Making a Sharktail?

[SnarkySharky]

Hello fellow Mers! I was wondering if anyone had any tips or tutorials on making a shark tail? I'm personally a Lemon Mershark, and would love to show it!

[Mermaid Livou]

Hey, I was wondering ( and sketching) how could work a vertical monofin... like, in bellydance there are both front-to beck body wave movements (like sg u need to move for dolphin kick = mammals), and also side-to-side (maya?) movement, so why not adopt it to water (=fish swimming) X'D it might be bad for the knees and not really efficient for fast forward moving tho :) but would worth a try :) so my try would be a vertical monofin to develop then make the body/skin smooth (aaaal these just theory)

[Mermaid_Izzy]

I know Shimmer Tail makes a shark fabric tails. It has a shark fin on the back.


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[DancingJohari]

Hey, I was wondering ( and sketching) how could work a vertical monofin... like, in bellydance there are both front-to beck body wave movements (like sg u need to move for dolphin kick = mammals), and also side-to-side (maya?) movement, so why not adopt it to water (=fish swimming) X'D it might be bad for the knees and not really efficient for fast forward moving tho :) but would worth a try :) so my try would be a vertical monofin to develop then make the body/skin smooth (aaaal these just theory)
Lol. Ok, maia's and taqsims are figure 8s with the hips, it is not a body wave or undulation. There are undulations or body waves that move down the body or up the body. Sorry, I teach belly dance and I dance professionally. As for how one could change a dolphin kick into a more shark like movement without hurting their knees...I dunno but it's an interesting concept.

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[SnarkySharky]

I know Shimmer Tail makes a shark fabric tails. It has a shark fin on the back.


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Ooh! I'm definitely gonna look into that one. :3

[Mermaid_Izzy]

Ooh! I'm definitely gonna look into that one. :3

If you do watch their social media or sign up for their mailing list because they put a code for 75% off and free shipping about three or four times this past summer.


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[Echidna]

If you watch the Mosasaur or Waterdragon video on my YT channel, you could modify these costumes to be sharklike.
Just make them shorter, add a dorsal fin and so on ;)

I'd love to see a shark fullbody costume too, although you probaby meant to be a half-shark mer.

[Mermaid Livou]

Lol. Ok, maia's and taqsims are figure 8s with the hips, it is not a body wave or undulation. There are undulations or body waves that move down the body or up the body. Sorry, I teach belly dance and I dance professionally. As for how one could change a dolphin kick into a more shark like movement without hurting their knees...I dunno but it's an interesting concept.

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Yep, thank you, thats what I meant and tried to explain in my not native language :) I meant to compare the undulations with dolphin kick (as it also not just a leg kick), and the figure 8 with side to side fishy/shark move - I meant as a loose coparison not as direct, kinda just wondering :D :)

[DancingJohari]

lol. No worries! the figure 8s in the water probably wouldn't give alot of power...hip slides would be more of the movement that's sharklike....but even so that would put alot of stress on the lower body. a modified monofin similar to that one that has shoes for the feet, then the fin itself is connected by an apparatus...dunno. Have you seen the leech video of the leech mer?

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[Mermaid Kane]

lol. No worries! the figure 8s in the water probably wouldn't give alot of power...hip slides would be more of the movement that's sharklike....but even so that would put alot of stress on the lower body. a modified monofin similar to that one that has shoes for the feet, then the fin itself is connected by an apparatus...dunno. Have you seen the leech video of the leech mer?


That video was my friend, Kiri (Keirstin). She made the tail out of cheap materials as a test. When I messaged her about it, she said it was extremely dangerous, and that the motion actually caused her to be pulled backwards. She legs and back also suffered.

I would shy away from doing a side motion tail without a lot of mermaiding and aquadynamic experience.

[Mermaid Livou]

*heading to search that video*

see SharkySharky, never alone with an idea :)

[SnarkySharky]

If you watch the Mosasaur or Waterdragon video on my YT channel, you could modify these costumes to be sharklike.
Just make them shorter, add a dorsal fin and so on ;)

I'd love to see a shark fullbody costume too, although you probaby meant to be a half-shark mer.

Both of those sound absolutely fantastic! Do you have a link to those videos for me?

[Mermaid Kane]

https://www.instagram.com/p/BX6cq9dBu0B/

This is Kiri's video, but as I already said, IT'S UNSAFE. Please take what you watch with a grain of salt.

[SnarkySharky]

I found your videos! They are really neat, I love the flowyness of them, I feel like shortening them would be a disservice! That being said, I might be able to fanagle a design using them as one of my reference points. A full shark costume would also be loads of fun, if I could figure out a good design that didn't look like a kid's discount costume. xD

[Mermaid Kane]

Here are some of the messages she sent me while we were chatting.


Its just a garbage bag test. Meaning a contraption compiled of cheap, temporary materials in order to test a theory.

The final product is for a creature far larger and of violent intent.

The way I'm swimming is because the garbage bag test yielded a lot of mechanical problems that I am working towards engineering out.
My knees are locked close, because the drag was so significant, and the "flipper" started up at my knees. Causing a really bad pendulum effect, and putting opposing thrust in the opposite direction as the lower thrust.

So, it was basically like trying to walk forward and backwards at the same time.

Haha! Again, it was just a test! And a failed test at that! But it looked cool, so I thought I would share.

Haha! This thing would be extremely expensive to produce a second time, I dont plan on doing it again. I dont want to encourage people to drown. I've already had people asking for how I made it, and especially since it's not done, I dont' want to encourage people. Which has been difficult, since nobody READS.
If anything, I will likely end up making a normal mermaid motion tail, but elongated, like an ACTUAL leech.

Or make something with larger scales and scutes, like a dragon.
We'll see! https://e.deviantart.net/emoticons/s/smile.gif


:/ I really wish there was a safe and practical approach to this, but who knows?
She also came up with a new design. I don't know if I'm allowed to share, but I know she'll pull it off, and it will BLOW OUR TAILS OUT OF THE WATER. She's so amazing.

[SnarkySharky]

Kane, thank you for this information! I might abandon the shark tail idea with this new info I've been given- I don't want to put undue strain on my back and knees trying to mimic the motion of my chosen critter. Maybe I can do something similar, but with a veritical motion instead of horizontal. Might be that I have a horizontal fluke with shark-like fins? I'll have to sketch one out. Or maybe enlist the help of my fellow mers to assist in ideas? :3

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[Mermaid Kane]

Kane, thank you for this information! I might abandon the shark tail idea with this new info I've been given- I don't want to put undue strain on my back and knees trying to mimic the motion of my chosen critter. Maybe I can do something similar, but with a veritical motion instead of horizontal. Might be that I have a horizontal fluke with shark-like fins? I'll have to sketch one out. Or maybe enlist the help of my fellow mers to assist in ideas? :3

^^'' Sorry if I sounded rude by the way. I'm glad you didn't snap at me or anything. :)

I think a smoother fluke with notches at the tip would look great! And a shark back fin, of course. I can think of a lot of way to make a tail that screams ''SHARK''!

[SnarkySharky]

Oh of course not! Information is great to have, and I'd hate if I were trying to give important information like you were and someone snapped at me because it wasn't what they wanted to hear.

I'm definitely going to try to sketch some out when I get off work today- I do wonder how a dorsal fin would work though? I'd have to do some research about how to add embellishments to a fabric/polymaterial fin... n_n

Man, I am one Snarky Sharky.

[DancingJohari]

I would listen to that voice that says "Don't try this at home, folks!" Be very very careful!

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[SnarkySharky]

I would listen to that voice that says "Don't try this at home, folks!" Be very very careful!

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Oh, without a doubt, especially since I'm still new at the mermaiding thing! [emoji1]

Man, I am one Snarky Sharky.

[MermaidAiera]

I agree with the safety statements--not only is it extremely dangerous to swim that way, but it's also TERRIBLE for your knees even if you succeed. I think if you're looking for the shark effect, you can try a sideways tail and swim on your side all the time. Something like that would be really artistic to see come to life :D

[MermaidNim]

I dont know if you wanted a hyper reaistic on but fin fun does sell a greyish black tail. It does have a scale pattern though so im not sure if thats what youre looking for.

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[SnarkySharky]

I agree with the safety statements--not only is it extremely dangerous to swim that way, but it's also TERRIBLE for your knees even if you succeed. I think if you're looking for the shark effect, you can try a sideways tail and swim on your side all the time. Something like that would be really artistic to see come to life :D
Oh! I didn't even think about that! That's a good idea o3o

Man, I am one Snarky Sharky.

[SnarkySharky]

OKAY!! I have a concept for a shark suit. I sketched it out at work today. Coloring and fin shape is going to be based on the Lemon Shark. :3

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170926/8665d3b3faad1c4d245707f83f3878b6.jpg

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170926/51186dc59a4d3a791ef003ade2721f20.jpg

[Mermaid Kane]

OKAY!! I have a concept for a shark suit. I sketched it out at work today. Coloring and fin shape is going to be based on the Lemon Shark. :3

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170926/8665d3b3faad1c4d245707f83f3878b6.jpg

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170926/51186dc59a4d3a791ef003ade2721f20.jpg

So it's going to be more of a swimmable ''fursuit'', then a mermaid tail?

[SnarkySharky]

So it's going to be more of a swimmable ''fursuit'', then a mermaid tail?
Basically. xD I figure I'll save my actual mermaiding for a more fantasy look, as opposed to a more realistic. I've got my eye on that new Pro tail that Swimtails teased on their facebook... >_>

[DancingJohari]

Cool! will be cool to see it come to life.

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[Mermaid Kane]

Basically. xD I figure I'll save my actual mermaiding for a more fantasy look, as opposed to a more realistic. I've got my eye on that new Pro tail that Swimtails teased on their facebook... >_>

Def. not my scene, but you-do-you! :3

[SnarkySharky]

Def. not my scene, but you-do-you! :3
XD I'm also doing it this way for colder water, since we go to the beach and I like to swim a little deeper than what's comfortable for just a bathing suit.

I may not have the funds for even getting that tail in time, but we'll see xD

Man, I am one Snarky Sharky.

[KatieScottArt]

XD I'm also doing it this way for colder water, since we go to the beach and I like to swim a little deeper than what's comfortable for just a bathing suit.

Yesss!! This is going to be SO awesome!! I totally had the same idea for a full body suit because the lakes here are flippin' freezing (not a shark suit though)! Mermaiding should be comfortable, right? ;p
Internet has cheap bodysuit patterns that you can easily follow. I'd assume you could just make the legs into one leg.. for the fin part? That's what I'm going to be doing at least.

[SnarkySharky]

Yesss!! This is going to be SO awesome!! I totally had the same idea for a full body suit because the lakes here are flippin' freezing (not a shark suit though)! Mermaiding should be comfortable, right? ;p
Internet has cheap bodysuit patterns that you can easily follow. I'd assume you could just make the legs into one leg.. for the fin part? That's what I'm going to be doing at least.
Yeah, that's the plan for me, too. :3 do the top bodysuit part, then do the rest of the pattern like I would a tail, and trace my outline and a fluke. Only issue is I can't really do a shark tail because of the asymmetry and the fact that it wouldn't work with a monofin. I'd love to see yours when you start work on it!

[KatieScottArt]

Yeah, that's the plan for me, too. :3 do the top bodysuit part, then do the rest of the pattern like I would a tail, and trace my outline and a fluke. Only issue is I can't really do a shark tail because of the asymmetry and the fact that it wouldn't work with a monofin. I'd love to see yours when you start work on it!
Your sketch above looks pretty perfect though, even if its not a vertical fluke. I really like your interpretation of the lemon shark and that dorsal is going to be so fun to swim with! For the full body suit I was debating between having it be two pieces with a "shirt" half and a mermaid fin half, or having it be one solid piece like a wet suit with one long zipper. I guess we'll see when it happens. I'm stoked you're doing this :D

[SnarkySharky]

Your sketch above looks pretty perfect though, even if its not a vertical fluke. I really like your interpretation of the lemon shark and that dorsal is going to be so fun to swim with! For the full body suit I was debating between having it be two pieces with a "shirt" half and a mermaid fin half, or having it be one solid piece like a wet suit with one long zipper. I guess we'll see when it happens. I'm stoked you're doing this :D
Ooh, for a shirt half you could do like a one piece bathing suit, so the top doesn't ride up while you're swimming, if you go that route. I was debating that with my shark suit so I could still get around mostly on my own. The big bodysuit I think would be easier because it's in one piece though. x3 I'm glad you like my idea for this! It might take a while to make, but I'm so excited ~

Man, I am one Snarky Sharky.

[Mermaid Livou]

OKAY!! I have a concept for a shark suit. I sketched it out at work today. Coloring and fin shape is going to be based on the Lemon Shark. :3

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170926/8665d3b3faad1c4d245707f83f3878b6.jpg

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170926/51186dc59a4d3a791ef003ade2721f20.jpg

ooh, you could still "rearrange" the fluke in a way it resmbles to lemon sharks fluke, for example take the bigger part and mirror it ^^

[SnarkySharky]

ooh, you could still "rearrange" the fluke in a way it resmbles to lemon sharks fluke, for example take the bigger part and mirror it ^^
Something like this?

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170926/20f4136889533414c24aa85c1ce67943.jpg

[KatieScottArt]

Ooh, for a shirt half you could do like a one piece bathing suit, so the top doesn't ride up while you're swimming, if you go that route. I was debating that with my shark suit so I could still get around mostly on my own. The big bodysuit I think would be easier because it's in one piece though. x3 I'm glad you like my idea for this! It might take a while to make, but I'm so excited ~

Man, I am one Snarky Sharky.

Ooooh, I like that idea! Basically like one of those pantless wetsuit top things (technically speaking, lol). There are pros and cons for each style so its a tossup, I know. I also like Mermaid Livou's idea for the fluke shape :3

[Mermaid Livou]

yep :) just gotta reshape-redraw the curves, angles, until u feel it right (well im speaking about visual idea, have no idea how I would build it :D )

[Toxotes]

Just my idea: Why not making an asymmetrical Fluke to be near the look of the original?
Maybe it would strain one foot more than the other, so you have to decide if you want to take long swims or just for fun.
What do you think?

[Mermaid Livou]

Just my idea: Why not making an asymmetrical Fluke to be near the look of the original?
Maybe it would strain one foot more than the other, so you have to decide if you want to take long swims or just for fun.
What do you think?

yeeeah why not? even better and catchy :))