Casting questions

[XMermaidMarinaX]

So we want to make a cast to start working on making a tail. My mother and I decided to try and make a tail ourselves.. I doubt it'll work out but oh well.. We're trying to go for an H20 inspired thing, but able to use a monofin somehow.. I'm going to be reading up more on all this stuff, drawing out ideas, using some barbies to make mini models of it, as I have no need for those anymore and they're all stuffed away. I've found the videos on youtube, and I've seen other people on here attempt things like this. Bad idea for 1st time making a tail? Probably. Do I expect perfection? Absolutely not. Is it worth a shot? Yeah.

[Jessica]

You should read Jazz's first thread. She made an h2o inspired tail and it turned out great! There are tons of tailmaking threads in the tailmaking section. It's a great place to start!

[XMermaidMarinaX]

I found it, I liked it.. It was really really pretty :D But I wasn't a fan of the bagginess around the heels.. I wonder if there would be a way to keep it like the tails in H20, and put a monofin in the fin portion, but hide the heels. I really want to put a competitor monofin in it, and have control, but I want the look of the h20 tails, so I could swim in the ocean with it. Is there a way I could do the foot paddle thing, but have it strong enough to control a monofin like that? I'm not sure.. but I figure there has to be SOME way.. Hmm, I'll think of it :/ Unless someone here has an idea

[jazz2453]

Yeah, the bagginess was a huge issue for me, but I recently fixed it. And in my second tail I was able to make sure my ankles weren't baggy. Are you looking to make an extended tail? I've been doing TONS of research and I plan on making the whole h2o tail with the rod and foot plate next summer :)

[Prince Calypso]

for my tail i was intending to buy a Mahina Merfin and making a foot pad with the rod and just attaching the footpad to the Merfin and just going from there. Do you think that would work?

[jazz2453]

I think it will! I am doing that except with a competitor.


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[jazz2453]

I will then inject that in a two part fluke mold.


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[PearlieMae]

You're going to need something that would attach to your lower legs (potential drowning problem) so you could use your ankles as a fulcrum for propulsion. If it's just attached to the bottom of your feet and extends from there, you won't get any push from the fin.

I've thought about this for quite a while. Some extended tails that you see on tv, you have to remember they aren't used like you would swim with one. They are filming short segments with tons of production people standing by to assist between shots. They don't need true propulsion.

[Seatan]

I've thought about this for quite a while. Some extended tails that you see on tv, you have to remember they aren't used like you would swim with one. They are filming short segments with tons of production people standing by to assist between shots. They don't need true propulsion.

That's sort of my thought on them as well. I am pretty sure they did it for the look, not the usability, so if the goal is to swim well in the ocean, you are probably better off going with what freedivers use. If you're just going for the look without worrying about giving it really hardcore propulsion, then you don't have to reinvent the wheel as much. Honestly, I didn't even notice the difference between H2O tails and the tails people have here until I read threads on it. They don't look THAT long to me compared to ours. I can see how they hide everything better, but surely in hiding your heels and knees and stuff better you lose some of the hydrodynamics of it? I would think the tighter to your body it is, the better you will swim. I really do hope someone makes one and documents the process because it would be interesting to see, but I don't think I would want one, even if I lived near the ocean. Nothing is As Seen On TV in real life, and I really wonder how many problems tails like that give people. It seems like if they were easy to make and swim in, more people would have made them by now. I dunno, just blabbering as thoughts come to my head. I do hope someone makes one so I can see the process, though.

[Prince Calypso]

I'm really not planning to do much underwater work in my tail. more photo shoots and short little swims in shallow water lol

[Mermaid Oshun]

The ones on tv do add 2 ft to you in addition to 2 ft of the fluke. If you are 5'5" and add 4 feet more with these things you will be 9 1/2 feet long or almost 10 feet LONG!!!
I personally do not see the point in making yourself a 10 foot long mermaid or where you will swim at that size. I agree with Pearlie Mae it is an unnecessary drowning risk to make yourself look like a 10 foot GIANT.
On tv you cant notice theyre that huge with the 4 foot extensions. I personally dont see it as practical in any way, necessary or even safe. It will be like trying to roll around and pose or swim with 4 foot stilts on your feet. Neither comfortable, nor safe without a team of divers to follow you. I think it is also totally uncalled for. If everyone around you is 5-6 feet at a party or in the pool.... why would you want to be 10 feet long any how?

Perhaps you just want to add a few inches to get your feet above the fluke region. In such case, simply a Lunocet monofin is the ticket without using extra rods and paddles which could cause you to drown.