Spandex silicone hybrid tail

[Neptunie2]

I have recently started planning my spandex silicone hybrid tail. I got the inspiration from a few other mers who used silicone caulking to design tails. I can't think of their usernames right now otherwise I would mention them directly.

I will be using this fabric from spoonflower.
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160823/1979ddad3c6e3593aed04b7f774ae930.jpg
I have already ordered a sample and applied the silicone to it to see how in impacts the design's visibility and it turned out amazing!

I plan on applying the silicone smoothly than tracing the edges of the scale patterns.

[Mermaid Summerlilly]

Oooo fancyy! Excited to see this! :P

[Rayne Mermaid]

Wow,thats very pretty!

[J.Nigma]

Post TONS of pictures! That fabric is gorgeous 😍

[Neptunie2]

So I did practice this using 100% silicone bathroom caulk and I was able to effectively create a 3D scale pattern, but I am conflicted, I really like the idea of the scale pattern having texture but I like the simplicity of a suggestion Pearliemae had on another post which was to get a sample of Dragonskin and spread it on the fabric to protect it and then sew it together. Any opinions or suggestions would be great!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Dancing Fish]

I think caulk will hide the gorgeousness of this design. It's pretty easy to smear a layer of Dragon Skin onto spandex, though. It'll look wet, which in many cases will enhance the contrast of the colors. Just be aware you'll lose quite a lot of the stretch, so do the silicone before you cut out your tail! :) (ETA: just reread your initial post. Cool!)

[Neptunie2]

Which kind of dragonskin silicone do you use for this technique? I know PearlieMae mentioned getting the $30 sample amount but there are so many kinds it's overwhelming. I'm also worried about spending so much without seeing what it does to the fabric, like what if it made it more transparent


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Neptunie2]

Also how would it be in the water, would it be pretty watertight or would water still get in the top? I would need to know whether I need to put ventilation in the end for water to get out.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Dancing Fish]

I used dragon skin 10 (medium). It's strong but more importantly still stretchy. I've also used dragon skin FX but didn't notice that it was any stretchier. Once you lay the silicone down it will be pretty watertight, so yes water will get into the top and have nowhere to go. When I made a tail like this for my daughter, we had to make the monofin a separate piece because the spandex was too tight for her to get her feet into the Fin Fun monofin. If you have a monofin with heel straps it'll be easier. :)

If you're curious, here's what white spandex looks like when smeared with a thin layer of silicone: https://www.etsy.com/listing/535283119/silicone-infused-glossy-white-spandex
Your fabric is much darker and probably won't be so transparent!

[Neptunie2]

Thank you so much! I am worried though because the color is on a base white spandex. Any ideas for how to correct or minimize transparency. Maybe like an inner layer of fabric but I feel like that would make things too complicated


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk