Mer-gal's tail in process

[Mer-gal]

Well like everyone else I am making a tail!!:lol::lol:

Things I have done
1.) Made the scale board
2.) Made the mold of the fluke
3.) Purchased and received the silicone

Things I have yet to do
1.) Make the mold of the scale board
2.) Pour the silicone
3.) Paint the two scale sheets and the two fluke sheets
4.) Construct the body shape
5.) Clean my room
6.) Go swimming in my new silicone mermaid tail

The reason I started this thread;
well, I have been getting of track with school and after school activities. So, I started this thread to keep me on track.

so this is my design (the glitter, if you can see it, is a big part of the design): (please don't copy) what do you think?

more pics coming soon!

[Mer-gal]

This is my scale board!!:D I am excited!!

[Azurin Luna]

Looks nice, good luck! :D

[Mer-gal]

Thank you azurite luna

[ryanneemermaid]

love all the glitter <333

[Mer-gal]

Thank you I do too!!!

[deepblue]

I love these tailmaking threads. :D So shimmery, it's going to be sooo pretty.

I also love how cleaning your room is on the list, lol.

[Mermaid Aika]

This is going to be a beautiful tail!

[Mer-gal]

deepblue- I like them too. I got my room clean so I can check that off the list!:lol:

Mermaid Aika- Thank you. I hope it turns out good

[Mer-gal]

Well this doesn't have anything to do with my new silicone tail in the making, but it does shows how long I have been a mermaid fanatic. Sorry, it is big and blurry.

[Mer-gal]

Here is a picture of my fluke mold . . .:dance: (Sorry it is big)

[mermaid_lover]

waaw that looks amazing, good that cleaning your room is of the list :D that can be a pain in the ass sometimes ;)

[Mer-gal]

Mermaid_lover- lol thank u

[Mer-gal]

Can you attach extra fins after you finish the silicone tail or do you have to attach them while you are in the process of making it? I ask this because I don't have enough silicone now for extra fins but in the future I might be able to save the money to buy some more silicone and make some fins. If anyone knows please reply. Thanks.:mermaid kiss:

[Mer-gal]

Well I took the mono fin out for a swim and it was great! Here is a pic. Please excuse the goggles I know they aren't 'mermaidy' but it was just a test drive.

[Mermaid Kelda]

How did you find the propulsion? Mine keeps slipping off my feet for some reason (I have it done up really tightly!) so I never get very far.

[Mer-gal]

Mine slipped off my feet a lot too! I am looking for solutions, but other than that the propulsion was pretty good.

[Mermaid Kelda]

I haven't heard about it happening to anyone else - maybe we just have oddly shaped feet? Haha! But I'm glad the propulsion was good, and I'm sure it'll be just fine in a tail :) Looking forward to seeing more of your progress!

[Mer-gal]

Thanks, I haven't heard of it happening to other people either too, but what can you do?

[Mer-gal]

Wow that was the worst sentence ever.

[OceanWhisper]

Perhaps with the 'slipping off' thing, you guys could try socks? or neoprene booties?
:D just an idea

[Mer-gal]

That's a good idea, I will try it next time I swim.

[Mer-gal]

So I finished the mold of the scale board and started doing silicone scale tests.

[Trident True]

ooooh (is attracted like moth to a flame) love the colors they look great. nice fluke shape too.

[Mer-gal]

Thank you trident true!

[Fifi Tigg]

How did you find the propulsion? Mine keeps slipping off my feet for some reason (I have it done up really tightly!) so I never get very far.
I had this happen quite a few times when I first got mine and then figured out you have to use the hook to snap into position between your feet. Not sure if that helps?

[Mermaid Kelda]

No, I definitely had the hook attached. Ah well, the monofin is in my dry tails now, so I don't need it to stay on in water!

[Mer-gal]

I had the hook attached on mine too. I think the problem is my heal straps keep loosening up and that is what is causing the mono fin to slip off my feet.

[Mahi Mermaid]

Love these colors! I'm making my tail too--but only started on the scale sheet--having trouble getting the foam punched---advice?

For your monofin---try wearing neoprene socks!

[Mer-gal]

Majhi Mermaid - Thanks, My scale board took me two months (I did have a vacation in the middle though and wasn't able to work on it). I used a fiscer (rough spelling) which I bought from Joan's Fabrics. It was difficult and I had to really push down to get it to punch out. I noticed it would start to get dull after a while so I took tin foil and would punch it in that for a while and it would sharpen right up. I hope this helps!

