Non-circle scales

[LaNyah]

Hello all,

I am reading now in the hopes that I can try my hand at making my own tail this fall. <fingers crossed>

I love the unique scales I've seen in Finfolk and some Merbellas tails. How is this done? How would I go about making my own scale pattern instead of the foam circles?

Thank you!

[Mermaid Photine]

I think some people use chicken wire to make the shapes. Check some of the tutorials and tailmaking threads.

[Blondie]

I think a lot of the custom made scales are sculpted and cast with clay and some sort of plaster.

[Miyu]

The way I'm planning my dream tail, I absolutely NEED a sculpt of scales - they're very uniquely-shaped scales, not circles or diamonds ;)

[LaNyah]

I think some people use chicken wire to make the shapes. Check some of the tutorials and tailmaking threads.

This is the kind I mean:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=199106756919937&set=pb.126859280811352.-2207520000.1375088741.&type=3&theater
(PS- has anyone seen their beta? WOW!)

I don't want to copy anyone, but would love to do something so unique for my own.

[LaNyah]

I think a lot of the custom made scales are sculpted and cast with clay and some sort of plaster.

At this point I am assuming that they are clay molded individually, but thought I would ask for second opinions/experience.

If this is the case, then I am thinking that I would do a smaller sheet with side seams.

[Mermaid Kalliope]

If you're making fabric/neoprene... I just got stencil plastic and cut out my own shape. My scales are a bit more oval on my neoprene tail. I don't know what shape you want. :-P But for others, sculpting is how it's done.

[LaNyah]

Thanks guys. I kinda figured I was just setting myself up for a loooooong time sculpting scale after scale. Ah well. I still think it'll be worth it. :)

[Kumori Kitsune]

I wonder how heart shaped scales would lok hu just have fun with it

[Lady Aurelia]

I saw this on pinterest (after googling something mermaid related) and this page came up. It's mini foil baking cups, folded in half. Kind of like the mini reese's cups. Here's a picture: 13065

[ShyMer]

Kharris, that looks gorgeous.I don't know how well that would work for making scales, but it brings up some interesting ideas. I love the colors on that photo.

[MerMarla]

Kharris! Neat idea! Since these are made of foil, you could cast using plaster of paris, using fairly thin layers at a time. Some ppl like the scale design to be thicker, and folding foil "papers" in half may not give the relief some ppl want, but maybe a mini thin mint (just teasing) or plastic tubing (you can get tubing with quite a tiny inside diameter (id) and wall thickness from specialty houses) between the folded cups would thicken up the ends raising them a bit. Another idea, if you can get them, is the rolled plastic edge on some liquid medicines, like cough syrup. Again, these cups are available at medical supply houses, or maybe even drug stores (ask the pharmacist where you can get them in bulk, when you find a cup you like)... just ideas!

(((Hugz))) and Bubble https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/e/B0C'z
Mermaid Marla

[Lady Aurelia]

Thanks guys, oh yeah no I have no idea how to cast, mold, basically anything. I'm a completely new mer to everything. But yes, I realize the foil would be veeeery difficult to get a mold of since it is so thin and easily breakable. But I do like the look of it. My simple brain is thinking to just cut out regular foam circles, then glue the foil on top of each individual foam circle. I have no money to craft and I have yet to come out to my family so...I'm still in the closet about wanting to indulge in the mercommunity.

[LaNyah]

That is so pretty. I am still deciding how I want mine to look and this is another shape to consider. :)

[PearlieMae]

This is the kind I mean:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=199106756919937&set=pb.126859280811352.-2207520000.1375088741.&type=3&theater
(PS- has anyone seen their beta? WOW!)

I don't want to copy anyone, but would love to do something so unique for my own.

Judging by the photo, the scale was sculpted in something like clay, molded, and many casts were made from the original scale...from there, assembled, then probably cast into a scale sheet, then the tail building process continues from there. The scales look identical and there is no size variation which leads me to think there is only one original scale. A lot of work and some extra steps, but WOW! If I were to use that technique, I might make scales in a few different sizes, smaller ones for the lower tail, larger for the upper area and a medium size for waist, sides, and seam areas.

Circle scales are beautiful, but with so many kinds of fish and scale patterns, the extra work may really be worth it! Good luck!

[PearlieMae]

I saw this on pinterest (after googling something mermaid related) and this page came up. It's mini foil baking cups, folded in half. Kind of like the mini reese's cups. Here's a picture: 13065

If you were to lay down silicone caulking over a fabric, stick your half circle foil scales into it, then seal it all in another layer of silicone, it might work...I don't know if it would be very durable, but it could be a fun tail for a season or two. Layering it inside the layers of silicone might cause you to lose some of the texture of the pleats.

Maybe an arm-sized prototype might be able to confirm proof of concept.

[Mermaid Oshun]

Hello Paisley. I ordered sequin shells that are about an inch wide to do this same thing myself. They should be here in about a week or so. They look about like the photo above but I think they will be more sturdy than that.

