Julz's First Latex Tail attempt...

[Mermaid Momo]

wow! I watched the swimming videos and it looks amazing! I've always wondered where mers find those really deep pools. Are they at diving centers?

[Mermaid Clara]

I have a few questions for making a latex mermaid tail:
1. can I just paint my latex into my fluke mold or do I have to pour it in?
2. if I pour it in my mold what is the best way to get the air bubbles out of the latex?
3. do I need a mold release in my molds before I put in my latex? (I'm using fiberglass molds)
also how thick do my scale sheets and my fluke have to be? I'm not using any neoprene underneath.

[Mermaid Julz]

draggersprez, it was at the aquatic center in cary,nc

KellyMermaid, 1. you can paint it in....2 vibration helps.. brings bubbles to the top... strong sanders can work....3. no, no release is needed. 4. my scalesheets were 10 layers thick...layers were really thin though.... the fluke, i lost count.... i wouldn't go thicker than ten for the inner part, and then the side veining of the fluke was poured level with the inner part.

[Mermaid Clara]

thank you for your help Julz! your tail is gorgeous and the videos have really helped me on making my latex tail :)

[Mermaid Julz]

Well, As I promised, there is the video on how i overcame the problems I was faced with on the custom monofin. I hope it helps.


http://youtu.be/5W68QZqdmJY

[Pascal21M]

Your tail is amazing. Sorry when ill ask that. Are you trans?

[Mermaid Isabel]

Your tail is amazing. Sorry when ill ask that. Are you trans?

Sorry Pascal but I feel that your question is unapropriate

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[Kelphinea_Kelp]

Oh wow.. no you did NOT! smh....
See im gonna take 5 cuz I myself am visible, and I hate when people have to ask... and for SO many reasons.
I hope this becomes a lesson, you just don't go up to people and ask them something so personal like that.
It's like waling up and asking someone if you can label them something.
This person goes by the name of Julz and until they feel the need to share ANY personal information with you or anyone else their gender is none of your business! Julz is simply Julz.

[Pascal21M]

Ok im sorry about. Plz forgive me.

[Mermaid Isabel]

Oh wow.. no you did NOT! smh....
See im gonna take 5 cuz I myself am visible, and I hate when people have to ask... and for SO many reasons.
I hope this becomes a lesson, you just don't go up to people and ask them something so personal like that.
It's like waling up and asking someone if you can label them something.
This person goes by the name of Julz and until they feel the need to share ANY personal information with you or anyone else their gender is none of your business! Julz is simply Julz.

Thanks! That is what I meant to say!

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[Pascal21M]

I wont say it anymore.

[Mermaid Julz]

wow... I finally got around to reading my thread.... yeah, not cool to be asking such a thing Pascal. Apology or not, totally not cool.... My Gender is really none of your concern and it really has nothing to do with the quality of my tail or how i go about making them. Please think before you go asking such personal and insensitive questions like that again.

[Pascal21M]

Im really sorry. Plz forgive me. I wont ask it anymore.

[Mermaid Julz]

So, I totally forgot to give you folks and update on the patch I had to do..... sure you saw the video, but not the end result,which is me slacking honestly. but here it is... all done.

Can you spot the patch???

http://i841.photobucket.com/albums/zz332/blazindizz/CAM00962_zpsad97ed61.jpg (http://s841.photobucket.com/user/blazindizz/media/CAM00962_zpsad97ed61.jpg.html)

[Mermaid Adriel]

you have fixed it perfectly, great job!

[Mermaid Julz]

So, I got lots of pics I had my dad help me do... even one of me spitting out water, but it didn't look as good as I thought it would.... i might have to try some colored water next time.

