Mizuko's Silicone Tail

Hi Mizuko,

I'm really sorry to hear you've had such a rough week. I know how setbacks with your tail can make you feel like a failure...I felt the same way when I ran into all my issues with my first tail. I was a stressed out wreck over my tail and I can only imagine how much worse it is for you after losing a close friend.

I wish I wasn't on the other side of the world so I could give you a hand with your tail :) I might be able to help you problem solve though....I have a few theories...

"Not sure why the scale mold failed. Its like the Shell Shock didn't sink into the scales properly- so no details were captured unless it was on the thicker scales. This confused the hell out of me- we poured it just like the other molds, and considering it captured every detail down to my fingerprints on the other molds, I cant explain what happened."

a few questions:
did you just pour the shell shock or did you brush the first layer? If you mixed the entire bucket at once, something like this can happen if the shell shock becomes too thick and hardens before seeping in the cracks. This would explain why it captured the thicker scales and not the thinner since the thinner ones would be lower....

did the shell shock cure properly? Is the mold brittle or does it bend? If the ratio is off even a bit you can have problems. I had an issue with one of my test molds when I eyeballed the measurements.

How old is the shell shock? Shell shock has a very limited shelf life....and considering the high price over there it might be possible you got some old material if they don't sell a whole lot of it.

What temperature were you working at? If it was hot then it also might explain the issue because the shell shock would thicken/cure faster.

i think we can get to the bottom of this! Shell shock is picky stuff, but your other molds turned out great so this is surprising that you had trouble...it might just be that you got a bad/old batch considering you know how to use the stuff successfully.

as for your silicone.....it shouldn't be thick and globby. What temp are you storing it at? Silicone is really runny stuff normally, but temp can impact the thickness a bit. Also.....you might want to try getting a really big mixing spoon (actually 2 so there's no cross contamination) and mixing the silicone buckets really well. Silicone should be runny enough to pour off a plate easily.....like Jazz's nacho cheese she mentioned above. :)

Ultracal sounds messy! What if you just got a quart size of shell shock and brushed a super thin layer and then used fiberglass? Your scale mold isn't that big so I would think a quart would get you a good thin layer without breaking the bank.

Your fluke is just so pretty....and all those extra fins! You're going to look like a beautiful pink mermaid angel :)

Thank you everyone!
Jessica, we poured the Shell Shock all in one go, but brushed it over the mold a bit before it hardened, so I thought maybe that would help. Perhaps it would've been better if I'd done it in layers like you've suggested! >.< The mold is super sturdy, so I think the ratio was correct. But as for the shelf life... I'm not honestly sure; you could be right, it might've been old stock. The temperature was cool, maybe 23-25 degrees celcus, which I think is within the range of the Shell Shock (but its Australia, it could've been 30 and I would still think its cool, haha!).
I'm going to start using the silicone inside, I think. I've been pouring it out the back on the veranda, which is in shade, but perhaps its still too warm? I didn't want to pour it inside because 1. we are renting, and 2. I'm very very good at making a mess. HAHA! I already spilt clay on the floor! XD But I'll try stirring the pots individually first, too, just incase.
Thank you for all the info, Jessica!! I really appreciate it!
I'm scared of using Shell Shock again and it failing, as money is tight at the moment and every cent counts. But I was really happy with how it turned out on my fluke and extra fin molds. I might have to sell something again, haha!

I'm sorry to hear about the setbacks :(

I will say that I think your tail's progress looks absolutely amazing! I love the design of your scales and fluke! It's so cute, and almost fairy like! I can't wait to see it when it's finished!

Sorry for the absentness, everyone :)
Mermaid Miel, Mermaid Abbey and myself attended Mermaid Araylia's (Tiffany's) funeral yesterday. It was a truly beautiful and heart breaking ceremony. Its going to be tough not having her smile around anymore.

As for tail making, I've been distracted with sewing a costume for a convention this weekend! lol! (anyone seen The Last Unicorn? I'm going as Lady Amalthea!) So I've not finished re-making my scale mold. I did, however, buy a very cheep air brush kit, so I can paint the tail easier. :) I hope to have some good updates regarding the fluke being painted soon!

*sends love, hugs and cupcakes* I'm so sorry about your friend Mizuko =( If you ever need someone to talk to about stuff, I'm here <3

you should post photos of your costume ^_^ Sounds cute!

and mind if I ask which air brush kit you got?

btw a gallon order of dragonskin here in the UK is £250... sooooo like $375-400 (USD) (that's without shipping and 20% tax btw) can't remember how much shell shock is lol

I'm back! haha!
Lilium, the airbrush kit I got was only $60AU, which is reallyyyy cheep, and its TINY! But it works! Because I'm only doing small areas and lots of layers it doesn't matter :)
The convention was on this weekend! So now all my time can be put back into my tail making. It was the first cosplay I've made with no help! :) So I'm kinda proud. Here are some pictures (off-topic, I know! lol!)
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Lol, ok, thats enough photos. lol!

WOAH, they are bigger than I thought- sorry about that! >.<

Beautiful pictures Mizuko! The dress is just lovely and you did a really great job! It looks like satin.....that is a very slippery and difficult fabric to work with!

Oh you went to Super Nova I really wanted to go!!!!!! But work got in the way and I need money if i'm going to ever finish my tail! Oh and your dress is awesome!!!!

Wow, your Lady Amalthea costume turned out awesome! That's such a great little animation..

Everything is so beautiful! You, your dress, absolutely lovely! And I think you have the biggest eyes I have ever seen!

