POTC OST tail with Neoprene base

[Mermaid Dottie]

I decided that to tide over my strong desire for a merbellas tail (in other words, to keep the insanity at bay) I'm going to make a tail like the ones from On Stranger Tides, mostly so that I'll blend a bit better with the other members in my guild. Koral already has hers, from FishButts, and I think it'll add continuity if I match her a little. Especially since we have our own personal Captain Sparrow in the guild.
I've ordered a monofin, and the neoprene. I'm planning some kind of brilliant way to lengthen the leg portion of the fin, so that I'll look a little more wiggly.
I'm going to paint it, first, then decide later if I want sequins or Dragonskin on top.
Here's the design:
11114
It will also have a couple fins on the back, up above mah butt.

I'll likely use the leftovers to make a corset-top, as well. (And then wear a white shirt over top, like Syrena! ^_^)

[Mermaid Saphira]

This looks like an exciting project to endure! I look forward to your progress, Dot :3

[Mermaid Dottie]

*mermish trilling* lol! Thanks Saphira. I'm excited. My friend Koriks' Rapid arrived yesterday, and as I was taking it out of the packaging I found these awesome plastic... feet?
Which I'm SURE I'll be able to use for my extender-thingy.

[Mermaid Dottie]

SOoooo....
I just got an email from Foamorder.com that says they got a declined or invalid card message. Right now I'm waiting for them to call me back about it. I called a little bit ago, but the guy wasn't in. They've been super nice and helpful, so far though. Good customer service.

[MerEmma]

Looks like a great design! And I also LOVE the little *mermish trill* hehe, so cute~ <3

[Mermaid Danielle]

Looks great! Please post lots of pictures/updates as you work!

[Mermaid Dottie]

Thanks Emma. ^_^
I totally will Danielle. I know how much I like seeing other people works as they go, so I will definitely do the same.

I just heard back from the Foamorder.com shipping guy, Larry Gulley. He is SO nice. He included a coupon with my receipt for $25 off my next purchase from them, and was real super nice and helpful, and was totally interested in the mermaid thing. They got back to me right away when I had a question about my order, Let me know asap that my card was expired, and topped it off with a coupon.

Edit: I forgot to mention: He said my neoprene will be here in the next couple of days via ups ground. !.! *hopping like a bunny*

[Mermaid Dottie]

I ALSO forgot to mention that I went to Joann Fabrics yesterday and picked up some gold fabric for the side fins, and paint for the neoprene, as well as gold Duck tape for my monofin modification. That way, if my monofin shows it'll still be gold.

The plan is to cut a v into the fin, then extend it as in Moonflower's tutorial, then cover it in flowy fabric. The fabric (and fins) will have silicone on them( similar to Moonflower's other tutorial), eventually, to stiffen and strengthen them, while maintaining the flow.

[Mermaid Dottie]

So, I was just looking through Prince Calypso's OST tail thread (http://mernetwork.com/index/showthread.php?1316-On-Stranger-Tides-Mermaid-Tail/page2), and Aquatarian posted a whole bunch of awesomeness there, like the silicone dead mermaids, and an animated gif of the mermaids swimming. I will have to add another fin from my knees down in the back, but that shouldn't be a problem.

My Neoprene came friday. It's black with beige, 1.5 mm, and exactly what I ordered. I haven't unrolled it yet, but I know that it'll be plenty for what I want to do. I've also covered my fluke in a beige fabric that almost exactly matches the stuff I bought for my extra fins, but has a crinkly to it, almost like ribbing, which I think lends a realistic aspect to it.

I would also like to add that, while I love Noveli, and my fishbutt, I know now that it is not real neoprene inside my tail. It is, in fact, neoprin.

[Mermaid Dottie]

Progress Pictures:
1133711338
1133911340
11341

[Mermaid Fenicia]

attachments don't work :(

[Mermaid Dottie]

attachments don't work :(
Sorry sugar. Try again, I think I fixed it.

[MerEmma]

Looks great so far! <3

[Mermaid Fenicia]

Yep, they work now :) Love your Ariel-cup ;)

[Mermaid Dottie]

Haha! Thanks. It was less than a buck at walmart.

[Mermaid Fenicia]

No Walmart where I live (in Antwerp, Belgium) :(

[Mermaid Dottie]

No Walmart where I live (in Antwerp, Belgium) :(
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_SPM6006410505P how about princess cups online?

