Rave tail

[Azurin Luna]

I've been thinking about making a new tail. This time not from neoprene but from spandex in the hopes that I can do some underwater shoots without having to fight buoyancy.
I will be using a hydra clear monofin in the tail and elong the blade to make it more spade shaped. The colors will be black, neon blue and white.
Now I know some of you have worked with spandex and I found two different types, heavy and normal spandex aside from the 1, 2 or 4 way stretch.
Can anyone tell me the difference between the heavy and normal spandex and which will last longer? I will be mainly using it in a pool as our seawater only gets nice at the end of the summer if we are lucky.

This is a picture of the tail I will be making.
http://mernetwork.com/index/album.php?albumid=235&attachmentid=6345

(my iPad refused to get the imagelink)

What do you guys think?

[SeaGlass Siren]

wow it looks amazing! i cant wait to see photos!

[Ashe]

I've always loved that design so much!! I can't wait to see how it turns out :)

[Mermaid Kassandra]

I love it!!!
I'm sure it will look amazing :)

[starlite]

it's very original, i like ;-)

[Azurin Luna]

Thank you all :D

I hope it will look just as good.

None of you know the difference between normal and heavy spandex? Cause when I know, I start ordering the fabric

[Mermaid Miel]

Your tail design is both beautiful AND unique, I like it!

Spandex Weight (light, vs Heavy) indicates how thick and long lasting the spandex is. You want to buy something that is Heavy-weight and 4-way stretch. The lightweight 2-way stretch doesn't last long, only stretches in one direction instead of all over and is often see through. It's also sometimes listed as #dpi, but I can never figure that out. :P

[Azurin Luna]

Ok, thank you! :D

Now I know what to get, as soon as I get my money, I will be ordering fabric and neon blue paint, as I can't find neon blue spandex here.

[Mermaid Saphira]

good luck!!! :)

[MerEmma]

Love the design!! Great luck to you. =D

[Mermaid Danielle]

Awesome design!

[Azurin Luna]

Thank you :D
i hope to get started soon

[Azurin Luna]

I had to dig up my own thread :P but I found it back and I'm finally able to start on my new tail. I altered the shape of the fluke so I can use my current dol-fin monofin.

Here is my new design:12236

I have my black spandex, which is quite thick, so I'm quite happy with it. I'm now only waiting on my neon blue and white spandex to arrive. I hope it comes this week :)

What do you think of the new design?

[Ashe]

I love it! Fierce, like a shark :)

[Azurin Luna]

Thank you! :D

I was a bit over enthusiastic with sewing my tail :( I've sewn the wrong sides together so now I'm taking it apart again. Oh well, tonight is going to be better :)

[Echidna]

^^stuff like that happens.
When I sewed a bag for my monofin, I triple- and quadruple-checked the sides.

And I STILL sewed the wrong ones together.
I've no idea how that could've happened with something so simple as a bag, but it did :D

[Azurin Luna]

My tail is sewn together again, and now correctly. I'm waiting on my other fabrics to arrive so I can finish the fins

*hopes the mail will hurry up*

[Mermaid Caspiana]

Can't wait to see the final product!!!

[Mermaid Danielle]

Looks awesome! Please post pictures when you are done!

[Azurin Luna]

I'm almost done with my tail, only need to attacht the fins to the tail body and maybe I will make a matching top too, I got enough fabric left, but I have no idea how to make one.
I will post pictures soon

[Azurin Luna]

Pictures as promised
12805
12806
12807

Tomorrow I will be swimming in it, maybe I can get pictures of it in the water :)

[Mermaid Allie]

That's a great tail!!!

[Azurin Luna]

Thank you :D

Here are some more photo's showing off the fins on the back of my tail. The dorsal one has a sheet of neoprene in it to make it float up more in the water, its not strong enough to keep up stand up out of the water.
12833
12834little heel fin
12835dorsal fin
12836fluke with monofin inside

[Mermaid Caspiana]

Your tail is coming out great! I love the colors!

[Azurin Luna]

Thank you :)
I'm going swimming in the pool tonight, hopefully they let us take pictures of me swimming in it