Scale top questions

[Aziara]

After seeing the lovely scale top Jessica painted to match Eva's new tail, I have a new appreciation for them. I used to not like them much, but for some reason I'm really likeing them now! So I was wondering how they are constructed? I'm guessing it's built on a strapless bra for a base, and glued on somehow? Would it be possible to skip the bra base altogether and just have the silicone scales against my skin? Or is it not possible to mold the shape without the bra? Just to know, I'm currently not working on anything silicone right now, though I would really like to sometime in the future. I'm pretty sure this smilie sums up why I'm not doing silicone right now, lol :money:

[Jessica]

I'm happy to explain how to make one...I'm just super busy right now! Im working on finishing up Eva's shell top today. I'm also making a scale top for Eva and a new one for myself too. I use a bra for a base. You can make one without a bra base, but I think it might make your boobs look flat unless your're well endowed :) I know I couldn't wear a top like that! I like support and padding :)

I'll make a thread when I start Eva's top (Friday maybe? Or this weekend) I'm picking up a bra tomorrow for it and it's going to be halter style. I've been wanting to try this for awhile!

I know silicone is expensive! I sell scale tops too so if you ever want me to make you one, let me know :)

[Aziara]

Thanks Jessica. It'll be awesome to see another WIP thread from you. Mostly I was asking about making one without a bra because getting a strapless in my size is really expensive because I'm an odd size. I'm fairly well endowed, I don't think they could look flat no matter how tight a top is, lol. I'm also a sissy about comfort-- I very rarely find a bra that actually is comfortable. I wonder if a strapless would still work if I pulled the underwires out... I might have to put straps on it to keep it up through... :thinks:

[Jessica]

You could buy bra cups (or cut an old bra up!) and make one without a band. I think you would need a cup of some sort to get the shape right, unless you wanted a tube top style. If you need more support, you could do a halter style and use a comfy bikini top as a base so you have a strap around your neck. Silicone is nice and stretchy so it's pretty comfy!

[Aziara]

Hmm! Of course! I could find a cheap 'sister size' bra at walmart, and chop it up and use just the cups. *Forehead slap* Thanks!

[emma11]

Jessica do you use regular bras or the silicone ones? Would regular bras get waterlogged?


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[Jessica]

Hi Emma,

i just use regular bras. Unless they are really really padded or much larger sizes, I don't see them getting too waterlogged. I like to use Victoria's Secret 2/$49 very sexy bras the best, they have just enough padding :) my shell top does get wet and some water in the cups, but it's not enough to bother me.

[Mermaid Oshun]

bikini bras are an option too

[emma11]

Well that solves a lot of problems! Haha I wa worried they get moldy, I tend to wear push ups since i was born to have a 12 year old boys chest for the rest of my life.

So! That's fantastic that it's just regular bras. Now to find some strapless bras.


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[Mermaid Oshun]

Emma you can easily have a little extra silicone added in your bra for enhancement.
Jessica do you insert a ball in the cup for displacement or patch the bra together?
I poured melted monster clay inside the bra and let it harden. That was placed inside the scale bra mold so the silicone rises to the sides in a thin wall layer by displacement

[Jessica]

I just patch the scales together. Wouldn't you need multiple molds to accommodate different sizes? I've thought about just making a mold, but even bras that are the same brand are different when you use multiple sizes. The cups are hard to scale because of the curve of the cup! Practice makes perfect :) they're so much fun to make though and very satisfying because they're so much faster to make than a tail! :)

[Mermaid Oshun]

yes I made a mold just for Yulia, unless someone else happens to need her size. I kind of think most people here are like a 34b or similar so that might be the most likely mold to make if you want to make one. I am kind of scared to tackle my g cup bc the bra seemed really flimsy. I would need an underwire inside it

[Mizuko]

I'd be very interested to know how to do this too! :D I'd love to make myself some scale bras- my Merbella's one is SO comfortable! Its got lots of padding but is super tight so it doesn't fall down when I swim fast!

[Mer_Adella]

Hmm! Of course! I could find a cheap 'sister size' bra at walmart, and chop it up and use just the cups. *Forehead slap* Thanks!


My only thought on this (just as a suggestion cus I am going to start making my own scale top) is that if you use just the cups (no whole bra) save the hooks&eyes (the part that clasps the original bra around your back) and add those to the scale form. Do this by adding silicone to the fabric of the hooks and the eye and then use the silicone as a "glue" and add them to the underside of your scales. that way you won't have to slide the top over your head and over your *cough cough* well endowdness lol.

I thought about making my top without a bra (just because I didn't want to have to dork around with fitting the scales onto a bra) and I was suggested to do this as well because I didn't like the thought of having to slide it over my head and over my shoulders in the event it might rip... just a suggestion.

Also...you can get a strapless bra, remove the underwire for a more comfortable fit, BUT buy one that has removable straps (those are a life saver) because you can buy clear shoulder straps. Hannah Fraiser (all praise hannah lol) uses clear straps for some of her strapless bras as well. This will be a life saver. If your doing an underwater swimming video, you want that extra support so you won't have an "oops" moment on camera. But if your doing a dry shoot like Jessica (all praise jessica lol) did, you can remove the straps and be thankful that it will stay up on its own.

I am thinking of doing some mock up drawings tonight of different tops that anyone can use to make their own (as long as I am credited that would be much appriciated if you like the top enough to want to use it)

I have been looking up different ways of doing these tops so I might have answers just ask :) always willing to help just because it is often hard to find the information that we need. Unless Jessica has already done it and posted one of her lovely tutorial threads....which I GREATLY appreciate :)

[Mer_Adella]

Azaria.....also....if you were going to go with the "no bra, just scales" style, it might end up being like a corset. With a bra backing you have the shape of your breasts already out and about, all your doing is adding decoration. But with no form in mind, it might just SQUEEZE everything together like a corset. You might find it more uncomfortable than anything else. It might push them sideways, WAY up, they might be jammed way down and to me that would be very annoying and uncomfortable to have to be "Wait! I have to readjust the girls here....hang on....still...re...adjusting...GOT IT" ya know ?

If you have someone that can help you. Maybe do a duct tape mold of your chest that way you can somewhat have a form and you will also know FOR SURE how long you need it to reach your back and it will give you an idea of what the shape should be. That way if you really wanted to do just scales, no bra at all, then you would have proper fit, and a comfortable one at that too

Just a thought...if anyone disagrees with this, please speak, I don't want Azaria to try it and then have my butt in a sling lol

[Aziara]

That's certainly a good idea to save the clasps and embed them in the silicone. Getting a bandeau-style over my broad shoulders would be too tough. I'm thinking I will definitely have cups in my scale top if I make one to prevent 'squishing', lol. Thanks for the suggestion about the clear straps, that would help prevent wardrobe malfunctions.

[Jessica]

I had to pull the scale bra up a few times and readjust (flopping around on land is a good way to have a wardrobe malfunction!) but the bra was a Victoria's Secret one and it had a tacky line inside that helps it stick to your skin. I did feel kinda naked though!

Clear straps are a great idea for swimming!

Adella,

I love the idea of doing a duct tape upper body mold. I think it would work well if you were careful to just do one layer of duct tape....just don't forget the Saran Wrap! :)