Anna's First Ever (Silicone) Tail!

[Trident True]

Good Luck, Ive been Dormant with my tail for some time now. but tomorrow Hopefully i will be testing my extension to see how it works.... it will all be worth it in the end. ;)

[AnnaAbyss]

Thanks heaps everyone :)

[AnnaAbyss]

34039

Finally finished!!! I know it looks uneven in places but that's because of the way the MDF board it was on was cut. It's okay though because I made sure the scale mould would be wider and longer than my actual legs and hips.

[AnnaAbyss]

*Long-ish paragraph ahead including miniscule details which nobody cares about* xD

Soooo I've scrubbed down my scale mould multiple times with dishwashing detergent and washing machine powder. I also used a heavy duty degreaser. There was A LOT of Vaseline residue. The problem is that there's thousands of tiny bubble holes which have got Vaseline stuck in them. I have tried two small scale tests and despite the rigorous cleaning and scrubbing, neither have cured fully. They're both extremely tacky. At least I know what the culprit is. I'm going to try using our high pressure hose. That should hopefully force all the Vaseline out of the bubble holes. Then I might mix a small batch of epoxy resin to fill them in, since they also leave an annoying imperfect texture in silicone and it'd be impossible to cut them all off once casted.

(I decided to go back inside my house and write this because I was standing near my scale mould inspecting the bubbles and there was a huge fuckin' spider on the ground near my bare feet. NOPENOPENOPE. XD)

[AnnaAbyss]

I'm *THIS CLOSE* to finishing!!!! :D

[Mermaid Wesley]

keep it up!

[Trident True]

if that doesn't work you could try pouring boiling hot water over it. this will definitely get the vasseline out. Vinegar may also help to get off residue. ive used vinegar once before to clean and prepare an area before casting. used the hose to wash it off and let to dry in the sun.

[AnnaAbyss]

Thank you a million times, Trident! You're always a great help. :D

[AnnaAbyss]

GUYS OMG!!!!!
First side of the tail skin is done!
34268

34269

[Luna Dreamtide]

Yay!! It's moving along now!! Are you planning on painting details after or keeping it one colour?

[OceanRose]

Congrats on your progress!! Such a good feeling to get this far I'm really excited for you, almost there :-D

[AnnaAbyss]

Thanks :) I'm going to add details when the tail is all put together.

[Trident True]

Yay.. looks great. see good things come to those who are persistent and patient. :)

[AnnaAbyss]

Thanks :)

I should update this thread!
I've been staying at my boyfriend's place for about a week and when I get home I will start making the other side of my tail. The weather is finally warm and I have money again for buying tail making materials.

[Trident True]

good to hear, I hope you weren't affected by the fires.

[AnnaAbyss]

Luckily I wasn't affected. Although it is about an hour and a half away from me. Thanks for your concern.

[Mermaid Jaffa]

Anna! Anna!

They have banned tails in Victoria!! At all YMCA pools. Hope you have other places to swim at cos that tail is awesome!

[AnnaAbyss]

I know, It's bloody ridiculous! Hopefully other pools that aren't YMCA don't start banning them. Not all hope is lost! At least I live a 5 minute walk away from my favourite beach. Thanks for the tail compliment! :D

[AnnaAbyss]

Went to Bunnings today and got more tailmaking stuff. Now I've just got to wait until Saturday for my cheque to clear! Then I can buy more silicone and make the back of the tail skin. :D Nearly finished!

[AnnaAbyss]

Sculpted a pectoral fin out of air dry clay!

35142

[Mermaid Jaffa]

Ooo! Beautiful!

[The Green Mermaid]

Don't let it dry keep it moist and it will be much easier to pop the mold off.

[AnnaAbyss]

Thanks Green Mermaid. It's okay though!
I used Vaseline as a mould release with the plaster mould. Then I cleaned off the Vaseline with isopropyl alcohol and sprayed the plaster mould with clear gloss spray (used for sealing photographs and drawings). Then I poured silicone in and here is the result!

[Rett]

It looks great!!!:yay::yay::yay:

[Mermaid_Sarina]

Looking awesome Anna!!

[Adalira]

Yay! It looks great!

[Luna Dreamtide]

Looks really cute! I like it!
Anymore fins planned?

[AnnaAbyss]

Thanks everyone. :) I'm not sure if I want to make more fins.

[Ashton]

I love how vibrant that blue is!

[AnnaAbyss]

Thanks Ashton :D

[Ashton]

No problem! I am jealous, what blue did you use?

[AnnaAbyss]

I think it was this: http://www.shapers.com.au/colour-x-powder-tint-neon-blue/
with a tiny bit of neon green so it makes a cerulean blue, let that cure, then painted a slime coat with some Pearl Ex Sky Blue and Pearl Ex Pearl White. I realised I didn't post a photo after I painted it. Here ya go.

https://instagram.com/p/BBG26Oywg6w/

[AnnaAbyss]

~(Sort of an update?)~

Got another bucket of silicone last week so I can pour the other side of the tail skin. Also got some more Pearl Ex Sky Blue pigment. The weather is being miserably cold and rainy but Saturday will be ideal. I'm so close to finishing my tail!!! Then I can make another one! Haha.

[Luna Dreamtide]

Awesome! I hope you get it done soon. Your progress looks great and the colour is so pretty!

[AnnaAbyss]

Aww thanks!! :D It should be done soon.

[AnnaAbyss]

Update: I poured the other half of my tail body but parts of it hasn't cured properly. And STUPIDLY I didn't check how much green pigment I had left before I mixed my silicone, so now this half looks much more blue instead of turquoise. Maybe I could paint over it.... That probably won't work.
I don't know why but this whole tailmaking journey I've been having curing issues. Swear to god next time I make a tail I'm going to suck it up and buy DragonSkin. It's got a mix ratio that is way simpler than Vario.
Sorry for always complaining but this is driving me nuts and I'm not ready to give up on this tail.

