Laamberry's ALEX tail

[laamberry]

Here's my progress so far :D I'm having a hell of a time getting this thing to fit around past my knees. Any tips?

1192

[Mermaid Saphira]

Srry I don't have any advice, but are you going to cut the monofin? just curious...BTW looking great! I LOVE the color! beautiful job

[Spindrift]

Baby powder?

[jukumerboii]

idk but i LOVE the tail n the colour!

[Blaze]

Yay you found your way over here! :D

[Winged Mermaid]

Usually when tails are really tight you can use baby powder to help get them on. When Mike swam in the 13th year tail he said it took a lot of baby powder to get him into that thing XD Also some tails slip on much easier in the water. You should see me getting my tail over my hips! Must be entertaining for people as much as I wiggle into that thing, haha!

[AniaR]

great fluke style- you dont want it too tight around the knees because you need to be able to bend easily. I use baby powder for getting mine on too

[APhishOutofWater]

How did you get the lines on the fluke?
btw it's AMAZING!!!

[laamberry]

Thank you all for your replies about baby power but I actually mean I can't get it it -fit- me! it wrinkles around the ankles and knees a lot and I don' think I can get it to go any tighter. Anyway, the tail is mostly done but as you can see in the pic below, the fluke is having some issues. I think the answer is to fill it with ALEX but I'm really not sure? It bubbles and there's a massive fold at the ankles....it ruins the shape of the fluke :[

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/310648_276550919021962_100000011694340_1140501_189 2071293_n.jpg

[Spindrift]

I guess you can try to use tubing to stretch out the excess material... If you're going to be filling it up with caulk though, maybe go for aquarium silicone instead of ALEX?

[Blaze]

Just have to add that it looked FANTASTIC in person! I regret not touching it though; I totally forgot. :D

[Winged Mermaid]

I don't think the answer to the ankle wrinkles is to take it in. What is going on there to my eye seems more complicated than that, but I don't know how to explain it either. I haven't sewn much tail wise. Perhaps others can give you better advice.

As for filling the fluke with ALEX, only do that if you have two months you can keep it dry. Honestly out of everyone who has done that with their tail with ALEX I don't think anyone has ever gotten it to dry completely. When they thought they did it came out in the water, some times causing skin reactions. The MSDS actually says that direct skin contact is harmful and that you should seek medical attention for it if you have a reaction.

Mermaid Shelly said she had more luck with GE Silicone (pic HERE (http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/281454_191551710906876_121003264628388_532088_9064 32_n.jpg)). Even the ALEX stuff says it takes 7-14 days to completely cure on the tech sheet, this stuff says 3 hours. Of course it takes multiple times longer becuase it's in something instead of out in open air, but she said 24 hrs later it was 90% cured. She put one tube on each side I believe, and rolled it into the whole fluke using a rolling pin (as in for baking usually- you can substitute with pvc pipe or a empty bottle if need be). If it were me I'd wait about a week after using it just to be sure. Be sure to use this in a very open and ventilated area! If you think the ALEX fumes were bad this stuff will knock you back I've heard!

[AniaR]

dont use alex. the tail looks great few people have been able to get a tail that doesnt wrinkle around the knees and ankles I know mine does! it's different too when you're in the water :)

[Winged Mermaid]

the tail looks great few people have been able to get a tail that doesnt wrinkle around the knees and ankles I know mine does! it's different too when you're in the water :)

True. Mine wrinkles at the knees and ankles both when dry, but after I get wet and adjust it evens out pretty well. I looked at some pics and the wrinkles disappear once I'm in the water.

[Mermaid Marla]

I think you did a fabulous job! the fluke shape is beautiful! Not sure if you'll be able to get that wrinkle out at the bottom tho... If the wrinkling at the ankles bother's you too much you can decorate that area with a docorative netting or mesh tied around it. I think I've seen Mermaid Bonnie do that?

