Silicone carbon fiber tail- Inexpensive!!!

[.MermaidSophia.]

Hello! This is my thread on the silicone tail I'm making. It won't have a monofin built into it, as the support will come from carbon fiber rods within the veins of the fluke. (Just like a real fish). It will also be extremely efficient on silicone, the gallon unit of 10T dragonskin will probably be more than enough for me. I'll post pictures soon!

[.MermaidSophia.]

41167

Here is what the fluke of the tail is mostly made out of. It's a 60A durometer (car tire stiffness) silicone sheet 1/4" thick and 36 x 36 inches. As you can see it isn't very stiff on its own, which is where the rods will come in to add extra support. It's cool that I've been able to draw ideas directly onto the silicone with a whiteboard marker. I can get the exact shape I want without spending hours molding clay or going through tons of paper. It's really just as easy as draw, erase, repeat. :D

[Hydra1337]

"Invalid attachment specified"

[.MermaidSophia.]

"Invalid attachment specified" I added another file type of the same picture. Hope this helps!

[ladyofthelake]

I love the design! I can't wait to see the finished product! Keep up the good work and keep us posted as you progress!


41167

Here is what the fluke of the tail is mostly made out of. It's a 60A durometer (car tire stiffness) silicone sheet 1/4" thick and 36 x 36 inches. As you can see it isn't very stiff on its own, which is where the rods will come in to add extra support. It's cool that I've been able to draw ideas directly onto the silicone with a whiteboard marker. I can get the exact shape I want without spending hours molding clay or going through tons of paper. It's really just as easy as draw, erase, repeat. :D

[Hydra1337]

I added another file type of the same picture. Hope this helps!

It did, thanks! Great work so far!

[.MermaidSophia.]

41172

41173 Alright, so here is the real heart of this project, the body. Now originally I was going to go with a flat surface to mold the scales (make clay scales, lay them on a sheet, pour plaster, boom. flat mold) but I knew that with my complete lack of sewing skills it would probably create a big ugly seam down the side. And thus, the inside out method was born (I have no idea if that has a real name, but I'm just going to roll with it). The concept is this: make a plaster mold that you can pour silicone over two or three times until it is thick enough, then very very carefully peel it off and turn it inside out, and voila, you have a completed body made perfectly to fit your legs. There is no excess silicone that you would have to trim off, and nothing is wasted that way.

Of course, this method has given me some real headache. For one, the scales are a big problem. The only type of scales I can use are small primitive circles. Because this is my first ever silicone tail, it doesn't bother me too much, but I'm worried that it might make some problems for me down the road if I ever want any type of scale besides circles.

41174
41175 THIS. This is the biggest problem of all. Because the body changes in width so many times, the scales won't always line up correctly. And then you are left with horrors like this. The circles are uneven, have big gaps in between them, and overall just look bad. :cry: I try my best to avoid patches like this, but it happens sometimes anyway.

[Mermaid Wesley]

Wow!!! What a cool idea! I hope this works for you!!

Edit: the irregular scales probably won't be a big deal. Nature isn't perfect!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[.MermaidSophia.]

Thank you Wesley! People have told me beofore that it won't show up much, but I'm worried anyways... haha maybe I'm just trying too hard to make it perfect.

41177
41178 so here's the first full design of what the fluke is going to look like. I imagine I'm going to have to change it a few times before it's done, but I think this is going to be the main look (inspired by Mermaid Raina's Rapadash 2 tail). this part of the process won't be as difficult, so I'm going to start it after I finish the body mold. The carbon fiber rods are going to be attached along the lines, which I'm pretty excited about. In my mind I can see it being really flowy and realistic once it's finished. Flowy, but not floppy. There probably won't be much extra silicone hanging off the ends to create drag. As for the foot pockets, I'm still a little lost :$. I'm not sure yet how I'm going to make the thing actually hold to my feet while I swim. If anyone has any tips or ideas they would be a great help! :D

[Mermaid Wesley]

(Oh trust me I get perfectionism, I've been working on my silicone tail for 2 years [emoji28])
Could you attach water shoes or something to the blade itself?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[.MermaidSophia.]

(Oh trust me I get perfectionism, I've been working on my silicone tail for 2 years [emoji28])
Could you attach water shoes or something to the blade itself?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk That's awesome!! I really think that every merperson should make their own tail at some point or another. It really is one of the most rewarding things to spend a long time making something yourself. It really makes you appreciate all the time that people put into doing this kind of thing as a living.

I have considered using water shoes in it, but I'm worried that the cloth in it might grow mold or decay after a while. I did buy some cheap little silicone socks off of amazon, however. They're very soft and I'll probably use them as lining for the inside of the thing. Thank you! :blush:

[.MermaidSophia.]

41201
41202
So the next little problem I have to work through is attaching the carbon fiber itself to the tail. Because silicone doesn't bond to anything but itself, I'm feeling a little nervous as to how on earth I can do this in a way that will last. I have a few ideas, the main one being that I buy some thin silicone tubing, which the rods can go inside. The tubing would then be closed on either side and attached to the fluke. Hopefully with the rods, the tubing, and the silicone sheet I will have a fairly stiff blade.

There are a couple things that make this method a little risky though. One being if a rod snaps, it could be very difficult to replace. This will hopefully never happen though. The individual rods are very long and thin, also there will be many of them so the stress of swimming should be pretty spread out. Also, I have a feeling it is going to be really difficult to attach the tubes themselves while still keeping a smooth look to the tail.

A third hopeful is that they will actually look like veins, not just tubes on a flat sheet. :biting nails:

[merwandering]

If I were going to do this, I might try sandwiching the rods between two pieces of fluke shaped fabric, and either sewing or gluing channels for each rod. Or maybe cutting a shallow channel for each rod into the thick rubber sheet, but- those ends- I would find a way to cap off the ends with something durable, they'd be the first thing that would start to tear it up- they look like they'd poke through with movement. This is a really cool idea! Good luck!

[.MermaidSophia.]

If I were going to do this, I might try sandwiching the rods between two pieces of fluke shaped fabric, and either sewing or gluing channels for each rod. Or maybe cutting a shallow channel for each rod into the thick rubber sheet, but- those ends- I would find a way to cap off the ends with something durable, they'd be the first thing that would start to tear it up- they look like they'd poke through with movement. This is a really cool idea! Good luck!
Great suggestions merwandering! I'm probably going to try to keep cloth out of the tail, But maybe a second thin silicone sheet to cover it? From some research I've done they don't look too expensive.

You also just gave me an idea- I could put a hard U shaped cap over the end of each rod to distribute the force so all the force isn't being delivered to one tiny spot before sealing it. Thank you for the help!

[.MermaidSophia.]

Just did a bunch of work on the body mold. Nearly done the toughest part! Probably only 2 or 3 more sessions and I'll be finished grinding the scales! So excited!! :yay:

[.MermaidSophia.]

Oh boy... the day is finally here. The day, if I was of drinking age, I would crack open a bottle of champagne and gorge myself on cookie dough until I couldn't move. Yes... It is that day. I AM FINISHED CARVING SCALES ON THE BODY MOLD.

After crunching some numbers, here is the approximate effort I have put into this [ahem] darn thing:

-more than 30 hours hunched over a chest high object, holding a heavy object I am trying to keep perfectly steady while carving as many scales as I can before either my neck pain becomes unbearable or the drill gets too hot to hold
-about 3000 7/8 of an inch individual scales covering the entire mold, which all have taken my complete concentration to carve, and are extremely frustrating to fix when you mess one up
-and then 4 months of this. 4 straight months of finally arriving at the end of your tediously long week of high school, and then knowing the only mermiading you will be doing is staring down at the end of a tiny dangerous drill bit!
-I am also fairly certain I have coal miner lungs now. anyone who has worked with plaster before can confirm that the stuff creates so. much. dust.

So here I am... finally past the worst of it. But these last few days of the home stretch have been horrible. In order to finish it this weekend, we had to MOVE THE MOLD. If you can only imagine how scary this was... I am only a few hours of work away from finishing, and we have to pack it up, drive it in a car down the horrible roads of springtime Vermont, set it up OUTSIDE propped between two questionable ladders, and chase off people, my chocolate lab (who just loves to run at you full speed spontaneously), and little sibling's remote control cars to finish the thing. Praise whatever angelic being that is in charge of protecting fragile things, because nothing happened to it.

Unfortunately, the tedious work is not finished. That drill leaves the most unattractive hole right in the middle of your scale, so I must now go back over each and every one of them and stuff that hole with plaster, then scrape away the extra with an exact-o knife. I'm not too upset about this though. It allows me to correct some of the mistakes I have made while drilling. It also won't take very long at all, as I can receive help offered by family members (thank you thank you thank you to my mother and brother!!). Most of the tail has already received this final treatment, and we only have about a thanksgiving platter sized area left to do on the thing.

So yeah, that basically sums up my weekend. This thing is starting to become all I can think about, which probably isn't a good thing. I've got finals coming up, so it might be up to two weeks before I can get the mold to a point where it is ready for glossing.

41228
41229

Happy mermaiding to all!

[Mermaid Kassandra]

Wow this project really catches the attention!
So far it's a very nice job, hope this will be a successful experience ��

[ladyofthelake]

Wow! Your mold is amazing! I'm following your progress!:dance: Hopefully you can splash it this summer!

[Aurelian]

Looks awesome! I'll definitely be following this thread!

[Mermaid Jaffa]

Ooo!

I had thought of making a monofin from silicone sheets at one time... I even asked about it but nobody at that time had made anything like it. I'll be sure to check in now and then to see your progress!

[.MermaidSophia.]

Thank you everyone! I'm so sorry there hasn't been any updates recently. :cry:One more week and I can start working on it again.

[Mermaid Kerenza Sapphire]

Ooh, looking good! following to see how it progresses :)

[.MermaidSophia.]

Whew! First update in a long while! Sorry I Haven't been keeping up very well, things always slow down a lot this time of year. But, great news, yet another step is out of the way! All of those nasty holes left by the drill are filled in and smoothed out, and I've taken a piece of sandpaper to the whole thing to help smooth out the high points.
4131741318 Here's a small patch of the finished scales!

41319
41320





There are still a few problem areas that I'm not too excited about, but at this point I think there isn't much I can do by just putting more plaster over it and trying to smooth it out. hopefully, some of the issues will be resolved by the next step, which is covering the whole thing in a glossy coating to take away the dullness of the plaster. I've been told varnish is a good gloss to use. Any particular warnings about the stuff?

[.MermaidSophia.]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170618/aab57c402584705ac81ba9f91420a0dd.jpg

A beautiful glossy finish to a long hard journey! I know it's just the scale mold, and the tail is probably about a month from actual completion, but it sure does feel nice to reach such a big milestone! I'm so excited to see how the body piece will come out. A few samples I made a while back were made with a small sample mold, without the gloss, and they came out looking so dull and boring, but hopefully with a varnish finish they'll keep the luster from the pigment!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Hydra1337]

Wow it looks really good! I love watching the progress of such a unique project.

[Mermaid Kassandra]

Your journey is very interesting to follow!

About your mold have you thought about how to fix the spaces between the scales? (sorry if you already said that, but I lost some updates)
Also when your silicone will cure do you think you'll go for a one seam tail or do you have any other ideas?
Sorry for all the questions, is just that I think no one made a tail in this way here before, and I'm so curious about it!

[.MermaidSophia.]

Just made and painted a little sample of some scales. So apparently the gloss wasn't needed at all [emoji30]the original scales came out looking dull, but after the second coat they're so shiny...

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170620/aae7faaf84be0c6cedc69bbab0489e5f.jpg

To answer your question Kassandra, the body tube is made so that it will actually be formed all as one piece,m. So technically, it will have zero seams. As for the spaces between the scales, when I was originally drilling them, because the mold changes in diameter from the ankles to the hips, using the same size scale will sometimes fail to cover the entire area. Hopefully some day I'll figure out a way to get around that, but this is my first tail, so I'm okay if there are some flaws. Painting it will hopefully hide most of my sins.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Mermaid Wesley]

That's lovely!! I can't wait to see this whole thing come together! How are you going to do your fluke? Are you going to make a sculpted silicone fluke or just use the sheets?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[.MermaidSophia.]

That's lovely!! I can't wait to see this whole thing come together! How are you going to do your fluke? Are you going to make a sculpted silicone fluke or just use the sheets?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

So the fluke is going to be the next big challenge. I changed the design to something a little more classical and less dragon like, (sorry dragon tail, maybe next time.) because after a bit of research that design is incredibly slow in the water. What I've changed it to isn't exactly the fastest (the design for something actually fast in the water would be crescent shaped, like a tuna), but it IS better than what I had before. And keeping with the promise to keep it monofinless, designing the foot pocket has been a challenge. I have A design, but I wouldn't be surprised if I have to change it again. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170621/b409f545ae0b1037b03d07c374328ebf.jpg
Here is the new shape along with the design for the foot pocket, or I'm probably just going to call it the shoe or something. The two flaps you see on the side are going to fold up over my foot, and I'm not sure about he next step yet, but I'm thinking we will fill in some of the larger spaces left with foam or something and then fill the remaining area within the shoe with silicone. The next pictures will make it make more sense. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170621/63126f014c349ae052db851efcf78e6f.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170621/57deab0f03cc04b65738a4e9a4399e2d.jpg

Side note: sorry my nails are so gross I haven't had time to remove the polish. I'm also very excited to find a use for those mermaid socks. It makes me actually excited to post pictures of my feet [emoji5]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Mermaid Wesley]

That looks cool! I'm excited to see all this innovation!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[PearlieMae]

Wow! I agree with Wesley, wholeheartedly!

[Amapele]

Your socks though..... Your doing a MERMAIZING job!

Sent from my 0PJA2 using MerNetwork mobile app (http://r.tapatalk.com/byo?rid=95032)

[malinghi]

That "shoe" idea is brilliant!

Sent from my Moto G (4) using MerNetwork mobile app (http://r.tapatalk.com/byo?rid=95032)

[.MermaidSophia.]

Thank you everyone! your support is so encouraging! My tech guy (aka dad) and I are getting into the deep discussions of how to get the blue and white pigments to blend evenly on the mold. In other words, silicone day is coming up!! It won't be long now, and my child will finally start coming into form! (yes I'm calling the tail my child. I'm also going to name her, but I don't know what yet.) So in other words, very excited!! Happy mermaiding everyone!

[.MermaidSophia.]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170622/a7d00318b5e3756cca0dd894dbba5e76.jpg
First sketch of her! I probably should have posted one of these a loooooong time ago but oh well! Here you go!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[.MermaidSophia.]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170623/5d475fd2c5e32aad6990848db7421cbf.jpg

It has begun... the silicone is officially being laid. I'm just doing this very thin layer technique for the bottom because it creates a really cool effect with the silver. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170623/31c8c9657d9e0519964fae9a8ed4b4e6.jpg

You can see it in the sample I did here. It didn't come out great because 1- I only used one layer of silver color, and 2- I didn't exactly wait for it to cure all the way.

Anyways, I'm so excited to actually start making the tail itself!! I've worked a loooong time to get to this point.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Ocean]

This totally looks awesome so far - what a cool journey to watch, I can't wait for the finished product!!:cheerleader:

[.MermaidSophia.]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170627/fa94c9641c08f65ec075766c4ae0b19f.jpg

Finished adding a few layers of textured silicone (the silver) and just applied the first batch of plain clear stuff. I'll be SOOOO happy when this part is finished and I can move on to the fluke. Only a few more days!!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Mermaid Bree]

A quick idea note - carbon fiber rods are used extensively in sport kites, and there are a variety of fastening devices. An idea is to investigate that, and build the rod structure outside of the silicone pour. High-strength epoxy works well to cement the rods into the metal holders. You could even try making a spreader fan holder41441

[Arking]

This is amazing. I love your studio setup, so jealous! Out of curiosity, what silicone are you using that you can sort of paint it? I'm having trouble using GE 100% but looking at yours I'm wondering if it's possible to apply colour to it while it's curing. :confused:

[Mermaid Fenicia]

As I see a yellow and blue bucket in the last pic, I think she uses Smooth On's Dragonskin. To color this silicone you just mix some powder pigment into part B before adding part A, mix well and pour into your mold.

[Arking]

Thanks, I didn't notice the bucket. This is still an amazingly beautiful setup I can't wait to see more of the process.

[.MermaidSophia.]

A quick idea note - carbon fiber rods are used extensively in sport kites, and there are a variety of fastening devices. An idea is to investigate that, and build the rod structure outside of the silicone pour. High-strength epoxy works well to cement the rods into the metal holders. You could even try making a spreader fan holder41441 great idea! I never thought of using brass in it before! I spent probably an hour last night discussing your idea with my dad. Unfortunately, I used up the last of my budget buying toluene and a spray gun, so I wouldnt be able to afford your idea:cry: But also, in an attempt to keep the tail as light as possible, as well as allowing it to have a little more flex in the water, I think I might keep it as just the silicone and carbon fiber rods. The silicone tubing can be glued directly to the tail, which helps keep the design simple as well, and easier to do repairs on if something ever does break.