http://i841.photobucket.com/albums/zz332/blazindizz/Tail%20stuff/SAM_1009_zps0ac9015a.jpg (http://s841.photobucket.com/user/blazindizz/media/Tail%20stuff/SAM_1009_zps0ac9015a.jpg.html)
http://i841.photobucket.com/albums/zz332/blazindizz/Tail%20stuff/SAM_1010_zps2eec72a1.jpg (http://s841.photobucket.com/user/blazindizz/media/Tail%20stuff/SAM_1010_zps2eec72a1.jpg.html)
http://i841.photobucket.com/albums/zz332/blazindizz/Tail%20stuff/SAM_1011_zpsbb42821a.jpg (http://s841.photobucket.com/user/blazindizz/media/Tail%20stuff/SAM_1011_zpsbb42821a.jpg.html)
http://i841.photobucket.com/albums/zz332/blazindizz/Tail%20stuff/SAM_1012_zps43941ac8.jpg (http://s841.photobucket.com/user/blazindizz/media/Tail%20stuff/SAM_1012_zps43941ac8.jpg.html)
http://i841.photobucket.com/albums/zz332/blazindizz/Tail%20stuff/SAM_1013_zps3995c729.jpg (http://s841.photobucket.com/user/blazindizz/media/Tail%20stuff/SAM_1013_zps3995c729.jpg.html)
http://i841.photobucket.com/albums/zz332/blazindizz/Tail%20stuff/SAM_1014_zps72ef8c32.jpg (http://s841.photobucket.com/user/blazindizz/media/Tail%20stuff/SAM_1014_zps72ef8c32.jpg.html)
http://i841.photobucket.com/albums/zz332/blazindizz/Tail%20stuff/SAM_1016_zpsbf43cc26.jpg (http://s841.photobucket.com/user/blazindizz/media/Tail%20stuff/SAM_1016_zpsbf43cc26.jpg.html)
http://i841.photobucket.com/albums/zz332/blazindizz/Tail%20stuff/SAM_1017_zpsf35262fb.jpg (http://s841.photobucket.com/user/blazindizz/media/Tail%20stuff/SAM_1017_zpsf35262fb.jpg.html)
http://i841.photobucket.com/albums/zz332/blazindizz/Tail%20stuff/SAM_1018_zps2f820ccb.jpg (http://s841.photobucket.com/user/blazindizz/media/Tail%20stuff/SAM_1018_zps2f820ccb.jpg.html)
http://i841.photobucket.com/albums/zz332/blazindizz/Tail%20stuff/SAM_1019_zpsf5c50a57.jpg (http://s841.photobucket.com/user/blazindizz/media/Tail%20stuff/SAM_1019_zpsf5c50a57.jpg.html)
http://i841.photobucket.com/albums/zz332/blazindizz/Tail%20stuff/SAM_1021_zps6d173b6e.jpg (http://s841.photobucket.com/user/blazindizz/media/Tail%20stuff/SAM_1021_zps6d173b6e.jpg.html)
http://i841.photobucket.com/albums/zz332/blazindizz/Tail%20stuff/SAM_1022_zpsd0e55b8f.jpg (http://s841.photobucket.com/user/blazindizz/media/Tail%20stuff/SAM_1022_zpsd0e55b8f.jpg.html)
http://i841.photobucket.com/albums/zz332/blazindizz/Tail%20stuff/SAM_1023_zps38b82c33.jpg (http://s841.photobucket.com/user/blazindizz/media/Tail%20stuff/SAM_1023_zps38b82c33.jpg.html)

[Mermaid Wesley]

You're too cute.


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[Mermaid Jaffa]

Beautiful tail and mermaid!

[Mermaid Kate Silverfin]

Hi Julz,
Your tail looks amazing! Congratulations!
I was just wondering what brand of fiberglass you used? Was it a specialist moulding resin, or just one from a hardware store? I'm having some trouble finding information about what kind to use.
Thank you!

[Mermaid Adriel]

your tail looks perfect now! :D and you are so beautiful

[Mermaid Julz]

Thanks everyone.

Mermaid Kera,
The fiberglass I used was just what I could get a home depot. using it and the cloth sheet, not the matting. a 1 gal thing of fiberglass runs about 39 bucks after tax. If you have any other questions, feel free to ask :)

[Mermaid Kate Silverfin]

Thank you for your help! May I ask, how much fiberglass resin did you use all up? I'm intending to do a pretty big fluke too so I'll likely use a similar amount.
Thanks for sharing all of your process and also providing such great videos!

[Mermaid Julz]

Your more than welcome. I want everyone to succeed in making their own tail... hence the videos. Some learn better by seeing than just reading. As for the amount of fiberglass.... for this tail I went through 4 gallons of fiberglass( my fluke is 3 ft wide) between it and my scaleboard. if i had to break it down I would say 2.5 was used on my fluke, and 1.5 on my scaleboard. Its possible to use less, but I use thicker layers than most do. Reason i do this is the fact half the time my molds have to sit outside, and I need them to be able to endure the elements. Work is in the process of getting a shed to be my workshop and we will no longer have to leave them exposed.

[Mermaid Clara]

how much latex did you end up using?

[Mermaid Julz]

Kelly, just order a 5 gallon bucket of the RD-407 from monstermakers.com andyou will have plenty...even enough for a second tail if used sparingly.

[MerEmma]

Gorgeous tail! You are so rocking it. :D

[Aquarianne]

Well, I know this is not tail building related, but I thought I would share it anyways....

Here is a video of my 3rd time ever using a monofin. I was working on keeping myself under the water and also breath holding.... on average I was holding about 12 seconds, at least thats what the video clock told me. but here it is, nothing fancy just me in a pool.

And Nerine, thanks for sharing such great music to use for swim videos


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VVaSNo8nhw

Hey Julz, I came by initially just to see your latex tail, since I'm making one too, but I had to comment on your swimming video! It's SO inspiring for me, especially after you told us you quit smoking (which is SO AWESOME btw, congrats!). I was in a car accident and I'm not fully recovered and will always have permanent back problems, so even getting across a similar-sized pool on an identical monofin takes me a long time and I have to breathe at least three of four times while doing it. But I see your video here and I just get the drive to try again and keep working towards my goal of doing a whole pool lap without having to come up to breathe! That's my short term goal, and you're so beautiful and inspiring! Thanks for giving me the strength keep trying!! <3

[PearlieMae]

Don't know how I missed the swim video!

Julz, I forgot how awesome this tail is. I hope you haven't been around because you are out SWIMMING! :mermaid kiss:

[Lydia Lobster]

Other people allready wrote stuff like that but: Thank you so much for sharing this! This is gorgeous.
I just scanned this thread, but i know i will study it soon.
:clap:

[Mermaid Julz]

I just had to add one more swim video.....


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yj4hEj7CEyg

[Raayvhen]

Julz! I so love the way your tail moves!