[Mermaid Allie]

Looks awesome Dottie!

[Mermaid Fenicia]

Dottie, I can see the page as It's us-only :(

[Azurin Luna]

Looks really nice, but aren't you afraid it might tear at the v-shape? Cause the monofin looks like it has a sharp v point and any material under stress will tear there (The joys of mechanical stresses) If I were you I would round it there to avoid tearing, the fabric over it will still make it show as if it was a sharp v

[DepthWitch]

the design reminds me of Mermaid Forest. Such a great anime.

[Mermaid Dottie]

Dottie, I can see the page as It's us-only
Oh, I'm sorry Love. They're by Hallmark, if that helps.



Looks really nice, but aren't you afraid it might tear at the v-shape? Cause the monofin looks like it has a sharp v point and any material under stress will tear there (The joys of mechanical stresses) If I were you I would round it there to avoid tearing, the fabric over it will still make it show as if it was a sharp v


I'm not too worried because the cut is so close to the rubber knot, and also because of how covered in duct tape it is. Plus, I'm betting I can fix it if it starts to tear. Which I'm 70% positive that it won't because of it's proximity to the rubber knot.



the design reminds me of Mermaid Forest. Such a great anime.


Oh, I love anime. I'll have to check that out. ^_^

[Mermaid Dottie]

I have a confession;
I'm a little terrified to start my tail. I'm afraid I'm going to kill my serger or sewing machine trying to stitch thru this (albeit thin, at 1.5mm) neoprene.
I'm also worried about taking it in later, as I know I will have to, at some point.

What I wanted to do was have the seams on the outside so that I could make the scales crawl onto the side fins... but now I'm not sure. Could I accomplish this using aquaseal?
And I'm worried about trying to put it on later, with the beige fabric being on the outside, and the black rubber on the inside...

[Mermaid Momo]

Don't worry about killing your machine, I was terrified of killing mine (with 2mm neoprene) and I was using Lube to line my needle but the machine would go really slow! So when I was sewing my side seam with the vinyl between the 2 sheets, I didn't use lube and it went through the machine like butter! It was amazing! I still went slowly because I dust want to break my needle or anything but I didn't even have to worry.

[Mermaid Dottie]

what kind of machine have you got, Dagger?

[Mermaid Momo]

I'll have to check when I get home, but I believe it's a brother, not 100% sure though because I can be confusing my old machine with my new one. It does handle up to 6mm thickness for sure though.

[Mermaid Dottie]

Ah. Mine, too. Plus a Baby Lock Serger. Old, but good.

Okay, I'm gonna go for it, while the baby is down for his nap, I'm gonna cut it out.
I'm so nervous. I have belly-worm-wiggles....

[DepthWitch]

@Mermaid Dottie (http://mernetwork.com/index/member.php?735-Mermaid-Dottie): Mermaid Forest is very good but very hard to find. It is based on the Japanese legend that if a man eats the flesh of a mermaid he will become immortal and if he is not pure of heart he will become a monster. The main story is about a man that was tricked into eating a mermaid's flesh and becomes immortal and spends hundreds of years searching for another mermaid so he can eat her flesh and finally die and the side stories deal with other parts of the legend such as if a mermaid eats the flesh of a young woman she will take on her appearance. It is a wonderful classic anime but like I said it is very hard to find.

[Mermaid Dottie]

oOoOoOo...

[Mermaid Momo]

Ok, so my machine is a brother sc6600, also, if you're looking for mermaid forest, try youtube, they have almost every episode there. Try ningyo no mori for the title

[Mermaid Dottie]

ah, nice.
I tried to stitch 2 pieces of scrap together, and basically, my machine tried to choke on it. so it looks like I'll be hand-stitching it, then sealing the seams with aquaseal.
Anyone have any tips for hand-stitching 1.5mm neoprene?

[Azurin Luna]

Get a leather needle for handsewing, it has 3 sides on the needle tip instead of a rounded one, this makes it easier to punch through the neoprene. Also get a rubber cap or something like that to protect your thumb, else you will have a sore thumb in no time.

Good luck with the hand sewing.

[Mermaid Dottie]

Thanks, Luna.

[Mermaid Dottie]

Photo Update:
11404
One side stitched...

