe850ad3c.jpg

And I coated the whole cast in shellack so the plaster won't suck out all the moisture from the waterclay as i sculp.
U really need to be careful and let i dry for atleast 24h or something. Othervise the shellack might fuck up your silikone.

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160420/afd6285cdc7aa94f20ab655abcf9094d.jpg

Before cleaning

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160420/c1f35ce8ca1e21da2455552f84bb5e3c.jpg

After cleaning <3

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160420/486e27536a93753807548af9923accab.jpg


Don't forget to follow my fb page! :)
https://m.facebook.com/Asca-Creations-479573782170009/

[Luna Dreamtide]

I'm really keen to see how this progesses. The scales actually look a lot like the scales on my bearded dragons!

[Kait]

wow im so keen to watch the progress of this! keep it up hun :)

[Asca]

Thank you! <3
Nice that you think they look like the scales of your lizzard.


Started to lay the puzzle now :3
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160422/44c3079257a6878815e480f1ff998df2.jpg

Just have to sculpt the seam in between the different patches of clay

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[Luna Dreamtide]

Wow. Thats looking so good. What type of clay are you using?

[Asca]

Thank you ^^

Im using an earthenware clay called CL 905

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[Mermaid Wesley]

Very cool!


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[Ashton]

Looking great,
I have always wanted to do a full body cast. I have only done my whole leg before.

[Coral Corey]

Thank you! <3
Nice that you think they look like the scales of your lizzard.


Started to lay the puzzle now :3
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160422/44c3079257a6878815e480f1ff998df2.jpg

Just have to sculpt the seam in between the different patches of clay

Skickat från min D5803 via TapatalkI love the scales!

[Asca]

Thank you <3

Does anyone that sees this tried to make their own tail?
If so, what to you think och this flukesize? The brown paper representants my monofin.
Is it to big or do you think it would work and look nice it the water?

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160504/247041a467c134450e2f52dd7fdef5f3.jpg

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[The Water Phoenix]

Looks beautiful! I think your fluke is a good size to go with :) I like flowyness. :)

[Asca]

Anyone know how thin it should be?

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[Asca]

Thank you :) I like the flowiness to but I'm afraid the monofin won't like all the extra pressure it will create =P

[The Water Phoenix]

Cast your silicone reasonably thin so it won't put too much pressure on your monofin. Monofins are designed to withstand the forces of swimming so I think yours should be fine :)

[Asca]

Like 3mm?
Except where it is obviusly supposed to be thicker. Like the thick lines you can see in the picture. Don't know what to call them

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[The Water Phoenix]

The lines are called veins :) I think go a tad more thicker than 3mm, you don't want your silicone tearing! :)

[Asca]

What is thin then? Never looked at a silicone tail irl so I got no idea

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[Asca]

Thanks for the word I missed btw ^^

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[The Water Phoenix]

You're welcome :) I'd say about 5mm, a reasonable thickness :)

[Asca]

Then the end of the fluke is going to be 1cm thick. Is that like the normal thickness of the fluke where you don't have the monofin?

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[Asca]

Thank you så mutch for the help <3

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[PearlieMae]

This is so exciting to watch! I can't wait to see more progress!

[Asca]

All the scales so far :3

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160504/43d59da78c4a2294e91c267730116c58.jpg

[Luna Dreamtide]

This is so well done! You have great attention to detail. I love the look of your fluke.

[Coral Corey]

Beautiful!

[Mermaid Chloe-Marie]

I am in love with your fluke shape! So pretty!

[Asca]

Thank you!

Thinking about changing the shape as seen on the left. The lines in the clay.
What do you guys think?

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160504/949be205e36b36e1e9f8f51b8948a071.jpg

[Asca]

This line to clarify

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160504/e3d945eeccb1777bbd3bf8336d4012a1.jpg

[Coral Corey]

This line to clarify

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160504/e3d945eeccb1777bbd3bf8336d4012a1.jpgI like this idea. :)

[Asca]

My hipfins are on their way aswell :)

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160505/81819566b1ff32090364a837636b60a5.jpg

[Ashton]

Looks great!

[Mermaid Julianne]

Just read through the whold thread, and dang girl your work is so clean! I can't wait to see more of your progress!

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[Coral Corey]

My hipfins are on their way aswell :)

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160505/81819566b1ff32090364a837636b60a5.jpgI think it's safe to say I'm going to love everything you do haha.

[Vela]

Wow this is going to be an awesome tail!! I love you hip fins!!!! :)

[Luna Dreamtide]

Looks amazing!

[Asca]

Thank you everyone <3
I get so happy by reading your comments :3

Im soon done with one side of my body in clay. Will cast it this weekend.

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[Asca]

Got my cloth that I'm gonna cast into the silicone. So if it get ripped in the future it won't be a big deal.
Tried a piece and it seems to work well :)


http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160507/e81dda6e510bc2348de1cf65b62dcdcd.jpg

[Mermaid Lieke]

I can't wait to see the result. The tail I'm making feels boring after reading through your thread

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[Asca]

We all make tails in different ways. Checked your thread and the test sheet is looking nice :)

I am a propmakerstudent and want to try to make a tail in a 2 part mould around a positive of my legs. I needed a challenge but I might screw up. Aren't any goof tutorials of this type that I found yet so I am in deep waters.



Almost done with the scales at my feets, for the smaller scales I don't use my scale moulds
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160507/8324ac0cf780208bbe709f445f03001a.jpg

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[Asca]

Latest news, been working alot lately.

Done with one side
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160510/6d0b6c43da795a3cdcf1be98073c6340.jpg

Prepared it for casting
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160510/7731dd9d105405c18b7c5dd7de23e44b.jpg
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160510/312b363c50261d35476272db440f3543.jpg

Forgot to take a picture before I turned it over. And today I been sculpting like crazy and i almost layed out all the scales. Need to attach the ones over my feets and then I need to blend all the edges between my scalepatches
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160510/edba24a5b231646896127963dff4746c.jpg

So sculpting the feets, casting one side and layed out alot of scales in the other side = 3 workingdays

[Coral Corey]

Latest news, been working alot lately.

Done with one side
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160510/6d0b6c43da795a3cdcf1be98073c6340.jpg

Prepared it for casting
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160510/7731dd9d105405c18b7c5dd7de23e44b.jpg
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160510/312b363c50261d35476272db440f3543.jpg

Forgot to take a picture before I turned it over. And today I been sculpting like crazy and i almost layed out all the scales. Need to attach the ones over my feets and then I need to blend all the edges between my scalepatches
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160510/edba24a5b231646896127963dff4746c.jpg

So sculpting the feets, casting one side and layed out alot of scales in the other side = 3 workingdaysLOOOOOOOOVE!

[Luna Dreamtide]

That looks great. I'm beyond excited to see how this tail turns out!

[Asca]

Sculpted the backside
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160520/fa68961b9923dbfe0f3dd5e6e5d777a8.jpg

Prepared it for casting.
Coated the clay in kryolan fixer spray and put some soap on the plaster. http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160520/72689fd07c29b8ed04dc5dc2b37116fa.jpg

Finally done! Tomorrow I will open it up and see how it went. Worst case it that I can't get the moulds of my bodycast.

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160520/aaae0169f944c22e04bbd5938272573c.jpg

[Mermaid Pogo]

It look so professional! I admire your leg mold. Can't wait to see more :)

[Mermaid Lieke]

Oh my, it looks great! Can't wait to see the result

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[Asca]

Thank you <3

My hipfins are on the way ^^
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160520/57acdde26f20c7cd4bd31666e9275df1.jpg

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160520/a9a3fcf86aa47b045a269e899e52790b.jpg

[Asca]

Finally! All my plaster moulds are now done :3
Tomorrow I will take away all the clay in them

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160520/ff3fd22d11dad6928c43d067702beedd.jpg

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160520/c710219c17779e95954d9caeddd70c90.jpg

[Mermaid Lieke]

Watching you progress is so exciting!

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[Asca]

Thank you :3
If everything goes as planned it will be done in a week or 2

[Mermaid Alea]

How thick is the fluke sculpt?

[Luna Dreamtide]

This is looking great. I love seeing the progress. Your hip fins look awesome!

[Asca]

It is 3-7mm thick.
Going to attach some cloth inbetween them that will give the fluke tearstrengt.

[Asca]

Got my hair fixed yesterday!
Never been so colourfull before.

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160522/921c1d47dc4f5b0788f0082d5450500f.jpg

[Luna Dreamtide]

That looks so cool!! Like My Little Pony hair.

[Marinus Mortimer]

Never knew someone here was making a tail this way! You are awesome, I'm making mine in the same way but mine is going to be an Extended tail. Can't wait to see more progress on this good luck friend.