Mermiad Allie's First Latex Tail!

[MermaidAllie]

I'm currently researching and designing all kinds of tails, I have yet to really settle on one. Hopefully my mom keeps her promise and we go craft shopping so I can get some clay. She's a craft nut just like me so Hobby Lobby is our favorite place to be :)

Once I get my clay I'm gonna start sculpting out a top for a friend and start my scale box. As soon as I cast for the top, I'm gonna finish up my scale box and then cast that, hopefully there will be enough clay left over for a fluke mold!

I'm wanting to get at least 10 pounds of clay tomorrow, but would love to get about 20 if my funds let me. I also found a 25lb bag of Plaster of Paris at my local Lowe's for only about $16 which is awesome, I'm wanting to use that and some fiberglass cloth instead of normal plaster cloth to add more strength.



QUESTION: Is the plaster and fiberglass cloth mixture a good idea? I heard it works better and makes the mold stronger, some advice would be amazing!

[MermaidAllie]

Sadly my supply shopping has been delayed until tomorrow, but I am determined to get my clay sometime this week!

I've been doodling some fins and stuff which I'm really starting to like, I might be making a dragon tail instead of a fish one with different pelvic and ankle fins that look rather tattered, but not overly so.

QUESTION: Would it be smart to do two different scale patterns? I know it will be more work, but from the pictures I've seen of dragons their chest scales are more likes plates and the rest of their body is covered in regular scales. I'm wanting to have the belly of my tail more plated and the backside to be scaled.

[MermaidAllie]

I got my clay! :dance:

I got 25 pounds of moist pottery clay that's talc free, is this good for sculpting and molding? I also got 25 pounds of plaster of paris, the dry stuff, but I forgot to grab fiberglass cloth while at the store /:

[Mermaid Julz]

I wish you the best of luck. I look forward to seeing your progress :)

[MermaidAllie]

Thanks Julz :)

[MermaidAllie]

Pictures of my tail design! I'm really liking how it looks and will most likely use this design for my tail :)

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Side view

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Belly view

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Everything

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Tail view

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Scales

[Mermaid Riia]

I think you can use any type of clay :) I used the cheapest one I could get and it worked well.
Start sculpting, I want to see pictures! Best of luck :)
also want to know more about the plaster & fiberglass cloth mix

[MermaidAllie]

Pictures of my scale clay sculpts are coming soon!