[MerMarla]

ah, nice.
I tried to stitch 2 pieces of scrap together, and basically, my machine tried to choke on it. so it looks like I'll be hand-stitching it, then sealing the seams with aquaseal.
Anyone have any tips for hand-stitching 1.5mm neoprene?

Mermaid Dottie,
Did you try using leather needle in your sewing machine? I believe Singer still packages them in two/pack maybe singles. Use the 100/16 for heavy weight. I punched and sewed leather with these needles. So it should go thru neoprene. Also, a trick for stitching sticky fabric, is to use wax paper between your feeder feet under the neoprene and use a teflon presser foot on top, or another layer of wax paper. You can sorta see thru the wax paper and it feeds great, then just tear it off like toilet paper!

Good Luck!
Mermaid Marla

[Mermaid Dottie]

Thanks Marla! I found some brown fabric in my stash that worked great to slide the rubber through.

11407 This is the inside.
When I flipped it right side out, I found that I had a little bit of bunching on my side fins but I thought it made them look ruffle-y.
11408

And Then I inserted the monofin. It makes the tail SO LONG.

11409

Also I would just like to remark that, even though this stretches, I was kind of really excited when I had to take it about 1.5 inches.

[Mermaid Allie]

AWESOME PROGRESS! I love it!!

[Mermaid Dottie]

I can't wait to start painting it. I just have to decide on a stencil...

[Mermaid Dottie]

Here are a couple of ideas....

11412
1141311414

Anyone have any others?

[Mermaid Allie]

LOVE the second one. Perfect for this tail!

[Aziara]

I'm loving that second one too... Where did you find these stencils? They're amazing!

[Mermaid Dottie]

I did them up on the computer. No idea how I'm going to make a stencil out of them...
Maybe my local print shop can make stencils?

Oh wait! I just found THIS!
11421
I'm going to use a Joann coupon and go pick one up tomorrow! If I'm feeling better, that is.

[Mermaid Dottie]

Scale Stencils!
11480

[MerMarla]

Scale Stencils!
Mermaid Dottie,
WOW you did awesome.... now spill the secret! What did you use for the template material, plastic I can see, but what kind, how thick? Also I have one of those tools from Joanns, which tip did you use and did you heat it up to cut the plastic?

I am really impressed! These scales are going to be so easy to transfer using a template! Great idea!
Mermaid Marla

[Mermaid Dottie]

HAHA! no secret, Marla!
I just bought an old plastic binder from the DI for $0.50. I used the curved tip of the tool, which I plugged into the wall. It came out SO much nicer than if I had used a knife or scissors.
What I'm really wishing I had now is an Airbrush.....

[Mermaid Dottie]

Swatch tests....:p
11503
11504
11505
So, I apparently suck at painting, even when I have a stencil......:doh:
I'm thinking I need some orange, or yellow....
I dunno. Suggestions, anymer? really. Anymer at all....

[MerAnthony]

Dottie can you email me a copy of those so I can make a template?

[Mermaid Dottie]

Of my scale design? What for?

[MerAnthony]

SO I can make a template for my spandex tail. If that is ok with you. If not no problems.

[Mermaid Dottie]

11507Yeah, I don't mind. Just give credit, is all.

[MerAnthony]

Thank you Dottie. Now when I print this out I can put random scales on my tail.

[Prince Calypso]

Dottie, try painting an orange base over the neoprene then make sure the stencil is securely in place with some tape or whatever you wanna use then pain the scales in the gold and white with a little coral or copper added in.
or you could do a coral colored base or a yellow or copper base but i think orange or coral would work better to accent the gold and white of the scales

[Mermaid Dottie]

11512That came out better, I think. Then I'll add the white detailing. Thanks Calypso! the yellow base makes quite a difference.

[Mermaid Allie]

Looks great!

[MerAnthony]

That is pretty.

[Prince Calypso]

11512That came out better, I think. Then I'll add the white detailing. Thanks Calypso! the yellow base makes quite a difference.

Its beautiful.
Glad my suggestion worked out for you

[Mermaid Dottie]

I found a red fabric marker at Joann's today as well, when I went back for more paint. I'm gonna trace around each scale with it.

