That sounds good to me. You don't need a gallon order, but you might end up needing a second quart order. (Still cheaper than a gallon)
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That sounds good to me. You don't need a gallon order, but you might end up needing a second quart order. (Still cheaper than a gallon)
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I totally have the 'fixer upper song' from frozen stuck in my head right now, lol http://youtu.be/sJ7c9HHLqQU
Don't forget some polyzap, some paintbrushes, and some mineral spirits (this last thing will thin the dragonskin down enough so you can paint it easily without losing the scale details) I'd get two of the smaller size dragonskin containers from smooth-on, just because it's better to have more than you need than not enough - you can always find something else to do with the leftover silicone.
Thanks Anahita, I didn't know you could use mineral spirits, I thought you had to use the thinner from smooth on. Mineral spirits will be cheaper. I already have some polyzap from making my first lexan monofin, so I'm good there, and I'll pick up the paintbrushes at the same time I'm at Lowes to get the lexan. I'm sure I can find something or other to do with leftover silicone, and since it'll save $15 buy two at once vs. two separately, I'll probably buy two. Thanks everyone, your support means the world to me. I'm really feeling like I can do this.
Yeah, toluene also works, and might be even cheaper.
The Smooth-on thinner is great, but it's just very costly, and since the paint is not structural, I've never seen the point in spending that much money on it.
It's really devastating when this happens but a tail makeover can really make a disaster into a thing of beauty. Good luck :mermaid kiss:
I've also realized I need to add on to the top edge--if I bend double, my butt pops out... aaaalllll the way out
So definitely 2 quarts then.
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Frankly? I would be furious. The seller basically lied in their posting about what they were selling: Disregarding the damage to the tail, there is no Finis Wave Monofin in the tail like what was advertised, and that ALONE is enough to warrant a chargeback for the full $400. "No Refunds" does not cover the seller's ass when they're not being honest about what they're selling-- and I won't believe a word they say if they try to claim they "thought" it was a monofin that whole time, or that they were "told by the maker" it was a monofin, because there is a BLATANT difference between the two and there is no possible way somebody wouldn't be able to tell whether they're wearing a pair of loose bifins or a monofin the first time they wear the damn things.
The tail may have only been $400, but that's still four hundred freaking dollars. If there is ANY possible way that you can pursue a full refund for this as opposed to just taking the $50, I suggest you do it. After going through this post and seeing what a horrid state it's in, it makes the original eBay auction description look really, really suspicious and almost scammy in hindsight-- One photo of the tail, a blatant lie regarding the fins, a vague mention of "slight wear and tear" with no pictures or description of what that wear and tear actually entails... And of course, "No returns. No refunds."
I'm so, so sorry this happened to you. If I'd bought that tail I would have been devastated.
Hopefully repairing it won't be too difficult and you can still make a beautiful tail out of it.
I TOTALLY AGREE WITH TIERI SO MUCH THAT I AM YELLING MY AGREEMENT
I AM ACTUALLY SO MAD ABOUT THIS YOU HAVE NO IDEA. Seriously, the more I think about this situation the more I just want to SCREAM-- and I'm not even the one who bought the tail!
I rarely use eBay but you can bet your ass I would leave some HELLA negative feedback AND issue a chargeback. Imagine if that had been some new Mer's first tail!!
That was Stevi's more "affordable" option with her tails. Instead of using monofins, she glued bifins together. I mean it could get you by in a fabric tail or maybe even a latex tail, but I doubt it could do much in a silicone tail. I do think it looks nice on you! Tails are SO hard to get on the first time. I seriously thought I measured myself wrong when I first put on my tail, but after a few tries it gets easier. So don't give up just yet! I think you have a good base to mess around with and do some work on.
Raina, Tieri, I totally get where you guys are coming from, I was really mad and disappointed when I first realized what was going on with my new tail too. But the way I see it, scam or not, even with the cost of extra repairs and upgrades, it's still going to cost me less than making my own from scratch. Maybe I'm weird, but I'm sorta looking forward to tinkering with it. And Morticia, you aren't alone in liking the color, lol. My husband and both my parents think the color is amazing, and that it really suits a swamp-maid like me. I have to admit, the color is growing on me too. Which is why I'll only be highlighting it a little. OMG yes Blondie, it was so hard to get on. I think it would have been easier if I had something slimy on my legs, I put it on dry because I didn't have anything I could use. I think it might be a wee bit small for me, (my knees rub together somewhat, or maybe that's normal?) but I've been meaning to loose weight anyway.
Well as long as you are happy and feel up to the task go for it :)
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I was just thinking about how it would be kind of fun to redo a tail, it certainly challenges the creative side :)
My silicone and pigments came in. My mom described me as a "kid at Christmas", and said I 'Must absolutely become a tail maker" since it makes me so happy. This, from my mother, is kind of a big deal, as she wasn't all that supportive before I got the tail. I seriously am starting to think about making tails. That'll be some time though, I gotta save up my pennies!
I'm so glad you're going to fix it up! Can't wait for pictures!
Some small tests with silicone. It's so gooey! I'm making a silicone mold of some sand dollars so I can have resin sand dollars. The duct tape box edge is a test I smeared some excess dragonskin on to make sure there won't be cure inhibition. It's what I'm using to hold together my mini scale box. I'm planning on casting a small swath of the tail's scales so that the top edge will match precisely. http://i1147.photobucket.com/albums/...423_114538.jpg
Wow I'm so sorry for the amount of stress the tail must have given you at the start! :O
But, tbh, if it were me I'd probably do the same thing! Haha...so it's a bit of a fixer upper? that's a minor flaw! ;)
I am so following this! I love the idea of fixing things up and making them my own and better...Good Luck with it!!