My first silicone tail

[Cjwhite16]

My name is Collin. Just recently i decided to start saving up to purchase a tail, as well as make my own on the side. The one i am making is going to be directly based off of h2o color and all. I heavily researched it, and I am going to be documenting my process here. There are still a few things I am unclear of and was wondering if anyone could give me tips.
1. How am i going to achieve the color of orange i need for the tail
2. How do i go about adding a drainage system to the tail, any tips would be appreciated
3. What is better to use for molds? Plaster or Fiber glass.
Here are 2 pictures of my scale sheet one is the first day i worked on it, the second is where i'm at now.

[Mermaid_Izzy]

My name is Collin. Just recently i decided to start saving up to purchase a tail, as well as make my own on the side. The one i am making is going to be directly based off of h2o color and all. I heavily researched it, and I am going to be documenting my process here. There are still a few things I am unclear of and was wondering if anyone could give me tips.
1. How am i going to achieve the color of orange i need for the tail
2. How do i go about adding a drainage system to the tail, any tips would be appreciated
3. What is better to use for molds? Plaster or Fiber glass.
Here are 2 pictures of my scale sheet one is the first day i worked on it, the second is where i'm at now.


Hi, I am also saving to make my first silicone tail. You have some really good questions, that I would loved to see answered by other Mer's as I am not as qualified to answer...

I am using Pearl-Ex pigments to color my tail and plaster molds.

As far the draining system goes, I know some Mers stick straws in there fluke as the silicone is curing and then pull them out...and I think Raven (Merbella's) tails have drain holes right above the fluke where the scales end....




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[Cjwhite16]

Does Pearl-Ex work with Dragon Skin 10?

[Mermaid_Izzy]

Does Pearl-Ex work with Dragon Skin 10?

I know of a few people who use it...I am about to order my silicone and do some tests...any pigment shoild work unless you just overload the silicone with it...


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[Cjwhite16]

Any suggestions to which pigments i could use to achieve the gold orange color of the h2o tails?

[GulfMerman101]

Gold pigments, even with gold Metallic Plastic Paints for working on the scales. Red Russet and Smoke for darker areas on the tail.

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[GulfMerman101]

Because gold is yellowish, mixing it with a darker red such a russet, will achive the look. But you may also check trans yellow orange pigments, if that's available.

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[Cjwhite16]

Thank you :) i really appreciate it.

[GulfMerman101]

No problem but remember, to do samplings and lil testing, so you may see how much you might need on a bigger scale. 😊

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[Cjwhite16]

I will! I want this tail to turn out as close to perfect as possible. So im going to take my time and test the pigments and everything.

[GulfMerman101]

Sounds like an awesome plan, I wish you the best of luck. 😄😁🍀

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[Cjwhite16]

Would I be able to use the pigments and silicone in an airbrush?

[Mermaid_Izzy]

Would I be able to use the pigments and silicone in an airbrush?

Lots of Mers do you just have to thin it down with something like Napatha...


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[Cjwhite16]

So would i mix the pigments with silicone and napatha? Does napatha have any negative effects on silicone?

[Mermaid_Izzy]

So would i mix the pigments with silicone and napatha? Does napatha have any negative effects on silicone?

This is where I found the majority of what I am going to use to paint my tail...It's Jazz's thread

http://mernetwork.com/index/showthread.php?6947-Silicone-Mermaid-Tail-Turtorial

She talks about using things like Napatha

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[Cjwhite16]

Thank you! Sorry I just don't know much about that stuff so i'm a little confused on how i'm gonna paint my tail in general.

[Mermaid_Izzy]

Thank you! Sorry I just don't know much about that stuff so i'm a little confused on how i'm gonna paint my tail in general.

I was too...I just kept doing more and more research and watching more people make their tails and watching any unboxing video to see how known tail makers assembled things... I also watch a lot of Rania's videos, "So You Want to be a Mermaid" she has a lot of helpful tips on tail care...

It all comes together eventually and when I get stuck I do it all over again, sometimes I notice if I read something twice or watch a video again I get more out of it...

I even decided to design and make my own monofin that hide heels better...


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[Hydra1337]

You also don't need to just airbrush the silicone on. For your tail you could pigment your scale sheet and fluke a base color and then airbrush the darker detail silicone on top of that. That's the method I'm going to use when I make mine.

[Hydra1337]

*airbrush all the silicone on.

Sorry for double posting but my phone won't load up the edit page.

[Mermaid_Izzy]

*airbrush all the silicone on.

Sorry for double posting but my phone won't load up the edit page.

I should've have mentioned that too...lol...that's what I plan on doing, great advice!


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[Cjwhite16]

Another question I have is, I'm using the finis rapid monofin for the fluke. I was wondering if you guys had any ideas to how big it should be. Measurements wise?

[Mermaid_Izzy]

Another question I have is, I'm using the finis rapid monofin for the fluke. I was wondering if you guys had any ideas to how big it should be. Measurements wise?

It can be as big as you want it to be, just keep on mind that what it not supported by the monofin will be floppy and the bigger it is the more weight it will add the tail...

My fulk is going to be about this big (pictured below), but I am changing the design slightly... Unless you were referring to the size of the monofin...[emoji23]...then I just went on for nothing...haha

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20161020/7191c6ca9ec64e630984065d41ea0e8b.jpg



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[Cjwhite16]

I was referring to the size of the tail around the monofin. So you're good haha. My boyfriend and I were just having trouble figure out how to go about doing that part. We're gonna try tomorrow I'll post a picture for an update once I do finally get it drawn. Thank you :)

[Mermaid_Izzy]

I was referring to the size of the tail around the monofin. So you're good haha. My boyfriend and I were just having trouble figure out how to go about doing that part. We're gonna try tomorrow I'll post a picture for an update once I do finally get it drawn. Thank you :)

No problem and I can't wait to see!


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