Thank you so much to you and everyone who has offered suggestions! The time you all put into this means so much to me! :cheerleader:

[.MermaidSophia.]

Thanks, I didn't notice the bucket. This is still an amazingly beautiful setup I can't wait to see more of the process.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170628/1ae0cace272b4ae547461dcb91add189.jpg
Yep! She guessed it. I'm using the dragonskin 10 medium, which is one of the softer silicones on the market. For coloring, you can add a variety of different things to the silicone to turn it into paint. The most important thing to remember though is NO SULFUR. Even the slightest bit of sulfur mixed into uncured silicone ruin the batch. So whatever you choose to mix as a pigment, make sure to check the ingredients carefully.
I've learned that sometimes good dark blue powder can be hard to find because aquamarine, a common element in dyes, has sulfur in it. You can also use liquid additives to make the color, but it can be hard to consistently make the same color come out.
As for painting with silicone itself, you of course can always paint it on, like in this sample https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170628/6333bd180aaa486def2ff0eb420d89f5.jpg or you can airbrush it. I won't get into the details of airbrushing now because this post is already very long, but rest assured that part is coming up soon!



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Arking]

Airbrushing is my method of choice, going to be doing alot of that today. Seems like a less wasteful method :)

Sent from my MotoE2(4G-LTE) using MerNetwork mobile app (http://r.tapatalk.com/byo?rid=95032)

[Mermaid Fenicia]

the darkest blue I could find that worked is 'Forever Blue' from 'Perfect Pearls'
41464
And this is how it's mixed into silicone (the one on the far right):
41465

[.MermaidSophia.]

the darkest blue I could find that worked is 'Forever Blue' from 'Perfect Pearls'
41464
And this is how it's mixed into silicone (the one on the far right):
41465

So pretty!!! [emoji7][emoji33]I'm wondering if I should incorporate some dark blues into my tail as well, but considering how soon I will be painting, I don't think it would get here on time. [emoji24] Maybe mixing some black in with the blue I already have will do the trick.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Sea~Phoenix Savannah]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170628/1ae0cace272b4ae547461dcb91add189.jpg
Yep! She guessed it. I'm using the dragonskin 10 medium, which is one of the softer silicones on the market. For coloring, you can add a variety of different things to the silicone to turn it into paint. The most important thing to remember though is NO SULFUR. Even the slightest bit of sulfur mixed into uncured silicone ruin the batch. So whatever you choose to mix as a pigment, make sure to check the ingredients carefully.
I've learned that sometimes good dark blue powder can be hard to find because aquamarine, a common element in dyes, has sulfur in it. You can also use liquid additives to make the color, but it can be hard to consistently make the same color come out.
As for painting with silicone itself, you of course can always paint it on, like in this sample https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170628/6333bd180aaa486def2ff0eb420d89f5.jpg or you can airbrush it. I won't get into the details of airbrushing now because this post is already very long, but rest assured that part is coming up soon!



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Can't wait to hear! I plan on airbrushing my first self made tail so I'm sure it'll help to hear how others do it.

[Mermaid_Izzy]

Can't wait to hear! I plan on airbrushing my first self made tail so I'm sure it'll help to hear how others do it.

If either of you have any questions, I may be able to help some. I airbrushed my silicone tail.


Sent from my ShellPhone using Tapatalk

[Mermaid Wesley]

Be soooo careful using black to make darker colors!! It'll work but you have to use so little it's insane. Start with the blue and add the tiniest amount of black till you hit your goal [emoji1303]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[merwandering]

4148541486I used a blue that was a strong deep cobalt- over anything light it does look lighter, but you could do a thin layer of black underneath, or yes, I mixed in black too. It worked really well for me- just as Wesley said, it's very pigmented. Here's some old pictures but a pic of the pigments I used, and one that shows how the blue looks over black; after lots of trial I ended up liking the control better if I used it pure, but over black, because you can just go over it with another layer if you want it less dark. But if you mix as you go just eye it against whatever you already did that works too. Good luck, this is such a cool project and so many great ideas!!! I got on just to see how it was going!

sorry wrong pic here is a closer one of the blue
41487

[.MermaidSophia.]

Gorgeous scales merwandering!!

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170701/a62035d737590c4a70a1bc3b7201ee8e.jpg

Started some dummy feet to use for the tail! I took a pair of comfortable shoes and lined them with a plastic bag, then filled them with plaster.

Tip: if you ever do this USE HEELS!! First, they already have a pointed shape to them that fits the position that your feet will be in while in a tail. Second, preferably use full coverage heels that have a supportive arch in them to help prevent foot cramps. Third, make sure they have a zipper or lacing to loosen them, that will make it possible to actually get them out!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[.MermaidSophia.]

This is amazing. I love your studio setup, so jealous! Out of curiosity, what silicone are you using that you can sort of paint it? I'm having trouble using GE 100% but looking at yours I'm wondering if it's possible to apply colour to it while it's curing. :confused:

Sorry, it took so long to reply! [emoji28] Thank you, but the studio isn't mine. My dad is an engineer and he's letting me use a space in his machine shop.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[.MermaidSophia.]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170707/3cb28f8cfd3032be6867dbed51ae331c.png

Just cut out the tail shape! I'm gluing the shoe together today!! Haha I'm kind of winging this... wish me luck!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Mermaid Jaffa]

What glue did you use for this part?

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170707/3cb28f8cfd3032be6867dbed51ae331c.png

Just cut out the tail shape! I'm gluing the shoe together today!! Haha I'm kind of winging this... wish me luck!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[.MermaidSophia.]

