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missfit1023 — my tail tutorial
Published: 2011-05-19 05:20:02 +0000 UTC; Views: 108650; Favourites: 762; Downloads: 1508
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Description
i have been asked by many people, and here it is! this is the exact method i used for my tail.**PLEASE READ COMMENTS BEFORE YOU ASK QUESTIONS!**
I did forget to mention the Spray Silicone in the first picture, which is $9 on Amazon.com. It is used for divers, and should be applied to the finished tail to prevent stickiness!
This tutorial was a collaboration from many of the mer community on Mer.Yuku.com
**DISCLAIMER**
Do not swim in a mermaid tail without supervision - This particular tail-tutorial makes a tail that is easily 40-50bls when finished. It will be weightless in the water, but will double in weight after being wet on land.
I suggest practice swimming with a monofin while in the process of making your tail - it will help you learn how to move with the fin and build the necessary muscles to swim with it.
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN COMMISSIONING A TAIL:
read this first: [link]
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Comments: 289
omg thx so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!![link]
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Nevermind, just found the other pages of comments just one question for now. What thickness of neoprene did you use?
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This is an amazing tutorial thank you for explaining! I almost have enough money to buy a mertailor tail but now I think I'll make my own. I was wondering how you heat set and when you should do so?[link]
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And I also have a question c:;; Um .. What is a heat-set xDD??
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heat set means to use a heat gun or means of hot air producing (like a hair dryer) in order to solidify and cure the silicone or latex.
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Oh. my. GAWSH.!
Thank you soo much for a tutorial I've been looking all over for one ; U ; !!
I'd rather make my own tail than pay hudreds of bucks for one!!
I can't wait to save up money and make one ~ ! Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeehhh :'DDD!!!!!!!!
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Wonderful tutorial and tail!
But I do have some q's.
Instead of latex I wanna use silicone, can I? and would it be the same process?
Then how do you sew it without ruining it?
and last how did you make the things on the side of your tail (:
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i haven't used silicone, but a friend of mine did say they used silicone caulking and got a paint-thinner for it. if you ask at home depot/lowes, they will tell you the best one. this is because silicone dries a LOT faster, giving you less time to work with it before its cured.
sewing the tail proved to be the most difficult part for me - i have a very basic machine and it didn't handle the thickness well. BUT it didn't ruin the tail. some people try to use a glue or latex/silicone caulking to seal it up instead of sewing.
the directions for the extra fins are under the "Part 6 - Fins" section.
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This is absolutely amazing. The best tutorial I've seen! I have a couple of quick questions, though. First one is, roughly how much do all the materials cost, total? I'm fairly broke, and trying to determine how early I should start saving up/supply shopping. Secondly, I want to use this method to make a tail for Ariel from "The Little Mermaid", and she has those little fin-like things around her waist ([link] ) would I make those the same way you make the dorsal/ankle/pectoral fins, or would you recommend something else?
Thank you for your time!
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I paid roughly $300 for materials, I think lol.
Neoprene cost about $18 a yard (6 yards), latex cost $25 per box (used 4 boxes), then use of brushes and spreaders (roughly 2 big boxes of foam brushes). I'll say it probably costs about $300 to make a tail. I ended up collecting my items along a 4 month span of time, I ordered the fabric last.
For the waist-fins, I would use the dorsal method. Try looking at other methods on www.mernetwork.com
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Thank you so much! I absolutely can't wait to test this method out for myself, I'm so excited
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would i be fine paintintg a tail with any kind of airbrush paint aslong as i mix in the latex/silicone?
also if i use silicone instead of latex would i still need to use spray silicone over the finished scales to prevent stickyness? (i havent used silicone before)
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ofcourse you can paint with any airbrush - just be mindful that the needle on the airbrush is a certain millimeter size (each airbrush is different) and it requires an airbrush paint thin enough for use.
the silicone spray is unnecessary if you are using silicone instead of latex.
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I am about to sew my two sides of tail together, would you suggest sewing inside out or...?
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You take the scale-sides of the tail and face them together, then sew.
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When sewing it it rips through the neoprene, is there anything I can do to fix this.
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I never had that problem - what setting are you using? How fast are you sewing? Feel free to private message me.
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also where can i buy this metal grating i cant find it ANYWHERE
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Home Depot or Lowes, ask for expanded metal grating (diamond shape). OR you can use authentic netting from Michaels or Joann's, its a little messier though.
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So on here you have like 7 bottles of 4 oz or 8 oz (? not sure which one) of the Createx paint. Is that all you ended up needing to do the entire tail or did you use more paint? 
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Your welcome
I used 8 oz bottles, but I found myself still buying a few extra bottles. Michaels and most hobby stores should carry the paint.
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Oh man thank you so much <: I was planning on using dickblick for my art supplies since their prices are soooo good.
Since I'm making Ariel's tail first (to make sure I still really want to do mermaid stuff, even though I know I do - plus next year is my Princess cosplay year <3 ), do you think that I'd only need around 3 yards of fabric for me? I'm about 5'8" and 115 lbs, and her fins are pretty narrow and not quite as extravagant as yours are. Thanks again, you're amaaaazing!
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For fabric, your best bet is to measure the length of your body the tail will cover (aka mid torso to your feet) and add the length of your fin to the measurement. Times that by 2 and you have your amount of fabric necessary (ALSO Joanns started selling neoprene, check out their utility fabrics)
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Wow, thanks 
Thank you so much for answering my questions, I really, truly appreciate it.
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... what does heat set mean >>.... im kinda clueless about this stuff and what kind of paint goes in an airbrush because i bought one for the use of makeup and it says its fine for paint.
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heat set means using a heat source (like a heat gun, hair dryer, or space heater) to dry the items.
any airbrush will do, just make sure you use the appropriate paint for the airbrush's needle (the airbrush's box/instructions should tell you the millimeter amount).
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Sweet I want to get a tail as well, but making one would be great too.
Hey would Lumiere paint work on latex?, I heard it's waterproof.
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never mind, i thought i read all of the comments but i was mistaken haha
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Question about the sewing process, how exactly do you sew it? Do you have 2 pieces that you sew together down the sides? O do you fold it in half and sew down the back? It doesnt really explain that in the sewing step, sorry if it does and I just didnt understand...
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Adding to favs for further reference, if I manage to translate correctly everything you used !
Thanks you for sharing, all your tails are gorgeous.
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So how does it keep when your in water?
Do you do alot of touchups? Is is toxic when its with water?
Will is cause any irritation to the skin?
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The water does make it weightless while in the water, but when it gets taken out its double its weight.
You won't need to do touch ups if you use silicone or latex mixed with the paint.
Some people say that continued use of latex in the water (prolonged over several hours) could has some effect, but nothing has been proven.
It could cause skin irritations, but I've worn mine for gigs (usually anywhere from 2 to 5 hours in costume) with no problem. People with latex allergies should consider a fabric tail or silicone.
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Thank you for answering!
Another quick question, the fin/fluke, Ive read it but you use the same ALEX to fill it in and kinda connect the monofin and two sides of the fin together? does it have any problems of filling with water?
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it does still get some water-filling, but it won't "balloon" with air. also, the more ALEX you use, the heavier the fluke will get (I can barely lift mine while wearing it)
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Oh dear XD
Sorry I'm asking questions cause I am planning to make a tail and I am just not able to buy all the expensive supplies.
Also, How long can it hold up? I heard the Raven's(Mermaid Raven Merbellas) advised not to use the ALEX method cause of it deteriorating too fast. But I don't have any other means but this method
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Right now, I do not use my tail on a regular basis, so it hasn't deteriorated at all. I've also kept it in A/C when not in use, I've rinsed it after every swim (Granted I've only been able to swim in it maybe 10 times since it was finished, due to my old apartment not having a swimming pool), and trying my hardest to avoid scraping it on pools or cement.
I'm currently experimenting with cheap silicones, and my next tail will be made of it. Once that tail proves to be 100% safe, swimmable, and long-lasting, I will post a tutorial of it (I might video document me making it, but I have to get the $$$ for the silicone!)
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How do you measure yourself? I first had someone outline my legs down to my ankles on a piece of scratch paper, measured myself, and cut it by half. The tail is WAAAY too big.
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are you using neoprene? depending of the type of neoprene (each kind is manufactured slightly different), they may stretch more than you desire. try taking it in a few inches.
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does any one know how to makw the fluke look like that?
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how do you make the fluke like you did? its so realistic!
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It took a lot of latex to get it just right, but I simply made my latex cover where the fabric was.
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This is a wonderful tutorial! I will defiantly be doing this in the near future! I do have 1 questions though, I am a fairly small girl (100lbs to be exact) how many yards do you think I'll need of neoprene? 2-3 yards?
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Its really depends on your measurements and the monofin size you pick. My monofin is a Finis Rapid (typical for women shoe size 9 and up, the Finis Wave is for smaller feet), and my monofin is nearly 2' long.
You measure yourself from either the hips or belly button (your preference) to where your feet meet the floor. Add the length of your monofin to it. If you are ordering fabric online, take your measurement number and double it (you are going to need two pieces of fabric for the tail, so keep that in mind when ordering!).
I hope this helps!
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Thanks so much! This helped me a ton to decided! 8D
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Thank you so very much for this tutorial. You may very well have saved my tail, (haha, I'm funny.) As soon as I get the chance, I will be trying this lovely method of yours. :3
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