EDIT: Oops I forgot to mention that you have to take pliers and expand the puncher to fit the foam in.

[Mer-gal]

https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfp1/t31.0-8/q82/s960x960/1483699_827703500624288_2042160288930972446_o.jpgh ttps://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/v/t1.0-9/10858624_827703417290963_5422343224763315772_n.jpg ?oh=ad4b5379825aff75cc42d2f9cc62b034&oe=550C010B&__gda__=1430315735_3d1b88373924d917b86e9dded3bb0e6 f well I have made some more progress. This is from Sunday night so I have the finished-ish one half of a fluke. (Still have to paint it) Pics coming soon! . . . now were did I put my camera.

[PearlieMae]

Looks great!

Who's that chubby kitty? :rollover:

[Mer-gal]

That is Zoey and a few weeks ago we were in the kitty ER because she decided to eat 2 ft of ribbon. YUM!

[Mer-gal]

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:lol:Well I have officially finished one half of my fluke . . . What do you think! Feed back is much appreciated!

[Mermaid Aika]

It looks great!

[Mer-gal]

Thank you Mermaid Aika

[Mermaid Wesley]

Lovely!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Mer-gal]

thanks mermaid wesley

[Mer-gal]

I was wondering if anyone knew if you can take foundation, and use that as a pigment for a blended waist line?

[Mermaid Wesley]

I've wanted to try that! Do a test!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Mer-gal]

I think tonight I will mix it all up and see what happens. I'll be sure to post pictures and say how it turned out.

[teeth4u]

How is it coming along? We should get together and do a shoot once you are finished!

[Mer-gal]

It is coming great! It would be loads of fun to have a photo shoot with you.

[Mer-gal]

I didn't have time to do the test last night (surprise cheer party), and since silicone is so expensive, and I have a limited amount, I am just going to stick to my original idea and use flesh colored paint as pigment. If anyone else is reading this and decides to test using foundation for pigment, please feel free to post your findings here!

[Mer-gal]

I just finished pouring the second side of the fluke and I have come to the conclusion . . . I need to order more silicone. I don't seem to have enough silicone to complete both of the body/ scale parts. :( *sigh* I guess I should order it now so it can come before I go back to school.

[Mer-gal]

The second side of the fluke came out great! I just need paint it, put together the fluke sandwich, and then I can test out the fluke before I put on the scale body part thing (I really need to come up with a name for it).

[Mer-gal]

Everything is done curing so today I put together the fluke sandwich! :rollover:I just love that cat.

[Azurin Luna]

Wee! Good luck, can't wait to see the result :D

[Mer-gal]

:dance::yay:EEPING!! MAJOR EEPING!! I AM SO EXCITED I AM WRITING IN ALL CAPS!! :yay::dance:

*Deep breth*:meditation:

Okay, I have finished the fluke sandwich and now I await the time when it is done curing. Then I am a mermaid with a fluke!!!! YAY!!


Here is a picture. Sorry it isn't a good shot of the whole fluke, but I couldn't get any other picture to fit the dimension limits. I could barely get this one too.

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[Mermaid Nerida]

I can't wait!!!

[Mer-gal]

HERE IT IS!!!!! MY FLUKE!!!

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[teeth4u]

It's beautiful!!!

[Mer-gal]

Thank you. There are flaws, but they are flaws I made and I am proud of them.

[Trident True]

what brand fluke are you using? looks good. congrats.

[Mer-gal]

Do you mean what brand mono fin am I using? If so, I am using a finis wave mono fin. So that means the mono fin ends and leaves the rest of the fluke really floppy, just like I wanted.

[Mer-gal]

I also ordered the rest of my silicone!!:D I hope it comes sometime next week, so I can continue working. The sooner, the better!

[Merman Chatfish]

It amazes me the 13 and 14 year olds on here who make their own silicone tails. I have no idea where to start and I am 26.

[Mer-gal]

I did a lot of research before I started. I found this website along the way, and it has helped me tremendously. If you ever need help there are plenty of threads you can find.

As far as figuring out were to start, come up with a solid design that you love. If you have already done that you can start on your scale board.

If you need help staying on track, start your own thread.

