Does my tail need a paint job?

[seagirls626]

I got a fish butts some time back, and I kinda feel like it needs more color. What do you think?

9861

[Lotus]

I think if you are pondering whether it needs more color you 've answered your own question. :)
If you look at your tail and are just in love with it as is, leave it be! But if you look and think... "maybe some blue? a splash of gold?" you should add some! I think it's really pretty as it is, but it could be pretty painted too... it's your call! :)

[Candytails]

Definitely color will add some more life and character. How much was your tail?

[seagirls626]

It was around $300. I'm not gonna fuss over it too much because I'm gonna get a Merbellas tail once I get the money. I'm using this one for the SeaGirls Youtube series Mystic Waters, so I was wondering if it needed to be more creative, or if it looks natural and nice as it is.

[seagirls626]

I think I might do something like this (http://www.google.ch/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=real+mermaid+tail&source=images&cd=&docid=NcPxIxjIbruzkM&tbnid=hQvxS1LMobGGPM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mermaidnarina.blogspot.com%2F&ei=Zbk1Ufj1F4yLswb1oIGIAQ&bvm=bv.43148975,d.Yms&psig=AFQjCNHIcHrjwEtTsvWIW5B79_kB62Q_UA&ust=1362561762452113) (it's the tail with the faded dark blue with the girl lying down) to my tail later on in Mystic Waters. Oh, and to do that, would I need to take all the silicone off?

[seagirls626]

Oh, and I'm not really happy with the way the fluke looks. It's like it's on the wrong tail. Could someone help me fix that?

[Kanti]

That wouldn't be such a great idea.
Stevi claims her new tails are made with dragonskin silicone (not saying that isn't true, I just thought they were caulking just by looking as I don't understand how she stamps the pattern in with dragonskin like that) so taking the silicone off wouldn't be such a great idea as replacing it would be expensive.

The only way you could make a fluke like that in the photo is if you were to either use silicone caulking and just try really hard to sculpt it or you'd have to make a mold for your fluke and recast it in dragonskin.

Not to push myself, but I am trying to raise money to make a full-silicone tail tutorial in my raffle thread to FUND tutorials just like this one to help people like you. If I'm successful I'll be making a full in-depth video on how to make a molded fluke.

[Kanti]

However, buying enough dragonskin to remodel your fluke would cost around $200, essentially the price of the tail, so in my opinion, it's not worth it.
You;d be better off just painting some "depth" with shading if you planned on coloring it anyways.
But again, you can't color silicone with just any old paint.

If you paid for the silicone upgrade (which I am GUESSING is dragonskin based off what Stevi says) you're going to need to either buy psycho paint (paint medium used for platinum silicone) OR you can buy a sample size of dragonskin ($30 or so) and use that to mix your paint.

[seagirls626]

Thanks, Kanti! I think I'm gonna do the psycho paint thing because I'm really not happy with the color. I really actually wanted it to look more like an H2O tail, which would be more of a blend of orange and gold, which, as you can see, is not what my tail looks like. If you look VERY closely, you can see the paint job on the fluke, but I'm still not happy with it. So, I'll buy the paint and hopefully get to it.

[seagirls626]

Ugh. Just watched a video on how to apply the paint. Looks complicated. Do you think I could pay another tail maker to do it for me? If so, how much would it cost?

[Kanti]

Complicated?
I'm not sure, you're probably going to have to ask Stevi first to make 100% sure it's dragonskin that you're dealing with. If it is you can ask. How much are you willing to pay, exactly? Wouldn't you just prefer to do it yourself and save the money? o_o

[seagirls626]

I guess so... The problem is that I'm living in Switzerland right now, so I probably don't have the right materials to do it.

[Kanti]

If you know any tailmakers there with you, it should be fine. If not, you might have some trouble.
Think about it: what's cheaper? Sending your tail to a tailmaker and shipping it back or getting the painting silicone shipped to you and not having to return it?
Not trying to be mean, just saying.

[MerEmma]

Personally I love the simplicity, haha.

[seagirls626]

Haha! Thanks Emma! Now that I think about it, your right Kanti, it's not worth it. I think I'm just gonna leave it the way it is. :) Thanks for the help everyone!

[seagirls626]

Ugh. After watching the Mako Mermaids trailer, I've decided to paint it again. I think I'll talk it over with Elena and my mom before doing anything though. This is gonna come out of my own pocket.
Oh, and do I need to use any type of gas mask when painting?

[Kanti]

xD you were quick to change your mind

First step is to ask Stevi what your tail is made out of. Tell her you want to paint it and need the base for paint as well as what paint she'd recommend to use.

[seagirls626]

Ok, I did that. Now all I need is for her to answer! Thanks for taking the time to help me, Kanti!

[Kanti]

Anytime.

[seagirls626]

WOOT! She responded! She said that it IS Dragon Skin silicone. She also recommends the Psycho paint but she said that I'll need a smoothen (whatever that is) so I'm gonna go bargain on ebay, amazon, etc...

[Kanti]

If you're just painting it you don't need one of those.
Just buy a handfull of paintbrushes that you'll plan on throwing out probably because psycho paint tends to ruin brushes.
A smoother is too thick and will just push the psycho paint into the scale patterns and cover them up.

[seagirls626]

Ok. But she said the smoothon is to keep the paint from coming off. Will it? And also, do you think an airbrush would be good, or are just plain brushes better and cheaper?

[Kanti]

Plain brushes.
An airbrush is around $50 and the compressor is usually $100 for one good enough to pump silicone without clogging. Ohhh yea, I think she meant SMOOTH-ON (the brand) is the brand you have to use so that it would be compatible. I thought she was telling you to use a smoother like what they use for caulking tails. But I understand now. You see, you can only paint silicone with specific paints, so as long as you go to smooth-on and grab the Psycho Paint or just some DragonSkin (trial size might be best, like I said before $30) and use that as your paint base, then just add pigment into it and use it as paint.
REMEMBER, the dragonskin(DD)/psycho paint(PP) will essentially begin to CURE so don't mix more than what you can use in about 20 minutes or so.
Also disposable brushes are best since you will probably be throwing them out after use.
Try to measure your pigment to DS/PP ratio so you get the EXACT shade each time.

[seagirls626]

Ok, thanks! I think I'm gonna wait until I move back to the U.S so that I have more space and I won't disturb anyone. :)

[Kanti]

How come you're moving around so much?
Or are you just on vacation o: