Blue Tang (Dory) Tail Making Adventure

[Fifi Tigg]

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Ok so here I go! I'm finally going to make my own tail from scratch! No revamp & all my own work!
My tail design is based as you can see above on the Blue Tang (Dory) fish and I chose it for its gorgeous colours and it's black and white tail.
I have played around with making molds etc but for me I'm going to do something totally out of the box and hand squeeze every single scale straight from the tube! :sweat drop:
I've done a lot of tests with this method and it just feels more natural for me. Here is a pic of some hand squeezed scales and I know they are a little messy but when it's the actual tail I will be taking my time ;)

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I have bought some pigments for the colouring and I have a Mahina monofin on its way!
I have a roll of neoprene here ready for cutting and sewing.
Looking forward to this whole journey :D

[Seraphina Suds]

Oh wow! That's quite the undertaking! Can't wait to watch your work progress c:

[Mermaid Saoirse]

This is going to be an awesome adventure! Excited to see the result. :D

[Fifi Tigg]

Testing out some black pigment

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[AniaR]

I wonder if you could squeeze them out of cake decorater thingies??? might make it easier!

[Fifi Tigg]

Good thinking 99 ;)

[LittleTreasure]

I like the way those hand squeezed scales look :D Very organic.

[Fifi Tigg]

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[OceanRose]

Yaay :-D they look really nice! ♥

[Mermaid Melanie]

they do look lovely ! can't wait to see what you do ! x

[Mermaid Leira]

Oooh exciting im planning to use my Mahina I've cut to shape too but haven't settler on what to do with the fluke because dragon skin won't cure near it

[Fifi Tigg]

I'm amazed with the Selleys Glass silicone sealant because its stuck fast to the Mahina! I cant pull it off!
Body mould complete :)

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[Mermaid Leira]

If wondered if that would work on a mahina, I don't know if I kept my off cuts to test doh! I was going to try caulking in beads on the mono fin to make the tail texture but that would take ages, or maybe make a custom trowel to get the effect :) do you think it would adhere to dragon skin? I'm going to use that fir the body, if you're looking for power mesh Fifi, spotlight has it, they have different colors and one covered in a pattern of green sequins I'm going to have a play with

[PearlieMae]

I was just about to say the same thing Raina did! I tried some cake decorating tips with the GE Silicone caulk and got some really nicely textured bits, but I was trying them over shiny fabric and didn't care for how they were clouding up...before I even had a thought about pigmenting the silicone. Leaf tips have a center notch that would make a nice center line on a scale.

I love what you are doing! I can't wait to watch the progress!

[Fifi Tigg]

Not sure about the dragon skin, I've never used it?
do you think power mesh would work better than neoprene?

[PearlieMae]

Dragonskin will be too thin, I think...it levels out. You can check and see if there is a thickener for it. Try mixing in a little cornstarch, I know that works with the caulking. (small batch!)

Not sure about neoprene as I've never used it, but powermesh makes a great base in my experience!

[Kishiko]

I feel like if you're just use caulking and making scales by hand neoprene would be better if you want it thicker. Since you can't really build up the back of the scales with more silicone like in a mold, it's going to be much thinner than normal. Just my two cents! But I do love how you can form scales with the caulk, they look awesome! My sister does cake decorating and has lots of tips (haha no pun intended) and the leaf ones are very pretty! If you're planning on covering the fluke in silicone, you could use the hair/grass tip to get the fine lines (: hope this helps! Good luck!

[Mermaid Galene]

I am really loving this build. The scales are beautiful and flowy, and I love that they are individualized and not completely uniform. I'm anxious to see how this turns out!

[Mermaid Ellowyn]

Such a neat idea! I've never seen hand-squeezed scales before. It's looking really really cool! I bet you could do a lot of fun gradient colors too as one color runs out and you into another (like icing!).

[SeaGlass Siren]

...that look great so far.. oh my god... i love how realistic those scales look o-o

[Mermaid Meko]

I am jumpin on the piping bag bandwagon! :)
We found it a super helpful technique, though we just poured into ziplock bags and cut a fine tip.

We found the mesh can be really hard to schemer onto and moves around super easily, but it has way higher stretch...
Neoprene seems like the better choice to pipe onto as it is thicker, will stay put under your work better, and yeah... :)

Also, dragonskin does have a thickener you can add, but it also changes cure speed? (i havent double checked this yet, just goin off memory)

This is SUCH a beautiful and unique scale technique! Very interested to see how it progresses! :)

[Fifi Tigg]

Thank you everyone for your great suggestions and feedback!
I will be using neoprene for this tail and I bought a new sewing machine to help with the stitching :)

[Fifi Tigg]

While I've been waiting for the sewing machine I tried thinning the silicone with turpentine to put a clear coat over the scales and it worked beautifully! I'm sooooo excited for this tail journey :D

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Sorry about the bits of sand and hair. The kids have been playing with it!

[Fifi Tigg]

Look what arrived today!
I will start the tail this weekend :yay:

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[Yulia]

I looooooove the look of the scales! :eek:
It'll be cool to see them on a bigger scale (pun city) later on.

[Fifi Tigg]

Lol thanks Yulia :)
The tail was measured and sewn together today, but I think I will be altering the fluke shape ;)

[Raayvhen]

So you sewed it before adding the silicone? I was debating if I wanted to sew mine before or after...

[Fifi Tigg]

I wanted to sew it before so that I can hopefully hide the seams ;)

[Fifi Tigg]

Pattern drawn out

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Undercoat of silicone done

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And it starts!

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Painting as I go along

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[Raayvhen]

Oh goodness! This looks so wonderful so far! I'm so glad this technique is working for you!

[Fifi Tigg]

So exciting! It's turning out better than I anticipated :D

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One side nearly finished!

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[Mermaid Wesley]

Woo!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Seraphina Suds]

Look at you go!

[CowgirlMermaid]

Awesome!

[Fifi Tigg]

Can't wait to finish the otherside and see this silicone newborn baby of mine take it's first swim! :)

[Mermaid Galene]

Looks fabulous! I can't wait to see it in the water.

[lynsea]

What kind of silicone are you using? Sorry if I missed that earlier in the thread.

[Lostariel Telrunya]

Am I the only one that knew that fish as a 'Dory fish' a long time before I learned its real name?...

[Fifi Tigg]

What kind of silicone are you using? Sorry if I missed that earlier in the thread.

Its a Selleys Water Silicone found in our local hardware store, used for aquariums and safe for fish :)

[Fifi Tigg]

Second side done and drying!
Tomorrow it's a clear coat to keep the colours safe

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[Seraphina Suds]

It's coming out beautifully! Are you hand lining the fluke since you're hand squeezing the scales? I really love the look/style so far~

[Fifi Tigg]

Yes I got an old plastic container lid and cut triangles into it so I could drag it across the silicone to make the lines :)

[Fifi Tigg]

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Super excited on my first silicone tail make! And I love it to bits :swoon:

[Seraphina Suds]

It's so impressive!! You should be very proud c:

[jukumerboii]

I love every inch of it! Its really gorgeous and i love when mers find new ways to make scales.

[Fifi Tigg]

Shiny clear coat really brings out the colours and it looks fintastic!

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Super proud of my creation! :D

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May have to change professions ;) LOL

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[Fifi Tigg]

Aaah no make up face! :P

[SynthSkin]

That looks amazing! :D

[Fifi Tigg]

Fitting went so well! It fit Mermaid Morrie perfectly! So excited for her :yay:

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[Raayvhen]

I seriously love this so much!

[Fifi Tigg]

Thank you everyone for your lovely comments and support along the way :mermaid kiss:
I will be gluing in the fluke today, I'm letting it sit for a week to fully cure and then Mermaid Morrie will take it for its maiden swim on our Thursday mermaid training! :yay:
When it passes all the tests of durability, how it swims, stays together & comfort I may offer my services as a tail maker :)
Prices would start from $900 not including shipping.
But let's see how it goes first ;)

[Firemaid]

Beautiful, inspired work! I love it!