I wish you luck. I also like your profile picture with the cat. :)

[Merman Chatfish]

I did a lot of research before I started. I found this website along the way, and it has helped me tremendously. If you ever need help there are plenty of threads you can find.

As far as figuring out were to start, come up with a solid design that you love. If you have already done that you can start on your scale board.

If you need help staying on track, start your own thread.

I wish you luck. I also like your profile picture with the cat. :)

I don't think I am talented to make anything like that.

[Mer-gal]

I think it is not a matter of having talent, it is more, being able to see a vision and work hard to make it happen.

[Mermaid Nerida]

That fluke is amazing! Even the flaws (which I didn't see any...)

[Mer-gal]

Thank you. Most of the flaws are on the other side, but I think I can fix at least some of them.

[Mer-gal]

I think I ordered enough silicone to do small fins along with the scale body part (still haven't come up with a name for it). So now I am trying to design and figure out what kind of fins I want. Any suggestions? If you have extra fins, How do they hold up? Which kind do you recommend? By kind I mean, Dorsal fin, pectoral fins, heal fins, etc.

As I come up with designs I will post pictures.

[Mer-gal]

My silicone has been shipped!!

[Mahi Mermaid]

I'm currently sculpting my fluke from monster makers clay on top of wax paper (with my design showing underneath)...few questions! What did you use for your mold? Did you spray/paint anything onto the clay before you poured your mold material over it? (did you use plaster? have you tried fiberglass?) and then whatever you use to make the mold release, does it affect the clay for reuse?

[Mer-gal]

This hole project I have been trying to do as cheap as possible. I did not use monster clay. I had gone in and talked to my art teacher at school and she gave me a bag of clay (literally, a bag of clay). It is the kind of clay you fire in a kiln (I don't know if that is how you spell that word).

What did I use for my mold?/ Did I use plaster?/ Have you tried fiberglass?
- Plaster of Paris. Be careful it is very brittle, but it is cheap and easy to find at a local hard wear store. No, I haven't tried fiber glass.

What did I use to make the mold release?
- The clay I used was softer to I could just pull it out with ease. For a scale board though (if you do foam circles), you will need to put petroleum jelly on it. I am pretty sure you could use it on clay to, but I would recommend asking someone else.

[Mer-gal]

The rest of my silicone arrived today! :D

[QueenZero]

Your fluke looks lovely, congrats! Eager to see the rest!

[Mer-gal]

Thank you!

[Mer-gal]

So tomorrow is a snow day (high of -3 low of -34 . . . YAY! not really), so I am going to pour the first scale sheet. (an actual) YAY! :D

[Appellativo]

Wow you are awesome, making your own silicone tail. I have lots of questions but I don't want to clutter up your tail thread!

I wanted to say I have the Finis Rapid and mine slipped off too, because they didn't make enough of those ridgy things for the side buckles to grip into when you want to tighten the strap. So, I did this: (see pic) pull it as TIGHT as it will go, take the excess strap and bring it back towards your heel, then under from the bottom then over, towards the front, then through the hole you made. It's the same way I tighten a cinch strap/girth strap on a western horse saddle ;) It holds it nice and tight. Also I wear a pair of regular black thin socks and that seems to help, but mostly, its the strap tightening. Worse comes to worse, take the monofin to a dive shop and they may be able to rig you up with something more suitable.

[Appellativo]

oh yeah! I love Irfanview for editing size on pictures. It's free software available for download on the net. Trusted it for many years and never had problems.

[Mer-gal]

Wow you are awesome, making your own silicone tail. I have lots of questions but I don't want to clutter up your tail thread!

I wanted to say I have the Finis Rapid and mine slipped off too, because they didn't make enough of those ridgy things for the side buckles to grip into when you want to tighten the strap. So, I did this: (see pic) pull it as TIGHT as it will go, take the excess strap and bring it back towards your heel, then under from the bottom then over, towards the front, then through the hole you made. It's the same way I tighten a cinch strap/girth strap on a western horse saddle ;) It holds it nice and tight. Also I wear a pair of regular black thin socks and that seems to help, but mostly, its the strap tightening. Worse comes to worse, take the monofin to a dive shop and they may be able to rig you up with something more suitable.

Feel free to ask any questions you want!

