A tailmaking adventure of a mermaid lost ashore

[Mermaid Kalahari]

Hey there everyone!

Well I'll I am going to attempt a silicone tail....maybe.... my first project is playing with how I want to do the scales (a sheet or individual, shapes?) and start with some test runs with that, and playing with coloring while I test out the scales. I think working with th silicone and molding on a small scale will give me an idea if I am confident to tackle an entire tail.

My my first test sample is using the foam and a heart cut out. Im working on gluing them now. I'm going to make a small sample square of both the pointed end of the heart and the round ends to see what I like better.

I'm going to play with some cookie/fondant cutters and maybe some cookie molds with clay (but still have to order stuff from amazon). I will be attaching pictures soon, it's not working from my phone.

[Mermaid Kalahari]

My start of the pointed scales. I need to find some quicker drying glue if this is how I do the full scale sheet. Regular elmers takes too long and they slip around.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170228/dde5c8d9a3ee4057b5d2c212059d5f2e.jpg


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[Spindrift]

Cute!

[Mermaid Kalahari]

I finally have my silicone in to make some test molds...but first I have to make a mold of my scale sheet[emoji51] an important step I forgot to plan for [emoji30]. While waiting for supplies I made my first mermaid crown for my best friends bday gift, with matching shades. [emoji41]


https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170314/6d5a50e2edf192ace1e77148fff9cc44.jpg
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[Mermaid Kalahari]

Ok I finally got a bunch of different test materials to start working on my tail. A couple different moulds, 2 stiffness of dragonskin, and some different pigments. I decided that living in an apartment with not much space that the single scale method will probably be the best option for now.

I'm going to make my first test mould of scales tonight! I'm so excited! Here are my scales as of now https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170610/64c30b14845fed8cd81871124ef39076.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170610/e70a93a965906ed58d02396695be4d5d.jpg


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[Sea~Phoenix Savannah]

Ok I finally got a bunch of different test materials to start working on my tail. A couple different moulds, 2 stiffness of dragonskin, and some different pigments. I decided that living in an apartment with not much space that the single scale method will probably be the best option for now.

I'm going to make my first test mould of scales tonight! I'm so excited! Here are my scales as of now https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170610/64c30b14845fed8cd81871124ef39076.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170610/e70a93a965906ed58d02396695be4d5d.jpg


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Mermaid Kalahari they look so good! Also good luck (small apartment space: the story of my life) and much happiness on your tail making journey! I can't wait to see they finished tail!

[Mermaid_Izzy]

Ok I finally got a bunch of different test materials to start working on my tail. A couple different moulds, 2 stiffness of dragonskin, and some different pigments. I decided that living in an apartment with not much space that the single scale method will probably be the best option for now.

I'm going to make my first test mould of scales tonight! I'm so excited! Here are my scales as of now https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170610/64c30b14845fed8cd81871124ef39076.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170610/e70a93a965906ed58d02396695be4d5d.jpg


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They look so cool. And I can also relate to having a small space. Even if I could find the room for a scale sheet, I would be terrified to mess with the huge mold.


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[Mermaid Kalahari]

Thank you!

I had a serious hiccup with my mould. I used a resin (pictured below) and placed the scales on a cookie sheet. Resin leaked under clay. I was able to cut most of it off but might need to sand/file/dremel it down some more. I also didn't use a mould release [emoji30]🤦🏻*♀️ and the clay stuck all over. I read somewhere it will come out with the first silicone or latex pull but I didn't wanna waste the dragonskin with that so I went to Walmart to get silicone caulk. That is curing over night, I will see if that pulls it out in the morning. I have. O idea what I'm doing or if it will work but thought it would be a cheap trial.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170610/ac5aff4cf552705bac7c9c04fccab1b1.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170610/121be8e8c7bc0747a631f13929cd00b4.jpg

I also have smooth-cast to try with the next batch but have to get some releasing agent first.


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[PearlieMae]

I hope you didn't use the caulk too thickly, because it will skin over and the inside won't cure and you'll have a terrible mess! If you used oil based clay, you can clean out the mold with oil (baby oil, cooking oil) and scrubbing with soap and water to break up the oil.

You MUST test everything FIRST, unless you don't care about being disappointed and throwing money away.

Go to smoothon.com and watch the how-to videos. Watch casting and molding videos on YouTube. Do your research! It will save you a lot of heartache. Good luck!

[Mermaid Kalahari]

Thanks Pearlie Mae! Yeah this was my test run and it did not work out and exactly what you said happened! lol I have been watching videos and reading up on here for like 6 months now trying to make sure I had everything straight in my brain. Apparently I did not [emoji12].

I'm off to the store today to buy the release, some baby oil, and a brush to clean it out. Is there a trick to keeping the mould from leaking underneath the sculpt??


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[PearlieMae]

Yes! Lay down a flat piece of clay on your cookie sheet, press your scales (gently, but firmly - does that make sense?) onto the clay, then make a clay wall around the scales, tall enough to contain your resin. Basically, stick your scales on to a flat bottomed clay bowl.

If you're using oil based clay, you won't need release. Get a package of toothbrushes at the dollar store! You can clip the bristles down to make them stiffer.

[Anita Mermaid]

I hope you didn't use the caulk too thickly, because it will skin over and the inside won't cure and you'll have a terrible mess! If you used oil based clay, you can clean out the mold with oil (baby oil, cooking oil) and scrubbing with soap and water to break up the oil.

You MUST test everything FIRST, unless you don't care about being disappointed and throwing money away.

Go to smoothon.com and watch the how-to videos. Watch casting and molding videos on YouTube. Do your research! It will save you a lot of heartache. Good luck!
You always have the best advice

LONG TIME NO SEA EH?

[Mermaid Kalahari]

Squeeeeeeeeee the second time worked out beautifully!!! I used the clay base Pearlie Mae mentioned to seal it so the resin wouldn't get underneath and I added a little Vaseline to the scales just to help a little and it popped right off! Hardly anything I have to scrub out! I am so happy how they turned out, but the real test will be seeing how the silicone scale looks! Time to get making more scales and more sizes! https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170611/14de522dadc82578a7125d48f8ec3c8a.jpg


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[Mermaid Kalahari]

Did my first silicone test to see how the scales look and to wet my fins in silicone! I'm pretty happy with how they turned out! https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170612/7cea4f3b09e04629e59fbcc07fbadb0d.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170612/bba854594a236e69df21c387fed77d86.jpg


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[PearlieMae]

Ooooh!

[Mermaid Aria]

Love the shape of the scales! Very pretty!

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[Mermaid Kalahari]

Thank you! Next batch are some smaller ones.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170612/032b0d456ec3f6658e9022f5f54d3acd.jpg

I bought some nesting leaf cookie cutters and slightly reshaped them to more of a scale shape. I figured it would be the easiest way to get a uniform shape for a sculpting noob such as myself. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170612/2f3c1c2a8501deeafdbc0dfe40258862.jpg


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[Vela]

wow i love your scale shape!! Can't wait to see this tail come to life!!! :)

[Mermaid Kalahari]

I have been using Smooth Cast. I've seen a few people on here use Shell Shock a bit. What are the differences between the two? Pros cons?


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[Mermaid Kalahari]

So my first attempt at coloring. Did a black base for some color changing pigments that I still have to buy an air brush system for. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170630/c8c85582c36b55484e48ac3d746c78a0.jpg


I think I'm going to do a mix of a scale sheet and individual scales. So the center of the front and back of the tail will be the sheet and then connect them with single scales. Have to do a small scale test of that idea 🤞🏼


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