[Mermaid Leira]

How dud you paint it and clear fiat Fifi? It's stunning :)

[Fifi Tigg]

I did the silicone scales a section at a time, wait a few minutes so it was starting to dry & dusted on the pearl ex, I worked on one half at a time & I let it harden/cure over night. Once the whole tail was fully cured I thinned down the silicone with turpentine and brushed it over the whole tail. It locks in all the pearl ex and makes it all shiny and gives the silicone a softer feel if you know what I mean :D

[Slee]

I LOVE THIS TAIL. Your scales are so organic, they feel like they really grew that way.

[Fifi Tigg]

I LOVE THIS TAIL. Your scales are so organic, they feel like they really grew that way.

Yes and because they are all made by hand (no mould) no two tails will be the same :)

[PearlieMae]

It looks wonderful, Fifi!

I have found that clear coats look great and add a layer of protection, they don't stay that glossy. But they still look great, especially wet!

[Merman Arion]

I'm confused... Isn't it supposed to be inspired from Dory?

WHERE is the blue? :doh:

[Yulia]

I think the colors look a bit like Krystals-Mertailor/dramatail.

[Fifi Tigg]

I'm confused... Isn't it supposed to be inspired from Dory?

WHERE is the blue? :doh:

LOL yes I know it's meant to be blue but I had the wrong colour sent. Still love it though :D

[Mermaid Leira]

Thanks Fifi!

[Vela]

wow! Great tail I love the look of the scales! Very creative! Can't wait to see it in the water!

[Fifi Tigg]

Wow! I've had a lot of interest with people wanting me to make them tails. Let's hope the swim test goes well and maybe I will consider making them. The tail only took three days to make ����

[Fifi Tigg]

Finally glueing the fluke together :)

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Oh and don't worry there are air holes all along the bottom ;)

[Fifi Tigg]

http://youtu.be/EeKJMSq_X2E

[Genevieve]

Gorgeous in and out of the water!

[Fifi Tigg]

Instead of making another thread to clog up the feed I will just post my journey of my $5 recycled wetsuit tail here :)

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I cut down the inside of the legs and took it in a bit more so it fits nice. I salvaged the heavy duty zip and sewed it into the back :)
I have some left over neoprene scraps that will hopefully cover the Mahina fluke.
That's it so far x

[Fifi Tigg]

Fluke made of scraps of neoprene and strong Velcro salvaged from old wetsuit for a remove able fin

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[Slee]

I love the idea of a removable fin. I was considering using kam 20 snaps to do something bsimilar at one point.

[Rebekah.fish]

This is something I wanted to do! I'm interested in watching this :)

[Fifi Tigg]

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[PearlieMae]

Boo! Image not working!

[Fifi Tigg]

Some progress shots of the recycled wetsuit tail :)

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Fluke painted and a little crude with the left over wetsuit material, but that's ok because it's only for photo shoots :)

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Clear coat done! Now it will have to wait until next week for the other side

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[Fifi Tigg]

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Tail is all finished and ready for a shoot this Thursday :D

[PearlieMae]

Your kids' tails (all your tails, really) are so adorable!

[Fifi Tigg]

Hidden zipper installed :D

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[AniaR]

wow you're so talented!

[merstorm]

wow nice work

[Zirconmermaid]

What a great idea, and that looks really good.

[Fifi Tigg]

Thanks everyone :mermaid kiss:

[Mermaid Jessica Pearl]

Got to see these in the flesh and they are even more beautiful in person!

[Fifi Tigg]

Got to see these in the flesh and they are even more beautiful in person!
:mermaid kiss: :rainbow:

[Mermaid Galene]

Love the zipper solution!

[Moongazer]

Hey Fifi I had a question about the pigment.

Do you mix it with the silicone before you pipe it or do you brush it on before it cures? Are you touching up areas with paint after it's cured?

I hope you don't take offense if I use your technique for refurbishing my tail. I'll be doing something simular but I'll be indenting each scale with a design so it's not exactly the same. ^^

[Fifi Tigg]

Hey Fifi I had a question about the pigment.

Do you mix it with the silicone before you pipe it or do you brush it on before it cures? Are you touching up areas with paint after it's cured?

I hope you don't take offense if I use your technique for refurbishing my tail. I'll be doing something simular but I'll be indenting each scale with a design so it's not exactly the same. ^^

No offence taken :)
i just brush it on just before it cures and then apply a clear coat to seal it all xx