[Trident True]

is it still usable,or do you have to cast again? whether or not this would work on the uncured parts. but you could try to paint of add a thin layer of silicone over the top of the uncured parts. however if the piece is completely uncured all the way though im not sure if this would work. if all ends fails you could try selley's windows and glass silicone also used for aquariums. this is 100% silicone so it should stick to you uncured silicone, it can also be pigmented.

As this is your first tail, there will be ups and downs. I personally haven't finished my own at its been 5 years since i started, that is because i always have f*** ups, they aren't intentional just unforseen. you will get better and stating that your not going to give up shows that determination.;)

[AnnaAbyss]

Update: SECOND TAIL SKIN SEEMS TO HAVE MOSTLY CURED! LIKE, A WEEK LATER! xD Goddamn silicone is so temperamental. It's like I'm cursed. >___<

Trident, it seems salvageable at this point in time now. It's also got patches where there isn't any silicone because my scale mold has some high places where silicone won't fully cover. I might have to try putting the tail skin back into the mold and pouring a bit more over the parts that are patchy. Or I could try pouring some silicone in the good parts of the mold, pull them out then glue them onto the patchy tail skin areas with caulking silicone.
Also, yesterday I went on a quest to find more Pearl Ex Duo Green-Purple pigment but predictably none of the shops I went to had it in stock. But there were other colours so I ended up buying the Turquoise one.
It looks like this tail is going to be a darker turquoise on the back and a lighter teal on the front. Oh well. xD

Sorry to hear about your long tailmaking journey, Trident. You're extremely determined! Lol we both have enormous fuck ups lmaoo.

[Mermaid Jaffa]

Well some fishes have a lighter bellies than their top.

[AnnaAbyss]

Yeah I keep reminding myself that. Will just have to add some black spots to make it more realistic looking. :)

[Rett]

You could always rent an airbrush, thin down some silicone and pigment and paint the whole thing once the tail itself is constructed. I believe that is what most tail-makers like Merbellas and Finfolk do anyway. They just make a white moulded tail and then airbrush it with the pigmented silicone

[AnnaAbyss]

I could. But it'd be a waste of money if it didn't stick.

[Alexander Buratti]

Gorgeous Tail Anna 💜💜

Inviato dal mio ASUS_Z010D utilizzando Tapatalk

[AnnaAbyss]

Gorgeous Tail Anna 

Inviato dal mio ASUS_Z010D utilizzando Tapatalk


Thank you :D I'm quite happy with it if I may say so myself. Haha.

[AnnaAbyss]

Pinned my tail together, now I need to seam it!!! WOOHOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!
36356

[Mermaid Mystery]

It looks amazing already!

[Trident True]

all i can say is. :cheerleader:

[Luna Dreamtide]

Yes!! Nearly there! It's looking fantastic already.

[Gravity Falls]

Look amazing !

[Mermaid_Sarina]

Anna it looks awesome!!!!!

Sent from my SM-J110F using Tapatalk

[Kait]

Woohoo great work!

[Mermaid Keena]

How did your seaming go? 😁 is it still warm enough to swim where you are? In perth we are a bit on/off for good and bad days at the moment haha

Sent from my HUAWEI Y360-U03 using Tapatalk

[Luna Dreamtide]

? In perth we are a bit on/off for good and bad days at the moment haha

Sent from my HUAWEI Y360-U03 using Tapatalk
Wow you actually get season! That sounds so nice! The temperature hasn't even started to shift here in Queensland!

[Mermaid Keena]

Haha aww :(

Sent from my HUAWEI Y360-U03 using Tapatalk

[AnnaAbyss]

I'm seaming it today :D

[Mermaid Keena]

Eeeee!! Good luck!!! You're nearly done!!! Super exciting!

Sent from my HUAWEI Y360-U03 using Tapatalk

[AnnaAbyss]

I KNOW OMG SO BLOODY EXCITING!!!!!!!

[Mermaid Keena]

Hahaha!!! PHOTOS!!

Sent from my HUAWEI Y360-U03 using Tapatalk

[AnnaAbyss]

I don't want to be shamed about my terrible job at seaming :| It's pretty bad.

[Mermaid Keena]

Awwww it cant be THAT bad x once you have it on i doubt you'll notice xx

Sent from my HUAWEI Y360-U03 using Tapatalk

[AnnaAbyss]

Awwww it cant be THAT bad x once you have it on i doubt you'll notice xx

Sent from my HUAWEI Y360-U03 using Tapatalk

It's really noticeable. Trust me. xD
Ughhh stupid tail issues.

[AnnaAbyss]

So the reason I've been quiet is because I made another scale board. "Really Anna? A THIRD ONE?! Just finish the damn tail already!" xD lel.
You know what they say, third time's a charm. Apparently...

My dad bought me Shell Shock as a birthday present (YAY!) and today we'll glue the mold walls on. This time around I have a lot more faith that the scale mold will work out.

I also made my fluke a much lighter weight and am finally deciding to just have it with foot pockets (I cut down some flippers) and no monofin. I really want the flowy fluke effect that the PAX mermaids have, even if it means compromising propulsion.
This is my first tail and I'm on a pretty tight budget so I keep reminding myself it doesn't need to be absolutely perfect. (I'm a perfectionist like my dad so it's extremely frustrating, hahaha).

But yeah, that's my update. :D >.>

[Mermaid Keena]

Haha fingers crossed for third time lucky!! 🍀


Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk