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I was just wondering has anyone thought of using or looking into liquid neoprene to make tails?
Maybe buying neoprene material and just layering it with more, by adding scales ALSO made from liquid neoprene. In the same way many add sheets of scales made from molds with other materials.
Don't think so. I've never seen it mentioned.
Liquid Neoprene, a latex based product which is fantastic for casting, very light and hard wearing and can be drilled and sanded and painted. Comes ready to pour into a clean plaster mould and is white in colour, drying to a ‘natural’ flesh colour (black version available also)
Allow to stand for 1 to 5 hours depending on the thickness of cast you require, then the slurry or slip is poured out of the plaster mold. This excess is reusable. The lining or casting that builds up on the walls of the plaster mould is allowed to dry overnight then removed for further drying, 2 to 3 days preferably before sanding and painting.
How to Use
1. Pour the liquid latex casting compound into CLEAN, DRY, PLASTER MOLD, The Liquid Neoprene requires no on site compounding. Just stir lightly, and start to use. Allow to set in the mould approximately 1 to 5 hours for desired build-up. The liquid level may drop due to absorption. This is normal, just top it off with additional casting compound if necessary.
2. After the allotted time, pour off the casting compound. This can be poured back into the container and can be used again (provided it has not been contaminated). Allow for the mould to drain and dry overnight, or about 12 to 14 hours.
3. When the Neoprene is dry, it can be removed from the mould. This must be done carefully. Allow the casting to stand for 4 to 6 days for curing. Then it is ready to be sanded, drilled, painted.
NOTE: should be stored at room temperature. This product MUST NOT be allowed to freeze.
it works just like latex but is odorless and it is not harsh like other products THO it is still advised to take the same precautions when using it.. gloves and breathing mask everyone!!! LOL
but yeah... we rave so much about silicon and latex why not just add more neoprene!
Apparently LIQUID NEOPRENE has been used to make a LOT of props and builds... some that might surprise you!
you can do all the same stuff with it that you would do with latex tails or silicon tails i would think.. i mean it would just be an entire realistic working mer tail with just layers of LIQUID NEOPRENE. That sounds a LOT safer the ALEX plus! LMAO
idk so far im seeing LOTS of good things about the material THOUGH it IS rather pricey! But it might be worth it! Who knows??!!
http://www.mermibridg.com/category/neoprene/
This site sells it from the UK I belive. I think this stuff is worth looking into! Could be the next big thing if no one is using it currently! *shrugs*
And i believe i read on another site that if you order the LIQUID NEOPRENE from this sight you can order it in different strengths of flexibility!
I have heard of liquid neoprene before. It is mainly used for rubber roofs for sealing seams, but as for a tail would be interesting to see.
Yeah i never heard about it. I can't wait ;)
im suprised its not worked with then... i mean if it's all neoprene! *shrugs* LOL
I personally love the tails made for the smart car commercial vid and i hope to create something similar in appearance.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BolNAllOpt8
I found this on a blog...
"One word of caution: if you live in a cold climate, don't attempt to have neoprene delivered to you in the winter. If it freezes, it's wrecked, and Mydrin won't accept responsibility for the failure."
Or maybe not good for swimmable mermaid tails.
This blog, he makes puppet doll heads, http://www.sagecraft.com/puppetry/building/neoprene.html It talks a little bit about how the neoprene cures.
So I'm assuming its not the same type of neoprene or latex that can be swum in. Its the type of rubber that is used for doll parts, it might be very heavy to swim in and not flexible.
but then that brings the question "What are the types of Neoprene?"
I think its better to use what everyone is already using.
That way, if its botched, you haven't wasted a ton of money, nor are you stuck with a gallon of stuff you can't use, except to fix the roof.
from what im seeing on wiki Neoprene is all Neoprene. And it reads that when neoprene is used for diving suits its less flexible anyway so... idk.
I did see what you meant about the curing.
(As time passes, the mold will absorb water out of the liquid neoprene, eventually leaving a "skin" wich cures to a hard plastic-like material.)
You go girl! I love seeing other people innovate! But of course look into this a lot incase it isn't the best .... I would hate to see you waste your time, maybe do a test swach and hold it under water and stretch it a bit until you get a good reading on it :) but you have my full emotional support in this project! ;)
Actually the thing is though guys I found a website that offers the liquid neoprene in other forms of (hard and soft).
They have options such as rigid, flexible and superflexible liquid neoprene! So it does come in other various degrees of stiffness.
There are different types of neoprene, just as there are different types of cars.
The mermaid tails you read about here is the same neoprene as wetsuit material.
Basically, you want the fabric type of neoprene, not the type that dries to a hard shell. That would prob sink you instead.
Fabric neoprene helps keep the body warm, can the liquid one do that? Esp good if you're swimming in a place where the water is always cold.