[Prince Calypso]

Its going to turn freaking epic! I can't wait to see the finished work

[Mermaid Dottie]

11543
So, I'm really loving this marker..... what do you think?
11544

[Prince Calypso]

11543
So, I'm really loving this marker..... what do you think?
11544
OMG It's freakin perfect!!!

[Mermaid Dottie]

Oh, Calypso! I love you!
:mermaid kiss:
11545
it does look pretty good, doesn't it.
You were a huge help.

[Prince Calypso]

*smiles and blushes*
Thank you sweety. love you too

[Mermaid Dottie]

Soooo, I need some help...
Besides it being WAAAY too big(Which I can totally fix),
The paint job looks TERRIBLE in the water.... :(
1169811699

It's supposed to look more like my avatar, and less like poo green... :(

[Mermaid Tula]

Hmmm. Maybe you could get some gold acrylic paint, mix it with fabric medium and paint in the scales with it?

[devilkitten1]

Ok, the red looks spot on! Which brand of paint did you use? I know everyone else use Luminere, (I think i misspelled that name).

[MerEmma]

With the color issue, do you think it might just have been the time of day? The day looks closer to evening and not in the bright sunny daylight, which I think would probably make it brighter...not sure. Good luck, I don't know much about painting though. ):

[Mermaid Dottie]

What I've got on there is Simply Spray, Gold Glimmer (http://content.vcommerce.com/products/89/82451089/fullsize.jpg?-599977439).
It's a metallic gold fabric paint, on top of a coat of simply spray Brite Yellow (http://shop.hobbylobby.com/assets/1/14/DimZoom/307280.jpg).
It looked really good before.... now it looks green....
The red is just a fabric marker.

[Mermaid Allie]

Yeah painting some gold sounds good! Also I LOVE THE FLUKE SHAPE AAH

[Mermaid Allie]

Hey Dottie would you mind if I used the same scale pattern/method as you on my tail? If it bothers you don't worry about it ill find another one!

[Spindrift]

Maybe opaque shiny fabric (gold) - either cut to the scales, or to replace the black lining. I think you're getting the problem because you used a black base underneath the tail skin and the black shows through in water.

[Mermaid Dottie]

Oh, thank you! I I'm debating on turning it into an ariel tail, now that it's greenish anyway..... The problem is the red....

[Mermaid Dottie]

Hey Dottie would you mind if I used the same scale pattern/method as you on my tail? If it bothers you don't worry about it ill find another one!
Go right ahead. I posted the template a couple pages back.

Maybe opaque shiny fabric (gold) - either cut to the scales, or to replace the black lining. I think you're getting the problem because you used a black base underneath the tail skin and the black shows through in water.
That's the neoprene. :( it came that way. Black rubber neoprene with a beige fabric-y lining.

[Prince Calypso]

I was afraid that would happen. the fabric gets darker when wet.
a think a gold overlay done repeatedly might fix the problem
This is one of the reason i was always kinda iffy about using just a neoprene base for a tail

[Mermaid Dottie]

Yeah, but your tail is going to be EPIC. I''m so excited to see that all come together. ♫♥♪♥♫
I put TONS of metallic gold and gold glitter paint on top, and once I get a little cash together I'm gonna go buy more and do it again and again until it's so golden, you won't even be able to look at it when the sun shine on my scales.
Or maybe I'll just brighten it up with yellow/white fabric paint.
Here's what it looks like now:
1171311714
I need to retrace my scale outlines, but I was expecting that anyway.

[Mermaid Allie]

Crossing my fins the gold works!!

[Mermaid Dottie]

Same here. At least it will shine pretty? and if not, I'm spraying the whole dang thing red, and buying some dragon skin with flippin yellow/orange pigments to do scales on it THAT way.

[Mermaid Allie]

Hahaha not a bad idea actually! This tail would look cool red :)

[Mermaid Dottie]

I'm hopin it'll come out like this
11729 (http://dfwphotography.deviantart.com/art/Koi-Scales-100585067)
but with opposite colors... yellow on top of red.

Update: So After my painting-smear-fest, I cut it open and took it in (several) inches and added the fins that you see above. I then sealed my seams with Aquaseal. Today I trimmed my side fins down and stitched them together, the burn/melted the outer edges for a more natural look. This hides my seams, some.
I also re-inserted the fluke, and glued the neoprene together at the bottom and down onto the fabric. I'm currently waiting for my aquaseal to dry. Then, I decided that I randomly wanted a red swim bottom to wear underneath it. So I made a '50's style swim bottom out of some leftover red spandex I had lying about. I'll take pictures later, when my phone is charged. It came out way cute, though, and is nice and tight, like a competition suit. ^_^
Oh, and I forgot to mention; I also trimmed the top of my tail (finally) to reflect the shape of the scales.
I'm excited to see how it all looks now.

I mean aside from the paint, This project was really fun, and went well.

[Mermaid Tula]

Can't wait to see!

[spottedcatfish]

Oh, Calypso! I love you!
:mermaid kiss:
11545
it does look pretty good, doesn't it.
You were a huge help.

Her tail in this picture looks similar to how Mermaid Shelly does her neoprene painted tails.

[Mermaid Dottie]

it does, doesn't it...

[Mermaid Marissa]

Progress Pictures:
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Lovin the gold duck tape ;) I can't wait to see the tail finished! It's gonna look great

[devilkitten1]

I can't wait to see how your second paint job came out. The sparkles look great.

[Mermaid Dottie]

I'm not happy with any of it. I've decided to get some fabric like one of these
11876
and cover it all up.
I might dye the fabric underneath red, but I'm little worried the sequins might change color, too. maybe just paint the neoprene red?

[Mermaid Fenicia]

The left on is the one I used for my golden tail ;)

[Mermaid Dottie]

Yeah? Did it hold up well? Do you think it would be a good choice?

[Mermaid Fenicia]

I do have to add more sequences on the backside of the fluke after each use, as that part touches the bottom of the pool often. The rest is still nice and shiny ;)

[Mermaid Dottie]

Oh, awesome!!!
Where do you buy the spare sequins at? Anywhere you can find them?
I won't be covering the fluke, since I like the way that turned out.

[Mermaid Fenicia]

I use spare sequins that I pull off the little leftovers from the fabric after cutting my tail and top. I pull them of by loosening the treat that holds the sequins. So, just keep the offcuts and enjoy taking of the sequins :p

[Mermaid Dottie]

Oh! WAY smart!, Thanks Fenicia! You rock!

[Mermaid Fenicia]

I'm glad that I could help you :)

[Mermaid Caspiana]

Can't wait to see the finished product!

[Mermaid Dottie]

So, I went swimming in it yesterday... I am not so happy. It kept slipping down, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, because I'm getting in shape, but it made it difficult to swim. The wave pool was really crowded, too, which didn't help much.
But the worst was when I got out and got into the locker room and found...
THIS
12186

Which might be the worst thing I could find...
I'm thinking of buying some silicone and filling the hole in with it, and putting it on all the weak spots on my fluke, so that it doesn't wear down as quickly. I did that on my first spandex tail, and it helped a LOT.
Next paycheck, too, I'm going to order some sequin fabric, and COVER it ALL UP!

[Mermaid Dottie]

OKAY...
This is what I'm gonna do with this mess.
I bought a half gallon of monstermakers latex, and 2 concentrated color pigment bottles. I'm going to do this the old fashioned way(in other words, the old ALEX way), but with better latex. Later I'll buy some of that awesome Shyne stuff that Ilonka mentioned in her thread (http://mernetwork.com/index/showthread.php?1788-Fantasea-FX-s-first-casted-latex-tail!&highlight=fantasea) to polish it and make it not sticky.
It'll be given a thin layer of flesh color, and then once that cures, it'll be given blue scales on top, with a bit of waist blending.

[MerEmma]

Good luck! Hopefully you can make it work!

[Mermaid Dottie]

I know, right? First I've gotta patch that hole, though. Lucky for me I've got some neoprene adhesive handy.

[Mermaid Dottie]

Here's my design thus far, but I may pick up some more paint at the store.

12424

I was too lazy to make a base for it, and I wanted to see what it would look like on the fluke as it was, with the fins. (I might take those off...)

[Mermaid Dottie]

Final design for my repaint. 12435

[Mermaid Dottie]

I got my tracking number for latex!!! ^_^
That means it'll be here early next week.

[Mermaid Oshun]

did you get a latex thickener? You will need that too if you are going to add scales with a net or something.

[Mermaid Dottie]

It says on the website that it can be brushed into moulds, I'm hoping that if I work in thin layers, I won't have too much of a problem, although, I'm thinking of making a tail-shaped box to put it in so that I don't waste any latex.

[Mermaid Dottie]

Progress Photos!!
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1258912590

Waitin on the latex to dry enough that I can pull up that metal grate-thing to see my beautiful (tiny) scales!

[Ariel-Starfish]

So nice! Looks great! ^^

[Mermaid Dottie]

This isn't progress... this is the opposite of progress. :( I let it dry too long...
That's okay. I still have enough latex to finish. Not enough for extra fins or anything, but enough.
1261512614

[Mermaid Dottie]

12634
Here's the front, in carp-y lighting.

[Mermaid Dottie]

I might just cry....
Can we all agree that, while I'm good at designing tails, I suck as a tailmaker?

[Jadestone]

Oh no!! I'm sorry for your setbacks :( Glad you have enough to continue though!! I'm excited to see how this turns out :)

[Jadestone]

Oh, Dottie no!! That's not true! This is your FIRST attempt at something like this, and you've gotten really far! EVERY latex/silicone tailmaker has had lots of tests and failures before their work gets good, I'm sure--it's such tricky material! *hugs* I'm sure you can do it :)

[Mermaid Dottie]

I might disappoint you, Jade, darling. I foresee very little in the future of this neoprene and latex killer of dreams. Still, I can't seem to work up the nerve to chuck it in the bin just yet... all that money and work and time....
Thank you for your hugs and encouragement. Maybe I can turn it into something...

[Carolina Mermaid]

I just finished making my first tail Dottie and trust me when I say this, never let the anxiety of having a tail not turn out how exactly you want it. I wished my tail was brighter and the paint wouldn't crack every time I put it on, but I had spent way too much time and energy into it to let the fear of it looking horrible get to me, I kept pushing through and came up with different ways to do different things and now I have a tail that I absolutely love.
Don't give up Dottie, in the end it will look amazing.

[Jadestone]

If you're really feeling like giving up--walk away for a few days. Distance yourself from the experience and bad feelings, do something fun! Then after a week, you can come back and look at it from a clearer/less emotional point of view--maybe see how to save it or turn it into something else awesome.

In any case, now you've learned a lot--and you'll be able to use that knowledge for this or for the next tail you make :hug:

[inactive account]

Put a release agent on the metal netting and also don't press the metal netting into the tail just gently lay it on top and push slightly to ensure all latex is indented then let go, make sure no latex is on the touching the top side of the metal netting so it cant stick to it. If you have loooaaads of latex thickener, forget everything I just said and make the latex really thick so it stands on it own, press the netting into the latex and remove it straight away and it should hold its shape :)

[Mermaid Dottie]

Thanks, neotail. Next time.
Here's what the front looks like.. I realized when I went to put the beige on, that the latex was sucking up the color of the paint I had put on the tail already.
12654
So now the whole thing is green-ish.

[Mermaid Oshun]

I think some latex thickener would allow it to set up better so you can remove the grate with a release agent before it starts to stick.

[Mermaid Dottie]

Later I'll buy some more latex and fix it, and I'll do just that. So, this thread may be dormant for a while.... :(
But thank you to everyone for the support.
Live and learn, yes?

[Mermaid Dottie]

SOOOO... I've been praying for a way to make this work.
Last night God gave me the best idea.

This silly thing has been turning green the whole time, because it's MEANT to be green. It should be green. It wants to be green.
Usually I try to avoid green tails because I don't to be confused with Disney's Ariel, but little girls ask me that all the time anyway, so what's the point in that?
So... Drum roll please.......

[Mermaid Dottie]

Why avoid it?
I'll just say Ariel is my ocean cousin, and be available to do Ariel gigs whenever.
12676

[Carolina Mermaid]

Sounds like a plan!

[Mermaid Allie]

Sounds awesome!

[Mermaid Dottie]

Thanks gals! I know that this'll work. My swatch test where I did one color of latex on top of another came out perfect, so I know that the color will come out right. I'm also going to go in for thickener for the stuff, and clean the Shell out of the Lath mesh. (I found out that's what my thing is called, that I'm using for scale imprints. I also figured out it's the same thing Fish Butts uses on their partials. Go figure.)
Once I get everything, it will be Time to Paint yet again!!!!!!!!

[berryoh]

Late to the thread I know!
I went through the pages and could really feel your frustration with the little set backs :( I'm so glad you're not giving up on this tail! If at first you don't succeed~
I actually want a green tail as well, so I'm looking forward to see how yours comes out!