New tail in the works :D

[Azurin Luna]

Yup, I'm already making a new tail. Though my dolphin tail is a hit in the local swimming pool I wanted to make a more special tail.
This time I'm going to make a lightblue neoprene tail with translusent fins on the back and sides and dark purple on the backside of the tail and on the outer rims of the translusent fins.
I hope to get my neoprene today and that I will be able to upload a picture of my design soon.

I'm really looking forward to work on this tail, as it will also be used in a special Larp at the end of June.

[*Celine*]

Allriiiiight, you go girl, don't forget to show us the pictures, good luck with the tail!!!!

[Azurin Luna]

Here is my design :) And thank you very much.
I got my neoprene today and it looks like my sewing machine isn't going to die this time
http://i1051.photobucket.com/albums/s425/AzurinLuna/th_36cb368c.jpg (http://s1051.photobucket.com/albums/s425/AzurinLuna/?action=view&current=36cb368c.jpg)

[MermaidRaegan]

It's going to be so pretty! Can't wait to see it.

[LittleTreasure]

That looks cool! How are you going to make the translucent fins?

[*Celine*]

waow, nice design. I'm really curious on how it's gonna turn out.

[Azurin Luna]

I'm planning to use tie rips, the biggest ones they sell here are about 30 cm long and 7mm wide so I hope they will be sturdy enough. For the fins themselves I'm going to use transparent table plastic, they sell them in different thicknesses here. I hope I can glue or meld two sides together with the tie rips in between to make the fins. I'm going to shop tomorrow for them and the purple paint.

[LittleTreasure]

Sounds like a good idea. Well, I'm excited to see what you come up with! :)

[Azurin Luna]

I got the rest of the materials today, except for the paint. They do not sell fabric paint that stays on synthetic materials :(
Does any of you guys know a good paint that stays on spandex covered neoprene? The color must be purple. I also have to find transparent paint now for my fins... as they only had markers which where water prove as they were only for window painting :(

[Azurin Luna]

Today I finally found time to try out some of the ideas I had thought up about making the transparent fins. I got my tie-rips, my iron and a piece of the table plastic and ironed it together, and it worked even better then I thought. I was even able to sew the plastic into a piece of cloth without it loosing strength or ripping at the seem. See the pictures below :)

3077
3078

Now I only need suitable paint for the plastic and the neoprene to finish it, but I at least am able to start now. :D

[Azurin Luna]

I had another idea for getting my purple part transparent... purple foil. I feel so stupid for not thinking about this sooner. I ordered the foil and hope to get it this week. I also found paint that should work on the neoprene lining I have... but I have to iron it to cure the paint, I just have to test if the neoprene can hold 150C

*crosses fingers*

[Kanti]

Ohh interesting idea with the plastic o_O
Making transparent fins seems to make innovative ideas come from people xD
Can't wait to see more progress on that!
The design seems nice! :')

[Azurin Luna]

There is a little change in the colors, the purple foil is out of order and they think it will take a long time before it's in. So the fins are now going to to be blue as I need the tail at the end of the month.
But now I wonder if I still should paint the backside purple or make it darker blue.

[Azurin Luna]

So, I'm now making the fins of my tail, and it's going pretty well. Only because the blue foil is thicker then the transparent one I've changed the design again. I'm no longer using the tie-rips to stiffen the fins as the blue foil does that already. I'm also glueing it together as it sometimes turns white when I iron the parts together.

Here is a picture of the front fin.
3333

[Ilonka]

Looks nice! For paints definately use createx colors, they e super durable and have a wide range of colors. For clear glue that sticks anything go with e 6000, its badass.

[Mermaid Sirena]

What foils & plastics are you using? Could you add links? Also I love the new fin design that is awesome!

[Azurin Luna]

I'm using soft PVC plastic for the blue parts and I think it's also PVC for the transparent parts. The transparent part is actually the plastic covers people use to protect their tables from happy kids and their creativity with creons. I've also seen it used by horica to protect wooden tables from the alcoholic drinks.

Here I got my blue foil, I wanted purple, but it was out of stock.
http://kunststofshop.nl/index.php?item=pvc-foil--1400x1000mm&action=article&group_id=20000048&aid=3693&lang=EN

[Mermaid Sirena]

Thank you so much!

[Ilonka]

You should have thrown some metallic paint or powder in the middle of the viny, like white to keep the transparency or even glitter.

[Azurin Luna]

I can't find the e6000 glue here, so I'm going with the soft pvc glue, it's also used for fixing raincoats, floaters and anything of soft pvc or vinyl.

[Ilonka]

Aww bummer, just make sure everything is waterproof! And its looking really cool, I wish u the best!

