HOME | DD
missfit1023 — my tail tutorial
Published: 2011-05-19 05:20:02 +0000 UTC; Views: 108650; Favourites: 762; Downloads: 1508
Redirect to original
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]
Related content
Comments: 289
Okay, I'm confused on how exactly you sew it. Do you turn it inside out first, sew it, and then gently turn it right-side out? Or how exactly do you accomplish this feat? *Susu confused*
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
like many things that get sewn, you DO have to turn it inside out in order to sew it. you just need to leave the bottom (the fluke's edge) and the top (the waist/hips area) opened so you can insert your monofin.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Why do you need to leave the top open? I can understand leaving the fluke open to put the monofin in, but I'm confused about the top now?
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Oh Nevermind. I thought you meant leave the hips open. Like, including where you slide into the tail, and a little bit down the sides. Ha. Okay. Thank you so much for your help. I shall credit you and show you my finished product when I finally get done with it.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Sadly, this comment makes me happy.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
I'd like to try this some time but, would you recommend adding a zipper? It seems that it would be difficult to get in and out of and I thought a zipper would help, what do you think?
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
a friend of mine did a tail according to this tutorial, and she added a zipper. she hid it with a pair of dorsal fins.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
I have a question...I just used a plain swimming suit type fabric and i started working on my tail but I feel like it doesn't look right. I'm using everything you have used and I've gone threw at least...2-3 bottles of latex already and i feel it still doesn't look right.
how many layers did you do total?
and on the fluke I've used at least 3 layers and mine looks nothing like yours.
is my fabric the problem or am I just being impatient and need to keep working?
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
the fabric is probably the big problem. with regular swimming material (spandex/lycra, the type you buy from Joann fabrics), if you want to add latex/silicone to it, you will have to make a "frame" to stretch the material over.
that's why in my tutorial i strongly advised the use of neoprene or neoprin. they do not need a frame in order to put the latex over it.
how long have you let the layers "cure"? (curing means letting it sit - materials like latex and silicone dry from the exterior to the interior. so when the outside looks dry and ready, it usually isn't on the inside).
most latexes and silicones ask for a cure time of 24 hours or more.
do you happen to have any photos? i could help you out more if i could see what you are talking about.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Alright that's what I thought.
I usually add a whole layer to the whole tail [both pieces front and back] and let it sit the rest of the day threw the night till the next morning when I add more.
I do not but I can take pictures for you.
Altho now that I know that's most likely the problem I will be retiring it, buying neoprin and get started again.
I found much more problems with the tail now that I realized the problems which makes me want to start all over again.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Sweet! i was just doing some research on how to do a neoprene tail because i already have a fabric one but i wanted a realistic tail, i was just about to give up because i couldn't find any instructions on how to make a neoprene tail then BAM! i see your tutorial thank you so much for making this~!
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Out of all curiosity...Do you have a monofin in your tail or no???
If yes, how did you get it on there???
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I used a finis rapid monofin.
If you read the instructions, you will see that I left the bottom of the tail opened enough to glue the fin in, then glue it shut.
👍: 0 ⏩: 2
okay, i was wondering about that. i couldnt figure out if it would be best to sew the seams of the fluke or to sew the rest of the tail but not the fluke and seal it shut with latex when i glue the fin in.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
I see...I couldnt really see it...the text was to small
but thank you for clarifying
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
BTW! I nice alternative to airbrushing is getting spray bottles ($0.50 at dollar stores!), filling with latex/paint mix (i'd add a little water to it too) and spraying with a wide opened nozzle.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
I can't wait to do this..! 
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
I have a question though
How do you make the vein looking details on the tail? :\
I got the jist of how to make it,
I'm just a little, ditzy lol
and also, I realized you mentioned spraying Silicone on the tail,
and i was like woah! wait, she didn't mention what the silicone was etc.
and then i looked at the first picture, you have the silicone (#9) labeled #9
but on the right you don't have it listed 
(btw I LOVE YOU for making this tutorial T_T)
I've been killing myself over how to make it D:
People I see sell them, but they go from 500-1,000$!!
p.s. I'm a bigger girl too and kind of scared
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
for the veins, i used a mix of my brushes and my own fingers to get texture.
my first comment on this tutorial is me saying i forgot to mention #9 being silicone spray - which is used after all paint and latex are dried to prevent stickiness.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Ahh! I figured, but I didn't know if there was some type of secret :3 lol
OH! So sorry didn't see that XD <3
Thanks to this, I shall be making my own tail, and when i do,
I will credit you for the tutorial :3 <3
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
If I dont plan on getting in the water with mine, do I still have to use neoprene or would just plain old nylon/lycra/spandex fabric work?
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
the only problem with using spandex/lycra/nylons is that you have to keep them stretched on a frame to get the scales just right. try something called neoprin.
its at least half the price of neoprene, and its half the weight/warmth of it.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
i have tried searching for "neoprin" all over the internet and i cant find it at all. the only thing i can find is neoprene. can you help me? were did you get it?
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
i am sorry to bug you again but i am having trouble also finding the air brush and compressor for under $20, silicon spray for $9, metal grate sheets you have in that size. i am really sorry to bug you but i just am not having any luck -__-'
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
thank you very much. i have to thank you sooo much because without this i wouldn't be the best brother in the world ^^
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Awesome! At some point I'll have to try to make this. I'm making a starter tail to test an see if I would like being a mermaid.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
oh, trust me, you will!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I know! I'm just waiting for my monofin to arrive in the mail! One more day according to Fed Ex 
Until then I can't work on cutting my material and sewing my tail together until I can measure the fin part accurately. My pattern is ready with the exception of the fluke. :-/
You have neat costume designs, where did you study?
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
all of my costumes come straight from me! i currently go to the Savannah College of Art and Design, but I haven't taken any costuming or production design classes.
👍: 0 ⏩: 2
I applied there too, too bad i couldnt go, its just way expensive
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Yeah, I'm on all the financial aid I can get lol
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
I applied there, but I went to North Carolina School of the Arts instead and then transferred to Catholic University of America (good theatre program). I did some costume work in college. Stupidly, I did not take photos of the pieces that I worked on for shows.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Great work~
One of the best tutorials I've seen.
And one of the most realistic tails! (:
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Great tutorial!! I'm defiently gonna try to make one this summer - yours looks fantastic!!
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
just realized i forgot to add item 9 into the list - its Silicone spray, can be purchased at select diving shops and Amazon.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
<= Prev |