[Mermaid Saphira]

to get the monofin in the fluke you could try and cut the monofin a bit...just a thought

[laamberry]

I've finally finished! That weird bump at the bottom was just due to the monofin being too large and pushing the bottom of the fluke. It was just warping from the pressure! All fixed now :] I acutally don't NEED it though, I wonder if anyone would buy it...

http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/381453_2834698712680_1415564252_3152409_124776706_ n.jpg
http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/379459_2834710032963_1415564252_3152412_2097162732 _n.jpg

[Mermaid Saphira]

^ measurements please?

[thelocalmermaid]

also, price please :)

[Mermaid Saphira]

^ Oh, yes that 2 :)

[thelocalmermaid]

I have some questions about this tail... I REALLY love it! you made this yourself? It looks like a perfect replica of a mertailor tail!! If you made this yourself, I really am impressed.. and if you wouldn't mind sharing how you did this.. I will LOVE YOU FOREVER!!!

[Mermaid Jewel]

Yes info please :)

[AniaR]

you made this yourself? It looks like a perfect replica of a mertailor tail!!

Raven had a tutorial up for this, as well as Melbel.

[Mermaid Photine]

That's beautiful! I love the scale pattern!

[laamberry]

first of all, thanks for the compliments! Yes, I did make it myself :]

I would be willing to sell this one for $450. I'm also interested in doing custom ones for $400 if anyone cares for one. Just shoot me a PM :]

This one is made to my measurements so I'll give you those. It has a LOT of give and is slightly loose on me, so give or take a couples inches in either direction.

waist - 26 inches
hips - 37 inches
and I'm about 5'7". I'll grab the length when I get home

any specifics you guys would like?

[Mermaid Saphira]

^ Awww to bad, I'm so short! GRRR! Anyway..good luck selling it :)

[laamberry]

^ Awww to bad, I'm so short! GRRR! Anyway..good luck selling it :)

thanks!

[malinghi]

I love the fin shape. Ariel has such a distinctive fin. This is a really good recreation of it.

[SireniaSolaris]

Awesome!!! It looks fantastic!!

Timing is a little bad for money right now, but if I had the extra (and if it wasn't made of ALEX, but rather the slip-cast latex or something that would hold together for longer), I'd definitely get it. Perhaps a little later in 2012, if you are able to/willing to work with the thickened latex, I may try to get one from you. It really looks perfect! And I hardly assign a "perfect" to ANYTHING, so great job!!

[laamberry]

Awesome!!! It looks fantastic!!

Timing is a little bad for money right now, but if I had the extra (and if it wasn't made of ALEX, but rather the slip-cast latex or something that would hold together for longer), I'd definitely get it. Perhaps a little later in 2012, if you are able to/willing to work with the thickened latex, I may try to get one from you. It really looks perfect! And I hardly assign a "perfect" to ANYTHING, so great job!!

Thank you so much! Right now I'm experimenting with latex and also with polyurethane :] so I'll keep updating here!

[Odette]

i think it looks great! has a shine to it and the color feels refreshing to me.

[laamberry]

i think it looks great! has a shine to it and the color feels refreshing to me.

Why thank you!

[neonmermaid]

How did you end up gluing the monofin on the inside? Loooove the fluke design. It's more fishy than most tails these days!

[Prince Calypso]

i get seven hundred dollars in a month from school i would gladly spend five hundred of it on that tial. i think it would fit me fine, you look like you have a smaller waist, just around my size.

[laamberry]

i get seven hundred dollars in a month from school i would gladly spend five hundred of it on that tial. i think it would fit me fine, you look like you have a smaller waist, just around my size.

Hey there! Shoot me and email at Laamberry@gmail.com if you're really interested :) I also do custom ones for the same price~!

[Nim]

It looks like a perfect replica of a mertailor tail…You are very talented!!!
Unfortunately, the shipping cost are expensive overseas T.T

[laamberry]

It looks like a perfect replica of a mertailor tail…You are very talented!!!
Unfortunately, the shipping cost are expensive overseas T.T

Aww thank you so much for liking it!