POTC OST tail with Neoprene base

It says on the website that it can be brushed into moulds, I'm hoping that if I work in thin layers, I won't have too much of a problem, although, I'm thinking of making a tail-shaped box to put it in so that I don't waste any latex.

Progress Photos!!
Attachment 12588
Attachment 12589Attachment 12590

Waitin on the latex to dry enough that I can pull up that metal grate-thing to see my beautiful (tiny) scales!

So nice! Looks great! ^^

This isn't progress... this is the opposite of progress. :( I let it dry too long...
That's okay. I still have enough latex to finish. Not enough for extra fins or anything, but enough.
Attachment 12615Attachment 12614

Attachment 12634
Here's the front, in carp-y lighting.

I might just cry....
Can we all agree that, while I'm good at designing tails, I suck as a tailmaker?

Oh no!! I'm sorry for your setbacks :( Glad you have enough to continue though!! I'm excited to see how this turns out :)

Oh, Dottie no!! That's not true! This is your FIRST attempt at something like this, and you've gotten really far! EVERY latex/silicone tailmaker has had lots of tests and failures before their work gets good, I'm sure--it's such tricky material! *hugs* I'm sure you can do it :)

I might disappoint you, Jade, darling. I foresee very little in the future of this neoprene and latex killer of dreams. Still, I can't seem to work up the nerve to chuck it in the bin just yet... all that money and work and time....
Thank you for your hugs and encouragement. Maybe I can turn it into something...

I just finished making my first tail Dottie and trust me when I say this, never let the anxiety of having a tail not turn out how exactly you want it. I wished my tail was brighter and the paint wouldn't crack every time I put it on, but I had spent way too much time and energy into it to let the fear of it looking horrible get to me, I kept pushing through and came up with different ways to do different things and now I have a tail that I absolutely love.
Don't give up Dottie, in the end it will look amazing.

If you're really feeling like giving up--walk away for a few days. Distance yourself from the experience and bad feelings, do something fun! Then after a week, you can come back and look at it from a clearer/less emotional point of view--maybe see how to save it or turn it into something else awesome.

In any case, now you've learned a lot--and you'll be able to use that knowledge for this or for the next tail you make :hug:

Put a release agent on the metal netting and also don't press the metal netting into the tail just gently lay it on top and push slightly to ensure all latex is indented then let go, make sure no latex is on the touching the top side of the metal netting so it cant stick to it. If you have loooaaads of latex thickener, forget everything I just said and make the latex really thick so it stands on it own, press the netting into the latex and remove it straight away and it should hold its shape :)

Thanks, neotail. Next time.
Here's what the front looks like.. I realized when I went to put the beige on, that the latex was sucking up the color of the paint I had put on the tail already.
Attachment 12654
So now the whole thing is green-ish.

I think some latex thickener would allow it to set up better so you can remove the grate with a release agent before it starts to stick.

Later I'll buy some more latex and fix it, and I'll do just that. So, this thread may be dormant for a while.... :(
But thank you to everyone for the support.
Live and learn, yes?

SOOOO... I've been praying for a way to make this work.
Last night God gave me the best idea.

This silly thing has been turning green the whole time, because it's MEANT to be green. It should be green. It wants to be green.
Usually I try to avoid green tails because I don't to be confused with Disney's Ariel, but little girls ask me that all the time anyway, so what's the point in that?
So... Drum roll please.......

Why avoid it?
I'll just say Ariel is my ocean cousin, and be available to do Ariel gigs whenever.
Attachment 12676

Sounds like a plan!

Sounds awesome!

Thanks gals! I know that this'll work. My swatch test where I did one color of latex on top of another came out perfect, so I know that the color will come out right. I'm also going to go in for thickener for the stuff, and clean the Shell out of the Lath mesh. (I found out that's what my thing is called, that I'm using for scale imprints. I also figured out it's the same thing Fish Butts uses on their partials. Go figure.)
Once I get everything, it will be Time to Paint yet again!!!!!!!!