My First Silicone mermaid tail [Archive]

Darcythemermaid

10-15-2013, 07:15 PM

Hi all,
Like many of you I've loved mermaids since before I can remember!! Having never gone on a holiday that didn't some how involve the sea or surf this love has never died! About 2 years ago I decided that I wanted to become a professional mermaid performer as I have always enjoyed acting and performing! But yr 12 and well life got in the way (+ money).
But now I've just decided that i'm going to put a side some time to work on my first Silicone tail!
So this is my progress so far!
These are the different size scales I was going to cut out I've now gone with the middle size as the small were beautiful but would have taken to long to cut out and lay!
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I've now finished cutting out my scales for my scale sheet (all 1600 of them)
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This is what they will look like once glued down
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This is the old body measurements that I took (did them wrong and I've lost cm so I've got to re measure) I'm going to have double seems
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So this is my progress so far!

MermanTyphoon

10-15-2013, 07:26 PM

i can't wait to watch ur progress!

Darcythemermaid

10-15-2013, 08:02 PM

Thanks!! I though that I would post a picture of my design!! and inspiration!
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Jessica

10-15-2013, 08:51 PM

I love your fluke design! Its so long....it will look great in the water :) what monofin will you be using?

Darcythemermaid

10-16-2013, 07:36 AM

AniaR

10-16-2013, 07:48 AM

good for you! good luck!

Darcythemermaid

10-16-2013, 08:08 AM

Thanks Ill need that luck!!

Blaze

10-16-2013, 01:25 PM

Ooo I love the side fin design! Looking forward to watching your progress!

Mizuko

10-16-2013, 06:43 PM

Cant wait to see more! :D Once you are done, I'd love to go swimming together! :D :D

Jessica

10-16-2013, 09:53 PM

I'm thinking the Hydra because I like the clear fin. I'm actually ordering it now because I really want to start on the sculpting the fluke and if I have to cut it I want it done soon! Oh and Jessica I love your Tail, you kinda inspired me to really start my tail!

:) thanks! it's funny...Lorelei inspired me with her tailmaking thread! I thought...if she can do it..maybe I can too! I love that so many people are making their own tails and starting threads! It's amazing that all around the world mermaids are making tails and sharing their experiences :) by the way...I'm so jealous!! You have Mizuko nearby and amazing places to swim!! I would love to visit Australia someday. :)

Darcythemermaid

10-20-2013, 05:02 PM

Sorry for not posting in a while! Uni is kind of hectic at the moment with exams and all!! Thanks Mizuko, that would be awesome!!!! Yeah Jessica this network is kind of just well awesome (i really need a new word!)!!!!! and its nice to know that other people have the same passion!!
So this is what i've been doing lately (not much but still progress!)
This is my test for the scale sheet and plaster and if all works out well I will just section my sheets like you did Jessica!
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There are a few holes but i'm going to go through and fill them in with PVA glue and see how that works!
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I'm going to be making my mold out of Plaster of Paris because its just so cheap and easy to access, although I would love to invest in shell shock!
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Darcythemermaid

10-20-2013, 05:03 PM

Oh and im going to try and do my mold tonight so wish me luck ill post progress photos when I can!!!

PearlieMae

10-20-2013, 05:05 PM

Fins crossed! Can't wait to see your progress!

Jessica

10-20-2013, 05:49 PM

I should warn you...doing the body in sections takes forever! I'm still using the same scale sheet for my current tail, but I'm assembling them differently. The method I used last time turned out to not be the best way to do it. I should have info/pictures posted by the end of this week about how I'm doing it this time.

Also....how big are your circles? Make sure your scale sheet is wide enough to cover 1/2 of your widest measurement + 2-4 inches. You will need an extra 2-4 inches for the seams! Your scale sheet looks pretty tiny!

I hope your mold turns out well! I've never worked with plaster of Paris before so I'm interested in seeing how this turns out!

Darcythemermaid

10-21-2013, 02:53 AM

Oh yeah!!! I should have though about the extra inches this scale sheet matches perfectly to half of my newly measured body but with no give!!! Dam :doh: i knida just though id make it extra tight.... anyway this is really just a test and I have about 1400 extra foam scales cut out! its just I kind of got a little annoyed at how long it was taking and how hard it was because none of the scales matched (being hand cut) Any way i'm about to start putting the wall around this section of scales and ill post how it goes!

Jessica

10-21-2013, 08:46 AM

If your scale sheet is exactly half of your widest part, you might be ok if you overlap your seams very little (I would turn the body inside out and reinforce the seam with extra silicone if you do this) silicone is very stretchy if you don't pour it too thick. I made my tail very tight...silicone will stretch 2-5 inches so its pretty forgiving. I like to have at least an inch or two for my seams so I can line them up and make the seam less noticeable though.

Good luck!

Jessica

10-21-2013, 08:53 AM

One more thing...even if this mold turns out too small for your hips, it looks like a good width for a scale top! You can always just fill the top half for a scale top or fill the whole thing for a tankini style. Just an idea! :)

Darcythemermaid

10-22-2013, 01:30 AM

That is a great I idea!!! When pouring the plaster into the mold I started to think i'm the kind of person that has flashes of artistic ability and would I rather have to spend a long time on a big scale sheet or have gummy frumpy seams and being a perfectionist i'm thinking i'm just going to have to do a full body scale sheet!
Although I have photos I've misplaced (I know its somewhere) my camera cable so once I find it ill post what it looks like and hopefully its dried by then!

Darcythemermaid

11-29-2013, 08:50 PM

So after nothing for over a month I'm finally getting back into it!!!! Uni Exams got in the way and I made my self promise I would touch it untill after my exams and as they officially finished 20 minutes ago I can start!!! Today I start the sculpture of the fluke which has changed design slightly, ill post pictures of my progress tonight before I go to work(hopefully there has actually been some progress because ive just been itching to do something all month!!!!)

AnnaAbyss

11-29-2013, 09:01 PM

Good luck and congratulations! I'm using plaster to mould as well. xD

Jessica

11-29-2013, 10:41 PM

Can't wait to see some pictures! You made the right choice to focus on school and take a little break from your tailmaking! School always comes first! :)

Darcythemermaid

11-29-2013, 11:10 PM

Anna: Thanks cant wait to see your progress too!!! Yeah I just love it its so cheap!!!!
Jessica: It was so tempting to do it though! With all the stuff piled up in the corner of my room!

Darcythemermaid

11-30-2013, 01:11 AM

Progress Photo:
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Where I'm at now:
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Now this is where the changes come in! Because of the Merfin (which at this point I can't bare cutting). I've decided that i'm going to keep the original shape and make it my kids party tail!!
Now its on to detailing!!

Darcythemermaid

12-01-2013, 10:30 PM

Bit of light entertainment while Sculpting! (Hehehehehehe)
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This is the detailing that I had done so far.
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But because of the fact that the center is wonky and i'm kinda redoing the entire design I've decided that I'm going to add ribbing and make it so that it only follows the fin design on the outer edges so time to flatten it all out and start again

PearlieMae

12-01-2013, 11:27 PM

That's a lot of work! Keep it up!

MermaidStormy

12-02-2013, 04:43 AM

Looks amazing Darcy :D Keep up the great work

MermaidClara

12-02-2013, 05:37 AM

WOW! i just finished year 12 as well wooo!! and im using a mahina merfin too!! what an awesome job you've done i cant wait to see more progress

Darcythemermaid

12-03-2013, 01:18 AM

So progress up date I've almost finished detailing. I have changed this design so much in the last day!! im letting it become a trail and error thing ill sculpt it and is I don't like it ill start again!
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This is half way through
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And this is where I'm at now!
As much as it may be completely different from anything I would ever normally do I kind of really love it!!! I've removed the scalloped edges as i was never much of a fan and I'm going to smooth it down then add some more lines
More progress photos tonight!!!

Darcythemermaid

12-03-2013, 06:26 AM

So I'm done!!!! And I'm EXHAUSTED!! Now its not perfect but nothing is right and when I think about my normal artistic ability I'm pretty dam proud so tomorrow its build some walls and plaster this baby all up!!!! I'm so flipping ;) excited!!!
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Azurin Luna

12-03-2013, 07:44 AM

Looks very nice :D Good work

Fifi Tigg

12-03-2013, 08:51 AM

Looks fintastic well done! I look forward to watching how your tail journey goes :)

Mermaid Oshun

12-03-2013, 12:27 PM

I was going to say that looks like the Oceanika merfin until I realized it IS the merfin lol. Looks nice

Darcythemermaid

12-03-2013, 04:59 PM

So change of plans I've decided that before I go and pour a whole lot of plaster on this baby and potentially ruin it I'm going to do a test. I should have it done by tonight and ill post pictures! I'm going to sculpt a shell (for a top) then cast it to see if plaster of Paris will actually capture the details!! ill also up load the pictures of my scale test (that I said I would like a month ago)