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Lmao! The struggle is so real! And it's dark, not like I can go outside and work on it but that doesn't allow me sleep any better. I'm just as bad with a good book. I'll read a three book series in 4 days. I'll forget to eat I get so wrapped up. I haven't taken on a big project in years because I know how I get lol
Can I ask the process you used to make the fluke I seen the plastic with the design but than that was it?
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I touched on it lightly when I was talking about my change in plans for the paint job. Originally I was planning on using just silicone and sandwiching it around my monofin and then painting it. Once I decided not to pigment my silicone, I had to rethink it. I took some of the left over pieces of my neoprene and cut them out to the make the additional shapes around the monofin. Then I attached them directly to the monofin using e6000. I did this on both front and back, attaching each additional piece to each other except for the center of the fin. There I only attached the edges. I left the end open there for drainage. Then I painted the neoprene and silicone over the in tire thing. When I silicone the back today, I will put a piece of plastic in between the drainage section so as not to accidentally close it.
Oh, and after the original silicone set up I went back and bulked up the edges of each "fin" of the fluke to give it more depth. I added glitter into the extra silicone.
Thank you
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Sure :) I think it's awesome people are asking for my techniques lol that was me on other threads just last week
The ankle fins are gorgeous! Could you explain to the technique you used to make it?
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You are very talented girl this tail looks amazing makes me want to make one before i start my extended tail so that i can bare the wait lol i might just doo it (question about how much did u spend on materials?) again congratulations on your new tail happy simming
The ankle fins...and the dorsal once I get to it, are made of neoprene and painted then covered, one side at a time, with silicone about an inch away from the end that attaches to the tail. Next I hand stitched them with embroidery thread to my neoprene tail before I scaled it. I simply scaled around them and up them slightly to finish covering them completely.
Ty very much for the compliments :) I'm really just winging it after reading a ton of other threads lol. Actual cost....hmm I've bought things here and there so I don't have an exact figure. I would say I'm out around $150. That includes my monofin, the neoprene (which is thinner and not scuba quality) the silicone (the majority of the cost) my paints and glitter. I did not include the maybe $20 I spent on the foam that I failed miserably at using for a form lol
I will say, I have sewing experience, and I'm not a very big woman. I only ordered 1 yard of the neoprene. So costs would increase based on your size. By the time I had to open my seams to add more fabric because I made it too tight at first, then ending up using it for my fluke, and making fins (I originally planned for it to be simple but couldn't resist) I have used almost every inch of that yard.
I don't know it I will be able to make progress today, which SUUUUCKS! I was planning about 5 hrs this morning but it's been rainy :'( I have to make myself sleep at some point today before I start back on night shift. Which means probably not going to finish it until this weekend. I really wanted to test it out on my first day off lol
I bought a yard of my neoprene, I still have lots left over for the extension in mine, I'm pretty sure there is a thread on how to measure yourself for a tail floating around somewhere...
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This tail is just looking so good...I'm in love with the scales
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Ty :) yes I took my measurements but I ended up not using them. I just made the base from my body form that I made. Which I guess was a mistake because I made it too tight to start with lol
Attachment 37873 Attachment 37874 no big progress today. The sun came out so I did at least get my dorsal fin made. It's just pinned in place right now. I need to stitch it on and then will encompass the base in silicone when I scale the back half.
:D
No new progress yet because I've been at work, but I'm off in an hour then I have 4 days off! I'll finish it today after I take a nap. I have come up with another design I want to make though lol
Enter another "learning experience" I've decided not to call them failures anymore lol because it's actually turning out pretty well. I decided to try the tail back on before siliconing the back...I'm sooo glad I did! The silicone took out enough of my stretch that I can barely get it on! Time to make some slits and add more fabric
Ok, I Frankensteined in a piece of neoprene at the back of the ankles that I'll camouflage with my paint and then the scales should hide it just fine. It's also a bit too tight just above the knees now too...so if I'm going to open it up right there anyway, I may as well add a couple of side fins right? Lol
Oh my gosh I was wondering how you were making those scales the whole time, that's a neat way to do it
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It seemed like the easiest, fastest way to get the effect. I'd never done anything like this so I did a test patch and really liked it. It's how my tail is only taking a few days to finish. It'll be done tonight. I'll be water testing it on monday. I'm pretty excited!
Yay I'm excited, I hope all will be well when you test it out
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Me too! I borrowed an underwater video camera from a friend to capture how it moves
Yeees I love seeing underwater footage of tails, I wish i could do that with mine once it's finished but I haven't got access to an underwater camera
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I had considered taking one of my old phones that I just have laying around and putting it in a zip lock bag to try that way before my friend told me he had one. You can also by disposable underwater cameras at walmart for still shots
IT'S DONE!!
Yess! Can't wait to see photos!
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:yay::dance::swoon::highfive:OMG i cant wait to see it congrats, and that video is soo helpful thanks.:biting nails::rollover:
Oh my gosh I can't wait to see it, congrats!
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Attachment 37977 not part of my tail, but I just finished my top
Awesome top! And beautiful ink two.
Ty, I'm kinda covered lol
OMG this is such a brilliant job !!! Just one question: When you scale, is it deep enough that the fabric is showing??? Or Not I was confused...
I don't take it all the way to the fabric but it's close in places (unintentionally) if I accidentally went too deep I just added a little more silicone to that section and smoothed it back out and redid the scaling process. If I noticed a spot that I went too deep on after it cured then I added a bit more just to the groove and shaped it with my point of my putty knife.
Amazing ! I really can't wait to see it! Might do my tail like this instead of individual scales :) Thank you for the inspiration :)
Aww! That's awesome! We are heading to the water now for my first time in the water with it.
Make sure to post pictures and video I can wait!!!!
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