The next time I go swimming (hopefully soon so I can try out my fluke) I will do what you suggested, and then I'll post my findings on how it works.

[Mer-gal]

oh yeah! I love Irfanview for editing size on pictures. It's free software available for download on the net. Trusted it for many years and never had problems.

I will have to try this because my pictures are monstrous.

[Merman Chatfish]

If you use a mac you can also use automator to make a droplet application, where you take images and drop them onto the app and it makes smaller images

No school today Mer-gal?

[Mer-gal]

No school . . . brrrr . . . too cold.http://media.giphy.com/media/10PrLKmZzVcK9a/giphy.gif

[Mer-gal]

No school today too! It is still way to cold. So this morning I went and checked on my scale sheet, and it came out great. I didn't want to say anything at first, in case it didn't turn out, but I have come up with a near perfect blended waist line.

As we all know, we are more tan in the summer than in the winter, but we still swim in pools during the winter so how do we keep a realistic looking blended waist? Translucency.

I took a pigment color that was very close to my natural skin color. I took that pigment and mixed only enough to slightly change the color. This way, when the silicone cured, I would have a skin colored, translucent, sheet of scales. I did the whole sheet so I can blend the top color into the skin color as well as possible and it also gives a good, light, base.26441 I have yet to clean up the edges and there is some dust stuck to it, so please just ignore that.

[Mer-gal]

Just finished pouring the second scale sheet side!:dance:

[Mer-gal]

Second scale sheet turned out great too!:yay:

I am just about to trim up the edges and get it ready for seeming.

THEN ALL I HAVE TO DO IS FINISH PAINTING IT!!!!

[Mahi Mermaid]

It's looking great! Thanks for answering my questions. What surface did you have your clay on before pouring the plaster ? And did you add burlap etc? I just did a small test on a seahorse over a wax paper base and the plaster pretty much ate it and made demolding impossible. I tried scraping out the clay and it ended up scraping the actual plaster mold--which makes me scared to pour over my fluke since I worked so hard on it! Would love more detailed steps on your fluke mold success :)

[Mer-gal]

<(answer to question on last post>
I i did not use burlap to add any strength . . . although that is a good idea. I molded my fluke on a, what I call, a tear away board. Basically, and this probably only worked because of the type of clay I used (pottery clay from an art teacher. It is very malleable), it was a foam board that people use to make school projects. I chose this board because it is flexible and easy to cut, this would allow me to remove is from the mold easily. I covered the exposed part of the foam board with petroleum jelly, but not the clay. After I made my mold, and it hardened, I placed a wood board on top of it and basically flipped it (a lot harder than it seems. I recommend getting someone to help you). Then I just pealed of the foam board And I had my mold.
There were, I think, 2 cracks that I was able to patch up with some plaster. After the patch-ups hardened I sanded them down.

I am planning on posting a full, very detailed, tutorial. I will link it here, but keep an eye out for it.

I love being asked questions! It makes me feel really good, so if you have a question feel free to ask it.

[Mer-gal]

My fingers are very tired, because I finished my SEAMING!!

[Mahi Mermaid]

OMG thank you, you're awesome. I feel like so many tutorials assume we know how they completed the steps, and so many small (but necessary) details are left out. My plaster is poured! Now waiting for it to fully dry...thinking of giving it a day or two. How long did you wait to break it?

[Mer-gal]

I poured it in the evening and then I removed it the fallowing evening . . . So probably about a day.


I hope all turns out well for you. :mermaid kiss:

[Mer-gal]

https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/10931496_845785902149381_1253930442760564112_n.jpg ?oh=8e2d11e1f88cb5015696f20dc0c41ee1&oe=55265259&__gda__=1429190369_46c6aa3feca4cf15cbc2456dbbb5af5 1 I tested the fluke out today! It works great!!

[Merman Chatfish]

Yay mer-girl! Good job!

[Merman Chatfish]

What did you use for making the feet pockets?

[Mer-gal]

I used a finis wave mono fin in my fluke. That mono fin has foot pockets.

[Mer-gal]

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I finished painting the first side of the scale part!!!:dance:

I'm still struggling with my pictures, so my apologies that they are huge and it is cut in parts.

[Mer-gal]

The first side finished curing and I just finished painting the second side!!!:dance:

[Mer-gal]

I just realized I have 2,429 views on this thread. That is insanely awesome!

