Who has a neoprene tail?

[Mermaid Varshana]

If you do, where did you get it, how is it to swim in, and do you love it? Is anyone besides Hannah Fraser exceptionally gifted at making them somewhat realistic? I know Mermaid Shelly makes them, but I cant find many photos of her neoprene tails. Thanks!

[Mermaid Octavia]

I am having a neoprene tail made for me by Morticia of Shadow Fancy! I don't have it her so I can't give an opinion but I was able to see Morticia's own tail. It's very neat and I really like the texture of the neoprene. It's nice and thick so I can't imagine it tearing or being damaged easily! Sorry that's not helpful.

[MermaidAlaina]

I have a neoprene tail. I made mine with the help of Mermaid Bonnie. My neoprene is 1.5 mm and I ordered it from FoamOrder.com. It was pretty easy to work with and sew. I hand sewed all my sequins onto my tail, just like Hannah does...however my sequins is quite a bit larger than hers ;)

You can check out some videos of me in my neoprene sequin tail on my YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/DiscoverParadise

[MerAnthony]

I have a neoprene tail I made myself an I made it part silicone with paint underneath. I love it. It's a little tighter than my fabric tails. But I am able to move in it very easily. You swim in it just like the fabric tails.

[Coradion]

Mine is 3mm I got it from foam order, painted it and added silicone fins and painted on silicone scales. Here's mine.

[Coradion]

10972

[spottedcatfish]

I am making a neoprene tail, from wetsuit materials. I'll be sure to post a picture and a review when I've completed it.

[*Celine*]

I made one a year ago, it took a whole year to complete it (including errors and starting over), I bought my neoprene on a dutch site, it's 3mm thick and I love my tail!!! I think I did a good job considering this is my first tail and I already have the designs ready to start on another one this summer.

Here's my 'I made a tail" thread if you're interested. :-)Another "How I made my neoprene tail" thread (http://mernetwork.com/index/showthread.php?2487-Another-quot-How-I-made-my-neoprene-tail-quot-thread)

[Mermaid Varshana]

I'm impressed by how, at a distance, many of these tails are indistinguishable from basic silicone tails. Someone mentioned that swimming in a neoprene tail is just like swimming in a fabric tail. What's the difference between swimming in a neoprene tail and a silicone/partial silicone tail?

[Azurin Luna]

I have two neoprene tails, both are made by myself. One is 3mm and the other 1,5mm, the thicker neoprene wrinkles more, but that could also been from being my first tail.
http://i1051.photobucket.com/albums/s425/AzurinLuna/th_07e72bfb230d245ea489d1ed4e00f20c_zpse9724324.jp g (http://s1051.photobucket.com/albums/s425/AzurinLuna/?action=view&current=07e72bfb230d245ea489d1ed4e00f20c_zpse97243 24.jpg)

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

[MerMarla]

To all Mers making, or swimming in, Neoprene tails: (a thousand pardons for so many questions... :))

I've only had the opportunity to swim in fabric suit and tails. I say fabric, tongue and cheek, because the original suits and tails made for us by ABC Paramount (at Weeki Wachee, late 1960's) were made of a heavy elasticized fabric with solid filament gold (lurex type) strands (or silver) woven into the elastic. They had some stretch, but also a side zipper for ease of donning. We shared tails, based on our waist-to-ankle measurement, but had our own suits. Donning a wet tail that someone else swam in was no fun, they never seemed to dry!

After I retired from Weeki, I've always made fabric tails, because that's what I'm used to swimming in. Early swimsuit double knit jersey didn't have good elastic "return" until Lycra came out. So Lycra/Spandex has been my friend for many years. I'm now thinking to try Neoprene for a tail. Neoprene, because it has some cellular air pockets (albeit, tiny ones) has greater floating tendencies, at least above 20 feet (also depends on the foam thickness). Wearing my 1/4 inch (6mm) wetsuit, I need a fair amount of weight to compensate for the neoprene's tendency to float, until I get to about 30 feet when I need the compensator vest to adjust for neutral.

So. I'd like to make a neoprene tail, having worked with neoprene on horse tack.

My questions of those who are making or have made neoprene tails... how do you calculate the stretch-ability for the different neoprene thicknesses in your design measurments? I assume the newer product neoprene has a different stretch capability than my old wetsuit of the early 1970's. I'm sure my fabric tail patterns would need to be adjusted, or remeasured for fit.

Does anyone swim with embedded "curtain weights" to help with buoyancy? Are most neoprene tails made as pull-ons or do they have zippers? If zipped, are they installed in the side seam or dorsal seam (then hidden with a dorsal fin)? Are the seams taped and glued (seam tape) or stitched, then glued and taped? How did the professional tail makers finish the seams? Are sequins stitched on after the final fit of the tail? Has anyone made a Uni-suit, aka one-piece suit and tail? At my age, LOL, I need all the help I can get! Middle age bulge, hahaha!

Any help would be greatly appreciated! I look forward to all responses!
Thank you , in advance, for the opportunity to work with all of you, and to pick your knowledge-base!
Bubble-hearts!
me, marla (aka Mermaid Marla)

[Carolina Mermaid]

I'm also making a neoprene tail, it's a lot softer than I thought.

[FreshWaterMermaid]

10972

I love your tail Coradion!