[Azurin Luna]

Woo, the glueing of the fins has started :D
It works very good too. I bought Bison soft PVC glue and it glues very easily. Just spread it on two sides, wait a little and stick it together, you only need to watch out that it does prematurely stick to other parts with glue as it's glue on and no letting go.
It also gives a nice glimer as little bits of air sticks in it. I will get the photo's online when they are dry, which will be tonight.
For now a preperation picture:
3367

[Azurin Luna]

Here are the promised photo's of the fins. I only have my side fins complete now and was working on the back fin, but I need more glue.
http://i1051.photobucket.com/albums/s425/AzurinLuna/th_05d1cdd5.jpg (http://s1051.photobucket.com/albums/s425/AzurinLuna/?action=view&current=05d1cdd5.jpg)

Here is a detail photo of the blue rim, it shows sparkly because of the tiny airbubbles trapped in the glue. My bf disliked it at first but thinks it gives a nice addition to the tail now :D
http://i1051.photobucket.com/albums/s425/AzurinLuna/th_4b7eec35.jpg (http://s1051.photobucket.com/albums/s425/AzurinLuna/?action=view&current=4b7eec35.jpg)

[Mermaasai]

oohh they are so beautiful! I love their butterflylikeness (notawordalert)

[Azurin Luna]

Thank you :D

Maybe I will be a butterfly mermaid then :)

[Azurin Luna]

Update on the tail making. I'm just about to sew my tail together, but I wanted to do a quick update before I go :)
http://i1051.photobucket.com/albums/s425/AzurinLuna/th_3b8faddf.jpg (http://s1051.photobucket.com/albums/s425/AzurinLuna/?action=view&current=3b8faddf.jpg)
http://i1051.photobucket.com/albums/s425/AzurinLuna/th_78fd1e7c.jpg (http://s1051.photobucket.com/albums/s425/AzurinLuna/?action=view&current=78fd1e7c.jpg)
I only need to make the transparent part of the tail and then I got my tail complete.

[ShyMer]

I really like the look that your extra fins have now. The shape is pretty nice. Good job :) I was thinking though, you may need to alter the dorsal depending on how it works out. I'm thinking it may not like when you bend your knees so much. I'm interested to see it finished!

[Azurin Luna]

Thank you :) The dorsal fin is very flexible so I hope it will be alright. While trying to sew the neoprene my own sewing machine gave up on stitching the parts together so my bro was so nice to bring my mothers sewing machine over, but even hers is having trouble. Stitches are starting to fail and I don't understand why, cause I was able sew thicker without problem :(

[Ilonka]

Did you lubricate the needle? You need to use a water based lube or the needle will jam when sewing neoprene

[Winged Mermaid]

Check out our sticky on how to sew neoprene for tips! Also if you want to use thicker plastic, JoAnn fabrics and other places carry clear vinyl in a variety of thicknesses- for cheap too. I use these for making cellophane and vinyl fairy wings, and it's a popular material for inserting into flukes for shape and hiding monofin ridges, decorative fins, and more!

[Azurin Luna]

I've tried all the tricks of the neoprene sewing topic, but my sewing machine is just annoying :( plus I think my needle didn't like sewing the thinker parts of the vinyl, so I have a few this to try out. And I remembered this morning what I did last time to get me to sew without problems. I hope it will work again.
I found a very good vinyl shop in the Netherlands which sells a variety of vinyl and other plastic related items

[Azurin Luna]

Woo, I got my sewing machine in submission, it sew my neoprene without problem now :D

Here are some pictures
http://i1051.photobucket.com/albums/s425/AzurinLuna/th_488161eb.jpg (http://s1051.photobucket.com/albums/s425/AzurinLuna/?action=view&current=488161eb.jpg)
Here with the dorsal fin up
http://i1051.photobucket.com/albums/s425/AzurinLuna/th_32ee1e99.jpg (http://s1051.photobucket.com/albums/s425/AzurinLuna/?action=view&current=32ee1e99.jpg)

Now I only got one thing left but I can't decide which fluke version I should pick, a or b:
http://i1051.photobucket.com/albums/s425/AzurinLuna/th_a04d2e19.jpg (http://s1051.photobucket.com/albums/s425/AzurinLuna/?action=view&current=a04d2e19.jpg)
sorry for the crappy picture, version b is with only the blue rim at the outer edge of the transparent fluke, a is with sides. I think a is stronger, but what do you guys think if you look at the rest of the tail?

[Winged Mermaid]

Lookin good! I would personally go with A! If you're still interested in painting the neoprene, screen printing ink is the way to go. That's actually what Hannah Fraser used on her blue tail. It makes it basically like the fabric is dyed the colors, not like it's sitting on top like acrylic. However Mermaid Malena's (Sharkey's) tail was painted with acrylic. I saw it in person and it's a very thick layer over the whole tail.

[Azurin Luna]

Woo! My tail is done, I'm going for a test swim tomorrow :D
Here is a picture of my finished tail, I hope to post more soon.
http://i1051.photobucket.com/albums/s425/AzurinLuna/th_f9f1d617.jpg (http://s1051.photobucket.com/albums/s425/AzurinLuna/?action=view&current=f9f1d617.jpg)

[Mermaid Caidence]

That looks amazing!!Love the clear parts. :D

[Azurin Luna]

Thank you! Can't wait to try him out

[Azurin Luna]

Woo, I went swimming today with my new tail and everything went fine, it stayed on nicely, but it was heavier to swim in then my other tail.
here are my pictures :D
http://i1051.photobucket.com/albums/s425/AzurinLuna/th_1f72616b.jpg (http://s1051.photobucket.com/albums/s425/AzurinLuna/?action=view&current=1f72616b.jpg)

http://i1051.photobucket.com/albums/s425/AzurinLuna/th_360c04b5.jpg (http://s1051.photobucket.com/albums/s425/AzurinLuna/?action=view&current=360c04b5.jpg)

http://i1051.photobucket.com/albums/s425/AzurinLuna/th_47b3e428.jpg (http://s1051.photobucket.com/albums/s425/AzurinLuna/?action=view&current=47b3e428.jpg)

http://i1051.photobucket.com/albums/s425/AzurinLuna/th_7ce8c42c.jpg (http://s1051.photobucket.com/albums/s425/AzurinLuna/?action=view&current=7ce8c42c.jpg)

http://i1051.photobucket.com/albums/s425/AzurinLuna/th_e7bfde57.jpg (http://s1051.photobucket.com/albums/s425/AzurinLuna/?action=view&current=e7bfde57.jpg)

http://i1051.photobucket.com/albums/s425/AzurinLuna/th_a66dbbb3.jpg (http://s1051.photobucket.com/albums/s425/AzurinLuna/?action=view&current=a66dbbb3.jpg)

[Spindrift]

Your pictures are so small! I wish I could see the details more clearly. Nice, though!

[Azurin Luna]

Small? They are thumbnails you can press them to see a larger picture :)

[Azurin Luna]

Here is a short video of me swimming in the tail. It was heavier to swim in then my first tail, probably because of the extra fins.
People were now also scared or something as they moved further away from me then when I swam in my other tail :/


http://youtu.be/51WGD5VJ6Q4

[Spindrift]

Small? They are thumbnails you can press them to see a larger picture :)

Wow I can't believe I missed that. That's funny and a little weird that people moved away from you. The tail looks great in the water though! Maybe the extra fins caused drag?

[Azurin Luna]

Yeah, maybe they thought the fins were sharp or something, but they are really soft. I also think that is the reason they caused drag, cause they fold over. I noticed a difference when I swam when I held the side fins 'open' then it was easier to swim, then when they were folded up. The back fin is usually flat on my back.

[Mermaid Marissa]

maybe you could try a harder plastic on the front of the dorsal fin? I have never made fins so I'm guessing.

[Ilonka]

People swam away from me too when I too my tail to the pool yesterday for a shoot lol I think people just don't want to get in the way. Beautiful tail btw!

[Winged Mermaid]

I would guess the extra drag would be from the extra fin on the fluke. You'd be suprised how easy it is to create extra drag for yourself by how you make a fluke on a tail. Even just paint (on the fluke) on a spandex tail can create a HUGE amount of drag.

[Spindrift]

I would guess the extra drag would be from the extra fin on the fluke. You'd be suprised how easy it is to create extra drag for yourself by how you make a fluke on a tail. Even just paint (on the fluke) on a spandex tail can create a HUGE amount of drag.

Truth. Swimming with my monofin without the tail makes me go way faster.

[Azurin Luna]

Thank you Ilonka :D

I'm going to try to make the fins on the side stiffer and see how that works.
My other tail has no fabric over the monofin, which swims a lot faster, so I gues you are right about fabric over the monofin makes you go slower.

[Mermaid Caspiana]

Thanks! You were right... this does help with my lion fish tail idea!
And by the way you tail is going to look awesome!

[Azurin Luna]

Thanks, it did look awesome. But just remember, try not to get sharp folds in you vinyl, it will create weak spots. That where my fluke rim tore of the transparent part.

[Miyu]

This thread has a lot of useful info in it! I have also been using some vinyl in my tail designs, so far a thin one I had laying around (for soft, frilly fins), but I recently picked up some more that is thicker for another tail, to hopefully stabilize the thin transparent fabric for my fluke so I don't tear it so bad... and also to make a more fishy fin-slap out of water :)

[Azurin Luna]

Just make sure you glue all the way to the edge :) oh, and my glue was fast drying, so make sure you don't glue to big parts in one go, and have someone help you hold the second part up, as it sticks to itself instandly

Good luck on your tail