Jaffa I just used some of the liquid silicone that I was using to make the body tube, but it didn't bond to the sheet for some reason, even though it is silicone too. Currently working on a way around it. If anyone has encountered this problem before suggestions or advice would be helpful!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[.MermaidSophia.]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170731/5dd43ff406fda7c6808cd875418d0edc.png

There hasn't been any updates for a while, but most of the time I've just been adding silicone to the body tube and trying to find solutions to the fluke problem. We're getting close, but not quite there yet [emoji39]

I'm just adding one last batch of silicone to strengthen the waistband and around the ankles, and then it's gonna be ready to take off!! About to reach another big milestone in this project. Hopefully we can take a video of removing it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[MermaidAnnabella]

How is the tail coming along? :D

[.MermaidSophia.]

Well everyone, we took the body tube off the mold last night. Unfortunately the hands were not available to take a video of its removal, so I guess all I have to offer are some after pictures!

Honestly though, it's... horribly disappointing. I have to say the final result of this mold is a real let down. It came off much thinner than I imagined it would be, which is probably my own fault, being I was too impatient to see what it would look like, as well as being extremely loose. I don't know if my body has changed from when we made the duct tape dummy but I am certain that it didn't change.. this much.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170801/9bad0fabd616f5eedb48fdee54f6e005.png

It feels a little bit as if all this time and effort has been wasted. Because now the whole purpose of the round mold has been defeated. We're going to have to cut this thing open and re-adjust it to actually fit me.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170802/27a1dcf292e3e5ac5e1345dd2aff00a5.pnghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170802/efa16884857bbf77fa9f692cada7f2b4.png

Well, in better news, I finally found a type of silicone that will bond with the sheet/fluke piece. It is currently downstairs and all pinned and glued up! The only minor annoyance with that kind is that it takes a week to fully cure [emoji30] So I guess my old spandex tail will just have to do for our Maine vacation next week.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Mermaid_Izzy]

Aww, that's terrible. I am so sorry for you.
:mermaid hugs:

Sent from my ShellPhone using Tapatalk

[KatieScottArt]

OH noooo!! But honestly it still came out beautifully and the thinness might not be too bad? You can make this work, don't be too down!!
I had the exact same thing happen to me when measuring for my fin. I had to cut it apart and re-glue it. Twice. My lesson- take all of the measurements in about 1.5-2 inches to account for that stretch factor. I even took out a 1.5in chunk of the seam in my duct tape dummy when taping it together so that the dummy is smaller than my actual self. This has worked for me :). You got this, can't wait to see it!!

[.MermaidSophia.]

Sorry for my inactivity lately, this summer has just been busy and I haven't had time to work on my tail. It is NOT a dead project though ;P

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170827/94fb4633db3a8e6ed96ce1fc9f9ca86d.jpg
Here's a teaser photo of my half finished seashell top to fill in for the usual tail posts!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Astridia]

Oooh this looks promising *Sits tight for updates*

[butterflybuttons]

You have done an amazing job so far, and so unique!

If you don't mind sharing I was curious as to which silicone you found works to glue the sheet to itself? Ive been thinking of using the silicone sheets for a project, but the risk of not being able to glue it together has been stopping me. Thanks :)

[PearlieMae]

Even though you might have had a setback, it still looks pretty awesome! I was curious to see this one come off the mold.

If you take it in down the center back, you could cover the seam with a dorsal fin and it will look virtually seamless!

[.MermaidSophia.]

You have done an amazing job so far, and so unique!

If you don't mind sharing I was curious as to which silicone you found works to glue the sheet to itself? Ive been thinking of using the silicone sheets for a project, but the risk of not being able to glue it together has been stopping me. Thanks :)

I used acid based silicone, which is usually referred to as caulking for fish tanks and windows and that sort of thing. You can find it easily at the hardware store and I only needed one tube to do the basic gluing, which is nice because it's really cheap for silicone (the tube I got was around 4 USD). If you're confused if you have the right stuff, acid cure has a really distinctive ammonia smell, unlike platinum or tin cure.

It's not the kind of thing to cure overnight, which is why I thought it wasn't working before. It'll harden and stain the sheet yellow, (oh yeah, staining is a minor side effect but I'm not worried since I'll be painting it anyways) but if you try to do a strength test the night after you apply it it won't stick. I pinned the sheet, applied the glue, and left it for like 8-10 days before even touching the pins and it's cured nicely.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[.MermaidSophia.]

Even though you might have had a setback, it still looks pretty awesome! I was curious to see this one come off the mold.

If you take it in down the center back, you could cover the seam with a dorsal fin and it will look virtually seamless!

That's what I was planning to do. The clay arrived the other day. I'm just trying to find the motivation to sculpt and plan it. [emoji23] Maybe I'll tackle that tomorrow since I have 3 days off.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[butterflybuttons]

:cheerleader:Thank you so much for the reply!

That's fantastic, I was thinking I'd have to import some special silicone or something that wouldn't get through customs lol.

Yeah yellowing isn't an issue if you are painting over it anyway.

[Mermaid_Izzy]

That's what I was planning to do. The clay arrived the other day. I'm just trying to find the motivation to sculpt and plan it. [emoji23] Maybe I'll tackle that tomorrow since I have 3 days off.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I feel you, I was the same way. The worst part is actually getting yourself to do it. Haha. It took me forever to get around to molding my dorsal after I finished my fluke.


Sent from my ShellPhone using Tapatalk

[.MermaidSophia.]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170903/2d3582e222e9ad0073a44e482aa3e923.png

Update: I just noticed that the yellowness from the glue DID eventually fade, which is always a nice thing [emoji847] I guess I'll take that as a sign that it's 100% cured.

