A Silicone Tail Making Adventure with Wesley

**Mermaid Wesley** · 04-28-2014, 02:05 AM

Hours of square by square transcribing and I'm finally done!! I huuurtt. But I'm so glad I finished it. Next step is to trace it onto another page. Then I'll cut out all the layers and then I'll get the clay. Maybe next weekend or maybe the one after that. *yawn*

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**Mermaid Wesley** · 04-29-2014, 05:20 PM

Well. I thought I would have more done last weekend, but alas, life. I'm currently working on scale designs and textures. I'll post some pictures when I get home. I'm also working on belt designs and TOPS. oh my god TOPS. WHY MUST I BE SO TOP-HEAVY?? -_- I love silicone seaweed tops so maybe I'll try to do one if I have any silicone left over. I'll have to get creative. Maybe something "salvaged" like a corset or an Ariel-sail-dress style top. Hmmm. Yeah maybe. Ideas? Thoughts? DD boobs don't like seashells much.

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**Mermaid Wesley** · 04-30-2014, 12:43 AM

Scales and textures

I think these are sideways but oh well. What do you think?

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**Mermaid Wesley** · 04-30-2014, 12:43 AM

Wow the quality on these is dreadful. I'll try to get better quality ones later.

EDIT: better quality here- http://witchyroses.tumblr.com/post/8...ou-like-best-i

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**JessieMermaid** · 04-30-2014, 10:29 AM

Lovely! Why not use a combination of all 3

**Aziara** · 04-30-2014, 11:03 AM

Make 5 or so of each and line them up, you might get a better idea of which one you prefer that way.

**Mermaid Wesley** · 04-30-2014, 01:24 PM

Originally Posted by Aziara

Make 5 or so of each and line them up, you might get a better idea of which one you prefer that way.

Good idea I'll try that tonight

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**Mermaid Wesley** · 05-02-2014, 03:12 PM

I stacked up the one I like best and I think it looks good. Yay! I might change it still.
Edit: oh yeah and the sheet of "polycarbonate" that my dad had lying around turned out to be a sheet of acrylic and I was bending it and it shattered and there were plastic shards flying everywhere and that's why you don't make a monofin out of acrylic. Crisis averted!

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**JessieMermaid** · 05-02-2014, 03:13 PM

Lovely!

**PearlieMae** · 05-02-2014, 03:27 PM

Wow! You're lucky you didn't get hurt!

Remember, if you are going over the top of your scales with a sealing layer of dragonskin, the texture may be lost as the silicone settles in...you can dry-brush Pearl Ex onto the high spots with a fan brush before you do the final coat and it will highlight the texture.

**Mermaid Wesley** · 05-02-2014, 04:44 PM

I know! It certainly made me jump and was loud and stuff but I could have really cut myself. Or worse, I could have put it on a monofin and lost bits of sharp plastic in a pool! Eek! Thanks for the tips! I don't mind it smoothing out a little, but I didn't want it to look like rubber and I think a little texture will help with that

I'm gonna need to experiment!

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**Mermaid Wesley** · 05-02-2014, 08:05 PM

I have a question about resin!! I know it heats up as it cures, but I am using monster makers clay and it does melt. Are there any resins that don't get too hot for monster makers? I can use sculpy for the scales but if I want to use resin for the fluke it needs to be cooler

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**PearlieMae** · 05-02-2014, 09:10 PM

I used an oil based clay a lot softer than monster clay, and all the detail held in my casts. When in doubt, make a small prototype and test it. I think it will work fine, otherwise you would've heard a lot of complaints and warnings already.

**Mermaid Jaffa** · 05-02-2014, 09:12 PM

Yay! Now get started so we can see!

**Mermaid Wesley** · 05-02-2014, 10:21 PM

Okay thanks

and I will, I just need to buy supplies and get through finals week

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**Mermaid Wesley** · 05-05-2014, 01:25 AM

Hm. So I am hardcore procrastinating my studying. I seem to have hit a tailmaking plateau. What is my next step? I think I need to brainstorm so forgive this post!

Okay so i have a design for the scales. I am going to be using the lovely PearlieMae's technique of one scale at a time, so I need to get some resin for that. I'll have to order online since Michaels only sells in small quantities. I also need to get to work on my fluke sculpt 2.0. I altered the pattern to be better than it was and i am pretty happy about it. but before i can finalize the pattern i need my lexan fin..... so thats the next step, isn't it? I need some lexan. I think I got paid this weekend so I will be buying the lexan and resin soon. okie dokie. and once i finish my monofin i will be making the duct tape dummy of my legs so i also need to buy duct tape. then powermesh. then lastly silicone. eek!

**PearlieMae** · 05-05-2014, 08:55 AM

Try packing tape instead of duct tape...it's lighter and cheaper! I got rolls at the dollar store. I just bought a couple yards of powermesh at Joann's Fabrics at $10.99 a yard, but it was on sale at 40% off! Keep an eye out for the coupons, too! And straight pins! Walmart has them cheapest, get three packages, minimum: http://www.walmart.com/ip/Dritz-Quil...500pk/17337803

As for resin, I use this one: http://www.smooth-on.com/Urethane-Pl...206/index.html - you'll need at least 2 trial sizes (about 50 bucks, total), most of that will go for the fluke.

With the Lexan, decide how big you want your fluke first!

**Aziara** · 05-05-2014, 09:03 AM

You can download the Joann's app, and pull up every possible coupon when you get to the checkout! Also Hobby Lobby and Michaels have a constant 40% off any full price item coupon on their apps.

**Mermaid Wesley** · 05-05-2014, 01:59 PM

I love the Jo-Anne's app! And pearlie: I have the size for the most part, I just have to figure out the ankles with the lexan before I can finalize my fluke pattern

Did the packing tape stick ok? Sometimes cheap tape is a pain in the butt.

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**PearlieMae** · 05-05-2014, 03:48 PM

You're right...I had some cheap stuff that wouldn't come off the roll. I forgot about that....it's been a while! I used some packing tape from Home Depot...still cheaper than duct tape!

I got the 36" x 48" piece of Lexan and went 34ish x 24", and used some of the cutoff scraps to reinforce it. It's a BIG fluke. Make sure that the part under your feet goes at least 3/4 the length of your foot. I made mine just shy of full length so the heel edge doesn't cut into the silicone.