[LaNyah]

Judging by the photo, the scale was sculpted in something like clay, molded, and many casts were made from the original scale...from there, assembled, then probably cast into a scale sheet, then the tail building process continues from there. The scales look identical and there is no size variation which leads me to think there is only one original scale. A lot of work and some extra steps, but WOW! If I were to use that technique, I might make scales in a few different sizes, smaller ones for the lower tail, larger for the upper area and a medium size for waist, sides, and seam areas.

Circle scales are beautiful, but with so many kinds of fish and scale patterns, the extra work may really be worth it! Good luck!

Since my original post, this is what I have concluded as well. I have also decided that I would want smaller scales lower on the tail.

Now I have begun wondering what kid of material to make the scales out of for the scale sheet. I wouldn't want to use anything too rigid, rather I would prefer something to have a similar consistency as the foam circles. Looks like most foam products expand though. I'm still researching.

[PearlieMae]

I'm going to try to make a textured scale pattern using a hot glue gun on a vinyl shower curtain (taped to a big pierce of cardboard), using the outline of my legs for the tail pattern. Once I draw the scales in hot glue, I'll go over the scales, drawing in and building up texture with more hot glue.

I will then hot glue strips of foam core (you could probably use strips of cardboard, too) around the tail for my mold box. I usually use mold rubber for casting, but that could get expensive, so I will probably use hydrocal instead. I will just need to brace it well before I have help flipping it over, so my mold doesn't crack.

As long as what you're using to make your fin and scale texture can be sealed, it doesn't really matter what you use. the dangers with using clays is that they might have sulfur in them and that will later affect the curing of any silicone you might use.

[Theobromine]

The Finfolk scales are indeed individually sculpted from clay. They do actually vary in size, it's just hard to see in that photo. There are actually four different scale sizes that get bigger as they go up the tail. I have progress pics of the clay scales the girls sent me when they were making my tail, but I don't know if they'd want me to post them without asking first. Anyway, what I assume they did (what I would do if I had the space to make my own tail) is to mold one scale out of clay, then create a mold of it (a negative) that you could then push more clay into to make an identical scale much more quickly. That way, you can make a bunch of clay scales and lay them down into a big scale sheet. You can make a few different sizes and have four or five individual scale molds so you can vary the sizes as you go up the tail.

[LaNyah]

The Finfolk scales are indeed individually sculpted from clay. They do actually vary in size, it's just hard to see in that photo. There are actually four different scale sizes that get bigger as they go up the tail. I have progress pics of the clay scales the girls sent me when they were making my tail, but I don't know if they'd want me to post them without asking first. Anyway, what I assume they did (what I would do if I had the space to make my own tail) is to mold one scale out of clay, then create a mold of it (a negative) that you could then push more clay into to make an identical scale much more quickly. That way, you can make a bunch of clay scales and lay them down into a big scale sheet. You can make a few different sizes and have four or five individual scale molds so you can vary the sizes as you go up the tail.

I agree. My engineering brain set to work on this and had come up with the same basic idea... hand make one or a few, then mold them.

[PearlieMae]

I couldn't tell if they were different sizes, as I was looking on my tiny phone.

I like the idea of sculpting the entire tail...it might take a lot more time and effort, but I would have my dream tail

[Lady Aurelia]

Hey I know it's been a while, but I was looking for different kinds of possible scale designs and I came across this, just scroll down and look on the side. I think the "Nautical" shell one looks nice, and then at the very bottom there are "Mums" and they come in different sizes. Mums one might look strange, but just a thought :) I hope your tailing progress is going well!

http://www.michaels.com/Silicone-Molds/ms0972,default,pd.html?cgid=products-beads-collections-marthastewartcrafts

[LaNyah]

Actually, I followed the link before reading your post and I also thought the mums might look interesting. :D
If you do try it, let us know how it looks.

[Arella]

I would love tear drop shaped scales :drool: *sigh*

[Firemaid]

You can mold/cast anything!!!!

[LaNyah]

OK, well theory has become reality.

I originally wrote while I was still in Korea and only planning this. Now I am in the US and started.

I'll post pics in stages.

First I sculpted a single scale in three sizes. Here is one:

16255

Then I made a mold of of it:
16256

Made a few copies and then made a mold of several:
16257

And then I melted my clay, made copies en mass, and started laying them out. (these are the small size scales):
16258

Maybe I should start a new thread as this progresses. :)

[PearlieMae]

THESE ARE WONDERFUL! :jawdrop:

I love them, I really do. I was going to go with an arawona shaped scale pattern, but decided to go with a textured wide oval.

I have some photos over on my tailmaking thread.

[jazz2453]

So unique! This will look wonderful!

[Mermaid Esther]

They use foam circles and they have to make a scale board. Then they use shell shock, then pour silicone.