I'm back! XD thank you everyone for your lovely words <3
I had my wisdom teeth out last week -__- I couldn't eat properly for 4 days (except icecream... which really, I shouldn't complain about, haha!) and it also set me back a week re-making my scale sheet as I didn't stay at home. So I am just over half finished re-laying the clay scales again; I hope to finish laying them one night this week! Then I'll do some tests with UltraCal, as its really really cheep here. I'm aiming to have the sheet finished by next weekend, and maybe even have the first scale sheet poured in! But I work full-time so I can only do things in the evening >.< Its my birthday on the 15th of December, and I'm having a beach day at the reef to celebrate, so I'd really really love to have a new tail to try then! haha! But its a very short time-frame, so it means I'll have to work really hard!

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Originally Posted by Mizuko

I'm back! XD thank you everyone for your lovely words <3
I had my wisdom teeth out last week -__- I couldn't eat properly for 4 days (except icecream... which really, I shouldn't complain about, haha!) and it also set me back a week re-making my scale sheet as I didn't stay at home. So I am just over half finished re-laying the clay scales again; I hope to finish laying them one night this week! Then I'll do some tests with UltraCal, as its really really cheep here. I'm aiming to have the sheet finished by next weekend, and maybe even have the first scale sheet poured in! But I work full-time so I can only do things in the evening >.< Its my birthday on the 15th of December, and I'm having a beach day at the reef to celebrate, so I'd really really love to have a new tail to try then! haha! But its a very short time-frame, so it means I'll have to work really hard!

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I know you're tail will turn out amazing Mizuko You can do it !!! :D

Thank you Stormy! :3 <3

andddd another set-back. lol.
I was super uncoordinated and hurt my elbow pretty bad on Friday. I had to go to hospital for x-rays and things, but luckily there was no bone damage. I did, however, damage the nerve in my arm pretty bad and I couldn't feel my hand for a day! lol! The nurse told me I couldn't move my elbow freely for at least 3 days... which was my whole weekend I had dedicated to finishing the molds and starting the silicone scale sheet. sigh.
So, I doubt I'll have the tail done by my birthday now, as its monday and my birthday is this coming sunday. I do hope to have it constructed, just not finished painting! I work full time so I'll only have the evenings to do things, so I plan on having some late nights! lol!

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Originally Posted by Mizuko

andddd another set-back. lol.
I was super uncoordinated and hurt my elbow pretty bad on Friday. I had to go to hospital for x-rays and things, but luckily there was no bone damage. I did, however, damage the nerve in my arm pretty bad and I couldn't feel my hand for a day! lol! The nurse told me I couldn't move my elbow freely for at least 3 days... which was my whole weekend I had dedicated to finishing the molds and starting the silicone scale sheet. sigh.
So, I doubt I'll have the tail done by my birthday now, as its monday and my birthday is this coming sunday. I do hope to have it constructed, just not finished painting! I work full time so I'll only have the evenings to do things, so I plan on having some late nights! lol!

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eeeps be carefuls mizuko! And make sure you're healed up, the nerve in your arm healing is more important than getting your tail done sooner *stern look*

But I know you'll get it done and it will look fantastic so don't be disheartened =) Don't let stuff like this hold you back or get to you! <3

Summer has hit with a vengeance! It was 39 degrees C (102.2 Fahrenheit) yesterday, and today is 43 degrees C (109.4 Fahrenheit). Welcome to Australian summers! haha!

I *think* I hope I pray that this scale mold has worked!
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I finished cleaning most of the clay out last night. There are still bits wedged between the layers of Ultracal that will need chipping off, but for the most part its looking Ok! Not perfect, but usable! XD
Using the UltraCal was actually pretty enjoyable... I mixed it in small batches (like 500-900 grams) and just slowly painted on the first layer. That took about two hours as I was constantly cleaning my mixing stuff/paint brush. Then I went over once more over the bits of clay that decided to escape the first layer. Then I did two layers of burlap soaked in UltraCal- which was way more fun than it should have been. Out of all 3 materials I've used for mold-making (fibreglass, shell shock and UltraCal) I've found I enjoy Ultracal the most. I can take my time- there are no fumes (although always wear a mask and gloves and googles when dealing with it as a powder- it really is dangerous to inhale!) its easy to layer and easy to clean. The ONLY downside is that it is heavy. Very heavy. Which means if the scale sheet is lifted wrong (flat, not on its side!) there is a chance that it could break in the very centre. But, to be honest, after my failed attempts I'm just happy to have a scale sheet that APPEARS to look like the original clay mold!! haha!

As a sorry for taking so long to post this, heres a goofy photo from my birthday on Sunday:
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I'm officially 25. Quarter of a century old! lol! (But I seriously dont feel/act it, haha! Dont think I ever will :P )
My elbow is all healed up- it took about 3 days for the swelling to go down and the pain to stop, but I got the feeling back in my hand after only a day :) It was nice to be able to dress myself and put my own hair up again! haha! (My partner had to put my hair up in ponytails for me... lol! He really didnt know what he was doing, haha!)

I'm flying home on the 21st for two weeks! Which means I need to get my tail making stuff there so I can finish it... I hope to have the scale mold completely clean tonight and MAYBE if its not too hot (who am I kidding, its 43...) I would like to pour some silicone. lol!

you're so lucky! here it's going to be winter in two days :O_o:

Mizuko your mold looks great! I'm so happy the Ultracal worked well for you! Happy birthday! ;)

Thank you both! ^_^ I am really relieved it looks SOMEWHAT like the clay mold, haha! After so many set backs and the weeks vanishing away, it really feels like a victory that the mold even worked out. haha!