How to replicate the feel of a dolphin?

September 22, 2010 12:32 PM

How to replicate the feel of a dolphin?

Hello,

I am doing a project that requires making a dolphin sculpture (made of fiberglass) to look & feel as close to a real dolphin as much as possible. I'm looking for suggestions on how to achieve this.

Would you guys know of any types of paint or fabric which we can use for this? In particular, in achieving the feel of the skin of a dolphin, which is very smooth like jello.

Thank you!

posted by ictoan to Media & Arts (8 answers total)

A very fine suede or velvet on top of a gel of some sort?
posted by Grither at 12:38 PM on September 22, 2010

Smooth rubber, probably silicone-based. For extra verisimilitude, build in a fountain that keeps a thin layer of water running over the whole thing.
posted by jedicus at 12:48 PM on September 22, 2010

Maybe you could contact Bridgestone and ask what kind of material they used for this prosthetic dolphin fin.
posted by jedicus at 12:50 PM on September 22, 2010 [2 favorites]

A wet dolphin feels like a wet inner tube. I don't know what a dry dolphin feels like. jedicus's idea is probably along the right lines.
posted by Faint of Butt at 1:50 PM on September 22, 2010

I have heard that a dolphin feels like a hard-boiled egg. So I suppose silicone or rubber would be your best options.
posted by cmgonzalez at 3:51 PM on September 22, 2010

I'll 3rd jedicus' description. Rubbery, smooth, damp and cool were my impressions on the one occasion I touched a dolphin.
posted by itstheclamsname at 6:02 PM on September 22, 2010

What about rubber cement?
posted by galadriel at 8:01 AM on September 23, 2010

You can get neoprene with an outer coating of smooth rubber. I've seen it most often on car seats.
posted by clorox at 1:40 AM on September 25, 2010 [1 favorite]