Mermaid Melody Accessories
This year I'm being pickier about commissions since I want to focus more on personal projects.
But, I had a return commissioner hit me up and the project was different enough from past projects that it piqued my interest enough to take.
Mermaid Melody was an anime that no one seems to remember and while toys were made, they are hard to find.
The commissioner gave me reference from said toys, as well as some made by other people.
The microphone was modeled completely in Fusion 360. The shell started in Fusion, which allowed me to use their joint feature to test digitally, then transferred to Zbrush for the organic sculpting.
Both were printed in ABS on my Polyprinter 229. The gems were given an acetone vapor bath, while the large pieces were sanded up to 400 grit.
The gems were molded in Mold Max 14NV, and then cast in EpoxAcast 690 tinted with Ignite pigments.
The microphone was airbrushed with Tamiya and then clear coated with MinWax Polyurethane in Semi-gloss.
For the shell, I found the tamiya paint to be overall too warm in tone, so I ran to my local comic shop and picked up some miniature paints in the proper colors. My airbrush hated them, so I ended up handing painting the pinks and whites with thin washes. It was clear coated with the MinWax as well.
Tiny holes were drilled in the shell and wings to allow for insertion of metal pegs for additional support.
A sewing needle was used to hold the hinge together, then sealed in with Epoxy Sculpt.
But, I had a return commissioner hit me up and the project was different enough from past projects that it piqued my interest enough to take.
Mermaid Melody was an anime that no one seems to remember and while toys were made, they are hard to find.
The commissioner gave me reference from said toys, as well as some made by other people.
The microphone was modeled completely in Fusion 360. The shell started in Fusion, which allowed me to use their joint feature to test digitally, then transferred to Zbrush for the organic sculpting.
Both were printed in ABS on my Polyprinter 229. The gems were given an acetone vapor bath, while the large pieces were sanded up to 400 grit.
The gems were molded in Mold Max 14NV, and then cast in EpoxAcast 690 tinted with Ignite pigments.
The microphone was airbrushed with Tamiya and then clear coated with MinWax Polyurethane in Semi-gloss.
For the shell, I found the tamiya paint to be overall too warm in tone, so I ran to my local comic shop and picked up some miniature paints in the proper colors. My airbrush hated them, so I ended up handing painting the pinks and whites with thin washes. It was clear coated with the MinWax as well.
Tiny holes were drilled in the shell and wings to allow for insertion of metal pegs for additional support.
A sewing needle was used to hold the hinge together, then sealed in with Epoxy Sculpt.
