Since I do not have the wealth to have my mermaid scanned and digitally cut from foam, I am doing this the old-fashioned, roll-up-your-sleeves, build-it-in-your-garage way.

It would cost $1,000 to have her scanned, $2,000 for the data manipulation so the CNC machine would work, and $14,000 to have her cut in foam. At that point I could apply clay to the surface of the foam and begin sculpting from there. So, $17,000 does the first quarter of the work. I can do it in steel in a few weeks for about $500.

It is necessary to get accurate cross-sections, or the Distortion Fairies will jinx your work. My cross-sections go around the body from the neck to the tail every 1 1/2 inches on the maquette, which will translate to one-foot increments in the completed sculpture. For the lateral line, place pins in the maquette right down its center.

More steps after the jump.

Maquette with cellophane (1 of 2)

Tape the pins together with ordinary cellophane box tape. Mark the location of all of the other cross-sections onto the cellophane too.

Maquette with cellophane (2 of 2)

When the taping is done remove the pins and affix the tape outline to an acetate sheet.

Maquette's cellophane outline affixed to acetate sheet.