[Mermaid Leira]

Looking awesome! You are flying along!

[Mer-gal]

Thank you! I have been working really hard, and now I am able to see out the end of the tunnel!!

[Mer-gal]

So I have been working really hard and felt I should share a pic of MY FINISHED TAIL!!!!!!:yay:

26673

26674

I am so happy with how it turned out and hopefully I will have my first swim in it soon! :mermaid kiss:

I AM FINALLY A REAL MERMAID!!!!!

[courtneymermaid]

AWW! Wow! Congratulations on creating such a beautiful tail! I wish you a magical first swim! ^_^

[Mer-gal]

Thank you! I just hope I don't drown.

[Yulia]

Congratulations!!! :dance:
That's a very good first tail! The colors came out really nice. Can't wait to see some pictures of it in the water! :)

[Mer-gal]

I will post water pics as soon as possible.

I hope to swim this coming weekend. It will be a good break after exam week.

I learned a lot while making this tail and hopefully in the future I can save up enough money to make a better one. That probably will be very far into the future though.

[Mermaid Leira]

Honey, that is gorgeous! What an amazing effort, and your first too! Congratulations, can't wait to see a pic of it on :)

[Mermaid Aika]

Mer-gal, you did it! It turned out very well. I hope you have an awesome swim. :)

[Mer-gal]

https://scontent-b-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/10931179_849726368422001_7876197627150810033_n.jpg ?oh=199904e7afb2a77c84409e3326b1650e&oe=5563C161 This is the tail on. EEP! I am so happy!!

[MerQueen Nerissa]

WOW it looks GREAT! I can't wait to see it in action!

[Mer-gal]

Neither can I!

[Mermaid Leira]

Look great, well done! :)

[Mer-gal]

Thanks everyone for your kind comments.

[Mer-gal]

Exam week is in full swing and I have so much to study! Luckily, I have a first swim on Friday to look forward to!!!:dance:

[Mer-gal]

MY TAIL WEIGHS 20 LBS!!!!!! I weighed it this morning after fighting my way into the bathroom.

[Merman Chatfish]

Im still amazed you created your own tail at your age.

[Mer-gal]

^ thank you.

[Mermaid Alea]

Exam week is in full swing and I have so much to study! Luckily, I have a first swim on Friday to look forward to!!!:dance:
Yay I am swimming in my monofin for the first time Friday! I know how you feel about being excited for Friday to hurry up and get here! Although I am sure you are way more excited than me since you have such an amazing tail to try out!

You are really inspirational! I can't wait to see if mermaiding is for me. I would love to get to the point where I am ready for a silicone tail. Seeing how so many people have great success with making their own silicone tail makes me feel like hopefully if the day comes where I get the chance to make one, I will be able to do it.

Congrats on finishing the tail it looks great!!! ;)

[teeth4u]

This turned out amazing!!! I can't wait to see it in action :)

[Stormy]

Great job! Looks beautiful

[Mer-gal]

Thank you everyone. All your positive comments have really made me feel good about myself. :mermaid kiss:

[Mer-gal]

I just got back from my very first swim! I couldn't get any footage because I forgot to bring a camera . . . oops:$. I can tell you that it was amazing. I loved every second of it. To some it up . . .
F- freaky at first
I- inspirational for all the other people and one's self
R- redefining the definition of swimming
S- somewhat tiring
T- totally awesome

S- swimming all around and having the time of your life
W- wonderful feeling you get when you zip through the water with ease
I- interested looks on all the other swimmers
M- making people and yourself happy just by doing something you love

I might go swimming tomorrow, and I will hopefully get some footage then. Sorry for the delay. Also I don't have an under water camera yet so I will only be able to get above water swimming shots.

[Mermaid Alea]

Awesome glad you had a good time with your tail! I had fun in my first monofin swim today as well.

[Mer-gal]

^ Yay! I am glad to hear it!

[Mermaid Nerida]

Holy carp! That is one of the most beautiful tails I've ever seen! Great job! :-)

Sent from my shell phone under the sea!

[Mer-gal]

^thank you!

[Dreadful Mermaids]

Hey mer-gal. Did you ever get footage of your tail in the water? Would love to see. Also amazing job on your first tail at your age. I'm turning 28 on feb 22nd and I'm still saving up to make my own silicone tail. You flew through it so quickly. So inspiring!