How to make seamless tails??

[Mermaid Narina]

So I'm not sure if this is a "trade secret" kind of thing and so I don't want to step on any fins here, but I've seen professional tail makers such as Finfolk productions and merbellas (there are probably more though) making seamless silicone tails...
I'm going to be starting my silicone tail soon (yay!) but as far as I know the process involves layering one side over the other and glueing the scale sheets together? That's just what I've collected from reading a few peoples tutorials :) but I love how seamless tails look, and realism is important to me, so I've been puzzling over how to make my tail seamless?? :o
I had a good look in the tail making questions forum and have read most of the tutorials involving silicone but maybe I just missed it somewhere?
Anyone have any advice? :)

[Mermaid Sparkle]

Even the Merbellas and Finfolks have seams, they're just well patched together and hidden.

To truly get a seamless tail, you would have to make a full mold and pour the tail into it.
Like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMVEYS7Gc-4

[PearlieMae]

Or cast a whole bunch of individual scales and build your tail on a mannequin, like my tail. Not a seam anywhere!

But you do have to make and place and adhere over a thousand individual scales. :phew:

[Mermaid Narina]

I didn't realise they still had seams? So basically it's just about matching them in line with each other then? :)

[Mermaid Narina]

Or cast a whole bunch of individual scales and build your tail on a mannequin, like my tail. Not a seam anywhere!

But you do have to make and place and adhere over a thousand individual scales. :phew:
Whoa. I considered doing that after reading your tutorial but there is no way I would have the patience you have!! Haha :P so did you attach the individual scales onto a thin layer of silicone beneath them or was it just he scales sitting there on their own? :) sorry for questions, I'm curious about how it works! (:

[Echidna]

It's possible with crochet tails.

just knit/crochet them in a round like a sock, voilà, no seam.
especially easy if it's a snaketail :cool:

...don't think I won't come and get you if you make one though :p

[Seatan]

Whoa. I considered doing that after reading your tutorial but there is no way I would have the patience you have!! Haha :P so did you attach the individual scales onto a thin layer of silicone beneath them or was it just he scales sitting there on their own? :) sorry for questions, I'm curious about how it works! (:

She "painted" the back of each scale with a Layer of silicone then pressed them into power mesh. She then painted another layer inside and out of silicone. You can see it in her tail making thread.

as for seams, the pros definitely have them. They are just more noticeable in person than in photos.

[PearlieMae]

Making a scale sheet and lining up the scales would be easy if you were making a straight tube, but remember, tails are a tapered cone (simplistic description, I know), and trimming and matching up to appear seamless has got to be super tough. Some tail makers look like they don't even try. :/

[Odette]

Yep. Individual is they way to go! :rainbow: