Jessica's Second Dragonskin Tail

[Firemaid]

Well....I don't think I would do it. I don't like the idea of poking holes in my scales...and it would take a lot of pins just to hold it. You would also have to put the pool noodle right up against the scales. If you did this, you would gave to do small sections at a time because of the natural curve of the body. If you look real close in the pictures, I didn't put the noodle right against the scales. Not that you can't, it's just that anything that is too close tends to cause the scales to shift so you have to babysit it while it's curing! The pool noodle is just hold the sheets apart so they don't cling to each other...and to give me some room to work with. Do you think a pool noodle is dense enough to support a pin? They're pretty airy....you might have better luck with a roll of paper towels in a plastic bag(you need plastic so the silicone won't get imbedded in the paper towel fibers).

If you're really careful you won't get weird creases using clothespins. I had to fix a few spots but it's not a big deal to do it. Between you, me and Mizuko I'm sure we can figure out an easier way to do this!

One more tip! One of my favorite tricks I learned from Lorelei! You can freeze silicone to slow down the cure time. One of the best ways I've found to do seams is to mix a couple teaspoons of silicone and let it sit out for awhile (about half an hour or so depending on temp) I then stick it in the freezer for a couple hours or even overnight. When you need to do a seam, pull it out of the freezer and it's nice and thick! The silicone will still cure in the freezer....just much more slowly! When you pull it out, work fast to do your seams and it stays put! This way it doesn't run everywhere and make a mess! It usually cures in about 45minutes to an hour after I've had it in the freezer. Best trick ever!!!

I use straight pins and I love them!
The holes disappear!

Can you explain to me the freezing the silicone thing?
You mix A and B let it sit out and then freeze it?

[Jessica]

I use straight pins and I love them!
The holes disappear!

Can you explain to me the freezing the silicone thing?
You mix A and B let it sit out and then freeze it?

you can freeze any leftover silicone to slow down the cure time. How many hours/days before the silicone cures depends on how long you leave the silicone out to start with. It usually will be fine for 2-3 days in the freezer. I freeze leftover silicone with pigment all the time when I'm painting so I don't have to keep mixing new batches.

When you need thicker silicone (like for doing seams so it doesn't run all over) you mix it up and let it sit out for awhile. The longer you let it sit out before you stick it in the freezer, the thicker it will be when you use it!

The freezer doesn't stop the silicone from curing, it just slows it down. It will eventually cure in the freezer if you leave it in there long enough!

[Nyx]

I absolutely LOVE the colors of your fluke. Beautiful work!

[Jessica]

Thanks Nyx!

I've been working away on the side seams and I'm pretty happy with the progress! I took a few pictures of myself in the body of the tail (Eva and I are very close in size so it makes sizing easier!)

the back of the knees seemed a little big on me (and Eva is just a bit smaller all around) so I had eva recheck her knee measurements. Standing normally her knee measurement was correct, but when you swim you need the tail to fit very tightly to reduce the amount of wrinkles behind the knees. I had eva measure with her knees very tightly together and I took the tail in a few inches to fit the tighter measurement.

^ I wanted to explain all of that so all the other mers making their own tails wouldn't make the same mistake and have baggy knees! Silicone is very stretchy and stretches several inches....so it's best to use the smaller knee measurement when you're doing the knee area to reduce wrinkles!

I just took the knee area in a few inches and I used straight pins to hold the seam in place. The pins seem to be working really well....I'll keep you updated on the process!

[Mer_Adella]

Now when your using the straight pins....what do you have between the two layers of silicone on the inside? do you have a towel, pool noodle, etc? I am just trying to get an idea of how you line up the edges, silicone it, then add the pin just so I know (and probably others as well)

[Jessica]

Now when your using the straight pins....what do you have between the two layers of silicone on the inside? do you have a towel, pool noodle, etc? I am just trying to get an idea of how you line up the edges, silicone it, then add the pin just so I know (and probably others as well)

Hi adella!

First I rolled the top layer of scales completely under (I posted a pic of this the other day) then I painted a line of silicone right along the rolled up edge on the back side of the bottom layer of scales. The bottom layer is then wrapped around the top and pinned in place. There's nothing inside the tail since I rolled the top edge under. Even if the silicone did run a bit under the edge, a good sharp knife or the edge of a pair of scissors will slice right through it. This method works great if you use partially cured silicone that was stored in the freezer. The silicone will be thicker and stay put!

[Mermaid Lorelei]

^This is basically what I do. Minus the freezing step.

[Delphine]

Wow! Great job so far, Jessica! Pool noodle part is smart. I had a hell of a time doing my one mega-seam down the back. NEVER. AGAIN. Lol. Exciting, hope you were careful you about knee-measurements. Not sure how other's tails fit around knees (never had the "baggy problem"), but I get bruises because mine is too tight at the knees (but comfortably snug everywhere else). I should have measured with my monofin on, to get the correct measurements. Ah.. things to remember for Tail II! XD Anyway, good to see process pictures & detail shots! I find it fascinating. =P

[mermaidm]

wow, Jessica! This tail is crazy gorgeous.

[Jessica]

^This is basically what I do. Minus the freezing step.

I love using leftover frozen silicone waste not, want not! I love how thick it gets and how fast it cures when it's frozen!

Delphine,
i can only imagine how tough it was to get your seam done! I like having two seams....they don't seem so noticeable on the sides of the tail. Although I haven't even noticed a seam in any of your pictures! This tail is very tight on me because it's for Eva, but honestly it fits me so much better than my own tail! I've learned so much and this tail is turning out so much better than my first one!

I think it's important to leave just a little extra room around the ankles because of the monofin. I left an extra inch this time so there would be enough room with the monofin.

Thanks mermaidm!

i finished seaming the tail last night and I can't wait to start painting! It's really cold here (we had flurries today!) and my house was 58 degrees when I got home......so I have to wait until it warms up a bit to start painting. I'm hoping to crank the heat up in the morning and start tomorrow! It's so exciting to see it all come together!

Thanks so much to everyone for all the support and encouragement! I love sharing this journey with you guys!!

[Mermaid Lorelei]

I need to make another tail... You've inspired me. :>

[jazz2453]

Yes! I didn't leave room for the monofin and I had a tough time! I literally had to tug on the scales and pin them. At leads my ankles won't be baggy like last time.

[PearlieMae]

Wow! Great job so far, Jessica! Pool noodle part is smart. I had a hell of a time doing my one mega-seam down the back. NEVER. AGAIN. Lol... =P

You did the seam down the back and wouldn't do it again? Now you are making me rethink my strategy! Was it super difficult, and why?

[Anahita]

Wait, yeah.... I'm doing a back-seam too.... I'm curious as to why it's a "never again" thing.

[Stefani]

wow!clear! thank you very much, now I understand

[Jessica]

I need to make another tail... You've inspired me. :>

^ best compliment EVER!

Jazz,
my first tail was just a little baggy around the monofin footpockets so I'm making this one much tighter too. It's amazing how much you learn from your first tail!

[Mermaid Julz]

Jess, i just got an awesome idea due to your pins..... colored pearling down a side..... also, your mailbox is full

[Jessica]

Jess, i just got an awesome idea due to your pins..... colored pearling down a side..... also, your mailbox is full

Did you see pearlie's picture of scales with sculpted pearls? It's awesome! It looks just like one of my daughter's mermaid barbies!

I just emptied it & got your message

I've been painting the body of the tail and it's coming along nicely. I still need to add dark green to the sides and it still needs a few more layers of white, pink and teal to get the colors blended well and the scales covered completely. I'm pretty happy though!

[jazz2453]

Looking good!

[Mermaid Lorelei]

^ best compliment EVER!

<3 And yeah, you learn SO FREAKING MUCH from your first tail.