I'm designing the dorsal fin now, I'll post a few pictures later and hopefully start sculpting today.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[.MermaidSophia.]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170903/515bba6e0ee4e55a93b7e4b3a6e15d7c.png
So I came up with a few sketches of what the dorsal fin(s) could look like. I probably won't do one that stretches the entire length of the tail, because one, that's going to take a TON of silicone, and two, it's really hard to sculpt something that big.

To anyone who's had or seen other mers with dorsal fins, what are some things I should avoid? Thanks everyone!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Astridia]

I would probably leave a gap where the knees are so you have flexibility (bending the knees while swimming) but other than that they all look great!

[.MermaidSophia.]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170904/44c138a3f20996c8703ffbd20b44b2f4.png
First set of sculpts are underway! I think I'll go with a design similar to the very bottom drawing, taking the suggestion to keep my knees free.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Derek Broussard]

This is an absolutely amazing thread! The work you are doing is incredible. Great job!

[.MermaidSophia.]

Hello everyone! I bet you thought that time had defeated me, but no! Not this mermaid! For a while I did think I was going to abandon this project, but I have once again found the motivation to continue working. And! I come bearing updates!
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20171230/b0375645930721b9d39b2d7d13f14353.jpg
I finally got around to finishing that sculpt for the first of my dorsal fins and I have to say I am very pleased with the result.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20171230/4651382b8e2fc2f8f45baa3abd06588e.jpg

Here’s what the mold looks like right after coming off the clay. As you can see it didn’t fill in the little lines in most places, so it ended up having this patchy looking surface. (I later learned that you can avoid this by spraying a dish soap solution over the clay before pouring the plaster) I’m really not sure if I like it, but I suppose the only way to really know is to just pour the silicone. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20171230/92c0358da3ef4eca985012db9b5067a3.jpg

You can see it a little better with this picture, as well as me scraping out the clay from the big spikes.

Anyways, I’m pouring silicone now so I’ll post another update soon!
Happy swimming mers! 🧜🏻*♀️


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Ocoree]

Hmm, I wonder if part of it could be the rays not being deep enough for the plaster to settle into, or lack of pressure applied during the initial pouring might help - like using an icing spatula to spread it out. Some of the areas do look a little shallow for plaster work just poured on, but my own experience is limited beyond knowing that some fine detail is often lost in the casting if it's too subtle to be picked up by the mold material.

[.MermaidSophia.]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180114/147323c4106ffc9d7d0df5000250da1c.jpg here’s what the first half dorsal fin #1 looks like coming out. I wasn’t expecting it to look so good but honestly I’m so happy with it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Azurin Luna]

Lovely fin shape :D

[Rett]

Wow, this is a really interesting technique for a tail! I can't wait to see how it all works out and swims in the end!

[.MermaidSophia.]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180125/6836e0052338c331ff7e396bd1a838f7.jpg
Beginning the process of attaching the dorsal fin. Oh yeah! Forgot to mention- I finally got around to finishing that.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180125/4d1eb21375dcd6299efa9d36f52d7331.jpg

It has a layer of power mesh in between the two halves to keep it from tearing, but honestly I don’t know if I even need it because it’s SO THICK. Like wow. At the thinnest part it’s as thick as my pinkie finger. It’s so heavy I’m wondering how hard it will be to even make it stand up? Especially considering how thin the body tube is.

Anyways, back on topic. Those pieces of paper in the first pic are a little something I saw on mermaid Raina’s tail and decided to steal. I think they’re going to turn out super pretty, and! They’ll give me a little breathing room so I can take it in underneath them.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[AnnaAbyss]

Oh my god the scale mold is GENIUS!!!!!!! I SO want to try it!!!! Love the dorsal fin and the fluke rod idea as well. I love seeing people think outside the box (was that a pun?) :D

[.MermaidSophia.]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180611/c8d1ff4811b8f86c578848b3d3bf692e.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180611/43812a15b013f963cf4f1ae88cf8415a.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180611/f15553a4657ac11972f2cda07244e0cd.jpg

New fluke in progress!
I have to say I wasn’t expecting it to come out this nice. Turns out patience really is the key [emoji39] I was trying to copy something like finfolk’s. (I was always a huge fan of their designs) Of course it’s not nearly on par with some of their sculpts but it’ll do for me.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[.MermaidSophia.]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180612/5c8549a3dcdde2e95bcce775671f1420.jpg
One full day’s progress!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Mermaid Danielle]

This is stunning! I can't wait to see it finished!

[Keiris]

So did you decide to scrap the fin/boot you were making from the silicone sheet and carbon rods?

[.MermaidSophia.]

So did you decide to scrap the fin/boot you were making from the silicone sheet and carbon rods?

Unfortunately I had to :cry:No matter what I tried the two types of silicone just wouldn't bond. So up next I'm going to do it a little more traditionally by sandwitching the two halves together. The carbon fiber will just be in between them.
Aside from the waste of the $200, I'm glad to do it over though. I'm completely in love with the new fluke design. The other one feels plain and rough in comparison now

[.MermaidSophia.]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180613/0a9ed087506c3a0a478a07a5b7e0c57e.jpg

It’s very close to being done! I just need to add a couple teeny tiny scales to make a smooth transition between scale/fin.

Hopefully next up is actually resizing the big body tube to fit me, as well as adding the dorsal fin. I want to get that at least started before the end of the week. But anyone who’s been following my blog for a while knows I’m not very good with keeping up on deadlines [emoji23]. Even if I don’t get to it though, I’ve got a few other things to post in the meantime.

I’ve gotten fatter so maybe resizing it won’t be as big a chore as it used to be. Fingers crossed!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Keiris]

Well Sophia, I know how aggravating that is but your new fin sculpt is a BEAUTY! Your tube scales turned out beautifully even though the size was off. Pearlie is right, a nice dorsal will easily hide the seam in back. Can't wait to see more! Good luck!!!