I have two neoprene tails, my blue one is 3mm neoprene with some simple paints and a finis tempo monofin.
My newest tail is 2mm neoprene (much better, neutrally buoyant) and has sewn sequins, a finis competitor monofin, and vinyl sheets as fins (glue and sewn as well)
I definitely love neoprene! My favorite choice, and I've worked with fabric and vinyl for my first two tails, then I switched to neoprene, (I've made 4 of my own tails and 1 for my sister in law). ^_^


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[Moonflower]

I love my neoprene tail. I like the smoothness the neoprene affords. I also like the fact that it doesn't excessively balloon like spandex can, and keeps my legs secure and comfortable.

[Mermaid Melanie]

A while back I posted a thread about anyone interested in buying neoprene tails - living in thailand its very easy to source here. I have a neoprene tail and am decorating it but it is taking a long time ( sequins ) - Mermaid Kat uses a neoprene tail ( the triggerfish one ) painted with latex and they are nicely textured in person she sells customs tails on her website.

[Lotus]

I made a neoprene tail, but I wouldn't call it realistic lol....
11035

[Moonflower]

I made a neoprene tail, but I wouldn't call it realistic lol....
11035

That is freaking GORGEOUS!! Amazing paint job!! What color was the neoprene to start? Do you have any issues with the stretch of the material now that it's painted?

[Spindrift]

I have two neoprene tails. Both are in the process of being updated/sequinned though.

[Mermaid Dottie]

I'm actually thinking of taking the silicone off of my neoprene tail and covering it with sequins.
The problem is that it's getting too big (WOOHOO!) and I need to take it in at the waist.

[Carolina Mermaid]

I want to do my paint job like that! But the dark blue is going to be a aqua blue color.

[Ashe]

Lovely tails Coradion and Lotus!! Amazing paint jobs :D

I myself have a neoprene tail, you can see it in my photo albums :) I totally love love love it and have had it in great condition for a few years, but the neoprene began to rip and stuff. Don't let that change your mind though! I really didn't take good care of it like rinse it out and I left it in the sun for hours upon end xD But if you make one and take good care of it, it will last you a good long time :)

[MerAnthony]

11046This is part of my silicone tail.

[Lotus]

I love how you did the silicone on that, MerAnthony.
And thanks, guys! The tail was plain white to begin with- I just painted in the blues and purples. I have never seen a tail like it before, it felt good to break the mold. :)
I found that the neoprene did lose a little stretch, but it's remained very flexible and I have had no issues with chipping or fading so far. I love my tail! Can't wait to finally finish it!

[Marilla]

Hello mers! I am about to order neoprene for my first tail *squee!*, and I have a few quick questions, 2mm or 3mm, raw or lined, and does the tape help on the seams? <3 I see people for both thicknesses so I am putting it to a vote. Thanks for your help, pictures will be posted as soon as I have it completed. *squee#2*

XOXO~ Marilla the Mermaid

[Mermaid Momo]

Are you using a machine? If so, what thickness fabric does it say it can handle? Mines can handle up to 6mm, so that why I bought 2mm(because I had to put some vinyl between the two sheets)

[Marilla]

6mm, and I will only be sewing chiffon in between, and I have glue to hold the zipties in. Does the 3mm look any better than the 2mm? I am covering it with silicone too.

Thank you Draggersprez!

~Marilla

[Mermaid Momo]

I've only seen 2mm up close but I suppose if you're using silicone on top, the 2mm should be enough, but maybe ask someone who is making/ made a silicone tail what thickness they usually use? And no problem :)

[telzey.amberdon]

Just ordered a neoprene tail from shadowfancy. Can't wait. Excellent customer skills on her part, she was able to take my description of a tail and put it to paper. Must have tail!!

[Gem Stone]

I have almost finished my first homemade neoprene tail! and I'm making one for my friend!

[MerMarla]

I have almost finished my first homemade neoprene tail! and I'm making one for my friend!
Hi Gem Stone! Wow congratulations! I've only worked with spandex and elastic based fabrics, and have never ventured into neoprene. Or silicone for that matter! Would you be willing to share sewing techniques? I'm really interested, and there is no neoprene tutorial here that I could find... just some do's and don'ts.

Thanks,
Mermaid Marla

[Mermaid Varshana]

Post pics!

[Gem Stone]

I actually hand sowed them both using a plain needle and fishing line. besides that, I just sowed it like any regular spandex tail.

[Kumori Kitsune]

Where you get the sequins from

[Mermaid Malibu]

Hi there! I am thinking about buying a tail from Morticia. How is her tail? Quality and usability? Does it fit well? Do you like it... How long did it take for her to get it from when you put the order in? Thank you for your help.

[MerEmma]

Mermaid Octavia and Mermaid Melusinah I believe are the customers I know of on her with her tails...you might want to PM them directly. Search the forum using the keywords like their names, Morticia's and Shadow Fancy to find posts and reviews! :)

[Mermaid Octavia]

Hi there! I am thinking about buying a tail from Morticia. How is her tail? Quality and usability? Does it fit well? Do you like it... How long did it take for her to get it from when you put the order in? Thank you for your help.

I think my tail took about a month? To be honest, I don't really remember, but I was able to visit her personally so she could take measurements. Mine fit very well initially but I've since lost quite a few inches and haven't been down to have her take it in again. XD

But the material is very soft and durable and she uses the best paints to make sure it sticks as well as it can. I like it - it's very functional, easy to maintain and easy to transport. :)

[Mermaid Malibu]

Awesome! That is great to hear. Thank you so much!