Selkish's Ratchet Workshop

**swimmingsammi95** · 01-25-2016, 01:28 AM

I use a blow dryer to speed mine up

also outside in the sun on a warm day makes it cure almost instantly

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**Mermaid Clarity** · 01-25-2016, 01:33 AM

So perhaps it's the come down from the triumph of getting the gradient done or perhaps it's the fact that they gave us 2 free carafes of soju at dinner tonight but I'm suddenly daunted by the idea that I HAVE TO MAKE SO MANY SCALES. I don't even know what color I should start with. And SO MANY. SO MANY SCALES. WHAT DO!?

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**Mermaid Kate Silverfin** · 01-25-2016, 02:56 AM

Don't worry! It seems super daunting, especially when you think you have enough and start pinning (and of course there isn't nearly enough of them)! What I found worked for me is make a gradient of scales that I was happy with (about a batch of each colour), noting down what colours were mixed. Once you have the colours all planned out, then you just need to make more! Steady does it!

**Mermaid Wesley** · 01-25-2016, 03:02 AM

start front GO

**Ashton** · 01-25-2016, 11:23 AM

Just be careful not to get anxiety over the scale pulling...
I did and it was awful, I was like "if I don't get at least 5 pulls today I will never complete this tail AAHHHHGHGHGHASDFJOasdfk!" *insert clip of a muppet wiggling their arms about*

**Ashton** · 01-25-2016, 11:24 AM

I just got your text like right now.... like 8am the NEXT DAY... my phone is a POS... I am going to the apple store tomorrow... please dont think that I ditched you

**Adalira** · 01-25-2016, 11:48 AM

Originally Posted by Selkish

Oh my goodness, have you taken the time to learn about our Lord and Savior dragonskin fast?

(I'm so sorry if I offended any Utah mermaids just now)

I just had a very efficient afternoon producing scales. I love that Dragon skin fast cures so quickly. In fact, I was thinking about the fact that it cures so quickly I don't have the time to dawdle between molds. In a perfect world I would still have Dragon skin slow to use during the weekdays I have work so I can pour and cure while I'm away and Dragon skin fast for the days that I don't work and can devote the most amount of time to making scales.

Anyway the fast cure time was good because I'm still experimenting somewhat with colors now that I have a gold that I like. I'm also trying to get the colors to gradate nicely between such a rosy copper and a yellow gold.

I discovered what gave my soft peachy rose gold it's color just in time to realize it wouldn't blend as nicely as I thought. Oh well, I've discovered how to make it more saturated.

In other good news, I got a nicer patina set done (as you can see from before.)

So many excite.

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They actually glow in the dark! Yay! It looks awesome!

**PearlieMae** · 01-25-2016, 11:57 AM

I use a desk lamp with a 100 watt bulb to cure my scales faster I stack my scale molds in plastic trays so they don't stick together.

**Dancing Fish** · 01-25-2016, 12:03 PM

OOh, I love the patina scales. This is a great color scheme so far. Lovely!

**Vrindavana Starfish** · 01-25-2016, 12:03 PM

I love the petina scales! This is going to be beautiful!

**Mermaid Clarity** · 01-25-2016, 01:41 PM

Originally Posted by Theobromine

Pro tip: use a heat gun, it makes regular dragonskin cure in a fraction of the time! (That's what I do when I need something to cure fast. I can't use the fast-cure silicone because many of my molds are too intricate and I have to use a toothpick to work the silicone into some of the really thin areas so I need it to NOT cure too fast in that case.)

I think i'd like a slower cure for some things but in testing colors and pulling MASSIVE amounts of scales, fast is nice. I have a heat gun but I sometimes just don't need it unless I know my house is just particularly cold. Also, too much heat makes my resin molds act funny. When I get to more interesting things I might go medium or slow again.

**Mermaid Clarity** · 01-26-2016, 03:07 AM

Slowly getting over my anxiety by making lists of scales to pull and laying out gradients to imagine how the scales might look. I have new champagne ones for the upper stomach and lots of bright gold scales.

Also, probably the best part of this whole affair? Gratuitous silicone porn:

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**Reef Fish** · 01-26-2016, 03:14 AM

Beautiful

**Luna Dreamtide** · 01-26-2016, 03:38 AM

Pretty!

**Ashton** · 01-26-2016, 04:30 AM

Keep up the good work!
Have you made a body double for them yet?

**Adalira** · 01-26-2016, 04:56 AM

Hahaha, those video's are awesome!
I love the gold color by the way :-)

**Sabrina the Selkie** · 01-26-2016, 09:56 AM

Gorgeous

**Mermaid Clarity** · 01-26-2016, 10:28 AM

Thanks guys!

Originally Posted by Ashton

Keep up the good work!
Have you made a body double for them yet?

I haven't made a double yet. I'm hoping to do one this weekend.

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**Mermaid Clarity** · 01-26-2016, 11:27 AM

Sidebar: I don't know if I shared the necklace that kinda helped me with this color scheme when I started. If you've ever heard of Disneybounding I was thinking that it would be funny to Mersonabound... But the outfit I think would be a little bit too flashy for day-to-day wear.

Anyway, I know what I'm doodling at work today.

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