new to tail making

[mermaid mazu]

Hi, I'm about to embark on making my first tail. I'm planning on a neoprene and silicone hybrid using paintable clear silicone caulk. I've seen many things on thinning silicone down with mineral spirits and adding acrylic paint, but if I'm using paintable silicone, is there a reason I can't just airbrush with regular paint after its completely cured?

[mermaid mazu]

I totally put this in the wrong place. I'm sorry, still trying to figure this out lol

[moniee]

The reason is I believe because the paint won't stick to the silicone. Silicone only sticks to itself, which is why people airbrush a cured tail with thinend down silicone mixed with pigments.
However caulk seems to be a bit different, it seems to stick onto most surfaces and there's an another mer who uses paint to apply on her caulk tail:
http://mernetwork.com/index/showthread.php?13430-I-m-too-impatient-to-wait-so-I-m-making-a-PARTIAL-SILICONE-TAIL!

I would say do a test swatch first and see if it comes off, stretch it, play with it and see how it resists :)

[mermaid mazu]

I hadn't actually considered painting it while it was still wet. I will have to do some experimenting.

http://mernetwork.com/index/showthread.php?12581-First-tail-a-hybrid-adventure this beautiful tail is my inspiration for the hybrid tail.