[.MermaidSophia.]

Thank you Keiris and Danielle [emoji39] Your encouragement means everything!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[.MermaidSophia.]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180614/0b31051db225324eb8d4f3cfa6e0335c.jpg

Finished the little scales around the edges! Off to home depot today to get some casting resin. I decided to go with that for structural integrity. Plaster was just going to be too fragile for a mold this size.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Azurin Luna]

Wow! REally epic :D

[.MermaidSophia.]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180617/ec5f26ff941baaf48b75977963204a69.jpg

Putting my girl in a mold box!

What do you guys think of the name ‘Sweetheart’? I’ve been trying to decide what to call my tail since before I even started and nothing really stuck. But the other day I was moving the fluke mold somewhere safer so she wouldn’t get stepped on and said “let’s put you over here Sweetheart” and I kinda liked it. Thoughts?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[.MermaidSophia.]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180619/c80245e2f45d5a3077ee2ef0143a2578.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180619/2fb10f48e5779064235f59e265125a23.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180619/4c00ff71df73dc635f0da19e366b5795.jpg

Adventures with resin pouring. Turns out it gets REALLY hot while it cures! No really... it melted the oil clay with ease. I touched it and it burned me.

Well I learned that oil based clay gets really runny when it’s hot. That’ll be useful when getting it out of the mold.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[SIF]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180619/c80245e2f45d5a3077ee2ef0143a2578.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180619/2fb10f48e5779064235f59e265125a23.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180619/4c00ff71df73dc635f0da19e366b5795.jpg

Adventures with resin pouring. Turns out it gets REALLY hot while it cures! No really... it melted the oil clay with ease. I touched it and it burned me.

Well I learned that oil based clay gets really runny when it’s hot. That’ll be useful when getting it out of the mold.


Sent from my iPhone using TapatalkDid the mould turn out, with the melting and everything? I've been thinking about using either Fiberglass or Epoxy resins for my moulds and would very much be interested to know.....

Sent from my [device_name] using MerNetwork mobile app

[.MermaidSophia.]

Did the mould turn out, with the melting and everything? I've been thinking about using either Fiberglass or Epoxy resins for my moulds and would very much be interested to know.....

Sent from my [device_name] using MerNetwork mobile app

Actually most of it turned out okay. There’s just a few messed up spots where the clay bubbled up that need to be sanded down but otherwise it’s fine. I think if you just really make sure to cover the whole clay model in the first pour it’ll all be trapped in place and you’ll be fine.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Sea~Phoenix Savannah]

Wow Sophia! Your fluke is stellar! :jawdrop: Definitely sucks about the wasted time and money, but that fluke looks so worth it. The melting had to be pretty scary, I'm glad it turned out well! I'll be back to check the progress from time to time and can't wait to see the finished product! You're doing great!

[.MermaidSophia.]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180711/da2c9935f7931eea1807122bbf6a322b.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180711/eaf6ef12f21778872a3d8297d95f89ca.jpg

Not gonna lie I’ll be super excited to be done with this mold. God resin is so confusing when you’ve never used it before [emoji23] for one, after properly cleaning it, I found holes EVERYWHERE. There’s places where the mold must have peeled up in between pours or something because now I’m finding messed up spots that don’t make any sense at all!

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180711/273b654bb4b8c018e4ea93985febe268.jpg

Just look at this hole! How am I supposed to fix that! I put so much work into this sculpt and now it’s not even translating. [emoji24] Which artistic god did I offend...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[.MermaidSophia.]

Wow Sophia! Your fluke is stellar! :jawdrop: Definitely sucks about the wasted time and money, but that fluke looks so worth it. The melting had to be pretty scary, I'm glad it turned out well! I'll be back to check the progress from time to time and can't wait to see the finished product! You're doing great!

Thank you [emoji5] It’s such a blessing to have support from you all. Sometimes I feel like I can’t do it or it’ll turn out horrible but you give me the strength to keep pushing.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Shaylee Moon]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180711/da2c9935f7931eea1807122bbf6a322b.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180711/eaf6ef12f21778872a3d8297d95f89ca.jpg

Not gonna lie I’ll be super excited to be done with this mold. God resin is so confusing when you’ve never used it before [emoji23] for one, after properly cleaning it, I found holes EVERYWHERE. There’s places where the mold must have peeled up in between pours or something because now I’m finding messed up spots that don’t make any sense at all!

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180711/273b654bb4b8c018e4ea93985febe268.jpg

Just look at this hole! How am I supposed to fix that! I put so much work into this sculpt and now it’s not even translating. [emoji24] Which artistic god did I offend...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Resin bubbles easily! Maybe it bubbled during the pour


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[KatieScottArt]

Not gonna lie I’ll be super excited to be done with this mold. God resin is so confusing when you’ve never used it before [emoji23] for one, after properly cleaning it, I found holes EVERYWHERE. There’s places where the mold must have peeled up in between pours or something because now I’m finding messed up spots that don’t make any sense at all!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

By no means is this sage advice but I've had something similar happen to me with bubbles. Its a VERY temporary solution but it just depends on how many replicas you're going to make. I literally just filled the holes with more oil based clay and smoothed them down since the silicone will easily release from the oil clay. I've also used hot glue as a temporary filler for areas in the mold that didn't actually get covered by resin all the way. Again, super temporary and not a great idea for longevity, but it worked for me! Haha.

[.MermaidSophia.]

By no means is this sage advice but I've had something similar happen to me with bubbles. Its a VERY temporary solution but it just depends on how many replicas you're going to make. I literally just filled the holes with more oil based clay and smoothed them down since the silicone will easily release from the oil clay. I've also used hot glue as a temporary filler for areas in the mold that didn't actually get covered by resin all the way. Again, super temporary and not a great idea for longevity, but it worked for me! Haha.

I like your thinking. I just tried using bondo, and bondo and I don’t get along [emoji23] I’m most likely only going to make 2 replicas from this mold so I’m going to take your suggestion with the clay. The thought of learning how to use ANOTHER material just for a very tiny step is a real headache for me, and like you said.. Clay releases just fine.


Sent from my iPhone using MerNetwork

[.MermaidSophia.]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181026/931f9c5c9d67b1ab01b5a26a0d0db60d.jpg Gonna see what the fluke looks like in a few hours!


Sent from my iPhone using MerNetwork

[PearlieMae]

I'm just puzzled as to why you didn't try a small test before using a new medium you've never worked with before on a finished sculpt that you poured so much time and effort into.

Fins crossed the fluke comes out perfect!

Is the fabric supposed to be embedded into the silicone?

[SIF]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180711/da2c9935f7931eea1807122bbf6a322b.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180711/eaf6ef12f21778872a3d8297d95f89ca.jpg

Not gonna lie I’ll be super excited to be done with this mold. God resin is so confusing when you’ve never used it before [emoji23] for one, after properly cleaning it, I found holes EVERYWHERE. There’s places where the mold must have peeled up in between pours or something because now I’m finding messed up spots that don’t make any sense at all!

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180711/273b654bb4b8c018e4ea93985febe268.jpg

Just look at this hole! How am I supposed to fix that! I put so much work into this sculpt and now it’s not even translating. [emoji24] Which artistic god did I offend...


Sent from my iPhone using TapatalkWax? Is the silicon hot during curing?

Sent from my [device_name] using MerNetwork mobile app

[Mermaid_Izzy]

I'm just puzzled as to why you didn't try a small test before using a new medium you've never worked with before on a finished sculpt that you poured so much time and effort into.

Fins crossed the fluke comes out perfect!

Is the fabric supposed to be embedded into the silicone?

If you are talking about her using silicone, she has before. And she tested a patch before she did. It has just been a while back.


Just made and painted a little sample of some scales. So apparently the gloss wasn't needed at all [emoji30]the original scales came out looking dull, but after the second coat they're so shiny...

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170620/aae7faaf84be0c6cedc69bbab0489e5f.jpg




Sent from my ShellPhone using MerNetwork mobile app (http://r.tapatalk.com/byo?rid=95032)

[PearlieMae]

No, Izzy, I was talking about where she talks about never having used the resin before.

"Not gonna lie I’ll be super excited to be done with this mold. God resin is so confusing when you’ve never used it before for one, after properly cleaning it, I found holes EVERYWHERE. There’s places where the mold must have peeled up in between pours or something because now I’m finding messed up spots that don’t make any sense at all!
"

[Mermaid_Izzy]

No, Izzy, I was talking about where she talks about never having used the resin before.

"Not gonna lie I’ll be super excited to be done with this mold. God resin is so confusing when you’ve never used it before for one, after properly cleaning it, I found holes EVERYWHERE. There’s places where the mold must have peeled up in between pours or something because now I’m finding messed up spots that don’t make any sense at all!
"

Oh, okay. I missed that. [emoji846]


Sent from my ShellPhone using MerNetwork mobile app (http://r.tapatalk.com/byo?rid=95032)

[.MermaidSophia.]

I'm just puzzled as to why you didn't try a small test before using a new medium you've never worked with before on a finished sculpt that you poured so much time and effort into.

Fins crossed the fluke comes out perfect!

Is the fabric supposed to be embedded into the silicone?

I test every mold with a little bit before I put a lot in, just in case. This time though I may have forgotten to post it [emoji23] oops..

And to your second question, yes. The fabric is an important part of the fluke I’m designing. Because I want it to have a thin look, the silicone on its own would be very weak. To add durability and help prevent those nasty splits that can grow so quickly, I placed polyflex over the silicone while it was still wet (I think I’m remembering the name right). The fabric doesn’t bond to the silicone but since it’s so porous, the liquid rises up through the holes and embeds the fabric in it.


Sent from my iPhone using MerNetwork

[.MermaidSophia.]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181102/aa7386129bb1e15a642e2f3d4958bf6f.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181102/c9dba20874ea99e9b3938060a06a5cd7.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181102/5706e202d610e321eecd5304c2d554a7.jpg

First half is out! I’m so happy this phase worked out well. I really couldn’t be happier with what’s coming out of the mold. The second half is in right now with its own slice of polyflex, and just needs a little more to bring it up level with the edge... I think. I might just take it out as it is. I lifted the tip of the fluke accidentally before it finished curing and got that gummy effect, but a few hours later she seems fine..
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181102/d2de0ff3ad89acf4ce77a066a9955af2.jpg
[emoji23]I wrapped up the first half into a burrito to keep my puppy dog’s hair off it.


Sent from my iPhone using MerNetwork

[.MermaidSophia.]

I'm just puzzled as to why you didn't try a small test before using a new medium you've never worked with before on a finished sculpt that you poured so much time and effort into.

Fins crossed the fluke comes out perfect!

Is the fabric supposed to be embedded into the silicone?

Oh wait, you meant resin [emoji23] Yeah I only had one shot with the resin.. so it had to all go on at once or else it would be ruined. Resin gets extremely hot as it cures and instantly melts the oil based clay I made the sculpt out of. It worked out in the end though. It wasn’t so hard to fix what went wrong and the final mold came out pretty good for a first try. Of course there was the issue of warping, but we balanced it all out before the silicone pour. The artistic god seems to have forgiven me.


Sent from my iPhone using MerNetwork

[Mermaid Jaffa]

How's it going? Finished yet?

[AnnaAbyss]

I can't wait to see the finished tail! OwO
The fluke mold is amazing and I love the scale swatch.