OMG IM SO FRUSTRATED!!

[cinda2030]

Anyway, I only JUST figured out how to post threads and I'm only relatively new to the mernetwork (which by the way is pretty cool) But anyway lets cut to the chase. I really want to learn how to make a silicone mermaid tail either just normal or extended like H20. I'v never made a tail before but want to learn anyways for future refrences. I'v watched http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZv2MUuNb8U on how the h20 mermaid tails are made roughly which gives me barely much of an Idea. I'v been searching for about a week now and I still have tonnes of questions I'v also seen http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZv2MUuNb8U where they make a silicone tail. My questions ( >.< is the first link and o.o is the second)1.What is the leg cast for!?! And why in the o.o video are the girls leaning on bars2. In the o.o video , I see them using clay to make a mermaid tail shape and making a mould around that, How and with what!?! And how do they mould the tail with those plastic thingies for the fins and stuff.3. How do they use the moulds? Its not like they can fill it completely up coz how is it a mermaid tail.4. Also how does the neoprene fit into the whole moulding thing when you make the mould around the clay5. Can I have a list of everything I need to make one and the cost?Also I was wondering If I could get a full tutorial on a silicone tail like o.o video but slightly easier or how to make an extended one.Please answer nicely and please don't get angry if I'v missed links on the website and threads because I have the attention span of a OHH SQUIRREL and please dont say start with something easier coz I already know how to make fabric. Even If i haven't made one beforeAll mermaid and mermens opinions and answeres are appreciated :D

[WillowAnne]

if you want to make an extended tail with a kickplate, here is a series of videos to get you started and give you ideas:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjFrxbR-ACE&amp;list=PL386AE75CB074DC65

As far as silicone tailmaking, tons of people have documented their progress on here, including (most recently) Jessica and Jazz. I think Kanti also has a few videos on silicone tailmaking (especially how to make the mold, since you were confused about that).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y00mi8ClvcI

[cinda2030]

Thank you for your help I'll look into the videos

:D

[Winged Mermaid]

If you want answers you're going to have to do a lot of reading and a lot of research! Start with the "Molded slip casting latex and platinum silicone tails" section here: ☆TAILMAKING REFERENCE INDEX☆ (http://mernetwork.com/index/showthread.php?2633-%E2%98%86%E2%9A%A0TAILMAKING-REFERENCE-INDEX%E2%9A%A0%E2%98%86-Look-here-BEFORE-you-post-any-questions!) TONS of information and threads where people have made their own tails and answered all kinds of questions and given great visuals in the process. I only note threads there once the tails are completed, there are still some great threads where people are part way through going on, but they still have some really valuale info. So keep an eye out in the Tailmaking forum category. Good luck! :)

[MerEmma]

The plaster leg cast is used for something specific but I can't recall what. I feel like they fiberglass it or something (they don't fiberglass it but it seems like they'd use something similar?) and put it inside the tail for an extra-extra perfect fit but I don't know.

I know they're holding on those bars to keep stable and not change their position.

Unfortunately nobody can offer you a list of everything or how much it will cost. A few members here have attempted such a tail but none of them have really documented it/finished it/succeeded besides that video series. The H2O tails retail for $20,000 a piece due to all the hand-scaling and time that goes into it. A tail like that is a GIANT undertaking and will cost A LOT as well as be fairly difficult to swim with.

Look up Mermaid Linden--she hired a SPX maker and paid $15k for her tail which does have some sort of extension dealio.

Good luck! Go introduce yourself, too. I'd love to see you attempt such a tail, I've imagined making one myself but you'd need a pretty open area to swim with it since it's so big and probably two mertenders to carry you. xD

[PearlieMae]

Wow! Talk about diving right in! I suggest that you do tons of research before you even buy a single thing. if it were easy, everyone would be doing it and there be tutorials everywhere!

Most of the information you need is going to be in tailmaking forums. Are you an experienced crafter? You are going need a lot of skills, a lot of room, a LOT of planning, and a lot of money to craft a silicone tail. Your cost alone will be close to $500 to start. Jazz and Jessica both have some great tailmaking threads, like Willow Anne mentioned.

I'm a very experienced crafter and sculptor and have been designing and planning my tail since June, and my silicone is just getting here next week. It will probably be another couple of weeks before I'm ready to pour.

I'm not trying to discourage you, I just want you to know how much of an undertaking it is. And mistakes are expensive! Your first and most important step is RESEARCH.

Good luck!

[jazz2453]

http://studiocreations.com/howto/bodycast/materials.html They make a plaster leg mold, then cast fiberglass inside and seam it. The link is a similar process, but with the whole body. From what I've been reading, you have the fiberglass cast, and building on top of it.
I mean the whole structure won't be correctly proportioned if they dont have a model to start from. As you can see the fiberglass legs are underneath all of that-
15268

From there, they make the neoprene wetsuit. The fluke is a separate sculpture thAt they fully make (as one giant sculpt, not 2 separate halves) and they mold that, an probably inject the flexible nylon flipper and rod into the mold after it's filled with silicone. Therefore, not to waste too much silicone, your sculpture should be somewhat thin. When molding the fluke I would do 2 separate halves with a divided wall and keys (if you dont understand, you can do more research with masking making tutorials). Then they attach the rod and silicone fluke to the foot plate. For aquamarine (which is made by the same ppl with similar process), they casted foam latex to hide the bending of knees and heels. But Foam latex has to be casted in a special oven, so I wouldn't recommend it, but there are different expanding silicone foams and materials. If you explore smooth-on you'll find neat stuff. Then after a thick (not super thick, but thicker then the other layers) layer of your rubber foam, you cast a thin layer of silicone. You want to make it smooth and nice. Then they airbrush and apply scales.
Another way is to sculpt scales and your fluke fully on your leg cast (front and back), then make a divider wall in between and make 2 lightweight mold halves with keys (fiberglass or shellshock is recommended). Once cured you open them up, then place your body cast (with neoprene if wanted) and monofin with rod on one half (face right way with butt where butt goes) then close up the mold sand pour silicone and move around your injection piece to where you want it place when cured.
I hope that makes sense, I'm planning on making an extended tail next summer and I'm really excited!

