Jessica's Second Dragonskin Tail

[PearlieMae]

I am all for gilding the lily! It's a good thing I'm a strong swimmer, otherwise I would sunk to the bottom with all the bling I plan on adding!

Thanks, Jeblily! Can you imagine if we did?

[Jessica]

Hmmmm maybe we should have a silicone tail fest for tail makers! We could have SO much fun!!! Can you imagine if we all worked together?! It would be epic! I really love how different we all are. It's so neat....were all working with the same materials, but with drastically different ideas and results!

[PearlieMae]

Working together could be stupendously awesome or horribly disastrous! Hahaha!

[Mermaid Oshun]

I cant imagine how we would even orchestrate something like that.

[Jessica]

Golden pearl, It would definitely be interesting!

The back side of the tail is done! Just waiting for the clear top coat to cure so I can flip it over and finish the other side!

[Kae]

I'm so glad to hear that you're hand painting! That's what I plan on doing and I'm glad to hear not only am I not alone, but it can be beautiful!

I'm planning on doing two seams on my tails (at least at first) just because of how difficult the silicone can be.

I love the close up picture of the mermaid acupuncture! The colors look so real!

[Jessica]

Kae,

hand painting is a lot of work, but it think it's worth it! You really have so much control and you get to know each and every scale I really enjoy hand painting and I think the challenge is part of the fun

i think two seams is the best way to go unless you're doing a dorsal. I just wouldn't want a seam up the back of the tail, and with a seam on each side they're much easier to hide. It also helps if you overlap the silicone so the front is on top of the back. This makes the seams face the back of the tail and less noticeable in pictures taken from the front.

Good luck on your tail! The pins work great to hold seams while they're curing

here's a picture of the back of the tail:

[emma11]

Hi Jessica! Loving the second tail so gorgeous. You did those scales in pieces right? So not a front piece and a back piece but more than just the two?


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[Jessica]

Hi Jessica! Loving the second tail so gorgeous. You did those scales in pieces right? So not a front piece and a back piece but more than just the two?


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Yes, there are actually six scale sections, three for the front, three for the back. It's not an ideal method....it's very time consuming to get them lined up right and if you look close you can see the seams if you know what you're looking for or sometimes if the light hits it just right. You can see one of the seam lines in the last picture I posted if you look towards the bottom of the pink.

For the next tail I will either make a new scale mold or maybe take a Brillo pad to get the rest of the foam out of this mold. I'm tired of scraping it out bit by bit with a knife! It would probably just be easier to do a new mold

[Mizuko]

Every time I look at this thread I get so inspired and awed <3

[Mermaid Esther]

all i have to say is "wow"

[Jessica]

Thanks Mizuko and Esther!

The tail is finished! I'm exhausted and headed to bed! Pictures tomorrow!

[PearlieMae]

YAY!

[Mermaid Esther]

I can' wait

[Mizuko]

Yay!! Congratulations!!! I cant wait to see it!!! >_____<

[Mer_Adella]

Jessica (and others that have made their own tails) how would you suggest about going and putting fins on? Particularly heel fins? what is the process for doing it? I just want to know so when my friend starts hers I can know how to go about it. Lets say that we are going to do the full sheets, 2 seams down the sides. Would you make a slice in the heel where the fin will be inserted? also how would you place the pins/close-pins/clamps/etc to hold the fin upright?

[mermaidm]

ok I'm speechless right now... Mermaid Eva, YOU ARE SO LUCKY!

[Jessica]

Jessica (and others that have made their own tails) how would you suggest about going and putting fins on? Particularly heel fins? what is the process for doing it? I just want to know so when my friend starts hers I can know how to go about it. Lets say that we are going to do the full sheets, 2 seams down the sides. Would you make a slice in the heel where the fin will be inserted? also how would you place the pins/close-pins/clamps/etc to hold the fin upright?

i haven't done this before, but I would cut either a vertical slit where the fin would attach, or a horizontal one following the edge of the scales....it all depends on how you design your fins. Most of this is going to be trial and error....it just takes practice to find out what will work for you. Pins and clothespins work well for me

i went to a different waterfall today and took some pictures in Eva's tail! We're close to the same size and she was just so sweet to let me take pictures in her tail. I've uploaded them, but have to resize them to fit on here!

For now here are a few I took outside! :

[Mermaid Oshun]

Jessica do you use any adhesive to secure your monofins to your fluke faces or just use dragonskin around the edges?

[Jessica]

Jessica do you use any adhesive to secure your monofins to your fluke faces or just use dragonskin around the edges?

Hi golden pearl,

i was just about to pm you! I just sealed around the monofin. Other than drilling holes in the monofin so the silicone can attach to itself or gluing lace to the monofin, there aren't a lot of options. However, silicone does tend to cling to most surfaces and seems to hang on to the monofin in my first tail and this one. I do make it nice and tight around the monofin...just don't make it too tight or you will get a weird bulge around the edge. I'm dying to see yulia's tail by the way!