Maple
08-29-2011, 03:29 AM
I am so happy and excited that I could burst! My Mum and I have been working on making a test tail for myself before I go ahead and make the orca tail I want. We measured last week and since I've been working insane hours, my Mum set to work.
The first test tail, which was going to be blue, didn't go as she planned, and ended up with no real fluke. The fabric wraps around the fin slightly but it's open on the sides. Taking what she learned in stride, she re-designed and we produced a purple tail with black ruffles on the side!
1156
My Mum was so happy and excited we decided to give it a go right away - the top hadn't been hemmed yet. So we went to my Aunt's place across the street for the first test-swim...much to the interest of my immediate family. Good news: they don't think I'm nuts!
1157
Testing out the water...
1158
Colder than I thought!!
It took me a couple moments to get myself adjusted. I've been using the monofin a couple times a week since I got it, but having my legs pressed right together was very different than what I was used to. So I floundered around a little...
1159
But in the end, I got it! I found the tail heavier than I thought - I didn't account for the spandex's weight in the water or that it does create a bit of drag. My Mum didn't think the fluke would pull down as much, hence why it looks like a ruffle at the bottom instead of a proper fluke. We're already planning on making the fluke start higher on the orca tail. After my Mum puts in the waist band (it blew down a couple times) I'll be sure to pose more photos. I am just SO EXCITED to finally have a tail to swim in!!
1160
1161
1162
The first test tail, which was going to be blue, didn't go as she planned, and ended up with no real fluke. The fabric wraps around the fin slightly but it's open on the sides. Taking what she learned in stride, she re-designed and we produced a purple tail with black ruffles on the side!
1156
My Mum was so happy and excited we decided to give it a go right away - the top hadn't been hemmed yet. So we went to my Aunt's place across the street for the first test-swim...much to the interest of my immediate family. Good news: they don't think I'm nuts!
1157
Testing out the water...
1158
Colder than I thought!!
It took me a couple moments to get myself adjusted. I've been using the monofin a couple times a week since I got it, but having my legs pressed right together was very different than what I was used to. So I floundered around a little...
1159
But in the end, I got it! I found the tail heavier than I thought - I didn't account for the spandex's weight in the water or that it does create a bit of drag. My Mum didn't think the fluke would pull down as much, hence why it looks like a ruffle at the bottom instead of a proper fluke. We're already planning on making the fluke start higher on the orca tail. After my Mum puts in the waist band (it blew down a couple times) I'll be sure to pose more photos. I am just SO EXCITED to finally have a tail to swim in!!
1160
1161
1162