You can try though. Nothing wrong with that.
Thank you Mermiah!! only my second day in the tank and already this fish is turning it out LMAO!! BLOOP BLOOP!!
ROFL!! But its all good the idea is to spend only a few dollars and atempt to try this mer tail build in doll size.. Once i know that BARBIE can rock it.... THEN! I can make it life sized LOL So i would only get enough products to cover the doll. <3
Good luck with it. It does sound interesting!
Maybe you'll be the first one that make a liquid neoprene tail!
Well Ireneho thing IS!!! lol
if the materal this company i found offers a flexible liquid neoprene, then things should be good!
Also even if the neoprene is hard.. sure it would be a bit of a downer true... but i would still give it a shot because the plan is to secure each scale to the neoprene wetsuit rubber one scale at a time. That shouldn't be much different then sewing or gluing pearls or sequins onto a tail, seeing as both objects are hard. Also I will be slipping the tail over a model of my body from a cast i will be making of my legs. this will allow the neoprene to stretch to my shape as i add the scales on. Now 1-2 things could happen as the tail comes off the neoprene scales COULD crack as they come closer together from less of the stretch OR they would simply sit on the surface of the tail looking pretty with little to no reaction. However all this will be done on a doll before it's ever done on me. And before i spend ANY cash on ANYTHING I'm writing to the company who sells it and asking questions about it's use.
Cool! Post some pics, maybe some others will have ideas how you can improve it and such. Esp the ones who have made tails with sequins.
Right!! Totally have to!! xD
<3
Mk just got in touch with howling hands prop and effects company, and also the company who i saw selling it in a flexible version. Asking the people who work with the material about what it's possibilities are!
Barbie always gets the coolest things XD lol I'm glad you like it here in the tank :D it's one of my favorite places to be :3 so I'm sending you good fishes in your tail endeavor ;D (I'm so puny hehe)
Oh i should SOOOOO share some of my design concepts here!! I forgot all about them!!
Ok so these looks were more just about the LOOK and FEEL more so then the tail design.. But this is how I have been putting together Mer fashion looks recently and i have sketchbooks FULL of more that i need to turn into models like this.. and ALSO tail designs rather then just outfits LOL <3
Ohhhh I like those tops :D what app/website did you use? I like the looks of it :D
I didn't use an app or website i simply found the naked mannequin, and Photoshopped items over it based on the sketches I made <3
I was going to ask about flexibility, but I see you've answered that. My other question is about buoyancy. I thought neoprene floats. Silicone is neutrally buoyant.
I'm gluing individually cast silicone scales to power mesh over my leg mannequin and it's coming out pretty cool.
If liquid neoprene, the stiffer kind, can be used to make intricately sculpted, one piece custom monofins, I would love to test it!
I wonder how durable/prone to cracking under stress it can be?
I love your designs! Nice PS skills, too!
Thanks and yes that's true i did forget about that.. but none the less... idk the tail im hoping to make will have holes in the bottom where the monofin is and it will be cut open down the back for a zipper to get in and out of the tail... so im not sure with that much water going in and out of the tail wile swimming if it will be to much of an issue or not.
I'm also interested in using nude sheer body stockings/tights inside of the tail.. or maybe finding a way to only have the nude sheer fabric along the waist maybe like a nude pair of high waist spanks or even a one piece looking outfit. The reason for any of this is to use paint to blend color and scale pattern onto the sheer fabric to make it look as if the scales are fading into the skin.
Well your a super smartie!! :D if I had a computer besides my phone I would try that :)
If the mylon or sheer tight/stocking fabric was an entire one piece swim suit like shape the neoprene would be able to better grip onto the skin of the persons legs. Though who knows maybe the feeling of nylon might better grip the neoprene! *shrugs* None the less I like the artistic addition this adds.. and it gives the user freedom to pick to wear a waist blend option or just the tail it'self.
Ooo! I love the top in last one! It looks so natural and seaweedy! I've only drawn one picture of my tail, but I am aiming to be the Seaweed Siren, and that would go so well with my look. But dw, I won't copy your design, I just like looking!
actually feel free I hope to one day making creations like this for the masses! so pull from it my brain is ENDLESS on ideas... I totes wish i could work for some mer tail creator so i could pick up on some skills of my own... So i would be glad if ANYONE used my cool ideas or just took inspiration from them.. I have limitless ideas.... LMAO
I'm ready to start being a part of the wave that is the mermaid community.. tired of watching from the shore. Been a mermaid my whole life.. just never got in the water with everyone else.
Oh and im right with you on a kelp mermaid! I'm one myself <------ points to name LMAO!
Ok i'm still contacting special effects companies for info on the liquid neoprene I will let you all know what they have to say about it being safe for long period water use and such <3
Then you can add silicone! and how do H2o tails