[jazz2453]

PearlieMae is completely correct! I've been researching a lot and only have a few of the above pieces of the puzzle. Writing it is a lot easier then completely committing to it! It will be fun though and worth once you do understand and your ready:)

[PearlieMae]

Jazz, you are scary awesome! :)

[jazz2453]

Lol Thanks:)

[Seatan]

I would go for the normal silicone first since there is so much information on those. As for not telling you to make a fabric tail, people usually suggest that not necessarily because its easier, but so you can be sure you actually like mermaiding before you invest major money and hundreds of hours. Are you making the tail because you want to mermaid or because you love crafting? If its the latter and what you are looking for is a challenge, go for the extended! It would be awesome. But if you want the tail because you want to mermaid, I would suggest that you make yourself a simple fabric tail just to swim in a few times so you get a feel of whether you actually like mermaiding. But, I know you said not to say that, so i will say this instead: if you just want to mermaid, the extended tail may be more of a hindrance than a help. It would be hard to use in pools, that is for sure. Plus when you actually put on a tail, non extended ones still look enormous in person! I didn't add anything to my Finis Rapid at all and it's still ginormous looking in person.

Anyhow, just my suggestions when it comes to choosing whether to start with a normal silicone tail or an extended one. Jazz is, indeed, amazingly awesome at this stuff, so you may be in luck if she plans to start an extended tail in the future as she gives great technical advice.

[Jessica]

If you want answers you're going to have to do a lot of reading and a lot of research! Start with the "Molded slip casting latex and platinum silicone tails" section here: ☆TAILMAKING REFERENCE INDEX☆ (http://mernetwork.com/index/showthread.php?2633-%E2%98%86%E2%9A%A0TAILMAKING-REFERENCE-INDEX%E2%9A%A0%E2%98%86-Look-here-BEFORE-you-post-any-questions!) TONS of information and threads where people have made their own tails and answered all kinds of questions and given great visuals in the process. I only note threads there once the tails are completed, there are still some great threads where people are part way through going on, but they still have some really valuale info. So keep an eye out in the Tailmaking forum category. Good luck! :)


Iona,
i didn't know you added my thread to the index! You just made my day :)

cinda,

The tailmaking index is really the best place to start. i made my own silicone tail and before I did, I spent about nine months doing research to prepare myself. Funny thing is....even with all the countless hours I spent researching online, I still made mistakes! Working with silicone isn't easy. There is a huge learning curve...you really just have to figure a lot of it out as you do it. Some of the problems I ran into didn't have clear answers....or any answers really. I think my tail turned out pretty good for a first try, and I know so much more and am much better prepared for my current tail project. However, I'm still learning!

Its very important that you consider how much time and money you're going to spend making a tail. It's also important to have realistic expectations. Your first tail won't be perfect. Mistakes are costly when you're working with silicone. My mistake cost me and extra 1/3 gallon of silicone...considering how expensive dragonskin is (about $200/gallon when you factor in tax and shipping) it was an expensive mistake.

I'm not trying to discourage you. I just think its very important that you consider how big of a project this really is! I posted a lot of information during my tail making process so others could learn from my mistakes. One thing I hadn't considered before making my tail is how it really takes over your life...and your house! My dining room is covered in supplies...scale mold, buckets of silicone, paintbrushes, fluke mold, paint...the list goes on and on! It's a mess and we haven't been able to eat in the dining room in months! My latest project involves a new fluke mold...which has now taken over my kitchen table! Tailmaking takes up so much space....i would just about kill to have a garage or basement!

More than anything...consider how many tails you are planning to make. If you're going to make 2-3 tails, making your tail is completely worth it because you can reuse your molds. If you are only planning on making one tail, you might be better off buying a tail. Like I said before, your first tail isn't going to be perfect and if you make a mistake, by the time you repair it you might have been better off just buying a tail.

You need a lot of skills to make a tail...you need to be able to sculpt with clay, paint, follow directions/measure materials exactly, problem solve and more than anything you need patience! It takes hours to punch foam circles, sculpt a fluke out of clay or seam and paint a tail. If you're frustrated just looking for information, you will probably be much more frustrated when you're actually making a tail.

With all that said, I wish you the best of luck! Making your own tail is rewarding, but the reason it's so rewarding is because its a lot of hard work!

[AniaR]

Just be weary of tail making tutorials that are from people who haven't made or tested tails. When I was trying to search stuff to put in my book (I tried to link the major tutorials in the reference section) I found a surprising amount that were done up before people had actually finished making tails, and or tested them. It's best to use a tutorial from someone who has made several tails and worked out the kinks. I can tell you right now from researching them, and from talking directly to tail makers, that a huge majority of the tutorials out there have errors that people will keep reproducing.

Also I think everything Jessica says it right on the money and can't really think of anything to add to it, so I'll just reinforce it :)

[cinda2030]

I guess the main reason why I'm doing all this research is so I can fully understand the process and take note of all the effort and money it will cost and also explore more into what people have done themselves, I am extremely crafty but really love the water so they kind of mesh together. Jazz helped a lot in understanding more on how the extended tails are made but I'll still look in to the hundreds of piling up questions in my little brain I have :) Thanks for the help so far I really appreciate it :)